22 Games Like ArcheAge
This assembled list of games like ArcheAge offers a collection of alternatives with a similar focus on sandbox gameplay blended with MMO.
ArcheAge launched in late 2014, attempting to blend the increasingly popular sandbox genre with the traditional MMORPG. Focusing on taking away the shackles of the genre by offering a game free from predefined paths, using a core four races and combining this with over 100 classes and skillsets ArcheAge definitely isn’t short on freedom.
The real sandbox elements though are hiding beneath the surface though with farming, housing, crafting, economy, criminal justice system, PvP, PvE and other game elements allowing players to truly shape the world around them. The world of ArcheAge is well respected as one of the most fully fleshed out and vibrant in the genre and even offers players the ability to set sail both for exploration and combat purposes.
Fan favourites include the crafting system which is more extensive than most with thousands of items from the usual equipment and food to furniture for player owned houses. These houses are not only highly customisable but also designed closely with the farming and guild system. From a farming perspective housing allows players to access farm land where animals and crops can be grown. While guilds can build (and defend) castles that claim ownership over housing areas.
The MMO games similar to ArcheAge featured here have a similar focus on player control, with plenty of depth these experiences will capture your attention as you get pulled into their unique and vibrant game worlds.
Rift
Offering vast fantasy MMO gameplay that stands up against the titans of the genre Rift is a MMO with subscription based history but has been free to play since June 2013. Important to note though Rift still offers a premium subscription called a Patron which offers currency bonuses, extra content, daily login rewards, boosts and convenience benefits. Free and paid players alike though will be treated to Rifts gameplay pillars which focuses on a massive world, large scale dynamic battles and dive...[Read Review]
Planet Calypso
Planet Calypso leverages the framework of Entropia Universe to create a science fiction MMO with a wealth of content, mechanics and sizeable community waiting to be explored. Most notably is the adoption of a game currency that is closely tied with real money that provides the potential for players to profit from their activities within the virtual game world. Starting in 2003 as the first planet of Entropia Universe (which now has more than half a dozen planets that offer different gameplay) Pl...[Read Review]
Skyforge
Bluring the lines between fantasy and science fiction is Skyforge, a third person MMORPG that focuses on action, customisation, class swapping, region based servers and the ability to reach a whole new league of hero, a god. Venturing around planet Aelion where both ancient secrets and cutting edge technology live side by side players will perform the usual array of quests, trading and more that you would expect to see from a MMORPG adventure. Skyforge does this all in a uniquely satisfying mix ...[Read Review]
Blade & Soul
The popular Korean MMO of Blade & Soul is finally available to the rest of the world, focusing on action combat, deep customisation, a beautiful game world and immerse story telling. Orientated around martial arts the Asian origins of Blade and & Souls are fairly evident.Alternatively players can opt for a number of bladed weapons or magical powers which change based on your selected class. Said class can be restricted by choice of race although most classes are available to two or three...[Read Review]
Second Life
Second Life is a free to play online life simulation game designed to appeal to fans of the virtual world genre that want to go a step deeper with enhanced customisation and a real world inspired economy. Developed by Linden Labs Second Life has been online since 2003 for Windows and Mac with regular core releases occurring...[Read Review]
Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 (GW2) falls under the massively multiplayer online role playing (MMORPG) umbrella and is one of the biggest competitors to the long standing and popular MMORPG of World of Warcraft (WoW). As of early 2013 purchases had been quoted at over 3 million copies making it one of the leading games in the genre. In late 2015 the core game went free to play with expansions released afterwards requiring purchase. Once players purchase these full expansions the full game is available without su...[Read Review]
EVE Online
EVE Online is a space adventure just waiting for you to join in. The game is a player driven MMORPG with an insane amount of depth. Launching in 2003 the game has slowly gained a loyal following to reach half a million subscribers in 2013 and went free to play in 2016. EVE Online is a game of freedom allowing players to approach the game in the way they want and find their own place in this ever expanding universe. The game features thousands of different star systems which are connected by star...[Read Review]
Albion Online
Albion Online centres itself heavily on the guild and sandbox mechanics that often form secondary features in other MMOs. Originally released in 2017 as a paid MMO Albion Online’s free to play shift in 2019 and large 2020 update (Queen) has seen a resurgence of interest in the unique sandbox MMO pushing its daily active accounts into the six figure mark and nearly half a million monthly active. With a single server housing these players you can expect an overwhelming number of players in f...[Read Review]
Uncharted Waters Online
Uncharted Waters Online is a sandbox focused MMORPG that is set in the great age of sea travel. Explore the world in a century gone by as you trade from Europe to Asia and beyond. With this player driven game world paired with large scale naval battles Uncharted Waters Online was carved out a niche in the MMO space. Set in between the 16th and 18th centuries players can expect a game world that represents that fact, you won’t find high fantasy here but rather a semi realistic game world co...[Read Review]
TERA
TERA offers a 3D fantasy inspired MMORPG with a focus on action based combat that puts it well ahead of most other games on the market. TERA (or The Exiled Realm of Arborea) started in early 2011 in the Asian MMO market with a western release in May of 2012. Since 2013 TERA Online has rebranded itself as TERA Rising and has a adopted a freemium model. TERA has all the MMO features that you’ve come to love including a vast number of quests, plenty of character customisation, skill depth and a cra...[Read Review]
Wurm Online
Wurm Online is a sandbox style MMORPG that has a creative focus allowing you to create your own adventure. You can play Wurm Online with a basic account for free but to remove some restrictions you will have to commit to a subscription based premium account. The game also has a stand alone version released on Steam in 2015 called Wurm Unlimited. Fans of Minecraft will be pleased to know that Markus Persson himself worked on the game so there is definitely a Minecraft influence present (Wurm Onli...[Read Review]
Revelation Online
Joining the ranks of MMOs with vast game worlds Revelation Online is now available to North America and Europe after claiming a foot hold in the Asian market. With 6 detailed classes, your choice of control scheme and seamless connected world the foundations of Revelation Online promise a good MMO experience. Your first decision in your Revelation Online journey is picking from the 6 available classes which both offer female and male variants. Your choices include the Gunslinger who is a master ...[Read Review]
The Secret World
The Secret World is a unique MMO set in a modern day game world with a focus on myth and conspiracy theory. If you are fed up with all the fantasy based MMORPGs that are flooding the market you’ll enjoy the change of pace that The Secret World offers. The game originally launched with a subscription based model but more recently has changed to a one time purchase with extras available for optional subscription members. In The Secret World you’ll side with one of the available factions; the Templ...[Read Review]
Mabinogi
Mabinogi allows you to create your own anime life in an experience that is simply overflowing with content, features and options while revolving around social elements. For those MMO players that crave customisation, anime styling and large scale friendship groups Mabinogi has proven to consistently deliver this experience since its original launch in 2008. Centred around the growth of character through the game world of Erinn the core Mabinogi experience revolves around questing, community enga...[Read Review]
Vindictus
Vindictus is a MMORPG is set in the same universe as the popular Korean MMO of Mabinogi. The game is heavily focused on combat and with its action approach to this system it’s much more engaging in comparison to other options out there. The first thing you’ll notice about the MMO is the way that the story is woven into the start of your experience. It makes the game world feel more realistic before you take your first few steps in it and is just generally the mark of a higher quality MMO. The se...[Read Review]
Eldevin
Aiming to bring the MMO genre back towards story driven gameplay is Eldevin a title that is simply packed full of game content. The story behind the kingdom of Eldevin is one of a peaceful land that over the past decade has slowly fallen into chaos upon the discovery of powerful Elemental Spheres. These ancient artifacts have attacked the minds of even the most devoted champions leaving only a few fighters and the powerful kingdom of Eldevin standing in the way of Tristan who aims to claim the s...[Read Review]
Florensia
Set in a typical 3D fantasy world is Florensia a game that includes both land and sea elements within in its content. This breadth of exploration combines with a good range of class options to deliver a decent fantasy MMORPG. Your class options start with 4 core options which include the Explorer, Mercenary, Noble and Saint. At level 40 players can further customise this base choice with one of two options her class for a total of 12 options (8 end game options). The Explorer class is the ranged...[Read Review]
Black Desert Online
Hailing from Korea and focused on sandbox orientated mechanics is Black Desert Online a buy to play for those in Europe and North America. You’ve got most of the traditional MMO features and a host of interesting design choices to explore in the Black Desert Online universe which also includes a mobile version (Black Desert Mobile). Central to the game world are the Black Stones which have corrupted the minds of the ancient civilisations and lay in the desert between the two major game civ...[Read Review]
The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) brings the popular role playing series to the MMO environment with an adventure that sets out to create the ultimate Elder Scrolls adventure and fills it with other online adventurers like yourself. The greatest appeal to the Elder Scrolls Online is without a doubt to the long time fans of the franchise who will appreciate the expanded world before them although in order to break through into the competitive MMO market a number of decisions have been made that ensu...[Read Review]
EverQuest II
EverQuest II is a 3D MMORPG that builds on the EverQuest series. The game was released in November 2004 and as of 2011 went free to play so everyone can enjoy the experience. For gamers who played the original EverQuest the game takes place in the same fictional world (Norrath) although 500 years have passed since that time. This makes the game separate enough from the original that it won’t affect new comers to the series but still has those nostalgic moments for EverQuest fans. Character creat...[Read Review]
Age of Wushu
Age of Wushu (Age of Wulin in Europe) changes up the standard fantasy MMORPG setting with a martial arts focused experience that has an impressive feature list. Are you are ready to travel back in time and learn one of the many fighting styles available? Age of Wushu has decided to adopt a free flowing class system which is one of its greatest assets. The only skills that are restricted are the internal skills of each school. Players are free to move between the eight available martial art schoo...[Read Review]
Mortal Online
Offering a hardcore sandbox experience Mortal Online is not a game for the faint-hearted player. Set in a deep medieval fantasy realm the struggle of life in Mortal Online is a real challenge for even MMO veterans. Your game starts in Mortal Online in a similar manner to other MMO titles with you carving your own character out of stone with visual customisation, race and stats at centre stage. With your character foundation established you’ll embark into the world where both PvE and PvP fo...[Read Review]