List of free massively multiplayer online games

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This is a selected list of massively multiplayer online games which are free to play in some form without ever requiring a subscription or other payment. These are commonly MMORPGs or MMOFPSs, but could be of any genre.

Contents

[edit] Free play

These MMOGs run on a non-profit basis, requiring no payment from the players.

Developer(s) Release date Required OS Genre Payment Synopsis Type
Crossfire n/a 1992 Multi-platform, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and others. Medieval fantasy MMORPG Free to play, open source project A cross between NetHack and Gauntlet. 2D
Gekkeiju Online Created by Suvi Aalto Produced by Coolhouse 2003 Windows Medieval fantasy MMORPG Free to play Players control an anime like character in a medieval fantasy world. Has many unique features not found in other MMORPGs like a weather system that heavily affects gameplay. 3D
The Legend of Zelda: Hyrulian Adventures Created by Liscancer 2008 Windows Medieval Fantasy MORPG Free to play The Legend of zelda: Hyrulian adventures is a fangame based in Zelda`s Universe. 2D
IVAO Erwin Lion and Morten Hansen December 16, 1998 n/a Flight simulation Free to play Uses existing flight simulation software with custom plug-ins, players may interact with the network as either pilots or air traffic controllers.
PlaneShift Atomic Blue February 10, 2002 Windows, Mac OS X, Linux Medieval fantasy MMORPG Free play, open source project The player starts out as a peasant in search for fame and becomes a hero. 3D
SubSpace Virgin Interactive/Fan-Community November 30, 1997 Windows Action Free to play Players fly, fight, and play a variety of games with spaceships. 2D
Underlight: Shades of Truth Lyra Studios October 2007 (Org.1998) Windows RPG Free to play Play as human in a fantastical dream world of the mind. Enforced "In-Character" environment.
Urban Dead Kevan Davis July 2005 Browser-based Survival horror Free to play Play as a human or a zombie trying to survive in the undead-infested city of Malton. Web
VATSIM n/a July 2001 (replacing SATCO) n/a Flight simulation Free to play Uses existing flight simulation software with custom plug-ins, players may interact with the network as either pilots or air traffic controllers.

[edit] Free play with advertising

These MMOGs are free to play. They are funded through advertising, either in-game or through pop-ups.

Developer(s) Release date Required OS Genre Payment Synopsis Type
Anarchy Online Funcom June 2001 Windows MMORPG, Science-fiction Normally subscription based, currently in free-play until Jan 2009 (where it may be extended again) but with advertisements Two factions fight for control of the distant desert planet Rubi-Ka. 3D
Cal Ripken's Real Baseball Netamin 2004 Windows MMOSG, Sports, Baseball Free, advertisements as billboards in stadiums. Home and away teams try to pitch and outhit each other to win. 3D
Jennifer Government: NationStates Max Barry 2002 Browser-based Government simulation game Advertising in the form of ad-bars the novel Jennifer Government. Players build nations and run them according to their political ideals. Web
Utopia Mehul Patel 1999 Browser-based Medieval fantasy strategy Free play with advertisements on top and right side of browser. Web

[edit] Free play with micro-transactions

These MMOGs are free to play, but players may optionally purchase in-game items or currency.

Developer(s) Release date Required OS Genre Payment Synopsis Type
9Dragons Indy21 2007 Windows MMORPG Chinese mythology Free-play, with Acclaim Coins purchases and in-game advertisement Player characters learn martial arts to survive in the harsh lands of China.
Angels Online n/a 2006 Multi-platform, Windows and Playstation 3. Medieval fantasy MMORPG Free to play, optional item shop purchases Players control an anime like character in a medieval fantasy world. 2D
ArchLord NHN Corporation October 3, 2006 Windows Medieval fantasy MMORPG Free play, players may purchase in-game currency[1] A human named Zian and his friend, a half-orc named Ugdrasil, find themselves in the midst of a thousand year old conflict for control of five mysterious relics known as Archons.
Ashen Empires Iron Will Games March 10, 2003 Windows Medieval fantasy MMORPG Free play, but most parts of the game world have certain skills locked and experience points reduced unless a prepaid subscription is purchased. Expansion packs, items, and bonuses can also be purchased. Players explore a two-dimensional world which boasts an impressive trade-skill system and includes various quests. 2D
Audition Online T3 Entertainment 2005 Windows Casual MMORPG Free to play, using a cash shop system that allows users to use real money to purchase in-game clothes, accessories, etc. to dress up their avatars. Players compete against others in a style like that of Stepmania and Dance Dance Revolution 3D
Cabal Online ESTSoft 2006 Windows Magic, Sci-fi MMORPG Free to play with cash shop. An MMORPG with a unique combo battle system and flashy skills. 3D
Conquer Online TQ Digital 2003 Windows MMORPG, Chinese mythology Free-play, with item purchases The Conquer Online landscape is a 2D rendition of mythical China within a 2.5D environment, with combat-focused game play, incorporating common elements of many MMORPGs such as wealth, fame and character development. 3D
Cyber Nations Kevin Beaks January 6, 2006 Browser-Based Online Geopolitical Simulator Free to play, with optional advertisements for bonus, and ability to donate for ingame cash and items. Create a nation and improve it with infrastructure and technology. Cyber Nations centers on politics with the ability to join alliances with hundreds of nations and to coordinate massive attacks on other nations. Web
DECO Online Rocksoft 2007 Windows MMORPG Free-play, with item purchases DECO Online is a fully 3D fantasy MMORPG that focuses on unique combo based combat. It has many common elements that can be seen in other MMORPGs such as fame, item enhancement and job changes. 3D
Dream of Mirror Online Aeria Games November 12, 2007 Windows XP/Vista MMORPG Free to play with cash shop Styled after ancient Chinese mythology. Second online game of the Sword of Xuan Yuan series. 3D
Drift City NPLUTO 2007 Windows Racing Free to play with an item shop. Players progress through a linear mission system with multiplayer races. 3D
Entropia Universe MindArk January 30, 2003 Windows only MMORPG/MMOFPS, Science-fiction Virtual economy with in-game to real-life currency exchange Massive virtual universe with a virtual economy. 3D
Eternal Lands Open Source license[2] February 2003 Windows, Mac & GNU/Linux MMORPG Free to play, with in-game items you can purchase from the home page. A medieval fantasy genre MMOG with combat and trading. 3D
Eudemons Online TQ Digital Entertainment 2006 Windows MMORPG, Medieval fantasy Free play with rare item purchases Set in the fictional world of YartLand, based on medieval China
Fiesta Online Netmarble June 2007 Windows MMORPG, Fantasy Free play with non-permanent item purchases Four human classes (Fighter, Cleric, Archer, Mage), 3D fantasy environment, pvp and lots of quests. 3D
Fly For Fun Aeonsoft August 2004 Windows MMORPG, Aerial combat Free play with item purchases (except for some countries) Centres on aerial combat; either fighting monsters, fulfilling quests or player versus player combat. 3D
Forumwarz Crotch Zombie Productions February 2008 Browser based Multiplayer browser game, Strategy Free play with item purchases RPG parodying internet culture Web
Gaia Online - February 2003 Forum-based Fantasy Users may purchase special, month-specific items called Monthly Collectibles with real currency. Online Community Updated With new items a contests as well as having a unique forum system which only needs the page to be refreshed in order to see changes. Soon to have a new second site which will be a battle system. Web
Granado Espada imc GAMES 2007 Windows MMORPG Free play with the ability to purchase gold for ingame items such as UPCs(Unique Player Character. Sword of the New World: Granado Espada was developed by Hakkyu Kim, CEO of imcGAMES and creator of Ragnarok Online. It was originally pay-to-play, but became free-to-play on August 21, 2007. 3D
Gunbound Softnyx 2006 Windows Shooter, Action Free to play with cash shop. A turn-based game similar to Worms. 2D
Gunz: The Duel MAIET Entertainment Beta-2003 Official-2005 Windows MMORPG Fighting Browser (Windows client available), free-play, no in-game advertisement, where players can buy "G coins" at a rate of 10 G coins=1 American Dollar Player characters fight on different levels and kill each other to level up. 3D
Habbo Sulake Ltd. September 2001 Internet Chat Option to buy Credits which can be used for items and 'Habbo Club' subscription. Windows 2D
Hattrick Extralives August 1997 Browser-based Sports game Optional "supporter service" and "mobile service" Players manage a simulated soccer team in competition with hundreds of thousands of other players. Web
Kingdom of Loathing Asymmetric Publications February 2003 Browser-based Comedy, fantasy, RPG Free to play with items available for purchase Players follow a story to free King Ralph whilst interacting with others online. Web
Kart Rider Nexon 2007 Windows MMORPG Racing Free-play, with an item shop. A racing MMO with multiplayer and singleplayer capabilities. 3D
Lunia: Record of Lunia War allm February 18, 2008 Windows MMORPG, Action Free to play with cash shop An adventure with role playing elements, staging, comboing and PvPing. 3D
MapleStory Nexon April 29, 2003 Windows Free to play, with items and gameplay enhancements available for purchase on website 2D platform mixed with action RPG elements, quests, party quests, and guild quests 2D
Navy Field SD Enternet February 8, 2006 Windows MMORPG/Naval Simulation Free to play, with additional items and gameplay enhancements available for purchase on website A naval combat MMOG set during World War II.
Nostale Entwell 2007 Windows MMORPG, Fantasy Free play with item purchases Player starts as an adventurer and can pick from three different classes in order to complete timestone missions and quests that follows with the game's story. 2D
O2 Jam 02 Media Inc. March 31, 2006 Windows Music Rhythm/Beat Free play, players may purchase in-game currency to buy clothes and other items. This game involves controls that are similar to a piano. It is a rhythm game that contains over 300 different songs, with more that can be downloaded.
Pangya/Albatross18 Ntreev Soft (Please add) Windows Sports game Free play with item purchases Anime-based, arcade-styled golf game. Items are primarily available through in-game money, with equivalent/seasonal items available through purchased 'Astros'. 3D
Perfect World Beijing Perfect World July 2005 Windows Chinese mythology Free play with item purchases Perfect World is a full-feature 3D online game that is based on rich Chinese mythology and set in the world of Pangu,created a world with flying monsters and floating cities and ruins, all waiting to be explored. 3D
PoxNora Octopi, Inc. August 2006 Java Real-time strategy, Fantasy Free play with item purchases
Puzzle Pirates Three Rings Design December 8, 2003 Windows, Mac, Linux Piracy Free play with special items and privileges available for purchase with secondary in game currency. Secondary currency may be traded between players or purchased with real money. Players perform tasks as pirates by playing a number of puzzle-style mini games. 2D
Rakion softnyx 2005 Windows MMOFPS Free play with in-game currency and improved status available for purchase. A room based game, were people create a room with a different game play type. Examples of this are PvP or Team PvP.
Rappelz nFlavor 2006 Windows Fantasy Free play with special items available for purchase 3D
Regnum Online NGD Studios 2007 Windows, Linux Fantasy Free play with premium item available for purchase Players join a realm in a fight against 2 other realms. Apart from the usual PvP, forts and castles are available to be captured. 3D
Rising Force Online Codemasters 2006 Windows Sci-Fi/Fantasy Free play with cash shop Set in a distant planet where magic and technology co-exist, emphasizes a 3-way race vs. race vs. race PVP system 3D
Second Life Linden Lab 2003 Windows, Mac OS X, Linux (Alpha Release) Virtual world Basic accounts are free, real world currency can be converted to in game currency. Freeform with in-game build system. Players can sell their own virtual creations. 3D
Secret of the Solstice DNC Entertainment 2008 Windows Fantasy Free play with non-permanent item purchases Set in the world of Xen, players complete quests and customize characters using branching job trees. 3D
Shaiya Aeria Unavailable Windows Medieval fantasy MMORPG Free to play, with premium items available to purchase. Medieval combat and trading with PvP-centric gameplay. 3D
Shot Online OnNet Co. Ltd. 2004 Windows Sports, MMORPG Free to play with cash shop. A sports MMO that is revolved around the sport of golf. 3D
Silkroad Online Joymax 2005 Windows Chinese history, trade Free play with items available for purchase A mass online MMORPG based on the accurate scoring of ancient China's history revolving around a Triangular-Conflict trading system. 3D
Soldier Front Dragon Fly 2007 Windows Shooter. Action Free to play with an item shop. A FPS with a synopsis similar to Counter-Strike. 3D
Sudden Attack GameHi 2005 Windows First-person shooter Free play with a cash and point shop. A team based Military First-person shooter with its Ranking levels similar to the Republic of Korea's military rank system. 3D
Tales of Pirates MOLI March 30, 2007 (Beta) Windows Piracy In open-beta; free-play, with items for purchase 3D
There There inc 2003 Windows Virtual world Basic accounts are free, Premium Membership is One-Time fee of $9.95 (Lifetime). real world currency can be converted to in game currency. Freeform play / chat. Players can sell their own virtual creations. 3D
Travian Travian Games GmbH (Please Add) Browser-based Historical strategy Additional game tools are available for a fee. Players interact in a virtual world set roughly in Classical antiquity at the time of the Roman Empire. Web
Trickster Online Ntreev Soft April 2003 (Korea) Windows Fantasy Free to play, with items available for purchase 2D with 8 classes to choose from. 2D
Voyage Century Online Snail Game / IGG December 22, 2006 Windows Historical nautical Free play with items available for purchase Set in the 17th century and features accurate historical representations of several coastal cities. 3D
Xiah Taewool Entertainment 2006 Windows Martial arts Free play with items available for purchase Xiah was designed for players to enjoy martial arts in the form of an MMORPG.
Yulgang IGG 2005 Windows Martial arts Free play with items available for purchase Based on the Korean martial arts comic which shares its name.

[edit] Optional paid subscriptions

These MMOGs offer optional additional game content through paid subscription, but are otherwise free to play.

Developer(s) Release date Required OS Genre Payment Synopsis Type
Club Penguin Club Penguin Entertainment Inc and Rocketsnail Games August 28, 2005 Internet Chat Free or premium (paid) accounts available Players play mini games to earn coins to spend on things for their character or house 2D
Dofus Ankama Games September 2004 Windows, Mac, Linux Medieval fantasy MMORPG Extra features available to subscribers 2D
Dungeon Runners NCSoft 2007 Windows MMORPG, Fantasy Free to play, with an optional monthly subscription for extra content Satirical Roguelike multiplayer RPG with randomly-generated, instanced dungeons. 3D
Horseland Horseland LLC 1998 Internet Chat, Horses Free to play. Option to pay to own your own stables and other privileges. An online community where you can raise horses and dogs.
Knight Online MGame Corporation 2004 Windows Medieval war Some servers are free to play 3D
Mabinogi Nexon June 2004 Windows Fantasy Free play with special items and privileges available for purchase through subscription or direct payment An MMORPG based on Welsh mythology, with an emphasis on "Fantasy Life" rather than simply hack-and-slash. 3D
OGame Gameforge Productions October 15, 2007 Browser-based Science-fiction strategy The free-to-play version is advertising-based. Paid subscriptions and premium benefits are also available. The gameplay revolves around building and maintaining a galactic empire. Web
Pirates of the Caribbean Online Disney October 31, 2007 Windows, Mac Pirate Fantasy Can play free, though paying option offers numerous more upgrades and features. Players create their own pirate, and do quests while interacting with characters and following a similar storyline from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. 3D
Puzzle Pirates Three Rings Design December 8, 2003 Windows, Mac, Linux Piracy Some servers require a monthly subscription to play on, while others are free but require microtransactions for some items. Players perform tasks as pirates by playing a number of puzzle-style mini games.
Runescape Jagex 2001 Browser-based 3d rendering Medieval fantasy, MMORPG Free play or paid accounts available, paid accounts have access to more skills, areas, weapons, and quests. Players can do quests, fight, or raise their levels. The game is based around getting stats to 99 as well as completing quests. 3D browser-based
Rubies of Eventide Mnemosyne, LLC 2003 Windows Medieval fantasy Free play or paid accounts available, with server priority given to the latter 3D
Tibia CipSoft GmbH 1997 Windows, Linux Fantasy Free to play with restricted content. Can upgrade to a "Premium Account" for full content. One of the oldest MMORPGs. Character development based on killing monsters and (optionally) doing quests and fighting other players. 2D
Wurm Online Mojang Specifications Sunsplash Creations 2006 Java Medieval fantasy MMORPG, MMOFS Free or premium (paid) accounts available Community-centric fantasy MMOFS developed in Java and OpenGL that strives to emulate real life in a fantasy medieval setting. 3D

[edit] Free play in open or closed beta

These MMOGs are free to play. They are still in beta, or development, stage.

Developer(s) Release date Required OS Genre Synopsis Type
Dream of Mirror Online Softstar Entertainment Unavailable Windows MMORPG Players are introduced to a story plot, but it is entirely optional. Players can choose to do either quests or other activities. This game contains a multi-class system. 3D
Mythos Flagship Studios Unavailable Windows Fantasy MMORPG An action heavy MMORPG from the makers of Fate and Diablo. 3D
Shadow of Legend SmartCell Technology December 2006 Windows PC, Windows Mobile, PDA, Smartphone Adventure MMORPG 2D MMORPG that can truly realize the interaction between mobile devices (smartphone & PDA) and PCs, allows players to enjoy adventuring anytime and from anywhere. 2D
Domain of Heroes Tandem Games June 2008 Windows, Mac OS, Linux Fantasy MMORPG Web-based MMORPG. Faction based w/territory control. Free to play; optional upgrades for customization and convenience features. Web
Phosphor rasterwerks.com 2007 Browser-based 3d rendering First-person shooter Browser-based First person shooter with 3d rendering. 3D browser-based

[edit] See also

[edit] References