Seven of the Best MMO Games Like Lost Ark
There is a reason MMOs are such a popular gaming option — there’s nothing like being able to explore a brand-new world, meet people from all over the globe while you’re doing it, and pick up a couple of epic dubs along the way.
Lost Ark is one of the hottest available MMOs, but even the most vast and exciting game can get dull sometimes if it’s the only one you’re playing. There’s good news, though; there are plenty of ways to keep your gaming life exciting if you’re willing to have an open mind.
If you want to branch out and discover games like Lost Ark to keep things fresh, we have seven of our favorite MMO game options for you to check out.
What Is Lost Ark and Why Is It So Popular?
We’ll start at the beginning — let’s talk about what Lost Ark is and why so many people love it so much.
Lost Ark was released in South Korea in 2019 but not distributed in the US until 2022, so it’s still a fairly new entry to the cult favorites list. The game also doesn’t come from a well-known franchise or studio (although Amazon Games picked it up after it was released), which is part of what makes its quick ascension to popularity so notable.
The year Lost Ark came out, it set a record for the second-highest number of concurrent players on Steam — 1.32 million unique gamers. Pretty impressive!
The general game format of Lost Ark is known as an MMO — a massively multiplayer online game. The game's basic premise is similar to the plot of the Diablo series — as the protagonist, you’re essentially hunting a demon through Lost Ark’s enormous open world, fighting insane enemies and racking up sick kills along the way.
And when we say enormous, we mean enormous. Lost Ark has multiple continents to travel between and explore in various ways, playing as casually or as hardcore as you want. If you like to farm, battle, or just wander around, there’s a way to do just that.
The characters in Lost Ark are divided into multiple character classes, like assassin, gunner, mage, martial artist, and warrior. No class is necessarily “stronger” than another, and each has unique gameplay opportunities, strengths, and weaknesses.
You can further customize and develop your abilities as you explore and level up. It’s got a lot to offer and a nearly endless amount of ways to enjoy the game.
1. World of Warcraft
We’d be remiss not to start with the most well-known MMO — World of Warcraft, often called WoW. While WoW was not the first MMO on the market (depending on who you ask, that honor goes to Kingdom of Drakkar from way back in 1989), it remains one of the most recognizable.
Even people who have never gamed at least know what WoW is; the MMO has pop culture staying power and truly sets the bar for any other game that comes after it, and it’s a pretty high bar!
But that doesn’t mean that WoW just sits back and rests on the laurels of its name recognition — the devs have continued to release expansion packs to keep things in-game fresh (as of this article, the most recent expansion back was 2022’s Dragonflight expansion because who doesn’t want to ride dragons?).
That way, you're less likely to get bored, even if you’ve been a loyal WoW fan for several decades.
Haven’t played WoW before? You’re missing out on a classic. Whether it’s their detailed and diverse character creation, dedication to in-game events, or their drive to constantly evolve and keep their online world interesting for loyal gamers, you’ll always be entertained and impressed.
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2. Elder Scrolls Online
When Elder Scrolls first dropped in 1994, and even when Elder Scrolls Online first dropped in 2014, it wasn’t the hit it is today. It took a while before the game really started to catch on with gamers and come into its own.
However, slowly but surely, Elder Scrolls developed a loyal following, people who continue to be fans of the game even a decade later.
But hold on — what’s so unique about Elder Scrolls Online? Well, that depends on who you ask!
Like WoW, Elder Scrolls Online constantly finds new ways to keep itself fresh and exciting. Often, this means frequent expansion packs continue to open the worlds of Elder Scrolls up more and more — places like Tamriel, Summerset, Elsweyr, and Vvardenfell.
Each of those places has self-contained lore and storylines, and there is a nearly endless amount of it to discover (if lore is your thing, Elder Scrolls Online may offer more bang for your buck than any other MMO out there).
People also like ESO’s combat mechanics, which allow you to switch up your weapon sets in the middle of a fight (unlike many other MMOs). The gameplay, graphics, music, and story converge in each Elder Scrolls title to deliver peak content and epic moments (and gaming memes that have stood the test of time!).
You can battle, farm, meet other players, follow questlines, or just look around and see what you can find. While it isn’t an exact dupe of Lost Ark, many of the mechanics and gameplay work similarly, giving you a new world to explore.
3. Dune: Awakening
Dune is many things — a book series, a movie, and an entire community of like-minded individuals who continue to keep the franchise alive and pumping out new content fairly regularly. Case in point, Dune: Awakening.
Unlike most other MMOs, Dune: Awakening doesn’t necessarily take it easy. The creators promise to make their players really feel the tension of the Dune universe, especially the omnipresent sandworms that regularly come out of nowhere and attack.
While the game is still in beta, we’re optimistic that being able to explore Arrakis in a new and different way will be a hit (especially if you’re already a fan of the franchise).
4. Destiny 2
Destiny 2 is one of the many sequels that blows the original out of the water. While it’s more of a first-person shooter than an MMO, it does allow for online play (which is why we include it on our list of games like Lost Ark).
Destiny 2 is another constantly evolving game, with new events, seasons, and expansions dropping relatively frequently. It’s the perfect combination of battle and exploration, letting you play the game you want in the style you’re most interested in.
Plus, Destiny 2 has an exciting storyline that will keep you engaged no matter how many hours you put into it (and trust us, you can put in a lot).
Do you like sniping noobs and clutching heated battles for your squad? Destiny 2 is perfect for you. Are you more into exploring the rich lore and deep themes in the story? Don’t worry – Destiny 2 has you covered here as well.
5. EVE Online
There is a lot to be said about a good sandbox MMO — an MMO with a super open world that allows you even more flexibility and creativity to explore and forge your own path.
If you’re looking for a game that puts you in the driver’s seat and allows you to choose your destiny, there aren’t many in the gaming world better than EVE Online.
EVE Online is a space-based game renowned in the gaming community for its size and complexity. Exploring the more than 7,000 star systems allows you to battle other players for resources, trade with them, engage in PvE (player versus environment), and clutch sick dubs in PvP (player versus player) battles.
When you start your EVE Online account, you’ll be asked to create your character — each account can support up to three unique characters that you (or anyone in your household) have created. There are also four “races” in the game — Amarr, Caldari, Gallente, and Minmatar.
The game itself can be pretty complex, but that also means that it’s endlessly entertaining. If you’re looking for games like Lost Ark that can keep you interested and offer you something new and exciting every time, EVE Online may be a winner.
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6. Final Fantasy XIV Online
The Final Fantasy franchise has been popular for decades, with the first game in the series released in 1987. Final Fantasy has continued to adapt and change since its inception, releasing game after game (so far, 15 in total) — and even a movie!
In 2002, Square Enix released its first online MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) addition to the franchise — Final Fantasy XI. Still, the game never really picked up steam like they expected. Then, in 2010, they released their second attempt at an MMORPG — the far more successful Final Fantasy XIV.
When you start an account with Final Fantasy XIV, you’re entering the vast, detailed world of Eorzea. You’ll first be allowed to customize your character, choosing a name, gender presentation, race (from one of FFXIV’s many in-game options), and facial features. You’ll also choose a starting class — a Disciple of Magic or War.
The game itself follows a fairly standard script. Throughout the game, you’ll level up your character with experience points (EXP), complete quests, and follow the storyline as you chase adventure and experience epic moments.
7. Guild Wars 2
If you’ve ever played any multiplayer game before, you know the importance of guilds. Guilds are the backbone of any game that requires teamwork, as they allow you to form bonds and coalitions with other players and reach your goals together.
Guild Wars 2, the sequel to 2005’s Guild Wars, was released in 2012 but only recently made its way to Steam. While you do have to pay, it’s only a single “entrance fee” and not a monthly subscription (which is different from many other MMOs out there that work on more of a pay-to-play basis).
Guild Wars 2 allows for both PvE and PvP gameplay, set in the sci-fi world of Tyria. You can choose to be a character from one of five races and nine unique professions, meaning you can create and customize the character you’re looking for.
As you help search the world for the members of Destiny’s Edge, you’ll battle monsters and other players to reach your goal.
The Bottom Line
Lost Ark is one of the best-selling, most popular MMOs on the market, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only one out there. If you’re looking for games like Lost Ark and want to branch out into other similar MMOs, we hope our list has helped you discover something new.
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