Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG)

What Is a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG)?

Massively multiplayer online games, also known as MMO games or MMOGs, are huge-scale video games that can feature hundreds (or thousands) of players in one giant world. While they tend to be role-playing games, other genres have adopted the MMO structure in recent years.

The gameplay and game mechanics of massively multiplayer online games can vary wildly depending on the core of the experience. Some titles in the genre are more traditional, favoring hot bars on cooldowns for their real-time combat action. This can mean incorporating elements such as damage scaling, which can be tied to your character’s level; game progression advances as you become stronger.

Some of the best massively multiplayer games work on a loot-based system that rewards player exploration and agency. This can typically happen in raids (or other real-time in-world events) where loot, such as armor sets and weapons, can be won for a limited time. As your characters become more powerful, you will need more potent weapons, armor, and spells to continue adventuring. It’s all to fulfill player retention.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. What Is a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG)?
2. Key Takeaways
3. History of MMOs
4. How MMO Games Work
5. Types of MMO Games
6. Popular MMO Games
7. 4 Ways to Improve MMO Game Performance
8. MMO Games Pros & Cons
9. The Bottom Line
10. FAQs
11. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. What Is a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG)?
2. Key Takeaways
3. History of MMOs
Show Full Guide
4. How MMO Games Work
5. Types of MMO Games
6. Popular MMO Games
7. 4 Ways to Improve MMO Game Performance
8. MMO Games Pros & Cons
9. The Bottom Line
10. FAQs
11. References

History of MMOs

The history of MMOs stretches back over 30 years from their introduction as the internet became popular. As high-speed connections became mainstream, so too did the genre of playing video games online.

How MMO Games Work

MMO games utilize dedicated servers to host their expansive game worlds. Depending on the size of these private servers, hundreds (potentially thousands of players) can be supported at any one time. Some of World of Warcraft’s largest servers, called Realms, can support upwards of 30,000 players at any one time.

In contrast, EVE Online uses one gigantic server for a “single-shard universe” that can supposedly house as many as 300,000 players worldwide.

New MMO games have taken a different approach. Amazon Games’ New World has regional servers (US West, US East, SA East, EU Central, and AP Southwest) with areas supporting cross-play and cross-platform, whether on PC or console. This is similar with Throne & Liberty, which has dedicated servers across the Western, Eastern, South, and European Americas, as well as Japan and Oceania.

Types of MMO Games

There are many different types of MMO games available today.

Popular MMO Games

Popular MMO games are primarily RPGs due to the genre’s long history since its implementation in the late 1990s. That said, certain games have utilized large servers to great success.

World of Warcraft

If you asked most people to name an MMO, they would probably describe World of Warcraft. Blizzard’s perennially popular online RPG has thrived for over 20 years and has received a wealth of expansions and updates since it first launched in 2004. Despite two decades of innovation, in August 2019, Blizzard released WoW Classic, aiming to deliver an authentic base game experience before The Burning Crusade was implemented. You need an active subscription to play World of Warcraft, which costs $12.99 monthly.

Final Fantasy XIV Online

Final Fantasy XIV Online remains one of the most popular MMO games ever made, with over 30 million registered users. A reimagining of the original 2010 build, this version was made from the ground up and released in 2014. Since then, there have been a series of overhauling expansions, such as Endwalker from 2021 and Dawntrail from 2024. You can play for free up to level 70, and you’ll have access to the base game and the first two expansions (Heavensward and Stormblood). Otherwise, it costs $12.99 a month to keep playing afterward.

Elder Scrolls Online

Elder Scrolls Online translates the freedom and exploration found in the single-player games, such as Skyrim and Oblivion, while letting you meet with hundreds of other players on quests and out in the world. To date, there are over 22 million registered users, so you should never experience a dull moment in ZeniMax’s open world MMORPG.

4 Ways to Improve MMO Game Performance

MMO Games Pros & Cons

The Bottom Line

Massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) have been a part of the video game industry for over 30 years. While early versions of the software were text-based or primitive, nowadays, huge licenses utilize the genre in new and exciting ways. That means interacting with hundreds (or thousands) of players, whether as an RPG, a shooter, a racing game, or more.

FAQs