The Best Solo MMORPGs

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home February 22, 2025 11 Views 24 Min Read
The Best Solo MMORPGs



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So you have always wanted to dive headfirst into an MMORPG but sadly lack any friends to drag along for the ride. Or perhaps what you are craving is a lush, open-world experience dripping with story and engaging combat.

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25-Ranking The Best MMORPGs Of All Time-EMAKI

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If you are on the hunt for an entirely solo experience, MMORPGs simply may not be your cup of tea. But if you are concerned you will get stuck in a new MMORPG world without friends to guide you, you’re in luck. Many MMORPGs are teeming with content that can be done on your own, and you’re likely to make a few in-game friends along the way!

Updated February 21, 2025 by Jacob Whaling: We’ve added two more solo player-friendly MMOs to this list, as well as added spec boxes containing details on game.

19

New World

Amazon Games practically stole 2021 (and the whole MMORPG community) with its release of New World. This monster of an MMO with a new spin on the “classless” combat system is so solo-friendly that they have even included an automatic “Only Plays Solo” title for anyone who joins a Faction. While Expeditions and PVP War Campaigns must be attempted with a group, New World still has a lot to give to the more casual solo player.

Much of the early quest progression can be done on your own. For the more peaceful soul, there are hours of fishing, gathering, and crafting to be had. If you find yourself in a spot of trouble and need a group to join, it is useful to work on a tank build for your character, as tanks are always in demand for grouped events.

18

Neverwinter

Three characters from Neverwinter using a sword, instrument, and magic to battle undead.

For anyone aching to try their hand at Dungeons and Dragons but unable to find a good Dungeon Master or pals to play, rejoice! Neverwinter is a free-to-play MMORPG based around the lore of D&D. With all of the same playable classes and races as well as iconic locations from the classic tabletop roleplaying game, Neverwinter is a great place for gamers curious about the world of D&D.

Unlike classic D&D, Neverwinter can be played on your own. Questing and dungeons can be completed pretty easily up to level 60, but from there, the solo play does get a bit harder. Community members recommend a “beefy” class (like Fighter or Paladin) for solo play to get the best experience.

A timeless MMORPG, Elder Scrolls Online is a fantasy game set in the world of Tamriel, connected with the same lore many grew to love in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. While it might not be the best option for gamers hungry for Elder Scrolls VI to release, ESO is a fantastic MMORPG for solo players.

Much of the questing and story content can be done on your own quite easily, up until Veteran levels. You can even attempt some world bosses solo. However, some story content is designed for four players or more and is almost impossible to do on your own.

16

Guild Wars 2

Few MMORPGs lend themselves better to solo play than Guild Wars 2. Its foundation relies on instanced environments, with the storyline changing based on your actions as a player. This makes it fairly unique as an MMORPG. Much of the core story content is meant to be played on your own.

For the long term, Guild Wars 2 also makes it easy to join random groups for any areas which require it, such as large events and world bosses. With an extremely helpful and positive community, Guild Wars 2 is a great pick if you want to dip your toes into an MMORPG solo.

15

Lord Of The Rings Online

An elf and a dwarf overlook Rivendell in Lord of the Rings Online.

We have all wanted to live in a hobbit hole at some point in our lives. While Lord of the Rings Online is not a verbatim translation of the classic J.R.R. Tolkien series, what could possibly be better than living in Middle Earth as your own character?

An animated woman with brownish hair wrapped in a white blanket, with two computer monitors in the background.

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LOTRO has been floating around since 2007, and the community is still going strong. Choose between seven races and adventure through infamous locations like the Shire, the Mines of Moria, and more. LOTRO is ideal for solo players thanks to its solo skirmishes, allowing you to fight alongside customizable AI soldiers in battle.

14

Rift

Main screen for RIFT game with two monsters facing off.

Rift is a fantasy MMORPG incredibly reminiscent of genre classics but with a somewhat Lovecraftian spin. You play as one of the Ascended, protecting the world of Telara from enemies invading from elemental Planes. Rift features split factions and six unique races to choose from.

Solo play in Rift is a bit more challenging than some MMORPGs, but it can be done. Leveling can be accomplished on your own without too much trouble, but raids and dungeons will require a group.

13

Skyforge

Skyforge, characters fighting a giant creature.

Skyforge is a sci-fi MMORPG with a fantasy flair that is very easy on the eyes. Evocative of the Percy Jackson series in concept, you play as an immortal hero aiming to become a god as you battle against alien intruders across the planet Aelion.

With a whopping 17 classes to choose from and intensely specific character customization options, there is a lot to love about Skyforge on the surface. Much of the earlier story content can be done solo, and later into the game, it is entirely possible to do quests meant for up to three players on your lonesome.

12

Albion Online

A sky view of an Albion Online battle.

If you have ever grown bored of your chosen class or subclass in an MMORPG and found yourself frustrated over starting from square one on a new character, consider checking out Albion Online.

A collage showing gameplay pictures of the Lord of the Rings Online, WoW, and EVE Online.

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Featuring a unique “classless” system where you can swap abilities based on what you equip, this self-described sandbox medieval fantasy MMORPG is a nice change of pace from other classic MMOs. It even lets you have your own island where you can farm, fish, and tend to animals. It might take a little more time, but Albion Online lends itself well to solo play for anyone interested in leveling, crafting, and even PVP.

11

MapleStory

Players in a mushroom kingdom castle in MapleStory.

Few games really stand out as MMORPGs like MapleStory. In this unique, cutesy, chibi-style 2D side-scrolling MMORPG, you play as a citizen of Maple World, fighting back against the evil Black Mage. Casual solo progression is definitely doable in MapleStory, and when the need arises, most find that it’s easy to join guilds.

That can be necessary at some intervals, as fighting bosses requires a party. MapleStory still has a vibrant community, however, with lots of players on Twitch and community forums willing to help new players.

10

Final Fantasy 14

For a story-driven solo fantasy adventure, you cannot go amiss picking up Final Fantasy 14. The best part about this MMO is that it is versatile, offering a chill, narrative-focused route for the casual gamer while also supporting an active and overwhelmingly positive community of players known for helping out newbies. Final Fantasy 14 will even let you choose to solo dungeons, truly making it one of the more solo-friendly MMORPGs out there.

With the addition of the Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker DLC comes a whole new solo adventure in the form of the Island Sanctuary area. This single-player area promises Stardew Valley feels, allowing you to customize building layouts, tend animals, and farm to your heart’s content.

9

Temtem

The player runs along an ocean dock in Temtem.

Temtem is one of the younger games on our list, but it’s a bit different. Rather than having a classic MMORPG feel with dungeons, classes, and a leveling system, Temtem is more like a multiplayer Pokemon.

In Temtem, you can collect a variety of creatures (also called Temtems) and explore the world. While exploring, you can see other players and even interact with them, but this is completely optional; you can play the entire game without coming in direct contact with another player.

8

Palia

Palia title screen with windmill, village, mountains in the background, and people in the foreground

Palia is a unique MMORPG that blends elements of cozy farming sims with the MMO format of gameplay. You appear in a world where humans have been extinct for centuries and have recently begun to re-emerge. You get your own house plot that you get to upgrade and decorate. You can grow crops, hunt for food and resources, chop trees, mine copper and iron: all the resource grinding you normally get in cozy farming games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. You can even romance some of the NPCs.

As you explore the world outside your house plot, you’ll come across other players who are fishing, hunting, or talking to NPCs. If you want, you can make friends, visit each other’s homes, or even have cake-baking parties. While this game promotes community and the value of working together, you can play this game entirely solo if you wish. Palia is currently available for both PC and the Switch and is free to play.

7

World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft image showing a Night Elf Druid Casting A Spell.

World of Warcraft needs no introduction; this is one of the most well-known MMORPGs; even if you don’t play games in this genre, you know of World of Warcraft. While this game provides plenty of dungeons, raids, and PvP opportunities, it’s also great for those looking to play alone.

The story can be played by yourself, and most of the dungeons are completely optional. While they can add to the story, you can skip over these group activities and get to playing solo. If you do decide that you want to play with others, the opportunity will always be there.

6

Old School RuneScape

A group of players outside the castle in Old School RuneScape.

One of the longest-running MMOs out there, Old School RuneScape is a testament to how good game design is more important than powerful graphics or cool effects. There’s a mountain of content available and no classes or builds that you’re inherently locked into. And most content is made with solo completion in mind.

OSRS is also tremendously convenient. Available as both a mobile app and as a browser game, you can play on your account from virtually anywhere. If you want some high fantasy with more than enough to do, this is a fantastic choice.

5

Sky: Children Of The Light

Sky character surrounded by clouds and touching butterflies, city in the distance, in Sky: Children of the Light

From the same creators of Flower and Journey comes Sky: Children of the Light, a very different MMO experience than most games. It started out as a free mobile game, but recently came to the Switch, Playstation, and PC. In this game, you travel through and explore different worlds, collecting and helping the various spirits, solving puzzles, and restoring life to barren wastelands.

Sky: Children of the Light is classified as a social game where you can interact with other players directly or indirectly. However, the social aspect of the game comes naturally and isn’t forced. You can still play completely solo, and progression through the game does not require interacting with other players.

4

Black Desert Online

The Corsair in Black Desert Online.

Black Desert Online is a sandbox MMO that allows you to do just about anything you want. There is no classic MMORPG structure, with raids, dungeons, and a clear linear story. In Black Desert Online, you can do anything that interests you, from building the ultimate ship to having an army of workers produce items for you.

Much of the content in Black Desert Online is geared toward solo play. As there is no structure, you can interact with other players as little or as often as you want. Some content is only available if you are playing with others, but there is still tons of content for you to play through by yourself.

3

IdleOn

As its name implies, IdleOn is an idle MMORPG where your characters keep grinding, even after you log out. While every new character starts as the Beginner class, you’ll soon be able to progress to one of the three basic classes, Warrior, Mage, or Ranger, which then each have their own unlockable class trees, such as the Blood Berserker, Beast Master, or Shaman.

There are tons of different skills to level up in IdleOn; from the classics like Mining, Smithing, and Cooking to more interesting options such as Worship and Sailing. Since IdleOn is free, and you can make progress even when you’re not playing, it’s the perfect game to jump in and out of whenever you feel like it.

2

Dungeons And Dragons Online

Dungeons & Dragons Online is the second D&D-based MMO on this list. If you’ve played Neverwinter and wanted more of the standard D&D campaign feel, Dungeons & Dragons Online is the one to check out.

With its unique subclassing system, there are dozens of class combinations to try out, leading to nearly endless build diversity. Plus, D&D Online’s Reincarnation system means when you reach max level, you can drop back down to level one and continue questing in other areas, retaining the progress you made in your previous life. Most quests are designed around solo-play, making the game perfect for solo players.

1

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Characters including a Togruta and several humans wielding blasters and lightsabers from Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Lastly, we have Star Wars: The Old Republic. Like other games on our list, there is group content in this MMORPG and tons of content that can be completed alone. While playing, you won’t miss out too much if you don’t participate in group content.

Leveling content in Star Wars: The Old Republic is meant to be played solo, so you can dip your toes into the game and level up by yourself. Once you feel confident enough, you can join others, but this is just a small portion of the content available to you.

RPG Town Themes Final Fantasy 4, Ni No Kuni, Earthbound

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