The grand era of free-to-play MMORPGS
, by Quentin
This week, we're going on a trip down memory lane that we're sure will resonate with many of you. Let's go back in time, to the early 2000, and all to rediscover a genre that has left its mark on the industry: the free-to-play MMORPGs.
Indeed, while giants like World of Warcraft were making waves in the market, demanding a monthly sub to access the content, there were plenty of alternatives. Of course, not all of them were worth of our attention, but a few were well worth the detour, and not only because they didn't cost a penny. Here are five free-to-play titles that stood out on its own merits.
Rappelz - 2006
Here's a game that let you choose between three distinct races: Deva, Asura or Gaia. Depending on your selection, you got to join a specific city, where the rest of you race gathered: Horizon, Katan or Laksy. There was also a main citty common to all: Rondo.
The story wasn't anything to write home about, but the game stood out for many other things, including interesting dungeons and the possibility of catching and training a variety of pets.
Flyff - 2004
This one was great with its graphics alone, boasting a colorful and cartoonish art direction. But that's not all there was: Flyff was set in a enrapturing universe, Madrigal.
Once again, there were plenty of different regions to explore, and those were home to plenty of eye-catching monsters. In the game, you were a human who could go for lots of classes, be it mercenary, acolyte, magician...
Metin2 - 2004
Metin2 didn't stand out for its graphics, even back then. Instead, the game was all about simple, accesible gameplay. You had to choose between three different Asian empires: Chunjoo, Shinsoo and Jinno, and then you could go for one of the five following classes: Warrior, Ninja, Sura, Lycan and Shaman.
Althought it wasn't the most popular or the better game, Metin2 managed to survive for a few years thanks to a solid player base and some interesting ideas. However, it didn't shine in any area, so it's the worst of this list.
Albion Online - 2017
Albion Online may have been released later than the other, but it gets the genre's original ambitions: to be accesible and run easily on all PCs. Unlike some of the others, it didn't start out as free-to-play, but instead as a paid game. It only became free two years later, in 2019.
This game is an interesting one, as it offers a different gameplay experience to traditional MMORPGs. Progression is very different here: instead of following a set path, you have to develop your character by doing certain things in order to gain renown. This is then used to unlock levels.
To complete this experience, you explore a world divided into five biomes and collect a wide variety of resources to craft items. There are no predefined classes or races in Albion Online; everything depends on the choices you make in terms of equipment.
Aion - 2008
This one didn't start as free-to-play either, instead becoming free along the way. At least that was the case in Europe, where it adopted this model back in 2012. Aion was met with considerable succes on release, gathering 3.5 million players, and enjoyed further success when in turned free-to-play, attracting 750,000 new players.
The game is set in the world of Atreia, and you could choose between two playable races, the Asmodians and the Elysians. In parallel, the AI managed several other races such as Balaur, Maus, Shugos and Kralls. In addition, there was a wide variety of clases. The game got more content over the course of eight expansions.
The gameplay was quite enjoyable, allowing players to perform unique actions such as flying through the air. What's more, the world was vast and captivating to explore.
Although the craze for free-to-play MMORPGs has faded somewhat in recent years, they have undeniably left their mark. At a time when gamers were reluctant to pay a monthly subscription fee for a video game, these games offered a viable alternative.
Of course, development teams didn't work for free, and microtransactions were aplenty, though mainly for aesthetic purposes, with no real disadvantage for other players. Be that as it may, it's always a pleasure to step back in time and rediscover the highlights of one of the video game industry best genres.