Great MMOs to Play Solo, Including Ones That Are Less Known

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MMOs and MMORPGs have been an important element of the video games industry. These video games often feature hundreds and thousands of players in the same game world, either cooperating or competing. Even though many MMOs are social video games, with complex social networks such as groups, clans, and friend systems, many players prefer to play these games solo. In this article, you will find not simply MMOs that can be played solo, but MMOs that are fun to be played solo, with an enjoyable solo gameplay experience.

Age of Conan

Age of Conan (2008) is an MMORPG inspired by the Conan universe. This MMO is a great solo experience because it features detailed dialogue cutscenes, deep dialogues, storylines and immersive environments.

While typical "group-based" MMOs require players to form groups and parties to enjoy a large part of the content, Age of Conan features enough story-driven content to provide enjoyment for solo players as a single player RPG would be capable of. Moreover, just like other MMOs, Age of Conan can also be played with friends and with groups of other player characters.
  • Impressive amount of story-driven content
  • Detailed, cinematic cutscenes
  • Refreshing setting
Age of Conan is an excellent choice for players looking for a refreshing RPG experience, especially one that is not set in typical medieval or futuristic settings. Of course, it is also an excellent choice for Conan fans.

Conquer Online

Conquer Online (2004) is a PvP-oriented and combat-focused MMORPGs inspired by Chinese mythology and martial arts. Conquer Online is an excellent MMO to be played solo, but its gameplay shines in the populated servers, because its unique combat gameplay is excellent for both PvE and PvP. Conquer Online features a unique jump system in which player characters can quickly jump great distances, which is an everpresent characteristic in combat in this game.
  • Unique combat gameplay
  • Engaging PvP combat
  • Unique setting inspired by martial arts
Conquer Online is an excellent choice for players looking for a PvP-oriented MMORPG.

Continent of the Ninth Seal (C9)

Continent of the Ninth Seal (2012), or often C9, is an action-focused MMORPG, with gameplay similarities to third-person hack-and-slash video games such as Bayonetta and Devil May Cry. In C9, player characters engage in fighting monsters in instance-based dungeons and locations. The uniqueness of C9 is seen in its combat gameplay, with a combat much more fleshed out than many traditional MMORPGs of the 2000s and early 2010s.
  • Action-focused gameplay
  • Instance-based dungeons and locations
  • Most of the content is soloable
C9 is an excellent choice for players looking for an action-focused MMORPG to play.

Dungeons & Dragons Online

Dungeons & Dragons Online (2006) is a story-driven dungeon-crawling MMORPG. Inspired by the famous Dungeons & Dragons RPG franchise, Dungeons & Dragons Online provides players with a vast amount of quests, dungeons, monsters and storylines. It features deep lore and dialogues. Dungeons & Dragons Online also features NPC companions which can accompany the main player characters when adventuring in dungeons, an important feature for solo players.
  • Vast amount of story-driven content
  • NPC companions
Interestingly, Dungeons & Dragons Online is mostly set in Eberron, rather than in Forgotten Realms, even though some of its expansions are set in Forgotten Realms. For this reason, this video game can be a refreshing experience for D&D video game fans looking for a game set in a different campaign scenario, and also for fans looking for an RPG with a more medieval setting.

Final Fantasy XI

Final Fantasy XI (2002), or Final Fantasy XI Online, is a Final Fantasy MMORPG. This MMO is quite nostalgic to players who enjoy PlayStation 2-era RPGs, and provides players with a vast world to adventure.
  • Vast game world
  • AI NPC companions
  • PlayStation 2-era RPGs aesthetics
Final Fantasy XI features a vast amount of content, quests and storylines, as well as atmospheric environments, including cities, outdoors and dungeons. Moreover, Final Fantasy XI features a unique NPC companion system, one of the reasons why it can be an enjoyable solo experience.

Guild Wars

Guild Wars (2005), the first Guild Wars game, not as well-known than its successor, is an impressive MMORPG regarding solo content. Guild Wars features a vast amount of content, quests and storylines. Almost the entirety of the content of this video game can be experienced completely solo, and it features a detailed NPC companion system, through which players can customize their own party and recruit different NPCs.
  • Vast amount of story-driven content
  • AI NPCs
  • AI NPC group customization
Guild Wars (2005) is a solid MMORPG to be played solo, and features enough story-driven content to be considered on par with many single player RPGs.

Kal Online

Kal Online (2004), also known as Kalonline, is an MMORPG inspired by Korean mythology. While Kal Online is set in a medieval setting, due to its unique inspiration, it provides a very different experience from RPG video games set in Western medieval environments.
  • Vast game world to adventure
  • Unique setting inspired by Korean mythology
Kal Online features a vast amount of quests, and features a unique transformation system in which the player character may transform into mythological creatures. While this does not happen often in the game, it is a very unique feature. Moreover, Kal Online features a vast mythological world to adventure. Kal Online is an excellent choice for players who enjoy loot-based MMORPGs, in which the most important part of the gameplay is related to PvE and fighting monsters.

Path of Exile

Path of Exile (2013) is an isometric action RPG, with similarities to video games such as Diablo, Titan Quest and Grim Dawn. Path of Exile features a vast amount of content, quests, storyline and loot to be obtained. For this reason, Path of Exile is an excellent choice for players who enjoy isometric action RPGs.
  • Instance-based locations and dungeons
  • Variety of builds
  • Vast amount of loot
Moreover, Path of Exile features a variety of builds which characters can specialize in. Its amount of dungeons and instance-based content provide an excellent solo experience.

Phantasy Star Online 2

Phantasy Star Online 2 (2012), an MMORPG set in the Phantasy Star franchise universe, is a sci-fi action MMORPG. Phantasy Star Online 2 features different planets and locations, including exotic locations such as forests, tundras and deserts. Phantasy Star Online 2 also features a variety of gameplay styles. A player character can, for example, wield swords, use magic and also guns to fight enemies.
  • Engaging combat gameplay
  • Unique sci-fi setting
  • Variety of gameplay styles
  • Regular dynamic events
Phantasy Star Online 2 is known for having an action-based combat, much more fast-paced and dynamic than the combat of many MMORPGs of the 2000s. Players who enjoy dynamic combat will feel engaged with the unique combat gameplay of Phantasy Star Online 2. Moreover, Phantasy Star Online 2 features AI NPCs which accompany the player on adventures, a reason why it is an excellent MMORPG to be played solo.

Pirates of the Burning Sea

Pirates of the Burning Sea (2008) is an MMORPG which features a vast world to sail and adventure in. This MMORPG is inspired by the golden Age of Sail set in the Caribbean, and features NPCs, quests, storylines and many different locations to visit, such as towns and islands.
  • Vast game world to adventure
  • Unique setting inspired by the Age of Sail
  • Impressive amount story-driven content
Due to its unique setting, Pirates of the Burning Sea is a refreshing experience for players looking for something different than medieval or futuristic settings. Moreover, its impressive amount of story-driven content makes this an excellent MMORPG to play solo.

Ragnarök

Ragnarök (2002), is an action MMORPG, with gameplay similarities to video games such as Diablo, Titan Quest, Path of Exile and Grim Dawn. At the same time, Ragnarök has graphical similarities with RPG video games such as early Final Fantasy games and The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky games.
  • Vast game world to adventure
  • Variety of classes and gameplay styles
  • Vast amount of loot
  • Unique graphical style
Ragnarök features an impressive amount of different classes, a vast amount of different locations, including cities, outdoor and indoor locatioins, as well as dungeons. This video game also features an enormous amount of NPCs to talk to, storylines, and loot to be obtained. While Ragnarök features much backstory content and lore, this video game is an excellent choice for players who enjoy loot-based video games, such as Path of Exile, in which much of the gameplay is related to fighting monsters and obtaining better loot.

Requiem

Requiem (2007) is a unique MMORPG due to its post-apocalyptic setting. Unlike many MMORPGs, Requiem is set in a post-apocalyptic, torn world. Requiem is also unique in the sense that it features a horror-inspired atmosphere, different from most traditional MMORPGs.
  • Variety of locations in the game world
  • Unique post-apocalyptic setting
  • Inspired by horror elements
Moreover, Requiem features some unique features that make the PvE contenet of this game more challenging at certain moments. Requiem is an excellent choice for players who enjoy loot-based video games, such as Ragnarök (2002) and Path of Exile (2013) and are looking for a more post-apocalyptic MMORPG experience.

Shaiya

Shaiya (2007) is a fantasy MMORPG set in a medieval environment, with beautiful landscapes and an open world to adventure. Shaiya also features two different factions with very different characters and gameplay. Moreover, Shaiya features an impressive amount of story-driven content.
  • Beautiful game world
  • Impressive amount of story-driven content
  • Variety of classes
  • PvE and PvP content
Shaiya is an excellent choice for players looking for a story-driven MMORPG experience. Moreover, Shaiya also features PvP content for players who enjoy PvP.

Uncharted Waters Online

Uncharted Waters Online (2004) is an MMORPG set in the universe of the Uncharted Waters video games franchise, during the Age of Sail. In Uncharted Waters Online, players are able to purchase or even build their own vessels and ships, and adventure in an incredibly vast game world, with different locations depicted, including towns and locations from different continents.
  • Vast game world to adventure and sail
  • Vast amount of story-driven content
  • Dynamic game world with fluctiating prices and weather effects
Uncharted Waters Online features much story-driven content in the form of quests, many NPCs to talk to, and a dynamic game world that features fluctuating prices of goods and other features. Uncharted Waters Online is an excellent choice for players who enjoy adventuring and sailing. Uncharted Waters Online also features a unique NPC system, which in this game are called aides, which accompany the player on land and on sea to adventures.

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The Video Game Literate is the writer and owner of the website The Video Game Literate. The Video Game Literate has a passion for video games and has been writing guides and informational content related to video games for years. The writer has been playing video games for decades, and created a website to answer people's questions and change their perceptions about games, through analysis, information and research. Some of The Video Game Literate's favorite video game genres include RPG, strategy, open world, horror, fighting and racing. You can find more details about The Video Game Literate on the "About" page of the website.