10 Most Played MMORPGs 2024

The most played MMORPGs of 2024 are an integral part of the gaming industry that is currently still peaking to new heights.

In 2021, World of Warcraft claimed the number one spot as the most played MMORPG by player count, however, a lot has changed since then.

Many extremely popular MMORPGs have either gone free to play or given players so much additional content to explore that they grew tremendously in the last few years but have they managed to surpass the king of MMOs, World of Warcraft?

Below are the 10 most played MMORPGs of 2024 by daily active players. Finding out how many players are active in a game can often be a complex task as we need to rely on APIs and other sources to get a good estimate.

These numbers are not 100% accurate but should give you a good indication of how many daily players are logging in on each MMO.

The 10 Most Popular MMORPGs of 2024

10. EVE ONLINE – 230,000 Daily Players

Complex MMORPG - EVE Online

Eve Online is a space-based MMORPG that has been around since 2003 and remains one of the most played MMORPGs today. Players can choose from a variety of races and professions to create their own unique characters.

Explore the vast and beautiful galaxy, and make money through various in-game activities like mining, trading, and piracy.

EVE Online is notorious for its steep learning curve, but those who stick with it are rewarded with a truly unique experience. Eve Online has a player-driven economy that is the envy of the gaming world and constantly evolving game mechanics.

MMORPG fans that truly want to immerse themselves into a game should give EVE Online a try.

PROS

Deep and complex gameplay
Beautiful graphics
The perfect game for serious gamers

CONS

Steep learning curve
Can be expensive to get into if you don’t have a lot of friends already playing

9. ELITE DANGEROUS – 275,000 Daily Players

Most played MMORPG 2022 - Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous is a space-simulation MMORPG that has been around since 2014. The game has around 275,000 daily active players and was recently updated in March 2022 with new content.

In Elite Dangerous, players take on the role of a starship captain and can explore a vast galaxy filled with stars, planets, and other players. The game has various expansions including: Horizons and Beyond with seasonal elements seen in other MMORPGs.

Elite Dangerous is known for its steep learning curve which can be a bit daunting for new players. However, those who stick with it are rewarded with an extremely detailed and complex game world.

PROS

Beautiful graphics
Varied and detailed gameplay
Huge universe to explore
Available on Consoles and PC

CONS

Resource grinding can be tedious
Lack of story
Limited diversity in planets

8. BLACK DESERT ONLINE – 325,000 Daily Players

Popular MMORPG Black Desert Online

Black Desert Online comes in at number nine on this list of most played MMORPG of 2024. BDO is a sandbox MMO that lets players do pretty much whatever they want, which can either be great or bad depending on your playstyle.

The combat system used in Black Desert has no auto-attack and instead gives players full control over their characters, which is a huge plus for many players. The world of BDO is also incredibly beautiful and full of things to do.

One downside to the game is that it can be overwhelming at first, but once you get used to it, Black Desert Online is one of the best MMOs out there. With stunning graphics, excellent combat, and a huge open world, Black Desert Online is a great choice for any MMORPG fan.

PROS

Can play Black Desert Online for free
Epic combat
Lots of women to encounter with big features

CONS

Lots to learn about items, rewards, etc
End game content is heavily focused on Pay to Play
PvP is all about the meta. Not balanced

7. GUILD WARS 2 – 350,000 Daily Players

Tenth Most Played MMORPG Guild Wars 2 of 2022

The 8th most played MMORPG of 2024 is Guild Wars 2. Guild Wars 2 is a beautiful and unique MMO that takes place in the world of Tyria. Players can choose from five different races and nine professions, which allows for plenty of customization.

GW2 is known for its dynamic events that can happen at any time, resulting in a constantly changing world. The game also has an interesting storyline that is sure to please fans of MMOs and RPGs.

The main downside to GW is that it can be a bit grindy, but the endgame content is worth it. Overall, Guild Wars is an excellent choice for MMO players who want epic PvP and combat as well as a unique world to explore where everything is optional.

PROS

Heavily skill based PvP
All classes are equally viable
GW2 Core Content is Free To Play
Combat is fast-paced and fun

CONS

Little explanation to important things
Dungeons are very difficult but also legacy content
Combat style isn’t for everyone
Sometimes too casual as almost everything is optional

6. THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE – 375,000 Daily Players

Cross play MMO The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online comes in at number eight on the list of most played MMORPG. TESO is set in the world of Tamriel and lets players choose from three different classes: Dragon Knight, Templar, and Nightblade.

TESO also offers a wide variety of PvP modes for players who love to compete. The game has a detailed and well-made storyline, as well as plenty of side content to keep players busy.

One downside to TESO is that it can be difficult to find groups for endgame content, but this problem is gradually fading away with the game’s continually growing player base. Overall, The Elder Scrolls Online is an excellent choice for fans of the Elder Scrolls series who want to experience the world of Tamriel in an MMO setting.

You can also play The Elder Scrolls Online on pretty much any console. The popular MMO is available on PC, OSX, PS4, Xbox One, PS5, and the new Xbox Series X/Y.

PROS

Monthly subscription not mandatory
Hybrid combat system
Fun group content and fun community
Good for casual and hardcore players

CONS

Frequent updates means lot of waiting for players that don’t play often (waiting for downloads to finish)
Monthly subscription is not essential to play but it is recommended.

5. WORLD OF WARCRAFT CLASSIC – 500,000 Daily Players

Most Played MMORPG 2022 World of Warcraft Classic

World of Warcraft is a classic MMO that launched back in 2004 and took gamers by storm. Since then World of Warcraft Classic has been re-released and players with an active WoW subscription can play retail World of Warcraft of Classic.

World of Warcraft quickly grew to become of the most played MMORPG and is set in the world of Azeroth and lets players choose from nine different classes.

WoW has a detailed storyline that players can follow, as well as plenty of side content. The game is also known for its PvP and PvE content, which has kept players entertained for years.

One downside to WoW is that the endgame can feel a bit stale for some players, but this problem seems to be getting better with time. Overall, World of Warcraft Classic is an excellent choice for old-school MMO fans who want nostalgia as well as a more difficult world compared to retail WoW.

PROS

More challenging than retail World of Warcraft
Hybrid combat system
Long dungeons and raids
Nostalgia and community

CONS

Like an old MMORPG, you need to grind a lot
Long dungeons and raids (both a pro and a con)
Huge commitment if you want to be competitive

4. RUNESCAPE – 525,000 Daily players

Famous MMORPG RuneScape in a raid battle

RuneScape is a fantasy MMORPG that originally launched back in 2001. Over time Jagex has made several changes to RuneScape and the current version is referred to as RuneScape 3.

RuneScape is set in Gielinor, a fantasy world with dragons, elves, and dwarves.

Players can choose from 17 different skills for Free To Play members and an additional 11 for paying members. These skills include Mining, Smithing, Woodcutting, and more.

One downside to RuneScape is that it can feel a bit dated (compared to some other MMORPGs), but Jagex is constantly making changes to the game to keep players engaged. Another downside is that there are no classes, so players are essentially left to their own devices when it comes to character development.

Despite its flaws, RuneScape is one of the most played MMORPGs of 2024 in the world and is a great choice for players who love fantasy worlds.

PROS

Shared membership between RuneScape and Old School RuneScape
Fun quests and story
Easier to get to the end-game compared to Old School RuneScape
Great PvE (or PvM) experience

CONS

Can be overwhelming with the amount of stuff to do
Less friendly to new players, with minimal guidance in-game
Lots to learn when starting out

3. WORLD OF WARCRAFT – 1.2 Million Daily Players

Most Active MMORPG 2022 - World of Warcraft

Has the King of MMORPGs finally been toppled? It seems so! Coming in at number 3 of the most played MMORPG of 2024 is World of Warcraft.

World of Warcraft is an MMORPG that was first released in 2004. The game has 117 million registered accounts according to FictionHorizon. WoW takes place in the world of Azeroth and lets players choose from a ton of different races to play. Some of the races include Humans, Undead, Dwarfs, Trolls, Orcs, Goblins, and more.

There are also 12 classes to choose from such as Mages, Paladins, and Warlocks.

World of Warcraft is one of the most popular MMORPGs in 2024 and has a ton of content available.

The downside to World of Warcraft is that it can be quite time-consuming to keep up with raiding due to the various requirements players want before inviting you to a group.

This is the second year that World of Warcraft ISN’T the most played MMORPG.

PROS

Deep lore and great story
World PvP
Can play both Classic and Retail WoW with 1 subscription
Easy for everyone to get in to

CONS

Older zones can feel empty
Difficult to keep up with raids if you don’t play enough

2. OLD SCHOOL RUNESCAPE – 1.4 Million Daily Players

Popular MMORPG Old School RuneScape

Coming in at number two on the list of most played MMORPGs of 2024 is Old School RuneScape.

Old School RuneScape is an MMORPG that was first released in 2013 and immediately became one of the most played games which eventually led to 1.4 million daily players.

OSRS was released as the 2007 version of RuneScape and takes place in Gielinor, which is divided into different regions such as Asgarnia or Karamja. The game also offers a variety of content including PVP, quests, and more.

The most popular activities in Old School RuneScape are bossing (tougher enemies) such as the Giant Mole or Daganoth Kings, which all have great rewards to earn from killing them.

One downside about Old School RuneScape is that it can be difficult for new players to get started as there is a lot of content available. Another downside is that the graphics might not appeal to players that never played RuneScape before.

PROS

Free to play with membership upgrade available
Nostalgia
Large PvP community
Simple combat and easy to pick up

CONS

As the name suggests, OSRS is very old school in terms of graphics and gameplay.
Lots of grinding compared to RuneScape 3.

1. FINAL FANTASY XIV – 3 Million Daily Players

2022 Most Played MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online

The most played MMORPG of 2024 is Final Fantasy XIV. Final Fantasy XIV has been growing at such a rapid pace that they even had to temporarily shut down their free trial. As of writing this, the free trial is back online so new players and start playing again.

Despite Final Fantasy XIV’s initial release in 2010 being a complete disaster. FFXIV’s popularity started steadily increasing once they released A Realm Reborn in 2013.

The game takes place in the world of Eorzea and lets players choose from a variety of classes to play which include Paladins, Dragoon, Black Mage, and more.

Final Fantasy XIV is one of the most popular MMORPGs in 2024 due to its amazing graphics and interesting storyline that keeps players engaged throughout their journey across Eorzea.

Besides all that good stuff, Final Fantasy XIV has been designed to be an MMORPG that can be played completely solo if you so desire. If you just want to experience the story without engaging much with other players, that is completely possible.

There are however a few downsides to FFXIV, one being the language used. Most of the speech in the game is often over the top and very fantasy/Tolkien-like. This isn’t exactly uncommon for a Final Fantasy game but it does need some time to get used to.

PROS

Free trial available until level 60
Amazing story and graphics
Great character customization
One character, every job/class

CONS

Many limitations in the free trial
PvP could be more fun and engaging
FFXIV uses a lot of fantasy-style language which can be annoying to some

That’s it for this list of the 10 most played MMORPGs of 2024. This is actually the first year that WoW has been surpassed in terms of daily active players which is quite incredible.

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Article by Jake

Hey I'm Jake! Writer for various gaming and technology blogs. I also enjoy a little bit of golf in my free time as well as gaming. I really enjoy competitive games and I hate to admit it, but I have really been enjoying Wild Rift on my phone as I get the League experience without the rage. Usually you'll find me on Steam though exploring the many competitive options out there, whether that is a Battle Royale game or a MOBA game.