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Top 5: Free Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG) photo

[Editor's note: Milling around the PC game isle offering barter handjobs for Guild Wars will probably result in the most rewarding free MMO experience, but you might get herpes.  Kudos to Huskyhog for discovering some killer free games many of us have never heard of. -Niero]

Every one of us has come across an MMORPG we wanted to play. However, the demons in our pockets seem to be eating the supply of gold needed support such habits. Why is it we have to continue to pay for a video game we already purchased once? We shouldn't be forced to pay ridiculous fees every month in order to support our socially crippling habits.

Here are the top five solutions for the penniless gamer.

 



Number Five - WURM Online

Scraping in at number five is WURM Online. I use the word scraping because that's just about all you can do as a free citizen. Your levels are capped, however I have yet to reach the caps myself.WURM Online presents a MASSIVE sandbox to use as your new home. You can run for hours (literally) until you find a spot to cut down trees and start to build your home. However you can't build a new society all on your own, you must band together with fellow players, which makes the game even more community based. Personally I found a village already in progress and joined up, but you're more than welcome to take on a village of your own. This game isn't based on slaying monsters, it's just about building your town. Everything you build comes from nature, having certain items allows you to produce different goods, which can be used to produce more useful items. The endless possibilities are what this game's strengths are, and if you can get passed the level cap it's worth your time to take a break from your sword, and pick up a hammer.


Number four - Habbo Hotel

I don't understand this game enough to spend hours playing it, but I can't help to join up every once and a while. Habbo Hotel is another one of those second life type games, in which people go online for the soul purpose of chatting with their fellow pale comrades. Purely community based,Habbo Hotel relies on people's own insecurity of real life to in order to lead them into their second, more pixelated life. I did, however, play this game for some time, and it holds a place in my heart. The ability to play it without installing a client is also a huge plus. So if you're bored in class, give it a click.



Number three - MU Online

I'm not going to lie, I played this game. It presents the base of any MMORPG with it's simple, yet intriguing design. You get to pick a race, start out at level one, and continue your never ending quest to the current level cap. The game is still free, for those who don't want the extra features, and relatively simple to download. However don't expect to get too caught up in it. There aren't nearly as many quests or things to do other than grinding and trying to figure out what your party leader is yelling at you for. Overall it's a good game to try out if you want a free game to play, but there's a reason it's at number three spot.



Number two - Voyage Century

Voyage Century takes on the open ocean. You take charge of a ship as a privateer, merchant, or even a pirate. Aside from all that jazz, how's the play? Having played it for roughly... three weeks, I can confidently tell you it matches that of a freeMMORPG about to go P2P. Nothing about it strikes me as absolutely amazing, but it's defiantly worth a download on a boring Sunday afternoon. The game play itself can be a tad choppy, but the community makes up for a lack of natural cooperation. Give it a try for yourself.



Number one - Space Cowboy

With a name from the end of a popular anime cartoon, Space Cowboy has a lot of room to fall before it hits rock bottom. You get to chose one of four types of planes, and take it to the skies. You can gear up your atmospheric-proof ride with several different weapons, and take on the rest of the galaxy while you level up. It's grinding based, however thePVP is amazing, and makes up for any boring downtime you may spend grinding. There are two factions (sound familiar?) except you can chose which one you join after a certain level, so it makes the decision more educated. This one makes the list because of it's unique style of game play, I personally am tired of having to pick up a bow and arrow instead of a gun, and having to ride animals instead of drive vehicles. A major disadvantage, however, is the fact you can spend real life money to give your in game character a boost. As a poor gamer, it's always sad to see your rich neighbor pass you up.

I challenge you all to take on any of the games from this list. Post your comments, recommendations to other MMORPG's, rants, raves, even complaints. Just keep it clean, and remember that private servers DO NOT count as a free MMORPG (though they are technically free). I'm trying to list ways of playing on a global server that doesn't involve some form of piracy.

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next 50 comments

59 comments | showing # 1 to 50

PwnDaddy's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/08/2007 20:56
PwnDaddy
Hrm. I didn't get a chance to play Space Cowboy, but I have heard of it.

Anarchy Online is free for a little while still. last I saw it was a yearlong promo for a free basic account (no expansions).

While not technically an MMO, GunZ and the newly added Kwon-Ho are still doing fairly well. They are from ijji games, and they seem to have frequent enough updates and what have you. Eudemons Online is also free, but I cannont reccomend it cause that shit doesn't make a but of sense to me.
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/08/2007 21:03
Husky Hog
Ironically I played Eudemons Online and I have to agree with what you say, there's a reason it's on the list.

What you get from Anarchy Online for free can hardly be called an MMO, it's barely worth it so I didn't even want to put it on the list
tehdopefish's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/08/2007 21:32
tehdopefish
Mu == 110% grind. i should know, i had a lvl 330.

i play teh wow now :(
velcroman's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/08/2007 21:39
velcroman
Fuckin Habbo Hotel? What a joke.


P.S. Pool's Closed
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/08/2007 21:43
Husky Hog
Dude how the hell did you get to lvl 330? I bet you own at WoW because you're so used to grinding lol
Mxyzptlk's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/08/2007 22:04
Mxyzptlk
Habbo Hotel, lol.
William Haley's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/08/2007 23:16
William Haley
Interesting, I will check the rest of these out.
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/08/2007 23:58
Husky Hog
Yeah thanks, let me know if you like any

I searched Coke Music, it's actually a lot more usefull to me than Habbo is, I can go into a room and zone out :P
tehdopefish's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 00:25
tehdopefish
@huskyhog

you better believe it.

the only thing that made it bearable was being in an awesome guild with a ton of friends.. essentially we would just chat while grinding, so it wasnt bad at all... but after playing WoW i could never go back to grinding like that.
charliesuh's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 02:22
charliesuh
Your list sucks ass. But don't worry, I'd still stick it in you.
Buster's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 04:33
Buster
yea husky, if you wanted to make a list of mmos, you shoulda talked to me,i played MANY of them

btw i agree with space cowboy and voyage century
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 05:44
Husky Hog
What would you say I missed?

If you say maple story I'm going to kill, I hated that game :P


and @charlie

watch yourself... who's got your number for the next time I'm in LA :p
Buster's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 06:10
Buster
nope, maplestory is a terrible game

although none of these games are out yet, i have alot more fun with these games than with most already out games

Mythos- its as close to diablo 2 as you're gonna get, and its completly free, also its made by some of the people that made fate and diablo 2

http://www.mythos.com/

Lunia- this mmo they called an action-MMORPG it actually does have a story, and you got through levels instead of an entire world. before and after the levels there are cut scenes with parts of the story, even during the level theres some chat between the characters, as for the game itself its pretty much a normal rpg, but there are times where you need to dodge things like rocks, avalanches and exploding ostiches

http://global.lunia.com/main.asp
Buster's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 06:11
Buster
oops, forgot the third one

FISHING CHAMP - you fish.
http://fishingchamp.gamescampus.com/
[/sarcasm]
i dont have a third one at the moment, i would have to think about it

btw, if you still play space cowboy what faction/server do you play on?
atheistium's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 11:17
atheistium
Nice front paging!

I remember habbo raids lol! I can't stand it however >.<;;
tazarthayoot's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 11:26
tazarthayoot
God I remember me and friends would go on the australian habbo hotel before there was a US one. It was full of 14 year olds cybering.
sexycommando's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 11:38
sexycommando
Gamengame.com keeps current on the latest Korean MMORPG and MMO games, most if not all are free. Space Cowboy is there. My personal favorite is Navyfield, a navy-based MMO.
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 11:39
Husky Hog
Thanks Buster, I'm downloading Mythos right now to give it a try.

Lunia sounds like an online oblivion, which I never got into period. I hav the disk, never really finished it off, I miss community.

And thanks atheistium for the grats on front paging 8)
Teta's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 11:45
Teta
Silkroad Online, search for that one.
Kif 's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 11:59
Kif
I have a terrible secret guys. I was part of the Habbo Hotel UK beta. I used to play Battleships on it haha.

God that's sad. I'm gonna check out these though. Thanks for the list, and GG on the frontpage.
Joe Burling's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:09
Joe Burling
The last time I grinded I got teh bloo balls.
Doomtrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:10
Doomtrain
POOL AINT

NEVER OPEN
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:10
Sharpless
Kingdom of Loathing is the only MMO that matters in the entire universe. FYI.
ZServ's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:11
ZServ
What about Knight Online? Dungeon Runners? c'mon, man ;(
velcroman's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:19
velcroman
thank you Sharpless
WastelandTraveler's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:20
WastelandTraveler
Yeah, and Anarchy Online, Shadowbane, Last Chaos, and Puzzle Pirates.. those are some top quality Free MMO's Especially the first two mentioned.
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:21
Husky Hog
SEE

People do play habbo hotel all the time.

Never before have I un installed a game so quickly than Knight Online. Maybe I didn't give it the proper chance but... no dude... no.

Dungeon Runners I haven't honestly played.
Kif 's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:21
Kif
Sharpless just won the post with KoL. I loved that game.
Colette Bennett's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:24
Colette Bennett
Nice job Husky. I want to make out with your face.
tapo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:36
tapo
Where the fuck is Dungeon Runners?
Buster's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:39
Buster
you can download mythos now, but you wont be able to play it, they finished alpha a few months ago
WastelandTraveler's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:41
WastelandTraveler
Buster mythos will be free :) I was in alpha testing from the start. The game was developed to test the servers for hellgate london.
BA Chieftain's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:50
BA Chieftain
I am quite surprised Kingdom of Loathing didn't make this list... it took me nearly two years to get away from playing it daily, and even now I check it once a week and toss all my adventures into a gym or something.
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 12:53
Husky Hog
@Colette: YOU KNOW IT! When we going to party in LA again I'm having Colette withdrawals :P

@Buster ah crap... than THAT'S why it's not on the list :P

@Chieftain I didn't exactly get into it, maybe I should start it back up, we'll see. The summer = time on my hands :P
ChillyBilly's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 13:14
ChillyBilly
I play Dungeon Runners and Silk Road. Both are free to play but I know that Dungeon Runners does allow you to pay a small fee for better in-game stuff. Plus Dungeon Runners has the best, hands down, weapon names. Cardboard Axe of the Taint anyone?
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 13:15
Husky Hog
Yeah I actually remember that game now... I played it once during ECON

Once

during ECON

:P but none the less I REMEMBER IT
aborto thefetus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 13:20
aborto thefetus
MMO's are a great idea, I just haven't seen it implemented well enough. Amd don't say wow to me, I friggin' hate RPGs. What somebody needs to do is take the ideas behind that Left 4 Dead game and turn it into an mmo. I mean a giant zombie survival horror mmo is such an obvious idea but nobodies ever done it.

I will end my rant to point out that hobba hotel should not be on this list. It shouldn't be in any top five unless the name of the list has suck or crap in it. It is pretty fun to fuck with people in it though. Such as blocking off the entrances to the pool.
It's hilarious how people react when they can't get in that friggin' pool
Zero_armada's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 13:34
Zero_armada
[url]www.freetoplay.org/[/url]
j0k3r360's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 13:53
j0k3r360
No Flyff?
That game is very good! Better than Space Cowboys (Made by same people i think)
GENACON's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 14:04
GENACON
Puzzle Pirates really needed to be on that list.

Although thats just another opinion.
Kinsella's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 14:42
Kinsella
9Dragons is a free MMO from Acclaim thats actually pretty cool. Martial Arts themed, I highly recommend giving it a shot.
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 15:07
Husky Hog
Puzzle Pirates I didn't particularly enjoy, I didn't like the interface... or the style

Never heard of 9Dragons, I'll check it out
Buster's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 15:30
Buster
9dragon is pretty badass, as you level up you customize your fighting style
deanhatescoffee's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 16:07
deanhatescoffee
I third the recommendation of 9Dragons. I played it for a while and, though I didn't get too far, I still had fun with it.
flaakmonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 18:01
flaakmonkey
Guild Wars is till the best "FREE" MMO. Sure you have to buy it but then after that it is free and way kick ass.
bvicarious's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 19:02
bvicarious
Dungeon Runner is good. Brings me back to the Diablo days, which is nice I suppose.
DrYou's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 19:50
DrYou
I love Dungeon Runner's. Liked it enough to even pay $5 to become a member. But can't beat the whole "try it before you buy it" mentality.
Lord Voli's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/09/2007 22:00
Lord Voli
Tibia is a good very low tech free MMO. It's very old, first made in 97. There are no level caps, only a few spells and special lands for those who pay to play. It's oddly addictive. A great alternative for those with older computers/processors.
Gamechamp's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/10/2007 01:24
Gamechamp
No mention of Toon Town? BLASPHEMY!

YOU ARE A COG IN DISGUISE! EVIL COG! I THROW MY PIE AT YOU!!!!!
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