by in It’s true my fellow gamers, MMORPGs are officially dying. Players like us, who previously used to enjoy the survivalist experience are slowly getting turned off. It also doesn’t help matters that the MMORPG released these past few years have been, for lack of a better word, disappointing.
Games like WildStar and New World, which showed plenty of promise prior to their official release turned out to be nothing more than pay-to-win time-sinks without any kind of satisfying payoff.
Despite those disappointments, we’re still holding out hope that this could be the year the genre gets its revival. In fact, looking at the games due to be released this year, the rest of 2023 could shape up nicely if the games indeed live up to the hype.
So, for the gamers who’re still holding out hope, here are the top 5 new MMOs due to be released in 2023 and beyond.
The 5 Most Exciting Upcoming MMORPGs in 2023
1. Palia
MMORPGs have plenty of room for diversity, something that Singularity 6, Inc’s newest upcoming release, Palia, focuses heavily on.
What makes it stand out from other MMORPGs is its unique approach to gameplay as players will be dropped into a vibrant colorful world filled with friendly characters, natural beauty, and a strong emphasis on community building.
So, if you’re tired of the constant bloodshed and fighting that occurs in most MMORPGs, Palia promises to be the perfect alternative.
The story of the game revolves around a small group of survivors who have recently emerged from a magical sleep that has lasted for centuries.
Players will then have to explore and speak to the inhabitants of the world they woke up in to uncover the mysteries of their past and the reasons for their extended slumber. The emphasis of the gameplay looks to be on socialization, exploration, crafting, resource gathering, and building a community.
So, if you’re looking for an MMORPG that provides something other than the ordinary, Palia just might be what you’re looking for.
2. Ashes of Creation
The anticipation for Intrepid Studios’ latest MMORPG release, Ashes of Creation, is almost palpable. With the game being in development since 2016, gamers have had to wait a long time for a release that shows a ton of promise.
But that also means that expectations for its eventual arrival are extremely high. Taking place in a high fantasy world, the game’s vast open world, unique player-driven economy, and political mechanics have kept gamers at the edge of their seats.
At the heart of the game is a unique node system, where players will have to complete quests and engage in activities to contribute to the growth of nearby nodes. This growth will in turn unlock new content and gameplay opportunities.
Additionally, players will be able to cast their votes and run for positions of power to eventually become the leader of their respective nodes.
What players are looking forward to the most though, is the apparent lawlessness of the world with each server having ever-changing content dominated by player actions.
3. Blue Protocol
Who here loves anime art style in games? We definitely do, that’s for sure! Blue Protocol is an upcoming MMORPG being developed by the beloved Bandai Namco likely to be released in fall 2023.
Set in a fictional fantasy world full of magic, technology, and adventure, Blue Protocol has pleasantly surprised gamers with the level of detail in its vast open world, unique fighting mechanics, and beautiful graphics.
Developed using Unreal Engine 4, the game at the very least promises to be visually stunning. The game’s character creation system has also caught gamers’ eye due to the high level of detail and additional customization that it supposedly offers. Allowing players to even pick their own voice actor.
A cooperative multiplayer mode allows players to team up with friends to tackle tough challenges. While combat itself is purely action-focused with players having access to a variety of skills and abilities that they can use in battle.
4. Dune: Awakening
Players who love the movie or the books probably have Dune Awakening at the top of their list of the most-awaited MMORPGs this year. And for good reason as well as the developers, Funcom and Nukklear GmbH, have promised a deep, lore-filled experience for all players that step into the planet of Arrakis.
Fans of the franchise are also eager to see how the game will incorporate the faction and politics mechanics of the world within an MMORPG setting and the kind of gameplay players will get to experience.
In terms of the gameplay, there hasn’t been much information provided by the developers other than the fact that it will have a heavy emphasis on exploration, crafting, and player-driven economies.
Add to that the fact that the game is being developed on Unreal Engine 4 and the proven track record of Funcom and the game is shaping up to be an absolute cracker.
5. ARK 2
We love a sequel to a beloved game, don’t we? At least that’s the general sentiment among those who have played Ark: Survival Evolved. In fact, the entire gaming community is waiting with bated breath to see what Studio Wildcard has cooked up.
We’re pleased to report that the second installment will retain some of the cherished features of the first game including its gigantic island-style open world with its diverse biomes ranging from arctic tundras to sweltering jungles.
Set on the same island, the game will feature a similar mix of survival, exploration, and dinosaur-taming gameplay.
Players will be taking on the role of a new protagonist, played by none other than Vin Diesel, in a completely new story-driven gameplay that consists of a robust crafting and building system allowing players to build their own bases and structures.
Final Thoughts
And that brings us to the conclusion of our list. Hope you enjoyed our top picks of the best upcoming MMORPGs due to be released in 2023. And as we said before we can feel the revival of this beloved genre coming, it just needs a few more games to kickstart it and we’re hoping that these games are it.
We should probably mention that some of these games do have a slight chance of being pushed back to a later date.
With that said, there’s little chance of that happening as most of these games have already been pushed back plenty of times and the same thing happening again seems unlikely.
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