MMORPGs are commonly known for their immersion, amazing storytelling and deep characters, While all these are aspects of making a good MMORPG, combat gameplay is also extremely important in the said genre. Seriously, you don’t want to be farming levels and items with subpar combat mechanics.
This also brings us to today’s article where we will be listing down ten MMORPGs that boast the best combat gameplay which you can jump into immediately!
1. Cabal Online
Cabal is severely underrated. Back in the day, we were all amazed by its visuals and graphics which were way ahead of its time. It was mesmerising and its world-building makes you actually feel like you are in a different universe.
More than that, Cabal has amazing combat gameplay with countless skills your character can use, allowing you to mix and combine to form chains of combos. Also, the depth in its combat system is pretty complex and the skill ceiling is very high. So, it’ll take some time before you can get them all down but trust us, they are worth all the effort.
And if you want to further enhance your Cabal Online experience, be sure to do so with the Nexon Game Card from OffGamers!
2. World of Warcraft
Moving from the underrated to one of the most popular MMORPGs to exist. WOW needs no introduction as it is often regarded as the godfather of the genre. Having been around since the early 2000s, WOW still has a super-strong player base and that is largely down to its great combat mechanics.
With so many classes to choose from, players can build their own characters differently, giving them a different facet of combat gameplay with varying roles. For example, your combat gameplay changes a lot depending on the class you’ve chosen.
If you picked a Hunter class, you will be dealing a ton of damage while being extremely squishy. On the other hand, if you opt for Paladin, you’ll be primarily a damage-sponge, tanking everything for your team. Plus, this is only the tip of the iceberg for WOW’s combat!
3. Black Desert Online
We’ll admit, when we first saw Black Desert Online’s trailer, we were sceptical. It looks too good to be true but when we got to try it out for ourselves, our doubts were crushed. Not only does the game look fantastic, but we were completely absorbed by its combat system.
Like with WOW, every class has differing skills which makes each of them unique on their own. The skills and abilities effects are all immaculately designed, giving off huge Witcher vibes in a more oriental setting.
Additionally, we also love the PVP system available in BDO. Basically, it is open season for anyone to fight anybody—it’s like something you’ll see in Sword Art Online and we love it!
4. Lost Ark
If you enjoy chomping down and blasting your way through hordes of enemies then Lost Ark is the modern gameplay experience for you. Imagine a perfect offspring of the Diablo games and the Dynasty Warriors series!
Everything in its combat is so satisfying, the visual effects are not boring and even if you are repeating the same skills, they’ll stay fresh for a long time. Consequently, this makes farming and grinding mobs way more fun. One fatal flaw in failed MMORPGs is that grinding levels is an annoying chore—it is still a chore in Lost Ark but at least the combat makes it way more bearable.
5. Final Fantasy XIV
A franchise that is best known for its JRPG games has looked to venture into the MMORPG world. The news did send some tremors in the video game world and expectations were there to be met. Suffice it to say, FFXIV did not disappoint.
For one, the combat system in FFXIV is very easy to get into. The HUD is filled with information that is easy to understand, even for newcomers to the genre. The cast time, damage output and targeting are all clearly shown, making fights way more enjoyable.
As you play more, you’ll also notice that you can form your own combos making you string your skills and attacks for more flair and damage. It’s fun to watch and even more fulfilling if you can execute them yourself. It’ll take some time before you can get the combos down but they’ll come to you naturally as you play more.
6. Blade and Soul 2
Blade and Soul 2 is like a modern-day Cabal where it shares a lot of similarities, especially with its deep combat mechanics. Luckily, in this game, the complexity of the combat system isn’t too overwhelming and can be adapted with enough hours of gameplay.
The user interface in this game is also very well-made and comfortable to look at despite having a huge amount of information. Consisting of dungeon-crawling and PVP gameplay, players will find themselves having a lot of combat content to choose from. In many ways, the game reminds us a lot of Genshin Impact but with sprinkles of duelling mechanics.
7. Star Wars: The Old Republic
From the big screens to video games. The Star Wars franchise has had its fair share of video games over the years but not an MMORPG. It is a daunting task having to implement the SW universe into a game and The Old Republic aced that test!
As such, if you are a Star Wars fanatic, this is a definite must-play, even if you are not an MMORPG enthusiast. The combat in SWTOR is extremely exciting and fast-paced with up to 16 combat styles to explore. These styles vastly differ from one another, even the story, so in every style you choose, your entire gameplay will always be fresh and new.
8. The Elder Scrolls Online
There’s no question that The Elder Scrolls Online is one of the best games out there, not just in the MMORPG family. There’s almost nothing to complain about, especially considering the active modding community of this game.
Going more in-depth into the combat, The Elder Scrolls is as realistic as it gets. The effects are perfectly done and they look extremely clean and crisp. Execution-wise, the combat mechanics are very easy to get into as they use standard commands making it accessible for casual gamers.
What’s more, we also love that the abilities in this game synergise extremely well with different players. This means the game emphasises a lot on its multiplayer aspect and that is essential for any MMORPG.
9. Guild Wars 2
Another classic. Guild Wars 2 has been and still to this day remains in the hearts of MMORPG lovers. Its fascinating PVP combat system is adored which is very much relevant today. Even if you are not a huge PVP fan, GW2’s combat system allows it to have many different approaches to the game.
One of GW2’s highlights is its dungeon raids and strikes which work somewhat like WOW. The combat system greatly encourages teamwork and planning where you will need to look into class synergies and team setups. It is a game with a great community paired with awesome combat gameplay which makes it such a classic in the MMORPG genre.
10. New World
New World is one of the more modern entries in the list. Living up to its hype, New World is an MMORPG that has everything optimally done—notably its combat.
Just through the audio, smashing and killing a mob is so satisfying. The integration of crisp audio effects makes you feel as if you are crushing the enemy in real life. Blend that with modern-day graphics, the entire combat experience is surreal.
As for its mechanics, they are relatively easy to understand, a classic case of easy to learn but hard to master. This is a good thing because it gives you a lot of room to improve yet not be too shallow.
Still consistently receiving updates and fixes, New World is still growing and we assume the player base will be as well!
Closing Thoughts
That’s it! We’ve made it all the way to the bottom of the list and congrats to those who’ve stayed! We’re sure there are more MMORPGs out there that fit the bill for amazing combat but these ten choices are up there for us. Give them a go and be warned because these games will suck thousands of hours from you!
This is a paid guest post.