The Best Console MMORPGs to Play in 2025
While PC has long been the dominant platform for MMORPGs, console players haven’t been left behind. In fact, the world of Console MMORPGs has grown steadily over the years, with a surprising number of great online games now fully playable on Xbox, PlayStation, and even Nintendo Switch. Whether you’re looking for fast-paced action combat, epic open worlds, or chill social gameplay, there’s something on console for every type of MMO fan.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best Console MMORPGs you can play right now — highlighting what makes each game unique, what to watch out for, and how they stack up for casual and hardcore players alike.
1. The Elder Scrolls Online
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Buy to Play)
Launched: June 9, 2015
Elder Scrolls Online remains one of the best MMORPGs available on console, and with good reason. It strikes an impressive balance between deep MMORPG systems and a controller-friendly design, offering an enormous open world that’s been steadily expanded for over a decade. Every quest and NPC is fully voiced, which adds incredible immersion to an already rich Elder Scrolls universe.
If you’re a fan of the Elder Scrolls series, ESO feels like a natural extension, combining detailed lore and storytelling with all the familiar MMORPG staples: dungeons, raids, PvP battlegrounds, arenas, and highly customisable builds for both combat and appearance. The playerbase is vast and active across all regions, making the world feel alive and populated no matter where you explore.
Things to keep in mind: ESO can feel overwhelming to new players, particularly because the full world experience relies heavily on expansions and DLC. While the base game alone offers hundreds of hours of content, the optional subscription becomes almost essential if you plan to play long-term, mainly due to the craft bag and full access to DLC zones and dungeons.
My take: I’ve played ESO since its original launch and completed almost every piece of content over the years. It’s a game I truly love, not just for the gameplay, but for the friendships and community I found along the way. While I don’t log in as often now, my time in Tamriel over the past 10 years has been unforgettable.
While many MMORPG players criticise ESO’s combat, I’ve always felt it shines, especially from a tank’s perspective. The active playstyle, real-time blocking, and complete control over your character’s actions make it one of the most engaging tanking systems out there. Few other games offer such a hands-on, skill-based tanking experience.
2. Final Fantasy XIV
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Buy to Play & Monthly Sub)
Launched: 14 April 2014 (PS) / March 21, 2024 (Xbox)
Final Fantasy XIV is one of the most popular MMORPGs in the world, second only to World of Warcraft in total active subscriptions, and it’s not hard to see why. With its rich storytelling, strong roleplaying scene, and welcoming community, FFXIV has carved out a space as a unique, player-driven social experience.
At its core, FFXIV delivers a deeply immersive narrative that fans of the franchise rank among its greatest strengths. But it’s the community that often surprises newcomers. In major cities you’ll find musicians performing in the streets, dance troupes putting on full shows, and even player-run house parties complete with DJs, lighting setups, and dance floors.
Gameplay-wise, the job system is a standout feature: players can level and switch between all available jobs, including tanks, healers, DPS, and crafters on a single character. This removes the need for alts and lets you experience all forms of content from multiple angles. Whether you’re tackling high-end savage raids or relaxing with mini-games like Chocobo Racing and the Triple Triad card game, there’s a wide range of content for both hardcore and casual players.
Things to keep in mind: FFXIV does require both a monthly subscription and the purchase of each expansion. That said, its free trial is exceptionally generous, now including the base game and the first three expansions (up to level 70), giving you access to hundreds of hours of content before spending a penny.
My take: I’ve given Final Fantasy XIV around 300 hours of my time, and while I can fully appreciate why it’s adored by millions, it’s just not the MMORPG for me. The huge number of unvoiced quests (especially when compared to something like ESO, where every NPC speaks), often left me feeling drained. I also struggled to connect with the plot, never being a big Final Fantasy fan to begin with.
That said, I did enjoy diving into the dungeons and raids, and switching between four different tank jobs offered genuine variety in playstyle. Boss fights had their moments, with clever mechanics and well-timed challenges, but the dungeon structure started to feel repetitive, run forward, dodge AoEs, stack adds up at the boss entrance. It just wasn’t enough to push me through the thousands of mandatory quests needed to reach the latest content.
3. Throne & Liberty
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Free to Play)
Launched: October 1, 2024
One of the newest MMORPGs to arrive on console, and completely free to play — Throne & Liberty drew an enormous launch crowd, hitting nearly 15 million players on its release weekend. As one of the most anticipated MMORPG releases in recent years, it promised a next-gen experience with stunning visuals and a massive seamless world to explore.
Throne & Liberty aims to blend classic open-world PvP with modern PvE sensibilities. Set in a high-fantasy universe featuring dynamic weather systems and large-scale battles, it brings Korean MMO flair to a global audience. Players can engage in guild wars, world bosses, timed events, and fortress sieges — all in a single, interconnected world. The combat is action-based, with fluid real-time switching between weapon loadouts, making gameplay feel fast and adaptable.
Things to keep in mind: While T&L is fun and visually impressive, its monetisation model is widely criticised. Pay-to-win mechanics are very apparent, with players able to purchase direct power advantages. Daily time-gated content and repetitive login tasks can also become tiresome, leading many to feel burned out quickly.
My take: I was really disappointed by the heavy pay-to-win structure at launch and chose to skip it initially. However, I later gave it a try and actually found some casual enjoyment in exploring and levelling. The world is genuinely beautiful, and the large-scale public events — even at low levels — feel active and exciting.
One standout feature is the movement system, where you transform into a bird to glide, a tiger to sprint, or even an otter to swim — it’s strange at first, but surprisingly fun and fluid. I dabbled in dungeons and some of the structured content, but the story didn’t leave much of an impression, and the in-game chat felt pretty toxic at times. Eventually, I just drifted away from the game — not out of frustration, but simply because I forgot to log back in. It’s a decent game for casual play, but not something I could see myself investing long-term time into.
4. New World
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Buy to Play)
Launched: October 15, 2024
Originally a PC-exclusive, New World made its long-awaited console debut in late 2024 — and it’s a surprisingly strong fit. Set in the supernatural world of Aeternum, New World blends colonial-era exploration with mystical elements, offering a setting that feels refreshingly distinct from traditional high-fantasy MMORPGs.
The game features fast-paced, action combat that rewards skill, positioning, and timing. There are no fixed classes — instead, players level and swap between weapons like swords, bows, muskets, and magic gauntlets to create flexible, build-your-own setups. PvP plays a major role with faction wars and territorial control, but PvE players also have plenty to enjoy through world exploration, expeditions (dungeons), world bosses, and a deep profession system including mining, gathering, and crafting.
Console controls were built natively for gamepad, and the user interface is clean and responsive. Crossplay across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC also ensures a healthy population — at least during major updates and seasonal events.
Things to keep in mind: While New World has come a long way from its shaky PC launch in 2021, the storytelling remains uninspired, and endgame progression feels hollow. PvE content has improved over time, but many players find that once you’re geared up, there’s little reason to keep logging in. Despite occasional spikes in player activity, engagement tends to drop quickly due to a lack of meaningful updates. With Amazon now focusing development efforts on its upcoming Lord of the Rings MMORPG, progress on New World has noticeably slowed — leading many to believe it may quietly drift into maintenance mode.
My take: New World was once a brutal gear grind, but that’s something the devs have thankfully addressed. Group-finding for Expeditions is easier, and the old days of needing 6–8 separate gear sets just to function are mostly gone. I genuinely enjoy New World’s crafting and gathering — it offers one of the most rewarding progression systems for crafters out there.
The Brimstone Sands expansion was fantastic, and the revamps to early zones have given console players a far better first experience than PC players had in 2021. But the same core problem remains: New World feels like a great foundation for an MMORPG — with beautiful zones, solid mechanics, and great sound design — but it still lacks a compelling story, deep IP, or long-term content to keep people playing. It’s a great game for a few dozen hours… but hard to commit to beyond that.
5. Black Desert Online
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Buy to Play)
Launched: March 12, 2019
Black Desert is one of the most visually impressive MMORPGs available on console. Its incredibly detailed character creation system is arguably the best in the genre, allowing players to sculpt every feature of their avatar right down to the tiniest facial detail. But it’s far more than just a pretty face — Black Desert’s real-time action combat is slick, fast-paced, and feels fantastic on a controller, especially for melee and mid-range classes.
The game features a massive, seamless open world with no loading screens between zones. Players can dive into node wars, life skilling (like fishing, farming, and trading), world bosses, high-end PvP, and gear-driven PvE grind spots that scale as you improve. While Black Desert leans heavily into its sandbox roots, it does still offer structured content, including story quests, side tasks, and seasonal objectives. Most people are drawn in by the combat, but it’s the economy, deep progression systems, and late-game PvP that keep long-time players hooked.
Things to keep in mind: Black Desert can be extremely overwhelming, especially for new players. The UI is cluttered, tutorials are minimal, and the game throws mountains of systems and items at you with little explanation. Gear progression revolves around enhancement — a frustrating, RNG-heavy system that can make or break your experience. And while there’s no subscription, the in-game shop is full of pay-for-convenience items, which has led to frequent pay-to-win criticism. That said, if you enjoy complex systems and don’t mind doing some research, there’s a ton of depth here to explore.
My take: Strangely, the thing I like most about BDO is actually its AFK gameplay. I know a lot of people look down on that, and I get why — but as someone who loves MMOs while also working full-time and raising three kids solo, I’m constantly short on time. Black Desert gives me the freedom to make meaningful progress even when I’m not actively playing, and that kept me coming back. I could AFK fish, process materials, or train horses during the day, and then jump into quests and combat in the evenings. It’s how I somehow ended up with over 1,000 hours in the game.
That said, it’s also one of the most confusing games I’ve ever played. You’re constantly showered with free items, but 90% of it makes no sense without external guides, and the storage system is a complete nightmare. I really enjoyed systems like crafting, gathering, the economy, workers, and even housing — but eventually, I realised I was only logging in to set AFK tasks and never actually playing. That’s when I stopped. BDO is brilliant in some areas, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
6. Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation & Nintendo Switch (Buy to Play)
Launched: June 2021
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is a full-scale overhaul of the original PSO2 — reimagining the game as a modern, open-world action MMORPG. Set over a thousand years after the events of the original, New Genesis introduces a brand-new engine, upgraded visuals, and a vast, seamless world to explore, while retaining the sci-fi anime aesthetic and fast-paced gameplay that the series is known for.
Combat in New Genesis is fluid and dynamic, with flashy animations and real-time combos that are responsive on both controller and keyboard setups. Each class feels distinct, offering different weapon types and playstyles — from close-range slashing with swords and knuckles to ranged combat with rifles, bows, or tech-based casting. The game allows multi-weapon setups and subclass combinations, giving players a fair amount of flexibility to customise their build.
New Genesis takes place in a semi-open world where players can seamlessly transition between exploration zones, event encounters, instanced combat areas, and hub cities. Content includes exploration trials, massive boss fights (Gigantix and urgent quests), time-limited seasonal events, and an evolving main story campaign. Visual customisation is also a major draw, with a highly detailed character creator, layered outfits, emotes, and cosmetic weapon skins.
Things to keep in mind: While New Genesis is technically buy-to-play, it leans heavily on cosmetics and QoL convenience items in its monetisation model. The base game has a relatively slow content rollout, especially for players used to MMORPGs with more frequent expansions or dungeon-heavy endgames. While combat and visuals are solid, the long-term grind and sparse quest content can make it feel empty between major updates. Some players also note performance issues on older consoles, especially the base PS4 and Xbox One.
7. DC Universe Online
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Free to Play)
Launched: April 29, 2016
DC Universe Online is a superhero-themed MMORPG set in the expansive DC Comics universe, where players can create their own custom hero or villain and fight alongside — or against — iconic characters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Lex Luthor. It’s one of the longest-running MMORPGs on console, and still receives regular updates with new episodes, powers, and seasonal content.
Gameplay is fast-paced and action-oriented, featuring a hybrid combat system that blends real-time targeting, melee combos, and superpowers mapped to controller buttons. You can choose from various movement types (flight, speed, or acrobatics) and pair them with power sets like fire, ice, gadgets, sorcery, or electricity to build your own unique character. DCUO supports both PvE and PvP play, including solo missions, duos, alerts, raids, and large open-world zones set in locations like Metropolis and Gotham City.
The game leans heavily into its comic book roots with stylised visuals, voiced storylines, and narrative-driven episodes that feature original plots involving major DC characters. Whether you’re thwarting Brainiac’s invasion or working alongside The Joker, the game gives fans of the franchise plenty to sink their teeth into.
Things to keep in mind: While DCUO is free-to-play, many features and episodes are locked behind a membership or individual purchases. Without paying, your access to currency, inventory space, and endgame progression is limited. The graphics and interface are also starting to show their age, and while the game is still being updated, some of the older content hasn’t aged well in terms of design or balance. Still, for superhero fans looking for an accessible MMORPG with familiar faces and controller-friendly combat, DCUO remains a solid option on console.
8. Trove
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Free to Play)
Launched: 2015
Trove is a voxel-based MMORPG that blends action combat, sandbox building, and loot-driven progression in a colourful, cube-shaped world. At first glance, it looks like a mix between Minecraft and a traditional MMO — but beneath the blocky visuals is a surprisingly deep game with fast-paced combat, dozens of unique classes, and an ever-growing list of features.
Players can choose from over 15 classes, each with completely different abilities and playstyles — from gunslingers and knights to candy barbarians, pirates, and even a tomb-raising chloromancer. Combat is real-time, with dodging, aiming, and skill cooldowns, making it feel more like an arcade action game than a classic MMORPG.
Beyond combat, Trove leans heavily into its sandbox elements. You can build your own “Cornerstone” base, shape parts of the world with crafting tools, and participate in world-building events. Dungeons, lairs, and biomes are procedurally generated, encouraging exploration and farming for loot, materials, and mounts. The loot system is fast and rewarding, with gear constantly dropping and plenty of cosmetic upgrades to chase.
Things to keep in mind: Trove is extremely grind-heavy, especially at higher levels. Progression slows down dramatically once you’ve completed early content, and a lot of systems are gated behind currencies, crafting materials, or long play sessions. The game also has a monetisation model focused on convenience and cosmetics, it does encourage purchases to speed up progression or reduce grind. The UI and performance can be a little clunky on console, particularly during world loading or large group events.
9. Neverwinter
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Free to Play)
Launched: March 31, 2015
Neverwinter is a free-to-play action MMORPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, specifically the city of Neverwinter and the surrounding Sword Coast. It’s based on the 4th Edition D&D ruleset and offers a more arcade-style take on the classic tabletop experience, with real-time combat and fast-paced dungeon crawling.
Unlike traditional tab-target MMORPGs, Neverwinter uses a reticle-based combat system, making it well suited for controller play. Players can choose from iconic D&D classes like Paladin, Wizard, Cleric, Barbarian, and Rogue, each with distinct abilities and skill trees. Character customisation follows familiar RPG templates, including races, stats, and feats, giving a strong sense of build identity early on.
Content-wise, Neverwinter features a mix of instanced dungeons, skirmishes, PvP battlegrounds, campaign zones, and story-driven quests tied to major D&D events. Over the years, the game has added expansions that introduce new zones, bosses, and lore-inspired storylines like Undermountain, Avernus, and Dragonbone Vale. There’s also an extensive endgame progression system involving companions, mounts, boons, and gear refinement — though it can become grindy over time.
Things to keep in mind: While Neverwinter is free-to-play, many quality-of-life features and inventory conveniences are locked behind microtransactions. The monetisation model has been a point of criticism for years, particularly at endgame where power progression is tied to long grinds or premium purchases. The game is also showing its age visually, with older content feeling noticeably outdated compared to recent expansions. Despite this, it remains one of the more accessible and controller-friendly MMORPGs on console, especially for fans of the D&D setting.
My take: Neverwinter is an easy game to get into — quite simple on the surface for new players, and with its revamped levelling system, it doesn’t take long to hit max level. The problems start once you reach the “real” endgame. If you want to be accepted into high-end dungeon groups or raids, you’ll either need to grind for thousands of hours or be ready to drop hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars to get there. While it does have a small but active community, much of its playerbase was driven away years ago — and there’s little hope of bringing them back. That said, there are always in-game events happening, some of which are genuinely fun and unique. Neverwinter continues to receive regular updates and expansions, and as a console-friendly MMORPG, it’s a solid pick — but be prepared for a huge time or financial investment if you’re planning to take it all the way to endgame.
10. TERA
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Free to Play)
Launched: April 3, 2018
TERA was once a standout in the MMORPG space thanks to its fast-paced, skill-based action combat system. Dodging, blocking, and aiming were all fully active, giving players complete control in battle. Each class felt unique to play, with a strong sense of weight behind abilities and some of the flashiest animations around. Visually, it still holds up surprisingly well today, with a colourful art direction that helped it stand out from the usual fantasy MMO crowd.
The world of TERA offered plenty to explore — from enormous open zones and BAMs (Big-Ass Monsters), to instanced dungeons and large-scale PvP battlegrounds. It was especially appealing for players who valued mechanical skill, timing, and positioning over traditional tab-target combat.
Thing to keep in mind: While TERA is still technically available on console, its PC servers were shut down back in 2022. The game hasn’t received meaningful updates since, and the population is now extremely low — so it’s not the thriving MMO it once was.
My take: I recently asked the MMORPG community on Reddit what their favourite MMORPG for tanking was — and the answer was overwhelmingly TERA. Veteran players described it as the most fun, responsive, and engaging tanking experience they’ve ever had. As someone who mains tanks and loves action combat, it’s a real shame I missed TERA in its prime. Even though it’s still accessible on console, the lack of content and community makes it tough to recommend for anything more than a nostalgic look back at one of the genre’s best combat systems.
11. Star Trek Online
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Free to Play)
Launched: September 6, 2016
Star Trek Online blends traditional MMORPG questing with tactical starship combat and on-foot missions, all set in the expansive Star Trek universe. Players create their own captain, choose a faction (such as Starfleet or the Klingon Empire), and command a customisable starship while recruiting a bridge crew and exploring space and ground-based storylines.
Space combat is where the game truly shines — it’s strategic, slow-paced, and tactical, with an emphasis on ship positioning, shield management, and ability timing. Ground missions are more action-oriented but generally seen as less engaging by the playerbase. STO also features regular story arcs voiced by actors from the franchise, making it a strong pick for fans of Star Trek lore.
Things to keep in mind: The user interface can feel cluttered and dated on console, and performance sometimes suffers during large missions. While the game still gets seasonal updates and new episodes, much of the older content feels repetitive. Monetisation is also layered, with heavy reliance on loot boxes and premium ships, which can create a noticeable power gap at higher levels.
12. Skyforge
Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation & Nintendo Switch (Free to Play)
Launched: April 25, 2019
Skyforge is a sci-fi fantasy MMORPG where players begin as immortals and work their way up to becoming full-blown gods. It features a unique class system where you can freely switch between all available classes once unlocked, removing the need for alts and encouraging experimentation.
Combat is fast-paced and action-oriented, with flashy abilities and short cooldowns designed to feel responsive on a controller. The game blends futuristic technology and mythological themes, taking place across multiple worlds, including the planet Aelion and various divine realms. Progression focuses on unlocking classes, upgrading your character’s divine powers, and tackling PvE raids, PvP arenas, and rotating seasonal events.
Things to keep in mind: Skyforge is heavily instanced, meaning there’s no open world exploration. The game is also known for its repetitive structure and monetisation tied to convenience. While not as active as it once was, it still sees occasional updates and can be a fun diversion if you enjoy over-the-top combat and class-swapping systems.
13. Dragon Quest X
Platforms: PlayStation & Nintendo Switch (Buy to Play)
Launched: August 17, 2017
Dragon Quest X is the only mainline Dragon Quest MMORPG — but it’s largely remained exclusive to Japan, despite strong fan interest from the West. It features the iconic art style of Akira Toriyama, turn-based combat with a modern twist, and rich storytelling that continues the classic Dragon Quest charm within a multiplayer framework.
Players can explore a vast world, complete story arcs across different realms, and take on jobs (classes) that evolve as you level. It supports solo-friendly AI party systems alongside traditional multiplayer dungeons and raids.
Things to keep in mind: There is no official English localisation, making it difficult to access or enjoy without Japanese language knowledge. Despite its age, DQX still receives frequent content updates and remains popular in Japan. If it ever got a global release, it would be an instant must-play for Dragon Quest fans.
14. Boundless
Platforms: Xbox & PlayStation (Buy to Play)
Launched: July 17, 2018
Boundless is a voxel-based sandbox MMO that emphasises creativity, exploration, and player-driven economy over traditional questing or combat. Think of it as a blend between Minecraft and an online universe, where players can build cities, run shops, explore procedurally generated planets, and craft nearly everything from tools to complex machines.
There’s light combat and character progression, but the game’s real appeal lies in its persistent universe and community projects. You can portal between planets, mine resources, and take part in an evolving, shared economy where player-run hubs and marketplaces form the heart of the game.
Things to keep in mind: Boundless has a small but dedicated community. Updates have slowed significantly since the original developers were acquired, and while the game remains playable, it’s largely in maintenance mode. Still, if you enjoy building, crafting, and chill exploration with a social twist, it offers something unique on console.
