Summary
MMOs are a broad and varied genre that appeals to a multitude of different players. While some people may be interested in grinding to the highest level, with some just wanting tospend some time cooking, one of the major draws is the sheer amount of exploration that these games have to offer.
While MMOs willvary in size, there are plenty out there that provide hours of immersive maps to become engrossed in. Whether players' interests lie in touring far-off galaxies inStar Wars: The Old Republicor hiking through Tamriel inThe Elder Scrolls: Online;there’s sure to be an experience to appeal to every would-be explorer.
WhileFallout 76may not feature the most immersive exploration in theFalloutseries, itslarge map sizeand open world ensure that players will still have plenty to see and do. The game places importance on base building, building a relationship between the gameplay and the environment - if players want to survive the hostile landscape, they must explore in order to find the perfect place to camp.
For fans of theFalloutseries, this is also a chance to see more of the nuclear wasteland, exploring six regions of post-war Appalachia.
In a unique spin on the typical MMO,Sky: Children of the Lightis a cozy indie game that features no combat. Instead, players solve puzzles, fly around, and explore the dreamlike world to progress; this makes it the perfect game for those who want a no-stress exploration experience.
While it isvery different from other MMOs,Sky: Children of the Lightis still a social game with a dedicated player base, so new players won’t be undertaking all this exploration on their own.
For those who have always wanted to exploreThe Lord of the Rings’Middle Earth,Lord of the Rings: Onlinemay just be the perfect game: it features a dynamic Middle Earth that includes multiple regions and iconic locations such as The Shire, allowing players to walk the same paths as their favorite characters. Making the world feel more alive, the game incorporates weather effects and a robust day-night cycle, meaning the atmosphere can change around the player as they explore.
Though the game is slightly older, having been released in 2007, it’s still capable of capturing the classic mood and tone of Tolkien’s world.
Fans of unique fantasy settingswill undoubtedly enjoy exploring the beautifully rendered landscapes inNew World.The game is set on the hostile, supernatural island of Aeternum, which features over a dozen regions, cities, and claimable territories.
When players aren’t out exploring the world, they are able to work together to build their own customizable settlements in most regions, allowing them to choose where they live. Additionally,New Worldis graphically beautiful to look at, with a mostly realistic art direction that showcases the care put into the game’s visuals.
Likely to appeal to anyStar Warsfan,Star Wars: The Old Republicis an MMO that has been running since 2011. Developed by BioWare (though currently in the hands of Broadsword Online Games), the company previously responsible for the acclaimedStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,this game features lore-rich world-building that lends to its immersive atmosphere. In the game, players may use their ship to fly around the galaxy, their various missions taking them from planet to planet, each one with its own unique and interesting design.
The game’s environments are alsooften exceptionally beautiful, giving players plenty of motivation to explore and take in the detailed environments around them.
Eve Onlineis a huge science fiction game set in the distant future - it takes place in a persistent world, meaning the environment is constantly changing around the players. There are thousands of solar systems and wormholes to get lost in, so it would be difficult to run out of new places to discover.
The game also features playstyles that are designed specifically for players who want to explore the massive universe, giving exploration-inclined players a vital role inEve Online’ssocial landscape and economy.
With its large map and fantasy setting,Black Desert Onlineis an MMO with a huge amount of content to explore and more on the way. It currently features multiple different regions, each one featuring cities, NPCs, and buyable houses.
Black Desert Onlineexpects players to explore its world as much as possible, with fast travel being limited and integrated immersively - this means that the entire world is carefully designed to be as interesting as possible, with secrets, treasure, and quests hidden all over the map.
First developed over two decades ago,World of Warcraftis a pillar of the MMO genre - it has been steadily expanding since its initial release, growing in size and content and, despite its age, itsscenery remains timelessdue to its vibrant and interesting designs.
Despite how large the maps are, with the game spanning multiple continents, they never feel empty; each one is packed full of content and quests. Boasting enough expansions to keep players busy for years and showing no sign of stopping anytime soon, World of Warcraft is a must-play for MMO fans who enjoy exploration.
Guild Wars 2feels as though it was designed with exploration in mind - players are rewarded for exploring the map and expected to jump and climb as they traverse the world, with some areas needing to be accessed in unique ways that require players to solve puzzles. The map is extremely large, with a diverse range of regions that vary in climate and visual style; each area is full to the brim with quests, dungeons, and puzzles, making it hard to ever get bored.
Overall, the game provides an amazing experience for all kinds of players but is particularly geared towards those who enjoy MMOs with exploration mechanics.
By far, one ofThe Elder Scrolls: Online’sgreatest strengths is its exploration - fromits breathtaking locationsto its engagement with the lore ofThe Elder Scrollsseries, players have hours of exploration ahead of them. Featuring iconic locations such as Skyrim, Cyrodiil, and VVardenfel, Tamriel feels like a busy, living world full of rich lore and interesting NPCs to interact with.
The game is accessible both to longtime fans ofThe Elder Scrollsand to people who are just searching for an interesting new MMO experience.
