We all know about the video game console wars that are going on but did you forget about the domination the MMORPG has on the video game market? The heavy weight of the MMORPG gaming division, World of Warcraft, boasts a list of users of in the millions of fans around the globe. That’s just one game. Now multiply that by a hundred or so for the other games out there and it is easy to see why MMORPG’s have become the most played games in the world.

The term MMORPG is short for Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games. What makes these games different from all others is the way the game is played. They consist of a constant world for hundreds to thousands of gamers to all play at the same time and interact with one another. There is a running fee of $10 to $15 per month on top of any price that you paid for the actual game. Here are the top five MMORPG game available:

• World of Warcraft – When it comes to the genre of MMORPG there is Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft and then there is everyone else. It is hands down the most popular and best operating game in this style. It does this through a combination of exceptional artistry, paced gameplay, an engaging and always expanding world, and an interface system like no other.



• EverQuest II – If it wasn’t for people playing Everquest, then there probably wouldn’t be a genre of MMORPG video games. As you can imagine, Everquest II had some pretty big shoes to fill and it did so plus much more. Let’s go over the reasons why games simply love this game. First off the graphics are exceptional, the extensive use of voiceovers is perfectly worked into the gameplay, character creation is easy yet extensive, and the combat system is better than anything else out there.



• Final Fantasy XI – Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past twenty years, then I’m sure you are aware than there is a video game series called Final Fantasy and it’s kind of a big deal. Now, the series most known for consoles has expanded into a MMORPG. The gameplay is set around three powerful nations protecting the world of Vana'diel from enemies of hostile beastmen. The thing that makes this different from the rest of the game so this list is that it is the first MMO that allows PS2, Xbox 360, and PC users too all play in the same universe.



• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes – This game offers gamers like you and me a seemingly huge and endless world with elaborate crafting of players skill such as a much hyped diplomacy system with which you can sway NPC’s. Vanguard isn’t for the faint of heart since it is a demanding game in comparison to many other MMORPGs, both in terms of hardware requirements and time requirements. The gameplay holds a considerable amount of depth, and is an ambitious project for a gamer to challenge.



• EverQuest – No matter where the genre of MMORPG’s develops from here, there will always be a special place in the hearts of gamer for EverQuest. It was the first of its kind to be played in 3D game to take hold in the US. Even to this day it still commands a very large player base, and some say has more content than any of its competitors. It takes place in a mythical realm full halflings, ogres, healers, necromancers, and monsters, featuring a remarkable level of character specialization.