It is crazy that Runescape is still one of the biggest MMORPG games going. I played this a ton back in my student days and I did actually play quite a bit of Old School Runescape over the years as well. Runescape 3 was a bit of a game changer and I had more than a few friends who when they went to the modern version of Runescape, kicked OSRS in the dust.
No matter what your feelings on Runescape are you have to admit that it is one of the biggest games of all time and many, many other games have tried to emulate that Runescape formula. That is what I am looking at today, games like Runescape. Some of these may have a bit of a different kind of “style” however, I feel that if you like Runescape you will like these games.
Black Desert Online
Black Desert Online is a kind of weird game in that it appears to be a game that either grabs you right away and hooks you or you simply do not get into it.
For fans of Runescape, there is a lot here that will seem familiar. For example, You have different skills like trading, crafting, fishing, cooking and so on so those of you who spent countless hours leveling up your different skills in Runescape will feel right at home doing this in Black Desert Online.
What I really liked about this game was how action-packed it is. The combat is actually pretty exciting and while it does take a little while to get to grips with.
The combat will see you plowing down tons of enemies and even having to come up with some crafty ways to defeat bosses. While you can play Black Desert Online as a lone wolf, you will have a much better time if you are part of a guild with your friends.
Eldevin
What is going to make Eldevin really get its hooks into you is the way that it is story driven. I would bet that Eldevin here will appear on most of the games lists for Runescape.
While I have enjoyed the different quests that Runescape offered, I do feel that Eldevin has better storytelling. While playing with your buddies is a huge part of any MMORPG I will say that the fact that Eldevin is so story driven makes it an MMORPG that is ideal if you want a game you can play on your own and get invested into the story and the lore.
Gameplay wise this is typical of any game that has taken inspiration from Runescape. You have many different kinds of disciplines that you can train and level up.
You have plenty of quests to do and you will be clicking like a madman when it comes to the combat. I know that some people are not too keen on the rather primitive graphics, but it does have a charm to it.
World of Warcraft
Do I really have to tell you about World of Warcraft? This is not just one of the biggest games in the world, but it is one of the biggest games of all time.
While my favorite game from Blizzard is Overwatch, I have to admit that Blizzard really is the house that Warcraft built. With countless expansions, tons of merchandise and even a movie that was a box office success. I would say that of all the games on this list if there is one that even casual gamers have heard of it is World of Warcraft.
World of Warcraft can be quite an intimidating game to get into and you may have already heard that the lore is incredibly deep.
Well, you can try it free for (I think) 30 days and I do feel that it is worth doing. I found World of Warcraft to be one of those games that really hooked me and I have dabbled a little in some of the expansions that they did, Wrath of the Litch King being my personal favorite.
Path of Exile
Path of Exile or as all the kids are calling it, POE is a truly awesome game! I actually worked with a site who did a lot of work in the character creation aspect of POE so this is a game I have actually spent a lot of time with.
I truly do love the whole style and world of Path of Exile and I would say even more so than what Runescape offers. Everything in POE is more dark, gloomy, evil and gothic and I love that! I think the art style that they have gone for actually resembles Diablo more than Runescape.
Creating a character in Path of Exile can be rather intimidating as there is a lot that goes into it so I would advise you guys on watching a YouTube video on how to make an effective character.
There are lots of character classes and each character class has a lot of choice in how you can develop it. The combat in Path of Exile is one of the best that I have encountered in an MMORPG, the fact the game looks great too also helps it suck you in! It is also on Xbox One and that is actually the version I prefer to play now.
Stardew Valley
Let me tell you how much I love Stardew Valley. I have it on Xbox One, PC and because I needed it on the go I got it for the Nintendo Switch as well…… even though the Switch never leaves my house. Stardew Valley sees you inherit a farm property from your deceased loved one.
While it is nice he left you this place, it is a real dump and you will need to fix it up, but in order to do so, you have to work, craft and make some money. All the while taking part in activities in the town and making new friends.
Stardew Valley is one of the most addictive games on my list and that addictiveness is what makes it one of the best games on this list.
I mainly play the PC version as I have a lot of fun with the different mods. However, as much fun as the mods are, I like the more scaled back no mod approach of the consoles as well. When you play without the mods, there is a lot of skill and micromanagement to make sure you are making as much money as possible and this is something I have a lot of fun with.
Albion Online
Albion Online is a game I got super into last year. I was part of the beta and then when the full Galahad update released last year and it was unleashed on the masses it did pick up a fair bit of a following for a while.
The first thing that is worth noting is that Albion Online is a lovely looking game. I feel that the art style they went for here is very similar to Runescape, but if I am being honest I would say that Albion Online is the better-looking game.
Gameplay wise, Albion Online is one of the easiest MMORPG games that I have ever played. I am not saying the whole game is easy, but it is very easy to get into.
In that regard, I do feel that it would be a good game for someone new to the genre to play.
Those of you who have spent countless hours with Runescape, Path of Exile and Warcraft may find the combat and overall gameplay a little basic. Still, Albion Online is a game I had a lot of fun with and one that I recommend you give a chance.
EVE
EVE Online is not a fantasy based game like Runescape, but if you like the gameplay style of Runescape I do think that you will see why I am suggesting EVE Online.
You and your ship will traverse the galaxy to find resources, other players, quests, planets and of course people who want to take what you have! There is just so much to do in EVE Online that I feel it could be a bit mind blowing for someone just getting into this genre.
Still, I will say that you need to stick with it as EVE Online is one of those games that allows you to play it however you want. For example, I like to try and play it rather peacefully, trading and helping other players.
My best friend, on the other hand, was all about domination and he did not care if you wanted to trade or not! So while the art style is completely different to Runescape, I do think you will have a lot of fun with this.
Rift
Rift is one of those games that I really wish I got into earlier, but it came out at a time when I was already in the middle of about a million games! Rift is a gorgeous looking game and I think that the style of the game does remind me a bit of POE.
Rift is a very dark and moody looking game and that is exactly what I like in my fantasy games. There is a nice amount of races to choose from and the character creation suit while offering you a lot of options is thankfully very easy to get to grips with.
Once you have created your character the world is your oyster! There is a lot for you to do here and as you would expect from an MMORPG.
Doing quests, getting money and scoring loot is what the game is all about. Taking down monstrous bosses and taking part in raids and dungeon runs is going to be something you have a lot of fun with.
I will say that Rift is a game that is a million times better when you actually play with someone you know, even if it is just one other person.
Tibia
Tibia is a game that I never actually spent any time with, but I felt that any game on this list (specifically OSRS) needed to have Tibia on it.
The developers of this game clearly had a lot of love for retro games as it looks like a game that you would have seen on the Super Nintendo. The retro style graphics give the game a lot of charm and in all honesty, the art style alone should have been enough to get me into the game.
One of the most interesting things that I found out about Tibia was that there is no cap limit so there was never any waiting for the next update or expansion to further level up your character. I really cannot personally talk about the gameplay of Tibia, but from what I have seen it looks like it was a lot of fun and those who got into it seemed to really enjoy it.
Yonder (Wild Card)
Here is a game that is a little bit out there and may seem a little strange to be on this list, but please hear me out.
Yonder has some of the elements that you love about Runescape. There is a lot of exploration and finding useful things that can help make your journey more fun and interesting.
Yonder though is one of the best looking games on this list. The graphics and the soundtrack are both very soothing and it makes Yonder a much more laid back type of game. Like Runescape, Yonder is going to steal hours and hours of your time.
Being laid back and more about exploration means that there is no clicking like a maniac for combat. That is because there really is not any!
I know this sounds odd, but it works. If you want to play a game where exploration is what it is about and you are not always worried you are going to lose all your loot, Yonder is for you. Think of it as a more laid back type of game and you will have a blast with it.
Fallout: New Vegas (Wild Card)
Ok, so this one is way, way out there when it comes to talking about game alternatives to Runescape. But I do like to have a couple of wild card games on my lists. Fallout: New Vegas is my favorite of all the Fallout games. Set in the decimated Sin City there is still a lot of the Vegas charm here, but there is also a lot of mutated freaks, crazy people and other stuff that wants you dead.
So how is this like Runescape? Well, I feel that the exploration, loads of quests and the way you have to micromanage things makes it a game that would strike a chord with those that had a lot of fun with Runescape.
So while this may seem like a strange suggestion, Fallout: New Vegas is a truly fantastic game and one that I think everyone reading this will have a lot of fun with.
So there are lots of fun games that I think you guys are really going to enjoy. I always like to pick a couple of personal favorites and on this list that is very easy for me to do. First up is Path of Exile. POE is straight up one of the best MMORPG games I have ever played and if you like a bit more action and violence in your MMO games then Path of Exile is perfect for you.
The other game is at the other end of the spectrum of POE and that is Stardew Valley. I have spent hundreds of hours over the three versions of Stardew Valley that I have and always had a great time. With so much stuff to find, craft and missions to do. Stardew Valley is one of the best games like Runescape for me and I am sure that you will have just as much fun with it as I did.