Plenty of well-known MMOs are free to play, including Guild Wars 2, Old School RuneScape, Albion Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic and Star Trek Online. Some are free to keep with optional extras, and some are free trials with limits, so check how each game is free before you spend your evenings on it. I'd choose based on the world you want: fantasy, space or action.
Free to play doesn't mean free of catches, so it's worth knowing the types before you install anything. Some games let you play the whole story and only sell cosmetics. Others give you a taste and then ask you to join a membership. I've listed ten games below with how each one is free, who it suits, its main strength and its main limit. Details change as publishers update their games, so treat the table as a starting point and check the current terms on the official page.
Ten free to play MMO games at a glance
| Game | Genre | Platform | How it's free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guild Wars 2 | Fantasy MMORPG | PC | Free to play, with optional purchases and expansions sold separately |
| Final Fantasy XIV | Fantasy MMORPG | PC, PlayStation, Xbox | Free trial with limits |
| Old School RuneScape | Fantasy sandbox MMORPG | PC, phone | Free with a limited world, plus an optional membership |
| Albion Online | Sandbox MMORPG | PC, phone | Free with an optional premium status |
| Lost Ark | Action MMORPG | PC | Free with optional purchases |
| Star Wars: The Old Republic | Sci-fi story MMORPG | PC | Free with restrictions, plus an optional subscription |
| Star Trek Online | Sci-fi MMO | PC, console | Free with optional purchases |
| EVE Online | Space sandbox MMO | PC | Free to start with limits, plus an optional subscription |
| Warframe | Online co-op action | PC, console | Free with optional purchases |
| Destiny 2 | Shared-world shooter | PC, console | Free core game, with expansions sold separately |
Fantasy MMORPGs
This is the classic MMO: pick a character, level up, join a group and explore.
Guild Wars 2 suits people who don't want to be tied to a fixed role. Its strength is open-world events that you can join as you pass by. The limit is that some content and expansions sit outside the free game.
Final Fantasy XIV suits story lovers. The strength is a long, well-known storyline with plenty of cutscenes. The limit is that the free trial has restrictions, so think of it as a long taste rather than a permanent home.
Old School RuneScape suits players who like choosing their own goals, such as mining, fishing or fighting. Its strength is huge freedom and the fact that it also runs on phones. The limit is the dated look and a slow pace, and free accounts get less to do than members.
Albion Online suits people who enjoy a player-driven economy where players make and trade much of the gear. The strength is that crafting and trading matter. The limit is that some zones let other players take your gear if you lose a fight, which can be harsh for beginners.
Sci-fi MMOs
Star Wars: The Old Republic suits Star Wars fans who want a story-heavy game with voiced conversations. The strength is that you can play it mostly like a single-player story. The limit is that free players face restrictions on things like extra features.
Star Trek Online suits Star Trek fans who want to command a ship as well as walk around on missions. The strength is the mix of space and ground play. The limit is that it feels older than newer games.
EVE Online suits patient players who like economics, planning and big group politics in space. The strength is a living universe shaped by its players. The limit is a steep learning curve, and the free version is restricted, so check what it includes.
Action and shooter MMOs
Strictly speaking some of these are online action games rather than classic MMOs, but people often group them together and search for them in the same way.
Lost Ark suits players who like fast, flashy combat from a top-down view. The strength is the polished fighting and the variety of classes. The limit is that it can be repetitive once the story slows down.
Warframe suits friends who want to play co-op missions together. The strength is the movement and the sheer number of ways to play. The limit is a menu-heavy game that takes time to understand.
Destiny 2 suits shooter fans who want to team up on raids and strikes. The strength is the feel of the gunplay. The limit is that a lot of the story content sits in expansions you buy separately, so the free part is only a slice.
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On your phone
Old School RuneScape and Albion Online both run on phones, which makes them the easiest MMOs to try without a gaming PC. Expect them to need a steady connection. If you'd like more choice, my guide to free multiplayer games for any laptop covers lighter picks.
If you prefer RPGs without the online part, take a look at the list of free offline RPGs for Android instead. And for a lighter evening with a group, online multiplayer party games are easier to join than a full MMO.
Make an MMO? See how to get it featured on this list.
The catch with free to play
Free to play games still need to earn money, so it helps to know how they usually do it.
- Cosmetics. Outfits, mounts and effects that change how your character looks. These are harmless, and they're the fairest way for a game to earn.
- Time. Some games make progress slower unless you buy a boost. If you notice you're being nudged to buy power rather than looks, that's a sign the game leans on spending.
- Memberships. Some games stay free but limit content, and a membership opens more.
- Account safety. The more time you put into a character, the more it's worth to someone else. Treat it like any other online account.
My own rule would be to set a limit for the month before you install, and stick to it. Many games let you play for a long time with no spending at all.
Staying safe in online games
- Never share your account or password, even with a friend. Sharing is a quick route to a lost account and often breaks the game's rules.
- Use a unique password and switch on two-step login if the game offers it.
- Ignore messages that promise free in-game currency, rare items or account help. They're a common way to steal logins.
- Don't click links from strangers in chat, and don't download add-ons from places you don't know.
- Don't give out your real name, school, address or photos in voice or text chat.
- Parents: use the family settings on the console or in the store to set age limits, spending limits and chat controls. Check the game's age rating and what its chat is like before you let a child join.
If a setting name looks different on your device, search the settings for the word 'family' or 'parental'.
If you want the full set, start at the Free Games to Play Offline and Online: Every Guide in One Place (2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free to play MMO?
There isn't a single best one. I'd pick by what you want: Guild Wars 2 or Final Fantasy XIV for fantasy, Star Wars: The Old Republic for a story, Old School RuneScape for phone play.
Are free to play MMOs really free?
Many are free to download and free to play, with optional purchases. Some are free trials or limit content until you join a membership, so read the current terms before you start.
Can I play an MMO on an old laptop?
Older games such as Old School RuneScape are light and often run on modest machines. Check the minimum requirements on the official page for any game before you install it.
Are MMOs safe for kids?
It depends on the game and the chat. Check the age rating, use the family settings on the device, and talk about not sharing personal details with strangers.
