Sci-fi games

Anime MMORPGs are a rare breed. Good ones anyway, and for use anime and MMO fans, that’s a darn shame. So when a good Anime MMORPG comes around, we play it as long as we can and cherish it more than that all-red Pokeball.

SoulWorker is a refreshing entry into the somewhat sparse Anime MMORPG genre. The art style is just plain gorgeous, and the combat is fast and furious, no Vin Diesel required. And most importantly, the game is fun.

While it lasts at least. The game is still young, but in its’ current state, there just isn’t enough to do. Players will have a blast in the initial hours, but once the serious grinding starts, the fun drops off a cliff. The endgame is pretty nonexistent, and what little there is to do, isn’t very enjoyable. Soul Worker is an instanced based, dungeon hack and slash, and it can get very repetitive very quickly. And the alterations that Game Forge made to the game, make the bad aspects of Soul Worker even worse. In its’ current state, it doesn’t have much in the way of lasting power, but it’s a great way to spend a weekend or two with friends.

➔ Main points:

• Downloadable Hack n Slash MMORPG
• Fast and fun combo heavy combat
• Get repetitive towards late game
• Very little endgame content
• English version of the game is a lot harder and more grindy than the SEA version
• Too much P2W/P2P Elements in the English release
• Lots of server issues

Based on famed table top game Champions, Champions Online is a recently free-to-play MMORPG created by City of Heroes developer Cryptic Studios. Champions online is a comic book lover’s ideal virtual world. While it has its issues, mostly related to graphics, playing through Champions is still an enjoyable romp filled with a plethora of well executed ideas. The game creates a rich yet traditional MMO experience, however much of the game’s systems and classes are locked behind a subscription-based paywall.

The combat feels, for the most part, very traditional. It’s a variation of the classic tab targeting system we’ve come to love, and expect from games like World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic. What differentiates combat the most is the ability to enter combat with a unique ability called a travel power. Travel powers are pretty much exactly as the sound, superpowers that allow for different methods of travel. There are a plethora of travel powers to choose from, each compliments a certain class type, however you can choose whichever you are most fond of.

➔ Main points:

• 2009 MMORPG
• Superhero Themed
• Unique Nemesis System
• Plethora of Customization options

Developed by Wiple Games and published by Aeria Games, Ironsight is finally available to the public after a year and a half in beta.

Ironsight is unique in that it's not unique. It draws comparisons to Call of Duty both in aesthetics and gameplay because it does look and sound like a Call of Duty game. And believe it or not, that's a good thing.

The Call of Duty franchise has lost its' way, but once upon a time was a great series. A few years ago, CoD was great fun, and Ironsight shows why. It plays like an early 2010s CoD game.

It has plenty of weapons and drones for you to have fun with, and the action is fast-paced. You can log on a place a few quick games before school or you can play a couple dozen games over the course of a few hours.

The microtransactions in this game are very tame, and it's more than possible to play this game and never spend a dime yet still be competitive. Ironsight is easily one of the most balanced F2P MMOs that I have played in a while and sets a stellar example for F2P MMOs.

➔ Main points:

• Downloadable F2P MMOFPS with PVE but thrives on its' PVP content
• More than 100 weapons at your disposal
• Simple gunplay, fast-paced action
• The fairest microtransactions in an F2P MMO by far
• Server instability issues at times;
• Somewhat low player base
• Call of Duty fans, this game is tailor-made for you

Quake Champions is a free to play FPS game that continues the Quake franchises' long history of excellent fast-action team matches and gameplay. The game has over a dozen Champions to play as and each comes with unique weapons and abilities that are customizable the more you play. Progression comes fairly for simply playing the game, and players can unlock more content like cosmetics and additional match modes the higher their rank.

Presentation is fantastic and so is the gameplay, as that familiar power up utilization in matches combined with the frenzied swapping of weapons and quick movement offers some addictive gameplay. The cash shop uses currency awarded from simply playing the game and allows you to purchase cosmetics and there is no pay to win.

➔ Main points:

• Buttery smooth FPS shooter featuring fast-action gameplay
• Plenty of progression systems for ranks and Champions
• Free to play with cash shop not being pay to win
• Good size Champion roster with high replay value
• Multiple data centers to pick from based on ping

Sansar is a free to play virtual universe MMO that allows players to create their own avatars and explore creativity and social activities together. Featuring fully 3D worlds, characters and environments, Sansar is graphically excellent and gameplay involves no combat, instead opting for social interactions. You can manipulate objects to recreate scenes at parties, or get creative and enter its excellent build mode to create your own disco for you and your friends to chill at. The game offers near limitless sandbox social experiences, but suffers from low player count currently.

➔ Main points:

• Free to play virtual online world that looks gorgeous.
• Limitless amount of creativity tools to help players build, explore and create.
• A great marketing and merchandise tool for influencers.
• Plenty of live events to attend hosted by real people.
• Somewhat low playerbase currently.

Playing Warframe is as close to being a ninja as many of us will get. Set in a sci-fi universe full of insane alien enemies, you'll have to count on your powerful exo-skeleton to survive.

The gameplay is an interesting mix of classic third person shooter and action, with some undoubtedly enjoyable RPG-like features. You can play co-op with friends or take on one of the many available missions solo.

Graphics are beautiful and due to the game’s proprietary engine, you won’t need a beefy rig to run it. Updates are released regularly so even more fun is to come.

Warframe is a great free-to-play title with a hectic pace and rewarding weapons. It has a plethora of progression options to keep you engaged. Most of all, though, it's a blast to play. Moment to moment gameplay is intense, face paced, and visceral.

➔ Main points:

• 2013 Cooperative third person shooter (MMOTPS).
• Incredible, adrenalinic combat both in solo and co-op PvE.
• Inspired art direction and triple-A quality graphics, with affordable minimum requirements.
• RPG elements and original (at least for a shooter) progression options.

Eternal Return is a free to play multiplayer MOBA and battle royale hybrid game that's on the Steam platform. With its huge character roster of 59 unique personalities, players select which anime hero they'll use in matches that pits hem against 17 other players in solo, or can opt to team up to be the last ones standing in visually pleasing maps. The gameplay will feel familiar and fun due to popular mechanics, and earning currency to unlock more anime characters will ensure that you always have goals to grind towards. Matchmaking queues are long can somewhat unbalanced in competitive modes, but that doesn't detract away from the fun moments in game, even if you're playing against AI bots.

➔ Main points:

• A rare MOBA and battle royale combination that works
• Free to play with play to earn progression
• Huge roster of characters to unlock
• Seasonal events and battle passes available

Star Wars: The Old Republic is a recently released free to play MMORPG developed by Bioware and published by EA and LucasArts.

On one hand, its RPG aspects are excellent but on the other, its MMO qualities aren't so good. The game's creators definitely opted for the pay-to-win model with this one. The cash shop is graciously supplied and gives too large of an advantage compared to the in game stores.

Off the bat, the game had tons of potential for enjoyment. Its Star Wars licensed storyline and the opportunity to make your own customizable Jedi doppelganger had Star Wars fans hooked since their announcement.

Taking all that into account as well as its excellent graphical presentation this game is a worthy detour for any Star Wars fan looking to immerse themselves in an online community of Star Wars fandom.

➔ Main points:

• Free to play MMORPG based on the universe of Star Wars.
• Great storyline and convincing atmosphere - the fans of the saga won't be disappointed.
• Create and customize your own lightsaber!
• Questionable free to play model and pretty strong limitations for non-paying players.

In the shoes of a member of one of three factions on the planet Auraxis, your mission is simply to conquer as much territory as possible and bring your team one step closer to total domination. The game places a strong emphasis on teamwork, with tactics designed to encourage furious suicide charges in the middle of battle.

The game is essentially devoid of a strong narrative component and prefers to rely entirely on the gameplay, which is fine because the latter is incredibly enjoyable, challenging and well designed.

Graphically, the game is beautiful, staging its battles in the most diverse, well-realised environments. Constant updates bring more content and welcome variations to an already excellent game.

Overall, PlanetSide 2 is the game fans of the first episode have been waiting for, and more.

Andromeda5 is a fully 3D MMO browser game recently released by XS software. The game allows you to travel through the depths of the universe and explore different galaxies. The storyline progresses through main quests which even if not very exciting still make it possible to maintain a good gameplay flow and prevent one from getting overly bored.

In short, the game is a standard free MMO that has dozens of missions (although not very different from each other) which usually involve collecting such and such item or resources.

Graphically, the game is rather pleasant , thanks to the integration of the Unity graphics engine. The ambiance and feel of space in the game is done well, completely in the 3 dimensions. All in a single browser window. Andromeda5 is a good game, but due to some of its defects, it doesn't reach its full potential .