Leave the wands at home! From the blunderbusses of New World to the phasers of Star Trek Online, here are 2023’s best MMOs with guns.
Lock and Load! The 12 Best MMOs With Guns 2023
Written by Alex Sinclair Lack at 03/11/2023, 08:19 AM
In a world where swords and sorcery rule the MMO landscape, sometimes you just need to ditch the magic and reach for something a little more... lethal. Enter the world of MMOs with guns. That's right, forget about flinging fireballs and wielding enchanted staves - in these MMO games, it's all about magazine size, reload speed, and of course, firepower.
1. Destiny 2 - Epic First-Person MMOFPS
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First up, let's talk about the big dog in the MMOs with guns scene: Destiny 2. It's been a fan favorite since release, and for good reason. The sci-fi setting, deep lore, and intense combat all combine to create an experience that's both atmospheric and unique. While it divides fans on whether it truly meets the "MMO" criteria of the shooter MMO (or MMOFPS), it nonetheless has a massive player base, with hundreds of thousands of Guardians logging in every day to take on everything from alien hordes to rival factions.
Plus, the game is constantly evolving, with regular updates and expansions adding new content and expansions - the latest of which is the long-anticipated Lightfall.
Learn more or play now!
2. Warframe - Third-Person Cyber Mayhem
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Destiny 2 is far from the only game in town when it comes to MMORPGs with guns. One game that's had a lot of attention since its 2013 release is Warframe. A free-to-play shooter MMO all about fast-paced, high-tech, third-person combat, with players taking on the role of advanced cyborgs known as Warframes. It has a steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be shooting and looting with deadly precision.
Still with an active player-base and new expansions like soon-to-be-released The Duviri Paradox introducing new features, Warframe remains a formidable shooter MMO.
Learn more or play now!
3. Crossout - Apocalyptic Vehicular Combat
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But what about the smaller, indie games in the "MMOs with guns" space? Are there any hidden gems that players should be checking out? One game that's had a lot of buzz lately is Targem Games' Crossout. Taking place in a world where society has collapsed, players must scavenge for parts and build their own vehicles to survive. The game has a unique blend of combat, crafting, and customization, with players able to build everything from heavily armed tanks to nimble buggies.
Learn more or play now!
4. Final Fantasy XIV - The Friendliest MMO with Guns
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FFXIV is one of the most popular MMOs around, and in recent years has enjoyed something of a renaissance. It features a vast and immersive fantasy world, with a complex story and engaging combat system. Players can choose from a variety of classes, each with its unique abilities and playstyle, and team up with other players to take on challenging dungeons and raids. Final Fantasy XIV is a game that offers players a classic MMORPG experience with a touch of guns and technology.
Being Final Fantasy and all, they don't just stop at traditional guns, but the sci-fi fantasy dream of gunblades of the Gunbreaker or mile-high APM Machinist.
Learn more or play now!
5. World of Tanks - Explosive Historical MMO
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Intense tank battles, realistic physics, and detailed graphics are what drive players to World of Tanks, a free-to-play MMO that gives the realistic feel of commanding a powerful armored vehicle. Players can choose from a wide range of tanks, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses, and participate in fierce online battles that challenge tactical skills and strategy.
Plentiful updates and iconic historical tanks have kept World of Tanks alive and kicking long after many predicted. Roll out!
Learn more or play now!
6. New World - Muskets at the Ready
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The idea of playing a colonist isn't particularly progressive, especially when coming from mega-corporation Amazon. New World has been a game plagued by issues and criticism since its launch, but to their credit recent changes have begun to win audiences around. It's a visually stunning game filled with lush forests and mystical ruins, and even upon playing the beta - the light gleaming off the game's golden muskets was a high point for us.
Now with the addition of the blunderbuss, New World is an MMO with guns in their most primitive state - and there is definitely a charm in that. We recently wrote about Amazon Games' plans for New World in 2023.
Learn more or play now!
7. Lost Ark - Ludicrous Genius (With Guns)
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Lost Ark is an action-packed MMORPG set in a fantastical world that blends magic and technology. The game features a deep story that players can experience through a variety of quests and missions, as well as an engaging combat system that blends guns, melee attacks, and magic. Use your guns and other weapons to take down hordes of enemies and explore a vast and beautiful world filled with danger, wonder... and whimsy.
It's definitely not a game for everyone, but those who like it, love it as an MMORPG that combines the best of fantasy and gunplay.
Learn more or play now!
8. Realm of the Mad God - Welcome to Bullet Hell
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If you're looking for an MMORPG with guns that harkens back to the days of classic arcade games, then Realm of the Mad God is going to rock your world. This retro-style MMORPG features pixelated graphics, challenging gameplay, and devilish bullet-hell combat. Players take on the role of a hero who must navigate through various dungeons and fight off hordes of enemies. The game is fast-paced and challenging, making it a great choice for players who are looking for a more hardcore experience... permadeath included.
It's so brutal that we recently featured its titular character in our list of the hardest MMO boss fights in gaming lore.
Learn more or play now!
9. Star Citizen - An (Overly) Ambitious Space Opera
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Star Citizen is a game that has been in development for years and has yet to see a full release, but the game's promise is enormous. This space opera MMORPG allows players to explore a vast universe, pilot their ships, engage in dogfights, and interact with other players in a persistent online world. The game features a complex economy, where players can trade resources and goods, and engage in piracy and smuggling.
Star Citizen is a game that promises to offer players an immersive and expansive experience in space, with guns and spacecraft to boot. Then again, they've been promising it since what feels like the dawn of time. Unless you want to wait an eternity, you're probably better off getting your space opera fix from EVE Online.
Learn more or play now!
10. Fallen Earth Classic - A Post-Apocalyptic World Reborn
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Set in an America ravaged by a deadly virus, Fallen Earth Classic puts you in the shoes of a survivor fighting to stay alive in a harsh and unforgiving world. With a focus on survival and combat, this game lets you explore a vast and dangerous wasteland, scavenging for supplies and fighting off raiders and other threats. Use your guns and other weapons to take down mutated foes and carve out a place for yourself in a world gone mad.
Originally released in 2009, Fallen Earth is once more playable on Steam via Fallen Earth Classic.
Learn more or play now!
11. Star Wars: The Old Republic - A Legendary Franchise
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Star Wars: The Old Republic is an MMORPG set in the iconic Star Wars universe. Set thousands of years before the events of the movies, players can choose to join either the Sith Empire or the Galactic Republic and embark on their own journey through the galaxy. The game features a complex story with various paths and choices that affect the player's alignment with the light or dark side of the force.
While it's everyone's first instinct to reach for the lightsaber, there is an epic array of firepower to choose from across the classes. Blasters are only the beginning. Oh, and they still have the best trailers in the MMO genre.
Learn more or play now!
Star Trek Online - Set Phasers to Kill --------------------------------------
Star Trek Online is an MMORPG that puts you in the captain's chair of your own starship. Players can explore various planets, engage in space battles, and interact with iconic characters from the series. The game features a deep and engaging story with multiple factions and choices that affect the player's progress. With a focus on exploration and diplomacy, combat may not be your first port of call. But with firepower ranging from phasers to photon torpedoes at the ready.
Equip your ship with the latest weapons and technology, and boldly go shoot some Klingons. And, as we make more than clear in this review, while there are other Star Trek MMOs out there, you don't want to play them.
Learn more or play now!
Other Shooter MMOs That Are Worth Considering:
Again, certainly not filling the strict definition of a shooter MMO, but a great game to play regardless - Fallout 76. After a truly disastrous launch, the post-apocalyptic title has made significant improvements over the years and is now a decent play. And if you're looking for an MMORPG with guns, well Fallout 76 has some of the most creative options of the genre. Learn more or play now.
While it won't release until later in the year, there's a huge hype around the upcoming Dune: Awakening MMO game. And in case somehow the sci-fi blockbuster movie and classic novel has passed you by... yes, there will be firearms.
And not to forget, everyone's favourite Space MMO, the eternal EVE Online.
If you're a gamer who craves the thrill of fast-paced combat with guns, then traditional MMOs with swords and magic may not be your cup of tea. Luckily, there are plenty of MMORPGs out there that will cater to your tastes by providing a high-adrenaline experience with a touch of sci-fi and military weaponry.