6. The Elder Scrolls Online (375k Daily Players)
The 6th most popular MMORPG of 2023 is none other than The Elder Scrolls Online. Fans of The Elder Scrolls franchise have mixed feelings about the Elder Scrolls Online. Mainly because any game in the TES franchise needs to live up to Skyrim, which is extremely difficult.
ESO (Elder Scrolls Online) has some bugs and glitches that need fixing, but other than that it’s a fantastic game.
You will need to buy the base game first which usually costs around $20. There is also an optional subscription called ESO+ which will give you extra features like unlimited access to new DLC, unlimited storage, some Crowns to spend in the shop, and more.
You can also play this popular MMORPG on consoles as well as PC.
5. World of Warcraft Classic (500k Daily Players)
Relive the past with World of Warcraft Classic. WOW Classic quickly became one of the most played MMORPGs of the year and comes included in your subscription for World of Warcraft. This means you can choose which version of World of Warcraft you’d like to play at no additional cost.
Old school players will love World of Warcraft Classic as it allows you to relive all the old memories you had as your younger self.
The spirit of WOW Classic remains the same as it did in the past. WOW Classic will give you a more true experience to the game you once loved – in case the new versions of World of Warcraft weren’t your thing.
4. RuneScape 3 (525k Daily Players)
RuneScape 3 or just simply known as RuneScape is not as popular as OSRS (Old School RuneScape). However, it still takes the spot as the 4th most played MMORPG in 2023, which means it’s moved up from 6th!
RuneScape can be played for free, though some features are locked behind the paywall. It is said that RuneScape 3 does feature a lot of grinding, but doesn’t every game nowadays?
A great community is what matters and I’m sure you can meet a lot of great players in RuneScape to venture with. I for one have a friend who is totally addicated!
If you can’t decide if you want to play RuneScape 3 or Old School RuneScape, then read the #2 to find out more.
3. World of Warcraft (1.2m Daily Players)
The king has finally been topped! Coming in at number 3 we have the infamous World of Warcraft which previously held the top spot.
Grab your favorite gaming keyword and join World of Warcraft! Blizzard recently released an expansion called Shadowlands in late 2020 which caused a huge surge in players peaking their active players to over 7 million.
World of Warcraft is also one of the most popular games to stream on Twitch, with popular Twitch Streamers like Azmongold amassing hundreds of thousands of views a day.
With the release of new expansion as well as WOW Classic, World of Warcraft managed to grow its userbase significantly over the past few years. The latest expansion – Shadowlands, is also the fastest-selling PC game of all time.
World of Warcraft is a must-play for any fan of MMO games and offers a bit of everything for every type of gamer. Whether you like PvP or PvE – there are great options for both. You can even hunt the rarest mounts in World of Warcraft if you’d like.
2. Old School RuneScape (1.4m Daily Players)
Goold ol’ Old School RuneScape enters near the top of the charts as the 2nd most played MMORPG of 2023. Amassing approximately 1.4 million active players!
It seems that the older type of MMORPGs are really thriving in 2023, with players begging for that old-school experience.
The main differences between RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape are not only related to graphics, but also to the gameplay.
Old School RuneScape takes players a much longer time to reach the ‘end game’. OSRS also has a much longer shelf-life because it of.
Combat is however more simply compared to RS3. OSRS also has no microtransactions, and it’s not purely focused on who has the best DPS.
Old School RuneScape is a lot more complex and more catered to gamers that wish for a long-lasting experience. If that sounds like something you would like – give it try. If you’ve never played any RuneScape title before but want to get into it then perhaps it would be best to start with RuneScape 3 as it is much more modern and easier to get into (whilst maintaining a large userbase).
1. Final Fantasy XIV (3m Daily Players)
Final Fantasy XIV has become the most played MMORPG in 2023, a major achievement for the game that had to shut down its free trial due to a rapid influx of new players.
This interest was largely spurred by the second release of FFXIV, A Realm Reborn, which was released in 2013 and caught the attention of millions of gamers across the world.
It’s easy to see why with its high-quality graphics and comprehensive storyline complete with interesting characters and quests that keep players engaged and moving through Eorzea on their journey.
With the free trial back up and running, even more people can get a taste of what makes Final Fantasy XIV so popular.
One of the best aspects of Final Fantasy XIV is that it can be enjoyed as a solo player.
Players who want to just experience the story without having to engage with other players still have an enjoyable gaming experience.
There’s no need to fight over loot or grind in parties; you can choose your own pace and play however you like.
Of course, there are plenty of benefits to joining a party, such as teamwork, camaraderie and bonus rewards.
When compared to other MMORPGs out there, FFXIV takes the cake in giving full control to players when it comes to playing solo or in a group.
The only negative aspect about this game is the language used for dialogue – most discussions are written in very flowery and grandiose fantasy language which may require some time getting used to.
On the whole, though, FFXIV makes an excellent single-player option for those who don’t feel like sharing their adventure.
Final Thoughts
If you are thinking of taking this game seriously – you will want to check out our best prebuilt gaming PC’s for under $1000.
That’s it for the most popular MMORPGs of 2023. The MMO audiences have really grown compared to 2020, which is a great thing. Hopefully next year we will be able to play Amazon’s new MMORPG as well!
Like the article? Check out our article on the best prebuilt Streaming PCs under $1000!
A gaming lover from a very young age, Justin has always had a keen eye for building his own computers or racing sims so that he can race his identical twin (and usually lose at the actual race).
Justin in the founder of BeStreamer and sees it as a free resource to help all gamers around the world
