Mobile MMORPGs continue to take over the market – unfortunately or fortunately for some. Due to the abundance of games in the genre on this platform, finding at least something worthwhile is not so easy, and expected projects often disappoint. However, we have tried to select for you the 10 most anticipated mobile MMORPGs that will be released in 2024 or later.
Ashfall
Our TOP opens not exactly with an MMORPG, but with an MMORPG shooter called Ashfall. The game caused a mixed reaction after beta testing, but was able to attract attention with an interesting setting and the very combination of two genres. If the developers take the comments into account, then we can get a pretty good project.
Ashfall also looks interesting because the development of the shooter involves veterans of the gaming industry who have worked on games for the PlayStation for many years. Thus, the team includes the former creative director of Bend Studio, who worked on Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Days Gone, as well as the former head of the visual arts group, who left after the presentation of the remake of The Last of Us).
Ashfall is a post-apocalyptic MMORPG shooter set in the city of Seattle, where many disasters have occurred, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and global warming. Players will explore a large open world, going through a story campaign and participating in multiplayer activities designed for PvP and PvE. By the way, the new product will be available not only on mobile devices, but also on PCs and consoles.
Arthdal Chronicles
The popular Korean series “Arthdal Chronicles”, the first season of which was released on the Netflix platform back in 2019, will receive an adaptation in the form of an MMORPG called Arthdal Chronicles. The release was originally scheduled for the end of 2023, but, as often happens, there was a postponement.
The original drama was often jokingly called the “Korean Game of Thrones.” The game will try to convey the original atmosphere, while offering a completely independent plot. However, players will be able to visit familiar locations and meet many of their favorite characters.
The gameplay will be classic for most mobile MMORPGs. You have to complete tasks, grind, fight bosses, go through dungeons, run into open PvP zones and participate in large-scale alliance battles. Auto-combat is also present, but, according to the authors, it is implemented in such a way as not to interfere with the main gameplay.
The Starlight
The Starlight is a very mysterious project that can either be successful or completely fail. The game was announced in 2017 under the working title TS Project and was supposed to be released back in 2022, but the authors decided to transfer it to the Unreal Engine 5, which is probably why development was delayed. The decision is really the right one, because graphically the game looks noticeably better – if you watch the latest gameplay video and compare it with the very first, you will see noticeable progress. By the way, the illustrator of the game is Jung Joon Ho, who worked on Lineage 2.
The Starlight is based on a series of novels written by Games Tails CEO Jung Sung-hwan. The game will tell about the heroes who went in search of “starlight”, which is scattered across many worlds. One of the features is the change of seasons and weather conditions, due to which the same locations can look completely different.
The Starlight is planned to be released globally. However, it is not yet known whether this will happen simultaneously with the release of the Korean version.
Moonlight Blade Mobile
Moonlight Blade Mobile was released in China in 2020, and the global version is expected at the end of 2023. In Russia, the game will be released about a year later – that is, either at the end of 2024 or at the beginning of 2025. Moreover, our version will include not only a translation into Russian, but also separate servers.
Moonlight Blade Mobile is a mobile MMORPG in a traditional Chinese style, based on the universe of the computer game Moonlight Blade Online. This project features 6 main clans, such as Taibai (swordsman), Blossom (healer), Mights (spearman), Tangmen (puppeteer), Beggars (drunken master) and Yihua (support). Players can compete against each other in PVP modes or fight side by side in PVE. There are also a variety of professions in the game, including cooking, fishing and hunting.
Legend of YMIR
What happens if you combine MIR 4 and Scandinavian mythology? The correct answer is Legend of YMIR. The project is a kind of rethinking of the franchise with a new setting, but preserving the features of the original, such as the guild system, sieges, dungeons, and so on. According to the plot, players will have to save the world from Ragnarok.
Legend of YMIR will also boast excellent graphics created on the Unreal Engine 5. However, only owners of powerful PCs with a video card that supports ray tracing will be able to fully appreciate it. But the authors are in no hurry to show the mobile version yet.
Legend of YMIR is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2023. Considering the experience of previous games from Wemade, the global version will not be long in coming.
AION 2
We have been waiting for AION 2 for a long time, albeit with a great deal of caution. Everyone knows what happened with Blade & Soul 2, which they didn’t want to show until recently, and disappointed many fans at release. What makes the situation worse is that the game is being developed by the team responsible for Lineage 2M. Therefore, it is completely unknown what will come out in the end. However, as they say, hope dies last.
Aion 2 is a mobile story prequel to the popular MMORPG Aion, which takes players back in time, 900 years before the events of the original. There is no division into factions in the game due to the duration of the game. The world consists of several continents, each with its own unique flora and fauna.
Aion 2 offers players a wide range of options for exploration and combat. The game features a classless system that allows players to freely combine skills and abilities. In addition, battles on land, in the air and under water are available, as well as server invasions through rifts.
Note that Aion 2 was initially developed on the Unreal Engine 4, but later the game was transferred to the fifth version.
Crystal of Atlan
The next game in our TOP at first glance may seem like another clone of Genshin Impact, but in fact it is a mobile MMORPG in the anime style called Crystal of Atlan. The project has already been released in China, and is now preparing for a global release in 2024.
The main content in Crystal of Atlan is dungeons that players need to clear both to progress through the story and to level up. In this regard, the game is more reminiscent of Kritika or Soulworker. However, there are also PvP arenas with battles in 1 on 1 format. The combat system itself is very fast and dynamic – with combo attacks, throwing up enemies and dodging. At launch, four unique classes will be presented, each of which has two subclasses: Swordsman, Master, Puppeteer and Musketeer. And yes, there is no auto-combat here!
Justice Mobile
MMORPG Justice Mobile was previously released in China, but the global version has been officially confirmed. Since the game turned out to be very successful in its homeland, I would like to hope that it will find its audience here too.
One of the key features of the project is the use of artificial intelligence to create NPCs. Thanks to this technology, they can interact realistically with players, including meaningful dialogue. Currently, the game has over a hundred NPCs with artificial intelligence. They are able to learn from the behavior of players and adapt their behavior in accordance with the data received.
Justice Mobile is a mobile MMORPG based on the popular game Justice Online, which was never released outside of the Middle Kingdom. Events take place in the world of martial arts, magic and ancient Chinese mythology. The plot contains cinematic clips and elements of nonlinearity. The project features a vast open world in which adventurers can freely explore locations in different ways, complete quests, fight opponents and participate in various PvE/PvP activities.
Lost Ark Mobile
The highly successful Action MMORPG Lost Ark will receive a mobile adaptation in the form of Lost Ark Mobile. The game will retain the plot, world and gameplay of the original, although, of course, it will not do without differences.
First of all, Lost Ark Mobile is developed on the Unreal Engine 5, and not on the third version, which is why the graphics have become noticeably better. To simplify gameplay on touch screens, the developers have added several automatic functions. No, don’t worry, auto-combat has not been introduced, but there is the possibility of automatic movement through the quest, auto-evasion (consumes a special resource) and auto-application of “healers”. The combat system has become faster and more dynamic, and there are still 8 active skills.
During the demonstration at G-STAR 2023, many Korean journalists were impressed by the game. An Inven representative even called it “a threat to the PC version.” By the way, oddly enough, Lost Ark Mobile will be released not only on mobile devices, but also on PC with cross-play support. Therefore, it is possible that someone may actually leave the original project for this adaptation.
Tarisland
Perhaps the most anticipated MMORPG on mobile devices is Tarisland, which, by the way, is also coming to PC. The developers have already conducted several tests and are now preparing for a full launch in 2024.
When creating Tarisland, the developers clearly took inspiration from World of Warcraft, which is officially unavailable both in its homeland in China and here in Russia. This can be seen in the style and gameplay with the classic targeted combat system. The main focus here is on dungeons, offering various interesting mechanics. To complete them, you will definitely need the so-called “holy trinity”, consisting of a tank, a healer and a damage dealer. PvP modes are also present, but the developers clearly did not focus on them.
Tarisland isn’t taking a giant leap into MMORPGs, but rather trying to take the best of the genre to create a game that’s fun to play on both PC and mobile devices. Perhaps this is exactly what many were missing, because a very large Russian-speaking community has already formed around the project, which is eagerly awaiting the release. Whether success awaits us or the servers will quickly become empty – only time will tell.
This concludes our TOP. Feel free to write in the comments which mobile MMORPG you are most looking forward to.