MMOs, or massively multiplayer online games, have been around for a long time. One of the most popular features of MMOs is player housing.
The MMOs in this list offer some of the most immersive and detailed housing experiences available today. Whether you are looking for a cozy cottage or an opulent palace, you will find what you are looking for in one of these MMOs!
All that mob killing, dungeon running, and PvPing is a lot of fun but sometimes we just want to kick back and decorate our house. Seeing the myriad of customization options these MMOs offer is no wonder that player housing becomes a game in itself.
In this blog post, we will take a look at 15 of the best MMOs with the best player housing.
16. Legends of Aria
- Developer: Citadel Studios
- Released: 2019
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Runescape, Ultima Online
First things first, you will either need the Citizen Pass ($20), Starter Pack ($25), or premium membership ($10 a month) as you cannot access the Legends of Aria‘s housing system as a free player.
The housing plot and blueprints are bought for in-game money. Building materials are also needed.
Once you have your house, you can start decorating it and appointing other players as co-owners.
In addition to a multitude of decoration options, the housing system also includes vendor NPCs through which homeowners can sell their items.
15. Rift
- Developer: Trion Worlds
- Released: 2011
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Tera, Neverwinter, World of Warcraft
Rift‘s player housing system adds sandbox features to this theme-park MMORPG.
Rift houses are called dimensions. Players get a piece of land in the form of an instanced area. The amazing thing is that you can actually construct unique buildings. You can also opt-in for the pre-built houses the game offers.
Rift dimension decorations can be acquired in many ways such as quest rewards, drops from monsters, crafting, and the auction house. The game has an easy placement system.
Free players have access to dimensions as well. If you have enough Platinum you can have a pretty cool place to call your own without visiting the cash shop.
14. New World
- Developer: Amazon Games
- Released: 2021
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Survival Games
New World has had a rough time since its release last year, but it can provide a lot of fun for fans of open-world MMOs or survival games, and it has many good features.
New World’s housing system is good but not great. Owning a house in a town can be a great source of immersion and give a feeling of community as you might have to help defend the town from opposing factions, or risk losing some of the benefits of being a citizen.
Trophies can also be used as decorations that will give you bonuses, and having extra storage in your house is always great.
You can choose to live in a small cottage or a large mansion. There are also many customization options available, so you can make your home look however you want.
13. Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Developer: Bioware
- Released: 2011
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Star Wars, Science Fiction
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away Jedi and Sith put the neverending conflict on hold because they were too busy decorating their homes.
SWTOR Strongholds are available on Tatooine, Nar Shadaa, Manaan, and several other iconic locations. You can buy a house for personal use or share it with your guild.
Homes cost Credits and Cartel coins. A guild hall costs much more than an individual place.
Houses vary by the number of rooms, decorations, and supported players.
Decorations are obtained from vendors and as drops from game activities.
12. Wurm Online
- Developer: Code Club AB
- Released: 2006
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Sandbox games, Old-school MMORPGs
Wurm Online is a sandbox game with an extensive crafting feature that includes house building. Provided that you have the needed resources, you can build a house just about anywhere.
Find a suitable spot and don’t forget to check in with your neighbors because it’s considered rude to build on a plot that has already been claimed by another player.
Wurm Online houses are not instanced. This gives players the freedom to build large settlements. You don’t need to pay upkeep for your house but you do have to repair it as time takes its toll and burglars decide to pay unwanted visits.
11. Lost Ark
- Developer: Smilegate
- Released: 2019
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Diablo, Path of Exile, ARPGs
Lost Ark’s player housing is called Strongholds. Strongholds aren’t restricted to just a house or a castle but give the player an entire island.
You can decorate, progress, and manage your Stronghold and even use the system to craft useful items.
Buildings such as the laboratory, workshop, manor, and training camp are all useful and can be upgraded.
10. Black Desert Online
- Developer: Pearl Abyss
- Released: 2014
- Platform: PC, Playstation, Xbox
- For fans of Final Fantasy XIV, Archeage, Aion, World of Warcraft
Black Desert Online housing system features homes, storage expansions, and lodging. Players can buy any of these units for Contribution, an in-game currency obtained from completing activities.
House items come from crafting or from the cash shop. Some decorations are not just cosmetics. Beds, for example, regenerate energy and sofas provide an HP recovery buff.
Crafting stations can be placed inside homes. Storage expansions unlock more bank slots. Lodgings provide accommodation for your workers.
BDO housing system allows players to recover the spent Contribution should they decide to sell the unit.
9. Elder Scrolls Online
- Developer: Zenimax
- Released: 2014
- Platform: PC, Playstation, Xbox
- For fans of The Elder Scrolls (Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim Etc)
Homestead, ESO‘s player housing system, is included in the base game version. You don’t need a premium subscription to become a Tamriel homeowner.
Players start small with an inn room that doesn’t offer many options but works great as additional storage space.
Elder Scroll Online homes come in all sizes and styles. Ranging from apartments to castle-like manors and featuring The Elder Scrolls racial themes, the selection is overwhelming.
Most of these homes can be bought with ESO Gold or Crowns. The decorating options are virtually endless and you can even have NPCs living in your home.
8. ArcheAge
- Developer: XL Games
- Released: 2013
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Final Fantasy XIV, Black Desert Online, Aion
ArcheAge is another sandbox game that allows players to have non-instanced homes. House sizes vary from small to mansion.
The location is of utmost importance. From climate to nearby resources and the type of area (protected or PvP), there are many things to consider when choosing a plot.
The spot may even determine the type of construction. For example, aquafarms can only be placed underwater near a coastline.
The bigger the house, the bigger the costs and keep in mind that not paying your taxes results in losing your house.
It’s not easy but it’s the challenge and complexity that makes ArcheAge player housing interesting and fun.
7. Lord of the Rings Online
- Developer: Standing Stone Games
- Released: 2007
- Platform: PC
- For fans of The Lord of the Rings, Classic fantasy
Who doesn’t want to live in the Shire? Or in an Elven house in Falathlorn, a Dwarven hall in the Blue Mountains, or with the Humans of Bree? Thanks to LOTRO‘s housing system this dream can come true.
Each neighborhood has a community area perfect for role-playing or just plain lollygagging.
The game has individual standard and deluxe homes and large kinship (guild) halls.
Decorations can be crafted or bought from NPCs.
LOTRO homes cost in-game money and have weekly upkeep. Living in Middle Earth is not cheap but we can all agree that the view is worth it.
6. Fractured
- Developer: Dynamight Studios
- Released: 2022
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Ultima Online, Runescape, Isometric MMOs
Fractured is a new true sandbox MMO with isometric graphics that will cater to players of games like Ultima Online and Runescape.
Players are able to claim plots of land in the wild and build their own houses.
Groups of players are able to build settlements and towns that can be upgraded with crafting areas, NPCs, and more.
Players can even vote for who will be the Governor of their village or town.
5. Final Fantasy XIV
- Developer: Square Enix
- Released: 2010
- Platform: PC, Playstation
- For fans of Final Fantasy, Anime-Style MMOs
Did you think that buying a house in real life is hard? Ha! A limited number of houses are available on each server so good luck if you happen to play on a populated server.
The costs range from 500,000 Gil for an apartment to tens of million Gil for a large house. Despite all that, FFXIV homes are great.
The residential districts look amazing and there are so many customization options and decorations. You can start a garden, build a stable for your Chocobo, and even have a working shower in your Eorzean house.
Free company estates even allow the construction of airships.
4. Palia
- Developer: Singularity 6, Inc.
- Released: TBA
- Platform: PC
- For fans of World of Warcraft, Wildstar, Everquest, Stardew Valley
Palia might one day top our list for MMOs with the best player housing, but since it’s not out yet, we just don’t know enough about the game for it to reach the top spot.
Palia markets itself as a community simulator and a “cozy” MMO. In Palia it is the activities that are seen as secondary features in other MMOs that come to the forefront. Things like fishing, foraging, or gardening.
Towns and player housing will also be a major feature in Palia and we can’t wait to start building our own cozy little hut.
3. EverQuest II
- Developer: Daybreak Games
- Released: 2004
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Everquest, World of Warcraft
To start with what most of us want to know, you don’t need to spend real money to gain access to EverQuest II player homes. However, that doesn’t necessarily make things easier.
Some EQII homes cost Gold (in-game currency) and Status (reputation currency). Most of the houses have a weekly upkeep cost in addition to the initial purchase cost.
Your alignment will also determine the type of house you can buy.
House sizes vary from small to large. Some houses have features such as a garden and balcony.
EverQuest II has one of the best MMO house systems but it makes you work for it.
2. Ultima Online
- Developer: Broadsword
- Released: 1997
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Isometric MMOs, Old School MMOs
Just because a game is old doesn’t mean it can’t have some truly unique features. One of the earliest MMOs, Ultima Online, was also one of the first to offer player housing.
In Ultima Online, players can purchase a plot of land and then build their own house on it. They can also furnish their houses with furniture and decorations. This system allowed players to really make their homes their own.
In UO you can change the locks to your house to decide who can and can’t enter, use your house for storage or even open up a shop.
1. Star Wars Galaxies
- Developer: Daybreak Games
- Released: 2003
- Platform: PC
- For fans of Star Wars, Sandbox MMOs
Star Wars Galaxies is to many players the greatest sandbox MMO ever made with one of the best housing systems ever made.
Sadly the game was closed back in 2011, before the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic, but thanks to dedicated fans you can still enjoy the game on the private SWG Legends server.
Players can not only build houses but entire player cities, where the players become citizens with all the responsibilities that might entail like paying taxes or voting.
Houses can be decorated and used for crafting, storage, or just relaxation.
So there you have it! Our list of the best MMO player housing systems. What is your favorite game to call home? Let us know in the comments!
Draconie
Monday 8th of January 2024
FFXIV has the worst housing. Windows don't open to the outside. It's near impossible to get THE house you actually want, and if your sub would ever lapse for any reason... sayonara house.
Elder Scrolls Online is great, but the item limit is incredibly restrictive. Their pre-built homes don't have windows that open to the outside either so players must build their own homes. Problem is... most housing instances have buildings already plopped down. Now you have to spend part of your item limit covering up those buildings. It's a pain. A simple solution would be to give players the options to have or not have pre-built houses for their instance. Or upgrade their servers so we can have at least 1,000 furniture slots in every home.
Black Desert Online doesn't let you build your own homes, but their windows do open to the outside. No item limit restriction! Most homes don't have areas to decorate on the outside, but there are 3 homes that do allow players to decorate the outside. I *love* the cabin home. BDO also has the best graphics by far on their furniture. They are jaw-dropping detailed and absolutely gorgeous. Best of all... you don't need to spend a cent of real-life money and the houses are SO easy to get in game. No sub, no paying for homes with RL cash :)
denully
Tuesday 3rd of October 2023
Wurm online does have the ability for Deed upkeep if you dont want your stuff to decay so fast or thieves to come in. also you cant build on land someone else claimed.
lucaz
Wednesday 21st of December 2022
DayZ with BBP mod?
GT
Monday 17th of October 2022
FF14 has THE WORST housing in an mmo. Don't have several million Gil, forget it. Don't want to camp vs claim bots, forget it. Don't want to keep that sub going every month to log in and check that little house you lucked out and got? Oops, you lost it.
FF14 has the worst housing rules in any mmo...having it on this list at all is a joke.
Gordon Leighter
Thursday 13th of October 2022
Oh my goodness.
Where was Conan Exiles in this line up?
Conan exiles has so much freedom to build compared to Lotto and new world. The latter two truly limit players and constrict them to so little freedom.