The 17 Best PvP MMOs In 2024
As Conan said, crushing your enemies is one of the best things in life. The other one is finding the Best PvP MMOs that allow you to do that.
If you’re looking for a PvP MMO, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best PvP MMOs currently available.
We’ll cover everything from MMORPGs to shooters, so there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a hardcore PvP player or just looking for a little bit of excitement in your MMO experience, we have the game for you!
MMO games implement PvP in different ways so you have plenty of choices. Whether it’s arenas, open-world, battlegrounds, or large-scale PvP wars, you will never run out of options to establish dominance over other players.
17. Conqueror’s Blade
- Developer: Booming Games
- Released: 2019
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of Strategy Games, Total War
Conqueror’s Blade PvP is similar to Blade and Soul in the sense that it’s great and entirely optional.
What’s good about this system is that it has something to satisfy all PvP tastes. Open-field battles, duels, deathmatch, capture points, siege battles, free battles, and more are available. PvP quests allow players to boost their gains.
Territory Wars are considered the end-game PvP content. Houses and alliances fight to claim land that can ultimately be upgraded. Territory Wars take place twice a week.
16. Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Developer: BioWare
- Released: 2011
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of Star Wars
Star Wars: The Old Republic is an MMORPG set in the Star Wars universe. SWTOR is a story-driven MMO which in many ways plays like a single-player RPG.
SWTOR does also feature some pretty good PvP gameplay and has several PvP game modes including 8v8 Warzones and 4v4 arenas.
15. Lost Ark
- Developer: Smilegate
- Released: 2022
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of ARPGs, Diablo, Path of Exile
Lost Ark is an action MMORPG with a focus on PvE combat, but the game has some very engaging PvP content as well.
The game features arenas that pits teams of three players against each other in various PvP battles, including deathmatches and team elimination.
Lost Ark also has a unique class system that allows you to mix and match classes to create your perfect build.
14. ArcheAge
- Developer: XLGames
- Released: 2013
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of Korean MMOs
ArcheAge features a unique sandbox style of gameplay that gives players a lot of freedom to do what they want.
In ArcheAge, open-world PvP changes depending on what type of zone you are in. There are Same Faction Peaceful Zones and Same Faction War Zones along with Open PvP Zones, which all offers different styles of gameplay.
ArcheAge is shutting down in the summer of 2024, but there are still some very good private servers where you can still enjoy the game.
13. Black Desert Online
- Developer: Peal Abyss
- Released: 2014
- Platform: PC, Playstation, Xbox, Android, iOS
- For Fans of Korean MMOs
Open-world PvP in the popular Korean MMORPG Black Desert Online is WoW’s war mode with a twist. Players can flag themselves for PvP and gank each other to their hearts’ content.
The twist is that they can attack those who aren’t flagged as well. This is where the karma system comes into play as there are penalties for those who engage in PvP with unflagged players.
There are also open-world arenas where players can gather and attack anyone who is not a member of their party.
For large-scale PvP, BDO offers guild versus guild wars and castle sieges where one guild assaults the other’s headquarters.
12. Planetside 2
- Developer: Daybreak Games
- Released: 2012
- Platform: PC, Playstation
- For Fans of FPS Games
Planetside 2 is a 2012 MMOFPS by Daybreak Games. It has a Guinness World Record for hosting the largest FPS battle with more than 1,100 players on a single battlefield.
It has Very Positive reviews on Steam and an active player base.
Planetside 2 has PvE but it’s the PvP content that keeps players engaged.
It has team-centered PvP that rewards players when working together to achieve objectives. It’s not all about personal achievements and scoring kills. The gameplay hides a deep level of strategy. The trick is to find a group of buddies and enjoy the game as a team.
Planetside 2 is available on PC and Playstation.
11. World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft Classic
- Developer: Blizzard
- Released: 2004
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of Warcraft, Blizzard
Whether you are a retail or Classic player, WoW offers so much in terms of PvP.
If you prefer open-world PvP from early levels, take your chances on a WoW Classic PvP server. It’s a gank fest most of the time and it’s not always fair play but that’s part of the fun. Some high-level players delight in killing newbies who don’t stand a chance.
Retail PvP is more organized and structured with many battlegrounds that feature various scenarios. Arenas are popular as well.
With the introduction of war mode, PvP fans can once again take part in open-world PvP and receive rewards for defeating fellow players who made the mistake of joining the other faction.
10. Mortal Online 2
- Developer: Star Vault
- Released: 2021
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of Mortal Online 1, Hardcore Full-loot PvP
Mortal Online 2 is a full-loot hardcore PvP MMO and might be the most brutal PvP game on our list.
Players can and should join up to have a chance at surviving in this harsh open world, which will of course result in some large-scale battles between groups of players.
MO2 also has a lot of complex systems and survival game mechanics.
9. Blade and Soul
- Developer: NCSoft
- Released: 2012
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of Anime Games, Martial Arts Games
Blade and Soul is the gem of free-to-play MMOs. While most free MMOs focus on either PvE or PvP, Blade and Soul do both.
The game has open-world PvP and arenas. Taking part in world PvP is just as easy as putting on your faction’s costume.
Open-world has no penalties so it’s a gank fest. Arenas support team-based PvP fights. PvP in Blade and Soul is fun because the game’s combat system is action-based and fast-paced.
High-ranking PvP players get exclusive rewards, including costumes, to show off their accomplishments.
8. Elder Scrolls Online
- Developer: ZeniMax
- Released: 2014
- Platform: PC, Playstation, Xbox
- For Fans of the Elder Scrolls, Skyrim
Elder Scrolls Online features a large PvP map and smaller-scale PvP battlegrounds.
The three-alliance war takes place in Cyrodiil, a zone that becomes available at level 10. Players that enter Cyrodiil before max level gain temporary attribute boosts.
The ESO PvP system features campaigns that players can join. Each campaign has different rules and rewards.
Battlegrounds arrived in Elder Scrolls Online in the Morrowind chapter but have been included in the base game so anyone can access them. Battlegrounds support 12 participants divided into three teams. Five scenarios, including deathmatch and domination, are available.
7. Lineage 2
- Developer: NCSoft
- Release: 2003
- Platforms: PC
- For fans of Classic MMORPGs
Lineage 2 stands as a classic Korean MMO with an emphasis on large-scale PvP. The game offers expansive PvP opportunities characterized by clan wars and castle sieges. These features are central to the PvP experience, requiring detailed strategic planning and coordinated team efforts.
The game has changed a lot since its heyday, often to the dissatisfaction of long-time fans. Recent updates have seen shifts in gameplay mechanics and monetization strategies that some argue have moved away from the game’s original charm and competitive balance, but is still worth a try just to experience one of the true classic PvP MMOs.
6. Dark Age of Camelot
- Developer: Mythic Entertainment
- Released: 2001
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of Old-School MMOs
Dark Age of Camelot has been around for over two decades and is considered one of the true classic MMOs when it comes to PvP and especially large-scale realm vs. realm combat.
Dark Age of Camelot PvP in Camelot is intense and thrilling, with three warring factions vying for control of the land.
Players can participate in open-world PvP, battlegrounds, sieges, and more. There’s also a robust PvE component for those who prefer to quest and explore.
DAOC is a true PvP MMO classic with a loyal and passionate community.
5. Guild Wars 2
- Developer: Arena Net
- Released: 2012
- Platform: PC, Mac
- For Fans of Guild Wars, World of Warcraft
Hands down, Guild Wars 2 has one of the best – if not THE best – PvP MMO systems, with a fantastic tab-target / action combat hybrid system.
Unlike other MMORPGs that require players to unlock PvP content by completing PvE activities first, GW2 allows you to jump into the action early on. Players are automatically scaled to max level 80 and they have access to all of their class skills and abilities.
Experience and practice do matter but you get the chance to develop your PvP prowess as soon as you create a character.
On the matter of balance, some classes are more powerful than others but they don’t have unfair advantages.
4. New World
- Developer: Amazon Games
- Released: 2021
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of Survival Games
New World had a rough start after it was released back in 2021 and lost a big part of the player base due to bugs. Most of the bugs have now been fixed and New World is now actually a very good game.
Early in development, New World was going to be a hardcore PvP MMO but Amazon Games shifted the focus onto PvE before release. The PvP system is still very good though.
New World’s open-world PvP pits players against each other in a fight for control of Aeternum, a lost island paradise.
3. EVE Online
- Developer: CCP Games
- Released: 2003
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of Sci-fi Games
Ask 1,000 players about the space sim/sci-fi MMORPG EVE Online PvP and you’ll get 1,000 different answers. Some will say that it’s pointless, others will say that it’s unfair, and some might even call it fun.
Your EVE Online experience depends on your interactions with the other players. Solo PvP is unbalanced and it won’t get you far. Alliance PvP, on the other hand, is a different experience.
The game is known for its large-scale long-lasting PvP wars. Learning how to PvP in EVE Online takes time and a stable group of like-minded players who help each other.
2. Warhammer Online: Return of Reckoning
- Developer: Mythic Entertainment
- Released: 2008
- Platform: PC
- For Fans of World of Warcraft, Warhammer
Warhammer Online in 2024? Yes! Warhammer Online shut down years ago but a handful of dedicated fans decided they wouldn’t take no for an answer. And so, Warhammer Online: Return of Reckoning was born.
It’s a private server that has been running since 2014. It has an active player base of mostly Warhammer Online die-hards.
Considered one of the best PvP MMOs, Warhammer Online features large-scale realm versus realm PvP. It’s a complex system that includes battlefield objectives, siege weaponry and keeps.
PvE content exists but RvR is the main reason why players are still interested in this MMO that’s more than 10 years old.
1. Albion Online
- Developer: Sandbox Interactive
- Released: 2017
- Platform: PC, Mac, Android, iOS
- For Fans of Runescape, Ultima Online
Several elements make Albion Online a unique MMORPG. It’s one of the few isometric games of this type. It has sandbox gameplay and it focuses on PvP. There are no classes, the economy is player-driven, and it features an open world.
The PvP system allows players to adventure into color-coded zones with different rules. The red and black zones are where the fun’s at as you can lose all of your stuff when you die.
In Albion Online, players drop loot just like mobs and others can take it. A penalty system is in place to punish those who abuse the PvP system.
Are there any PvP games we missed on our list? Let us know what your favorite is in the comments!
If you’re gonna put up blade & soul on the list, might as well include Aion… it’s heavily pvp focused if you ask me and isn’t much more dead than B&S.
Terrible article. WoW? WoW is in its WORST state for pvp. Players dying in 1.5 seconds even through defensives among other insane things. “Retail PvP is more organized and structured”. Really? Play the game and you’ll see just how “organized” it is. DPS healing to full in .5 seconds from 1% health (druids), healers doing less healing than hybrids and cant keep up with damage, and even dot classes dealing unhealable damage. BnS is dead and Albion I hear is heavily controlled with clans
We know that WoW is not in the best state right now and haven’t been for a while but still feel it deserves to be on the list. If you have any better suggestions, feel free to let us know and we might add them to the list.
@yes, WoW 3v3 is more of an e-sport than any MMORPG in the entire genre. Get out of here with your uninformed casual gibberish. My beef is the guy didn’t put Aion on the list when it’s a good contender with a few of those dead games.
@yes, stop crying ya little bitch. It’s still considered the best pvp mmo-rpg for a reason. Get gud or stfu.
How on earth could you compile a Best of PVP MMOs article and fail to include Dark Age of Camelot?? You included Warhammer Online which was inspired by DAOC, but leave out DAOC?
Sorry mate but jagex have neglected osrs pvp the last couple of years, the worlds are dead, empty and the deadman tournaments are always a joke. Not worth grinding an account for this game anymore until they give it some attention
GW2 has no rewards for PvP since gear doesnt matter, RvR is dead because it has way too many huge maps and battles 1v1 are max 5 seconds. This is utter bullshit dude.
Besides you dont seem to have a clue about any of those games.
I would add return of reckoning (Warhammer online private server)
Nearly the entire game is accessable now and it’s free obviously.
Gw2 pvp sucks, why game is totaly unbalanced, and they target your ping, if you play support builds.
I think Metin2 is a fun MMORPG for PvP
Never played all of those games but i did play most of the major ones. and i got to say Knight Online World might be full of pay to win but atleast its pvp was satisfying and had a sence of climing to the top with monthly and all time ranking system.and put a big fat emblem beside your name to show everyone how good and dedicated you are. suprised its not on here as its a major pvp game. thank god for the turkish community that’s kinda keeping the game playable.
RUST is up there for me
You missed one of the industry’s lead rvr open pvp mmos, Champions of Regnum. This is a full 3d, pure rvr open pvp mmo, with a standing as long as DAOC. It has carefully balanced tab target-style combat, and intense rvr. Your review should also talk about the qualities of what makes good pvp or rvr, which your article misses.
Why the hell is this news dated as 2023 since its 2021? And even in 2021 it was obsolete.
No only is the best PvP game ever not #1, it’s not on your list. Asheron’s Call, Darktide server was without a doubt the best pvp game I’ve ever played. I played about half of the games on this list and they don’t hold a candle. After AC went down I played WOW for a month and quit after some jackwagon placed a train down and made my character dance and I couldn’t kill him because he was on my team.
AC had no boundries, no level restictions, no safe zones (until they put in player housing and that was for the carebears on the other servers), and same corpse loot rules as pve. We even had our own news team, the Darktide News Network (DNN) that kept track of raids, town occupations, alliances, etc. It was epic.
I played ESO and only stayed longer than a month because the group I found only played on the PvP section. Otherwise that game was just a contest to see who had the pretties armor.
@Red Anjin, that game was awesome. Won’t ever be anything remotely close to it. I just wish the emulators had more people playing.
Asheron’s Call. If anyone has played AC1 and thinks any of these games are more fun for PVP please let me know why you think it’s better and why?
Whoever wrote this article has obviously never played these games, or so it seems. Perhaps they have, but nothing serious, maybe they did a trial basis 2-5 hours. I’m going to guess the one they played the most is Warhammer Online, which is a joke to be on this list since it’s a fan based, unofficial, and emulated server. Not to mention whoever wrote this article listed GW2 as a pvp #2? wow…
This article is so outdated and obsolete.
I hate to bandwagon on all of these negative comments but frankly the #1 pvp mmo on your list has 300 players online (warhammer online). You guys are probably having just as much difficulty finding good massive online rpg pvp games as myself but there is no excuse for including games that aren’t even released yet nor have a known release date (camelot unchained). I have no idea how your list got placed as the #1 search result on bing. Maybe your company should be paying me to write these.
What kind of BS is this listing games not even live?