A lot of things have happened recently in the free-to-play segment, with a few delightful announcements. Instead of our usual top 10, we have decided to create a Top 25 Best Upcoming Free Online Games 2019 and 2020. Sure, some games were left out, but we couldn’t add them all, right?
Let’s look at some of the best upcoming games of 2019 and 2020!
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Destiny 2: New Light (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
With Bungie at the helm, the studio is now free to achieve its MMO vision for Destiny 2. One of the first steps is making the core Destiny 2 free-to-play, along with its year one content, in September. This means you’ll have two expansions for free as well, Curse of Osiris and Warmind. This should give you many hours of gameplay, allowing you to decide if you want to purchase further expansions. It’s a business model similar to the one used in Guild Wars 2.
While Destiny 2 didn’t have the smoothest of launches, now that Activision is out of the picture, it could finally turn out to be the great online FPS that Bungie envisioned.
Sky: Children of the Light (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
If you didn’t like Journey, you’re an insensitive beast. Thatgamecompany’s lovely trip through the meaning of life is one of the greatest games ever, and the studio’s next title seems to share many of its achievements.
Sky: Children of the Light is a cross-play adventure about solving puzzles in whimsical worlds with up to seven other players. It’s like an evolution of Journey, featuring character customization and an evolved social aspect. Sky: Children of the Light is coming to iOS first, with Android, Mac, PC and console version releasing later. The iOS version was announced as free, so unless something weird is going on, the other releases should be free as well.
Phantasy Star Online 2 (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
Babies were made and rockstars died during the years that we have been waiting for Phantasy Star Online 2 to reach the west. Finally, it is coming to North America, as Sega is bringing it to PC and Xbox One in Spring 2020.
Previously announced for a 2013 western release, Phantasy Star Online 2 will bring all the content and bosses from the original version. It was unanimously considered as one of the best action MMORPGs ever made, but now it’s a matter of seeing how it holds up after all these years. Hopefully, we’re not in the presence of another case of Bless Online.
Project BBQ a.k.a. Dungeon Fighter Online 2
Project BBQ is the codename for Dungeon Fighter Online 2. We’re not sure if it’s a sequel, a spin-off or whatever, but one thing we are certain: it looks really good. Hopefully this will take online action combat to the next level, one where very few MMO games excel, such as Black Desert Online.
Project BBQ is powered by Unreal Engine 4, has a very promising combat system and lore from the original Dungeon Fighter Online game. So far, it’s a mystery if it will be a full-fledged open world, but you can seamlessly walk into a dungeon through a village or a field. It is described as a mix of MMORPG and MORPG, whatever that means.
Peria Chronicles returned in 2019 after a few years of complete silence. This anime MMORPG still looks the part, with a stunning character customization system, but we’re left wondering if the sandbox portion and all those world-shaping tools were scrapped.
Nonetheless, Peria Chronicles still ranks high in our most wanted list. It’s an ambitious and gorgeous MMORPG that will hopefully deliver with its Pokémon-inspired combat system. A western release is yet to be announced, but it seems highly likely.
Crossfire X (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
Smilegate has one of the most profitable games in the world, the FPS Crossfire. A sequel was announced a few years ago, with a surprise twist: Remedy Entertainment, of Max Payne and Alan Wake fame was giving a helping hand, mostly with the single-player campaign.
The time is approaching, as Crossfire X was revealed to be coming first to Xbox One in 2020. A PC release wasn’t mentioned but it is highly likely. There’s not much that we know about the game, but we do know that it is powered by Unreal Engine 4. Considering the 650 million registered players of the original, this sequel carries some impossibly high expectations on its shoulders.
What else can we say about Lost Ark? It’s one of the most exciting MMORPGs out there and you can bet that it will be released in the west. The question is when it will happen, but we’re betting 2020 is the year for that, and if it will remain free-to-play or take a turn to the premium business model. That worked out great for Bless Online.
Until then, you can try to guess who will be the western publisher. Maybe Smilegate will do the right thing and self-publish this Diablo-like MMORPG on Steam? Whatever happens, let’s hope it doesn’t get in the way of a great game.
Middle-Earth MMORPG (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
The Lord of the Rings Online will have some company soon enough, with Athlon Games’ free-to-play Middle-Earth MMORPG coming to PC and consoles. It may take some time, but maybe we get some sort of playable build during 2020. Fingers crossed.
There isn’t much to go on about this game, but we do know that it is set in the years leading to the events of The Lord of the Rings. I can’t wait to learn more about it.
Roller Champions (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
A surprise announcement from Ubisoft at E3 2019, Roller Champions brings the excitement of the old classic movie Rollerball to our times. I can also spot a hint of Speedball 2 in there, with all the dashes going on.
Roller Champions is a surprisingly fun competitive game that just needs some more spark to its athletes.
Torchlight Frontiers (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
Torchlight Frontiers is the third chapter of the acclaimed action RPG series and a natural evolution. It builds on the co-op aspect of the previous game but adds MMO mechanics to it, with shared open words and co-op dungeons.
It’s being developed by some of the original creators, has tons of loot at every corner and one of the most inventive, out-of-the-box classes that you’ll ever see: the Railmaster, Conductor of Pain. He even takes his little customizable train of doom everywhere he goes. I have no doubt whatsoever that Torchlight Frontiers is going to be one of the best action RPGs ever made.
Blade & Soul Vision Update (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
Not quite a new game but more of an impressive revamp, the Vision Update for Blade & Soul will bring those visuals to a new standard. This will upgrade the game from its original Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 4, giving this fantasy martial arts MMORPG a second lease on life. Not that it is in trouble, but the new graphics will surely make it more appealing to new and veteran players.
While we can’t get over the fact that Blade & Soul 2 is a mobile exclusive, this update somewhat managed to soften the blow.
Moonlight Blade is one of those games that takes an eternity to reach western territories. Maybe it’s something to do with the wuxia theme, something in the water, or perhaps a lack of interest from the publisher. But Nexon already confirmed its plans to bring it to North America and Europe, so why are they taking so long?
Moonlight Blade is one of the best fantasy martial arts MMORPGs available, with some crazy flying moves. Let’s hope we can get our hands on it before the end of the year.
Ascent: Infinite Realm features a healthy dose of ambition to go with its undeniable clunkiness. Here is a steampunk fantasy MMORPG from the makers of TERA, boasting crazy flying machines and more grey colors than you can shake a futuristic Victorian stick at.
While I would prefer to see a broader risk-taking attitude for this game, I still think that it has an interesting style to it. The air combat hopefully will be polished and entertaining to keep players coming back for more, otherwise it’s just another gimmick that is going to fall flat on its face.
Magic: The Gathering MMORPG (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
Announced in 2017, Cryptic Studios’ free-to-play action MMORPG based on Magic: The Gathering remains a mystery. In April 2019, we were reassured that the game is still being worked on.
That’s cool, guys, really cool. But announcing a game and not revealing anything about it for over two years? Not a single screenshot to feast our eyes upon, or a couple of features to think about? Not cool.
But that’s okay. Coming from the guys that made Star Trek Online, Champions Online and Neverwinter, it should be a solid MMORPG. Whenever it releases.
League of Maidens (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
Alright, brace yourselves for some ‘R’ rated entertainment, as League of Maidens takes center stage. This is a superhero action online game aimed at adult players, but it is far from simply cashing in on that aspect alone. To begin with, the character customization is one of the most in-depth ever created, with dozens of sliders for pretty much anything that you can think of. And I do mean everything.
While League of Maidens is a niche game and some of you may not even admit that you desperately want to play it, the successful Patreon is palpable proof that there is a significant player base waiting for this game.
RuneScape needs no introduction, but an action RPG based on the classic MMORPG surely does. Unfortunately, there isn’t any info about it right now, as the RuneScape action RPG sort of leaked through a game developer’s Linkedin page.
Maybe this time Jagex will develop a second game for the ages, instead of relying on the RuneScape MMORPG for all eternity and beyond. 2020 is a very optimistic date, but we’ll see.
Oath (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
We’re taking a leap of faith here, but Oath recently appeared on our radar and it could turn out to be a great MMORPG. Powered by Unreal Engine 4 and SpatialOs, it has a focus on PvE and action-based combat.
It’s still early days, but you should keep this Oath under a watchful eye.
If you’re waiting for a Vindictus sequel, don’t hold your breath. Devcat is currently developing Dragon Hound, another kind of action game. You can think of it as some sort of Monster Hunter or Dauntless relative, with the unique twist that you do all the hunts on mounts. Yes, there is no on-foot combat planned, as strange as it sounds.
Don’t pay attention to the name – you’re going to hunt more than dragons. We’ve seen some weird rhino and giraffe-like monstrosities, and I’m pretty sure that there are more in store. Dragon Hound looks good and could be a nice addition to an underexplored genre.
Mad World (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
We’re not happy with the abysmal lack of horror MMORPGs. In the past we weren’t strangers to the occasional horror MMO, but suddenly the cliched fantasy setting took over and every game had characters with pointy ears or green skin.
That is one of the reasons why Mad World is on this list. It’s not afraid to show some gore, while remaining old-fashioned in all the right ways. It’s in 2D, with some awesome art on display, it’s cross-platform and uses a standard combat system. But it ranks high for its will to break the mould and offer us a desperate, disgusting world with corrupted characters at every corner.
The Cycle (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
The Cycle developers were brave enough to escape the Battle Royale temptation, instead trying a relatively fresh take on shooters. Just like Crytek’s Hunt: Showdown apart for the entirely dissimilar setting, The Cycle is a PvPvE shooter where you are free to act as you wish during your short stay on the inhospitable but rich planet Fortuna III.
Your goal is to fulfill as many contracts as you can, avoiding rival prospectors but dealing with the planet’s dangerous fauna. Or you can actively engage in firefights with other players if you feel like it. There’s a substantial level of freedom to this first-person shooter, offering the kind of emergent gameplay that is somewhat uncommon in such games.
The next Lineage game isn’t having an easy time. Several years in development were scrapped in favor of a more traditional approach, ditching the planned multi-class system for your standard class selection.
But NCsoft has a lot at stake with Lineage Eternal, so they can’t afford to release a half-baked effort. Let’s hope that some of the most interesting features, including randomized dungeons, will remain intact.
Rocket Arena (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
If you like cool cartoon characters with your shooters, keep an eye out for Rocket Arena. Nexon’s upcoming PvP game features a lovely cast that seems tailormade to one of those cute Disney movies – the difference is that they’re not shy when it comes to shooting everyone.
If the physics and character balance get the attention they deserve, Rocket Arena can be a fun first-person shooter that kids and adults alike will enjoy.
Conqueror’s Blade (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
Conqueror’s Blade places you in the middle of some beautifully chaotic medieval warfare. You can participate in castle sieges or field battles, as well as exploring an open world with other players, but no matter where you look, it’s impressively gruesome and ruthless.
We’ve had a lot of fun with Conqueror’s Blade so far and most criticism seems aimed at server and business model issues. If those are fixed, this is one of the best medieval warfare sims that you can enjoy right now.
Destiny’s Sword (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
Destiny’s Sword isn’t exactly in an advanced development stage, but it’s the concept that intrigues us. This is a squad-based combat strategy game where you must deal with your soldiers’ psychological and mental health.
There are over 80 different feelings for your characters to experience, with several aspects affecting each soldier. Combat stress, anxiety, even random life events will take their toll. If Destiny’s Sword has a solid combat system to go with all the feels, it should be a groundbreaking game.
Veterans Online (Free-to-Play Confirmed)
Veterans Online is coming for a big dose of good old-fashioned shooting fun. It’s a throwback to times when fun was the most important aspect, when you played Cannon Fodder and Ikari Warriors because it was a good time, nothing more.
While Veterans Online is mostly about the competitive side of things, it manages to be a rewarding experience and even if you lose most of the time, you’re bound to have fun anyway.
This should do it by now, but any other upcoming games that you think we’ve missed (KurtzPel, for example, which we've covered in great detail several times), please let us know. As always, have fun!
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