Sword Art Online has a compelling storyline and a whole new virtual world experience that has left players craving for more games like it. Therefore, are you an SAO fan? If you’ve finished watching the anime and finished Sword Art Online, I’ll introduce you to the best games like SAO to keep you from getting bored this summer.
1. TERA
TERA is a 3D MMORPG that presents players with a 3D fantasy-filled world and a unique action-based combat system. The game also allows you to try some of the most thrilling outfits you can ever find in a game.
After a mysterious island- Dawn Garden, the alliance sent a survey team but never heard from them. New heroes set out on a quest to find a lost partner and explore the mysterious island. This will begin a thrilling journey with a huge open world to explore.
As you embark on a journey to fight evil on your own, TERA has various quests that require you to showcase your skills and strategies.
2. Mabinogi
Mabinogi is an action MMORPG that allows you to create your own anime life. Even though it is an old game, it receives constant updates that introduce new skills, features, and advancements that make it a great SAO alternative to trying out. In Mabinogi, there are no limitations. It offers a wide range of customization that allows you to become whatever character you wish.
You’ll also love Mabinogi because of its great combat system. You have to predict your enemies’ next move, making it take a more tactical game than others.
3. Dragon Nest
Dragon Nest is a free-to-play MMO that is filled with action and adventure. The game utilizes a no-targeting-based combat system which gives you full control over your character’s movement. This encourages fast-paced and skill-based action. Therefore, you can easily defeat a more skilled opponent making it more enjoyable and worth playing.
Dragon Nest takes you to a fantasy world where you have to fight endless enemies to find the cure to heal the poisoned goddess. You can team up with your friends to fight your way through some of the more challenging areas of the game. Dragon Nest features various aspects of SAO that would give a player the SAO feel.
4. Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise is an action-packed RPG that takes you to the ninja-inspired land of Kamura village. Here, you are required to fight various enemies and monsters to emerge as the ultimate hunter. After a calamity strikes the village, a monster threatens to disrupt the peace in the land. You have to hunt and earn various rewards to help you create more powerful weapons and armor.
Monster Hunter Rise features a new gameplay system, content, and features, making it worth playing. Like a Sword Art Online enthusiast, it’s time to rise to the challenge and join the hunt in Monster Hunter Rise.
5. ArcheAge
ArcheAge is an MMO game with the best gameplay and an impressive game world. It has a fluid and smooth combat system that gives you the best experience when you fight. ArcheAge focuses on delivering vast content and quality, giving you many adventures, secrets, and features to uncover throughout the game.
The game allows you to pursue your path of progression and change the world around them. This gives players the freedom to experience the game and customize their characters in their unique way. You can achieve this by owning property, trading, and crafting various systems as you mix different skills to make your character more powerful.
Technically, you can consider ArcheAge a sandbox MMO that caters perfectly to your MMO desires.
6. Elsword Online
Elsword Online is another free-to-play MMORPG that offers 2D gameplay in 3D graphics. The game features cool anime and character designs with action-packed gameplay emphasizing cooperative play. Therefore, you’ll get fast-paced action as you tackle various enemies in the game. Its PvP mode is on another level. It allows up to 8 players and has chat features that allow players to connect.
Elsword Online takes on a quest to find the El Stone, which mysteriously disappeared, leaving Elrios powerless. You will have to find the stone to restore its power. Its simple storyline makes it easier to grasp what the game entails and focus more on the action. Elsword Online is similar to SAO, and you will love it.
7. RuneScape
RuneScape is another long-running MMORPG that allows you to create your storyline and objectives. It boasts a very large community of players and is one of the most updated games. With its active community, thrilling fantasy world, and multiplayer focus, RuneScape is everything an SAO fan needs.
With RuneScape, the world is massive, progress is thrilling, and offers an insane amount of interaction. It has a real-time combat system that features melees magic and allows you to take items from enemies that you defeat. What else would you wish for other than a game that makes you feel part of its exciting journey and storyline?
8. Age of Wushu
Age of Wushu is an MMORPG with a martial arts theme and rare gaming elements and features. It has a free-flowing class system that allows you to create and customize your character depending on your needs. You are free to move between the eight available schools that require specific skills giving you a varied experience in the game.
One thing that will blow your mind about this game is that you become a non-player character when you go offline. This allows other players to kidnap and sell an offline player for profits or quests. You also have the chance to rescue a kidnapped player, which increases your chivalry.
Depending on your actions in the game, you either get a good or evil reputation. This changes the quests available for you, making Age of Wushu the most enjoyable SAO alternative to check out.
9. Skyforge
Skyforge is a rare third-person sci-fi MMORPG that focuses on customization and more action. It allows class swapping where you can swap between its 18 classes. You will venture into the planet Aelion with various quests, trading opportunities, and other adventurous activities. On this planet, the gods get their power from their followers, protected by Aeli.
However, when Aeli mysteriously disappears, the immortals must protect civilization by fighting off dark gods and aliens. As an immortal, you are to replace the powerful Aeli and fight against various evil forces to allow civilization to thrive. As an SAO lover, Skyforge has a lot of content and adventurous expeditions that give you a whole new experience.
10. Final Fantasy 14
A modern, triple-A MMORPG with a wealth of classes, ancient lore, and locations to explore and various game modes that allow you to play with your desired style. The game features a visually appealing game world with various quests, dungeons, and random events and battles to fight, making SAO fans feel at home.
Final Fantasy 14 takes you to the continent of Eorzea, which is at the edge of its destruction. Because of various political activities, warfare, and conflicting events, you find this world in a chaotic state. You’ll have to battle various bosses and enemies across the vast fantasy world.
11. Lucent Heart
Lucent Heart is an anime-inspired MMO that has a match-making system that allows players to build great relationships with each other. Generally, MMO is a dating MMO that focuses on romance and socializing, among other MMO features. In addition to that, Lucent Heart has a sophisticated pet customization system that you can use to develop a powerful ally to help you in your battles.
You will also have a wide variety of professions and character customizations to try out as you progress. With dance parties, flashy skills and abilities, and other additional extras, Lucent Heart gives you unique features alongside the normal dungeons and monster-slaying found in MMOs.
12. Blade and Soul
Blade and Soul is a long-reigning action-oriented MMO that focuses on martial arts and extensive customization. It takes you to a beautifully crafted game world with a great storyline and modernized game mechanics.
The game offers a fluid combat system, a diverse roster, voice acting, and general world-building. Its flexible combat system allows you to attack and defeat your enemies quickly. In addition to that, you can trap them or cast a spell, making it a fascinating game for SAO fans.
13. Age of Conan: Unchained
Age of Conan: Unchained is another game that has withstood the test of time and managed to stand out in the MMO genre. You will find a unique combat system that focuses on direction keys. In this game, you are thrown into a brutal and savage game world filled with different beasts, malicious shadows, and dragons to fight.
It also features ancient locations incorporated into a natural environment to create a living environment. If you are looking for a refreshing SAO alternative with plenty of battles and great graphics, you should try playing Age of Conan: Unchained.
14. RaiderZ
RaiderZ is an MMORPG that focuses on fast-paced combat and unique character progression. In addition to the usual MMORPG features like quests, RiderZ allows you to participate in combat actively. You have to attack your enemies as you dodge their attacks strategically.
Its character progression will blow your mind. First, it allows you to choose from the available combat styles. Unlike other games which limit you to the particular style you choose, RaiderZ allows you to learn any skill from the other combat styles. This allows you to develop a powerful character and utilize all the available skills. With all the freedom and capabilities, RiderZ is a perfect game for an SAO fan.
15. OrbusVR: Reborn
OrbusVR: Reborn is a robust MMORPG that is a great improvement from its predecessor Orbus VR. It was solely developed for room-scale VR and focused on polishing what was already an excellent virtual reality MMO. The game has received continuous updates, which have made it close to what SAO offers.
It offers a vibrant and colorful game world of Patreayl where you have to battle various enemies and make it safe again for humanity. You will also have an array of features to explore alongside the traditional MMO elements like crafting, trading, dungeons, among others. Maintaining the VR aspect of SAO, OrbusVR: Reborn is what SAO fans have been looking for.
