So you've been playing a couple of MMO games but always wondered how they categorizes these games. When you find a game to your liking, isn't it wiser to look for something similar the next time? That's why there are sub-genres of MMO games. And I am here to tell you about them today.

I used to think that an MMO was something like World of Warcraft, where lots of people ran around and hit each other while at the same time hoping that somewhere within the virtual realm there was somebody who would accept them. How wrong I was (on both the definition of an MMO and the social standing of people who play them), in the last ten years or so - as we learnt from our History of the MMO series - the MMO genre has really exploded meaning that a small team with the right knowledge can create a browser-based adventures that rival all but the very biggest games. But with all these people working on so many different things, the genre has also expanded rapidly, with new sub-genres emerging almost constantly.

Sometimes it’s difficult to keep up with all the different MMOs in the business. It seems that any genre with any degree of popularity can be turned into an MMO, usually by adding the presence of a server-wide chat box or a messaging system. Sometimes they’re free, sometimes they charge a single price for access, sometimes they charge a subscription; even getting into a game can be confusing. In this article, I’m hoping that we’ll be able to define each different type of MMO and understand a little better what developers are going for when they call their new game a sports MMO or a fantasy MMO.

Browser-Based MMO 

A browser-based MMO is a game that can be played directly from your internet browser, usually without the need to download any additional files. These can be played through dedicated MMO websites or you can find them via social networks – Facebook is absolutely full of them. These are usually, not always, based around simple ideas that can be played in short bursts without putting too much effort in (RTS MMOs tend to be browser-based and usually involve waiting for new resources).

Drakensang is one of the better free browser based MMOs

These are for people who want to preserve their download allowance, are used to using public computers or who don’t like downloading from sources they’re not sure about. It helps that most of them aren’t too bad.

Fantasy MMO

A fantasy MMO is a game set in a world outside of the realms of reality. Perhaps you can play as animals, fight dragons or use magic, perhaps you can jump rivers or fly through the air – the point of a fantasy MMO is that the developers can run wild with their ideas and offer you, the player, an experience like no other. While many fantasy MMOs tend to be RPGs, they’re not exclusive and you can expect to see elves, dwarves, zombies and anything else a mad designer can concoct.

Fantasy MMOs are pretty broad and can appeal to anybody. They’re by far the most common sort of MMO, with perhaps most people’s top 5 MMOs falling into this category.

Classic MMORPG

The classic MMORPG is the genre that everybody thinks of when they hear of “MMOs”. Featured heavily on an episode of South Park and plunged into popular culture by stories of addiction and overindulgence, the classic MMORPG allows you to create a character and explore a huge open world with friends. You’ll be offered chances to perform quests, run through dungeons, fight bosses and perform menial tasks for ungrateful strangers; if you’re thinking of getting into the MMO genre it is the classic MMORPG that you’ll probably end up playing.

These will appeal to people who want to put all their efforts into a single game, who like strong communities and a lot to do.

Dungeons and Dragons Online is a fantastic MMORPG

Fighting MMO

Want to dispense with all the exploration and quest elements of the MMORPG while increasing your involvement in battles? The fighting MMO is probably for you! Usually allowing you to fight off against a number of strangers, fighting MMOs are best known for their quick and easy method of getting into a game and their strong sense of community. Taking the very best from things like Streets of Rage and Super Smash Brothers, you and several enemies will beat the hell out of one another and then laugh about it in chatrooms afterwards.

Fighting MMOs will appeal to anybody who wants instant action, instant friends and gameplay that is easy to learn but impossible to master.

Care to play a free MMO now? 

Action MMO

Action MMOs are games that combine solid action with multiplayer components, differing from their MMORPG counterparts in that things are faster and combat is less computer-controlled. It’s a nice combination of RPG and fighting genres, providing a convenient mid-point between the two that has more depth than the average fighter, but less hand-holding than an RPG. For fans of games like God of War or Devil May Cry, these are the games you should look into when going MMO. Running around hitting things has never been so fun!

These are great for people who don’t want the time-consuming nature of an RPG, but want something a little more to it than a Fighting MMO can offer. They’d also probably appeal to console gamers looking for something not too far outside of their comfort range.

Strategy MMO

Create the ultimate kingdom and steal the resources of your enemies in any one of these highly enjoyable Strategy MMOs. A little slower-paced than some genres, the Strategy MMO is perfect for somebody who wants to play in their lunch break or or doesn’t like the more personal approach of actually having a unique character. Building up an army; protecting your citizens; collecting wood and stone – everything from classics like Age of Empires is offered with the added advantage of being able to humiliate your friends. The strategy MMO is a very popular genre on social networking sites.

 If you are looking for a great Strategy MMO,
here is "Heroes of Newerth"

These can be enjoyed by anybody who likes looking at the bigger picture, who doesn’t want to explore or focus on backstory too much and who wants to spend countless hours strategically squeezing the people around you for resources and gold – or they’ll face the consequences.

Shooter MMO

The highly popular FPS genre made bigger, the shooter MMO offers players the chance to smash the leaderboards by joining a group and killing, killing, killing. Developers have only really just started to be able to really open up the amount of players in a single battle (MAG on PS3 offers 200+ in some battles), but expect to see battles with hundreds of players as the norm on PC in the not too distant future. In the meantime: grab a gun, hit a headshot and be sure to brag in the chatroom afterwards.

These would appeal to action fans, console users and people who have refined accurate targeting to an artform.

Sports MMO 

Take the action from the court or the pitch onto the internet and compete for that top space in the sports MMO genre. Almost any sport you can think of has probably been digitized, put online and made social, offering a fantastic chance to flaunt your strategic and god given athletic (keyboard) skills amongst people from around the world. Represent your country, make new friends and try to win that virtual cup, alone or with a partner.

Sci-Fi MMO

The futuristic cousin of the fantasy MMO, the sci-fi MMO presents you with a world transformed by technology. Whether surrounded by aliens or flying space ships around distant planets, you can be sure to get an experience like no other. While fighting Jedi or killing Klingons or, indeed, going where no man has gone before, the sci-fi MMO gives you the very best of nerd culture and lets you enjoy it with everybody around you.

Sci-fi MMOs are great for people who are already interested in sci-fi, who want a change from fantasy MMOs or who want to fight with more realistic, but still fantasy inspired, weaponry.
These will appeal to people who want something simple, familiar and entertaining.

Care to play a free MMO now? 

by M. Growcott
© 2012 DevilsMMO.com