What Is an MMORPG? Meaning, MMO vs MMORPG and a Glossary for New Players
What is an MMORPG and what does it stand for? The meaning, MMO vs MMORPG, what defines the genre, a glossary for new players and how to choose a game.
MMORPG stands for "massively multiplayer online role-playing game": an online game in which a very large number of players share one persistent world and each of them develops a character over time. This guide explains what an MMORPG is, what defines the genre, how an MMO differs from an MMORPG, the terms new players run into first and how to choose a game that suits you. As our example we use Ancient Online: Remastered, the free-to-play MMORPG we are building in Unreal Engine 5.8.
Ancient Online: Remastered is in development; it is currently in closed alpha and no release date has been announced. The systems described here may change before launch.
What does MMORPG stand for?
The abbreviation is made of two parts:
| Part | Stands for | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| MMO | Massively Multiplayer Online | A very large number of players are online in the same world at the same time. |
| RPG | Role-Playing Game | You play a character of your own that grows stronger through levels, gear and skills. |
Put together, an MMORPG is a role-playing game played online in a shared world. You are not alone inside a story written only for you; the players around you are real people, and what they do changes your day in the game.
What makes a game an MMORPG?
Not every online game is an MMORPG. The genre is defined by a handful of elements that appear together:
- A persistent world: The world keeps running after you log out. Your character, your items and your place in the community are waiting when you come back.
- Character progression: You gain experience, level up, earn better gear and improve your skills. Progress is measured in weeks and months, not in a single match.
- Classes: You choose a class at the start, and your class decides your weapons, your skills and your role in a group.
- Guilds and parties: Players form a party for a hunt and a guild for the long run. A guild is a community with its own name, ranks and goals.
- A player economy: Items and in-game currency change hands between players. What one player hunts, another buys.
- PvE and PvP: You fight the monsters of the world (PvE) and, where the rules allow it, other players (PvP).
MMO vs MMORPG: what is the difference?
MMO is the umbrella term: any online game in which a very large number of players share the same world. MMORPG is the role-playing branch of that family: an MMO in which you build up a lasting character.
- Every MMORPG is an MMO.
- Not every MMO is an MMORPG: an online strategy, racing or shooter game with a shared world is an MMO too, but without a lasting character that levels up it is not an RPG.
In everyday speech players often say "MMO" when they mean "MMORPG"; the shorter word is simply easier to say.
How do you play an MMORPG?
The details change from game to game, but the first steps look alike almost everywhere:
- Create your account and your character. You choose a class, a look and a name.
- Learn the basics. The first quests teach you movement, combat and the interface.
- Hunt and level up. Monsters give experience and items; each level opens new skills and regions.
- Improve your gear. You earn better equipment, upgrade it or trade for it.
- Find people to play with. A party makes hunting faster, and a guild gives you a home.
- Choose your own goal. Some players chase PvP, some trade and some hunt bosses. An MMORPG has no single ending.
MMORPG glossary for new players
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PvP | Player versus Player: fighting other players. |
| PvE | Player versus Environment: fighting monsters and other content run by the game. |
| Farm / grind | Hunting the same monsters or content over and over for experience, items or in-game currency. |
| Level | The number that shows how far your character has progressed; it rises as you gain experience. |
| Boss | An unusually strong monster, usually fought by a group, that drops better rewards. |
| Dungeon | A closed area with tougher monsters and a boss, mostly entered with a party. |
| Guild | A lasting community of players with a name, ranks and shared goals. |
| Buff | A positive effect that strengthens a character for a while, such as extra attack or defence. |
| Drop | An item that falls from a defeated monster; also the chance of that item falling. |
| Free-to-play (F2P) | A game that is free to download and play. |
| Pay-to-win (P2W) | A game in which real money buys an advantage in power over other players. |
How do you choose a good MMORPG?
An MMORPG asks for your time, so it is worth checking a few things before you start:
- Payment model: Is the game free to play, a one-time purchase or a subscription? In a free-to-play game, look at what the shop sells: appearances and convenience are one thing, power is another.
- Platform: Does it run on the devices you own? If you want to play on both a computer and a phone, check whether the same account and the same world are available on both.
- Community and language: Can you play in your own language, and are there players online at the hours you play? A guild you get along with matters more than any feature list.
- Time: How much time does progress ask for, and does your effort keep its value? Games that reset progress regularly and games that keep it suit different players.
Where does Ancient Online: Remastered stand in the genre?
Ancient Online: Remastered is a classic Eastern fantasy MMORPG. It has every element listed above and makes a clear choice about each of them:
- Persistent world and lasting effort: The maximum level is 99 and there are no seasonal resets. The full picture is in What is Ancient Online: Remastered?
- Classes: There are six classes (Warrior, Ninja, Sura, Shaman, Lycan and Artemisia), each with its own weapons and skill paths. They are covered in the character classes guide.
- PvP and PvE: On one side there are three rival empires (Shinsoo, Chunjo and Jinno), open-world PvP, duels and guilds; on the other, hunting grounds, dungeons and soul stones.
- Player economy: You trade in Tael, the in-game currency, and the offline market keeps your shop selling while you are away.
- Payment model: The game is free to play and power is not sold for real money. The shop only offers costumes, appearances and convenience items; the rules are in our no pay-to-win post.
- Platform: The target platforms are Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, with one world for PC and mobile; the development build is currently tested on Windows and Android devices. Device specs are on the system requirements page.
Frequently asked questions
Is MMORPG a game or a genre?
A genre. "MMORPG" is not the name of a single game; it describes every online role-playing game with a shared, persistent world.
Are MMORPGs free?
That depends on the payment model: some are free to play, some are bought once and some ask for a subscription. Ancient Online: Remastered is free to play.
Can you play an MMORPG alone?
Yes. You can hunt, level up and trade on your own. Other players come in with group content such as bosses, dungeons and guild wars, and for most people that is where the genre is at its best.
Can you play an MMORPG on a phone?
Some MMORPGs are made only for computers, some only for mobile and some for both. Ancient Online: Remastered is being designed for both, with a separate touch interface for phones.
Where to go from here
If the genre sounds like your kind of game, the beginner's guide walks you through your first hours in Ancient Online: Remastered, from creating an account to choosing your first skill path. To ask questions and follow development, join our Discord community.
