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If you told me I’d be absolutely addicted to an MMO in my 30s, I’d be telling you off. You see, I have responsibilities now, like a house to pay, a day job to maintain, and a cute little daughter that needs constant attention. This kind of lifestyle is not fit for MMOs.
And yet here we are at the dawn of Final Fantasy XIV’s release on Nintendo Switch 2, and I am completely enthralled by it. As soon as I booted it up and started playing, I was transported to my teen years, where I’d play nothing but grind F2P MMOs like Maple Story, Grand Fantasia, Imagine Online, and so many more from the now-defunct Aeria Games.
But even though I’m still in the honeymoon phase with Final Fantasy XIV, I’m constantly looking at other possibilities. So, today I’d like to share with you the best MMOs on Nintendo Switch 2 you can still play today.
1. The one to play: Final Fantasy XIV Online
This is the most obvious one and probably the one people will default to for a traditional MMORPG. I was unwilling to play this game in the past due to its monthly subscription model, but with the Switch 2 release, I found out there’s a free trial with substantial content.
In this free trial, you can play hundreds of hours of content without paying a single cent, with a few restrictions like not being able to start a party, being locked to level 80, and a few other things.
In my case, I haven’t seen this being an issue in the hours I’ve put in. I’m still pretty early into it, but I can say that it’s a fantastic MMORPG, and it runs like a dream on Switch 2. If you have to choose a single MMO to play, this is the one for sure.
Actual MMORPGs You Can Play Right Now
2. DC Universe Online
I haven’t played this one much on Switch 2, but I did back in the day on PC, and I was surprised to see that the servers were still running, especially since other MMOs on Switch, like Onigiri, have already shut down.
DC Universe Online is free-to-play and lets you build your own hero or villain and run around Gotham and Metropolis punching things alongside Batman or speeding around like the Flash. It’s been on Switch since 2019, and it’s the closest thing to a “traditional” MMORPG the console has had for years, until we finally got Final Fantasy XIV.
3. Palia
I confess that when this was released on Switch, I gave up immediately, mostly due to the bugs, looks, and performance. Luckily I gave it a second shot on Switch 2, and I can say it runs and looks much better despite it not being a dedicated Switch 2 Edition.
It’s a mix of an MMO with Animal Crossing and other life simulation games. All this blends together nicely and delivers a unique and cozy experience. However, the more you play, the more you see that this is a free-to-play MMO with progression slowing down over time, requiring more grinding, which kind of impacts the overall cozy vibe. Still, I had fun and felt relaxed in the few hours I spent with this MMO.
4. Wizard101
If Wizard101 sounds familiar, it’s because this game has been around the MMO scene since 2008. However, while it’s free-to-play on PC, it costs $20 on the Switch 2. It sounds unfair, but apparently, by paying these $20, you get access to a ton of content you’d need to pay for on PC via memberships and such, so I’d say it’s a good deal, especially if it ever goes on sale.
What differs this from the other MMOs so far is its turn-based, card-driven combat. There’s a good variety of wizardry schools to choose from, each with their own spells you can acquire to build your perfect little deck.
I’ve played this in the past, and I remember it being super accessible and probably the one you should pick for a low-stress MMO session.
MMO-Adjacent Games (Close Enough, and Still Great)
5. Warframe
Warframe is undeniably one of the best free-to-play games of all time and, as such, one of the best MMOs you can play today on the Nintendo Switch 2. While it didn’t look like one, today it certainly does with big open maps to roam free with other players while taking missions on the side.
It’s one of the few games on this list to feature a dedicated Switch 2 Edition with a target resolution of 1080p, 60 fps, sharper visuals, faster loading times, and even Joy-Con 2 mouse support.
This game is so good that when I first played, I remember sinking 100+ hours in a single week, and while it’s full of great content, I can see that it is a bit of a grind, like all other MMOs.
But at least in this one, you’ll be grinding in style.
6. TemTem
Even if the devs call this an MMO-lite, this is still an MMO where you have to be online to play, you can interact with other players, and it even has its own economy around the selling and buying of TemTem.
Now is probably the best time to get into TemTem since it had several updates that added new content, fixed bugs, balanced the gameplay, and even removed the microtransactions. All you need to do is pay for the game once, and you should be able to get everything the game has to offer just by grinding.
There has been something stopping TemTem from reaching its full potential, though: the very fact that it’s an MMO, or MMO-lite. This makes many areas of the game, like breeding or getting money, grindier than your usual Pokémon game.
But if you don’t mind it, then TemTem might be the MMO for you.
7. Play if You Dare — Elemental Knights R
Elemental Knights R is the worst MMORPG you can play on Nintendo Switch 2 because it’s nothing more than a port of a mobile game. Which you can clearly tell, due to the amount of UI elements cluttering the screen.
I actually paid 99 cents for this one years ago and only remembered I owned it once I started looking at all the MMOs I had played on my Switch throughout these years. But as bad as the game is, it does have its charm, especially its graphics that remind me of those old MMORPGs I used to play for hours on end.
Playing this does take me back to those simpler times. If you want to try it out, please don’t pay more than 99 cents; that’s what I paid, and I wish I had paid less.
The Best MMOs on Switch 2?
If you’re on Switch 2 and want to play the best MMO you can, then FFXIV is your best option, and one you can play for hundreds of hours before spending a single cent on subscriptions.
There are other great options, like Warframe for fast-paced action or even Palia for a more relaxed experience, but it’s difficult to beat what is considered one of the best MMOs of all time.
So, excuse me while I wrap up this list quickly. Mylla from the Gladiators Guild requires my assistance.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll be seeing you again next time with brand-new content.
