Ultima Online

44 Games like Ultima Online that you should try

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Ultima Online is hard to replace: few games combine deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and sandbox world in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 17 gameplay attributes and found 44 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Black Desert, Tera and Albion Online lead the list, with Black Desert reaching a 93/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Ultima Online special.

iRank81/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

Tags

DarkMultiplayerOnline

Year 1997Dev Origin Systems

Quick answer

The closest game to Ultima Online is Black Desert — scoring 93/100 on our similarity scale. Tera and Albion Online follow close behind.

#1Black Desert93 #2Tera91 #3Albion Online90 #4RuneScape89 #5ArcheAge93

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Games like Ultima Online

44 similar games found

93

iRank74

Black Desert

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlineMagicRangedMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyMedievalExploration

Steam👍 74%· 93KIGDB75· 5

Year 2019Dev Pearl AbyssOn iOS · Android

✓ Same family of sandbox MMORPGs: deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, action RPG combat and historical setting, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

91

iRank77

Tera

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPMeleeRangedOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyMedievalExploration

Steam👍 79%· 15KIGDB73· 5

Year 2011Dev Bluehole Studio · En Masse EntertainmentOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the sandbox MMORPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, action RPG combat and historical setting, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#3Albion Online

90

iRank81

Albion Online

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 79%· 91KIGDB88· 4OC79· 10

✓ Fits the sandbox MMORPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, deep simulation and co op, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

89

iRank82

RuneScape

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPMagicRangedMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 27K

Year 2001Dev JagexOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Fits the sandbox MMORPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

93

iRank66

ArcheAge

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPMagicMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyExploration

Steam👍 52%· 7.3KIGDB94· 1

Year 2013On PC

✓ Same family of sandbox MMORPGs: deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, co op and crafting mechanics, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#6Old School RuneScape

88

iRank81

Old School RuneScape

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 83%· 20KIGDB77· 1

Year 2013Dev JagexOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Both are sandbox MMORPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and co op, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#7New World: Aeternum

86

iRank71

New World: Aeternum

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPMeleeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyExploration

Steam👍 67%· 297KIGDB76· 7OC72· 66

Year 2021Dev Amazon GamesOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Fits the sandbox MMORPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and co op, while skipping combat magic

84

iRank71

EVE Online

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 73%· 39KRAWG👍 49%· 365MC88IGDB79· 3

Year 2003Dev CCPPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the sandbox MMORPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, combat tactical and setting space, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

76

iRank90

Guild Wars

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreTheme Park MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPMagicMeleeRangedDarkFantasyMedievalIsometric

IGDB90· 3

Year 2005Dev ArenaNet · NCSOFTOn PC

✓ Shared with Ultima Online: deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, historical setting and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping sandbox freedom

78

iRank66

WAKFU

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlineMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyExplorationIsometric2D

Steam👍 76%· 11KRAWG👍 44%· 127MC76

Year 2014Dev Ankama Studio · Ankama GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the sandbox MMORPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, turn-based strategy and vibe casual, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#11World of Warcraft

71

iRank90

World of Warcraft

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreTheme Park MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPMagicDarkOpen WorldFantasyExploration

MC93IGDB86· 8

Year 2004Dev Blizzard EntertainmentPlaytime ~1000h

✓ Like Ultima Online, it's known for deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, combat tactical and loot and gear systems, while skipping sandbox freedom

77

iRank61

Trove

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlineMeleeSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyExploration

Steam👍 80%· 93KRAWG👍 24%· 474MC65IGDB62· 1OC67· 12

Year 2015Dev Trion WorldsPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the sandbox MMORPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, action RPG combat and precision platforming, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#13World of Warcraft Classic

72

iRank80

World of Warcraft Classic

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreTheme Park MMO

MultiplayerOnlineFantasyThird Person

IGDB80· 1OC79· 13

Year 2019Dev Blizzard EntertainmentOn PC

✓ Like Ultima Online, it's known for deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and fantasy world

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling and visual third person, while skipping sandbox freedom

72

iRank80

Aion

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreTheme Park MMO

MultiplayerOnlineOpen WorldFantasyExploration

IGDB80· 1

Year 2008Dev NCSOFTOn PC

✓ Shared with Ultima Online: deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling and visual third person, while skipping sandbox freedom

#15Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues

81

iRank39

GenreRPGSubgenreMMORPGSub-subgenreSandbox MMO

MultiplayerOnlinePvPMeleeSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExploration

Steam👍 53%· 3.2KRAWG👍 19%· 27

Year 2014Dev PortalariumPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of sandbox MMORPGs: deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, card game strategy and survival mechanics, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Games like Ultima Online

The Elder Scrolls® Online

The Elder Scrolls® Online

RPG · MMO

Ragnarok Online

Ragnarok Online

RPG · MMO

Dofus

Dofus

RPG · MMO

Lineage II

Lineage II

RPG · MMO

Neverwinter

Neverwinter

RPG · MMO

Tibia

Tibia

RPG · MMO

Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go

RPG · MMO

Throne and Liberty

Throne and Liberty

RPG · MMO

Lost Ark

Lost Ark

RPG · MMO

The Lord of the Rings Online

The Lord of the Rings Online

RPG · MMO

Rankings in the same genre

Best Sandbox MMORPGs Best MMORPG Games Best RPG Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Ultima Online?: The closest game to Ultima Online is Black Desert, scoring 93/100 on our similarity scale. They share 13 gameplay attributes, including deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Ultima Online?: The three closest games to Ultima Online are: 1. Black Desert (93/100, 13 shared attributes) 2. Tera (91/100, 13 shared attributes) 3. Albion Online (90/100, 13 shared attributes). All share Ultima Online's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 44 candidates across 17 dimensions.
Is Tera similar to Ultima Online?: Yes, very much so — Tera scores 91/100 similarity to Ultima Online. They share 13 attributes, including deep RPG systems and MMO world and community. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RPG games are similar to Ultima Online?: The best RPG games similar to Ultima Online are Black Desert, Tera, Albion Online and RuneScape. All share the RPG genre alongside other key Ultima Online attributes like deep RPG systems, MMO world and community and sandbox freedom.
How is similarity to Ultima Online calculated?: We compare Ultima Online against every game in our catalog using 17 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Ultima Online experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.
Are there free games similar to Ultima Online?: Yes — Trove and Lost Ark are free and score well on similarity to Ultima Online. They're a great way to test whether the play style clicks before investing in other paid titles.