Many in MMO circles look down on what they consider to be the second-class citizens of online gaming: browser-based MMOs. In fact, just about every time that we post a news article about a browser MMO here on Massively, it's inevitable that someone will pish-posh the game on the general principle that "all browser MMOs suck."
Yet that attitude overlooks one of the key demographics of browser MMO players: us. It's not uncommon for many of us to be stuck with a non-gaming computer for a good chunk of time, i.e. at "school" and "work" and "in the Batcave." While we may not talk about it in mixed company out of fear of being ostracized, I believe many of us have an on-the-side MMO that feeds our addiction when we're away from our main gaming rig.
Whether it be on Facebook, a browser or even on a mobile device, what MMO do you visit on the sly when you can't access the real thing? Have you spent time doodling around in City of Eternals, RuneScape or even Pocket Legends when your boss isn't looking? Who's your MMO mistress?
Reader Comments (23)
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 8:07AM CCon99 said
All browser MMOs suck. ;-)
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 8:21AM ultimateq said
Free Realms. Even though I don't play it now, I snuck it in a few times.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 8:23AM (Unverified) said
No need to waste your time on a mistress, while you can enjoy all the articles, community and drama that goes on with your main mmo. When you are at your real machine you fully enjoy the game itself.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 8:26AM (Unverified) said
PSO on the Scthack server
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 8:37AM DarthCheese said
Free Realms ofc. Until that Clone Wars one comes out anyway. :D
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 8:51AM SMELTN said
Pocket Legends on my iPhone
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 8:51AM elocke said
Browser MMOs are horrible. So, I just come here and my other favorite hangout, MMORPG.com :D If I can't play em I'll talk and read about em instead. Makes me wish I got paid to forum surf, lol.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 9:02AM (Unverified) said
Puzzle Pirates! :)
Heh well I stopped playing properly a couple of years ago - now I just login during my lunch breaks to play Poker (with in-game money).
http://puzzlepirates.com
It's only 2D Java but it has some excellent collaborative, multiplayer features that do not exist in other games. I don't understand why no one else has copied the ideas and put them into a more "proper" 3D MMO!
Heh well I stopped playing properly a couple of years ago - now I just login during my lunch breaks to play Poker (with in-game money).
http://puzzlepirates.com
It's only 2D Java but it has some excellent collaborative, multiplayer features that do not exist in other games. I don't understand why no one else has copied the ideas and put them into a more "proper" 3D MMO!
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 10:29AM (Unverified) said
I've been playing Runescape for almost 4 years.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 10:35AM kasapina said
Runescape is a pretty standalone mmo, and while it is indeed a browser one, it does not deserve a title of "second", being the top free to play title out there. It's actually a juggernaut of the f2p market..
While I do play runescape from time to time, for the above reasons, I would not call it a secondary. Adventure Quest, maybe, even though it's not really an MMO.
Reply
While I do play runescape from time to time, for the above reasons, I would not call it a secondary. Adventure Quest, maybe, even though it's not really an MMO.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 11:22AM (Unverified) said
I played Runescape for 5 minutes. It was like the graphics on the old Super Nintendo (SNES), only with worse controls.
It shortened my life and lowered my self esteem, I can no longer look other humans in the eyes after those 5 minutes.
Reply
It shortened my life and lowered my self esteem, I can no longer look other humans in the eyes after those 5 minutes.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 12:58PM Greeen said
Spleenika, while I agree that the graphics may suck, it is a typical example for a game that does not need graphics to be good.
It is one of the very few skill based MMOs out there, covering a great range of pvp, crafting, dungeon crawling... I'd play it more if I had the time.
Reply
It is one of the very few skill based MMOs out there, covering a great range of pvp, crafting, dungeon crawling... I'd play it more if I had the time.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 10:19AM markt50 said
I tried 'Vampires' on my iPhone, it's dreadful :( basically a convoluted verion of Top Trumps.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 10:40AM (Unverified) said
sorority life...lol
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 1:13PM (Unverified) said
I've heard good things about Kingdom of Loathing from people I've played other MMOs with in the past. But I myself have never tried a browser-MMO. Probably never will.
Is Free Realms a browser-based MMO though? I thought that game ran with a standalone client.
Is Free Realms a browser-based MMO though? I thought that game ran with a standalone client.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 1:32PM Zach Adams said
I played Kingdom of Loathing solidly for a couple years, from 03-05. These days, it's mostly Forumwarz. (Emo Kid 4ever, yo.)
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 2:14PM runzwithsizzorz said
I have Eve hidden on my work computer. When everyone goes home, I start it up. If I can't really play at least I can hang.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 3:06PM (Unverified) said
Echo Bazaar (http://echobazaar.failbettergames.com/). Browser-based, Twitter-connected, vaguely steampunk-y grind game set in Fallen London -- a London stolen from the surface by bats, now run by a collective of mysterious merchants.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 3:50PM angrymatt said
Lord of Ultima








