Free Alternatives to Most Popular Pay-to-Play Games

If game is free-to-play, that doesn’t mean it lacks quality in narration or graphics. Free games have their faithful audience, especially those players who are not able to pay - often too expensive - monthly fees. In this article we provided some of the most popular pay-to-play MMORPGs, such as World of Warcraft, LOTRO or Age of Conan, and games that can be their free alternatives.

World of Warcraft

The biggest and the most popular MMORPG has it’s free alternatives. It is of course, silly to compare WoW to some free games, but these alternatives have built up their own player base and reputation, thanks to developers and fans’ devotion to them.
If you’re tired of WoW, or you don’t have enough money for monthly subscriptions ($14.99 per month), we recommend the following titles:

Free alternatives:

Runes of Magic

Runes of Magic is free fantasy MMORPG set in Taborea, a magical world full of wonders and ancient mysteries. Game client size is 3,39 GB and Minimum system requirements are following:
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz or equivalent
RAM: 512MB
Required Harddisk space: 3.62GB
Graphics card: DirectX 9.0c compatible with 128MB RAM.
Official site is here: http://www.runesofmagic.com/en/index.html 

4Story

4Story is another MMORPG that resembles WoW and is free to play. You can choose between two factions and pick from three races and six different classes. Game client is 879 MB “heavy”, and in order to play the game you’ll need at least Pentium IV 1,6 GHz processor with 512 of RAM and 128MB video card.
Official site: http://global.4story.com/    


Talisman Online

This is the small and cute free MMORPG that doesn’t take too much space on your HDD, but you still can enjoy playing it with other players on the Internet. Similar to Runescape, it offers an option to purchase additional features (points), but most of features in the game are available for free. Game client is not big, it takes just 191MB.
Game can be downloaded here: http://www.talismanonline.com/










Eve Online

If you more like space based MMO games like Eve Online, don’t worry. There are fine alternatives for this popular game made by Icelandic studio CCP Games as well. While EVE offers free trial for only 14 days, demanding further payments of $14.95 per month in order to play, these games are totally free of cost.

Free alternatives:

Anarchy Online

There is an open debate whether or not is free Anarchy Online better than expensive EVE. While EVE is more SciFi, Anarchy Online includes more RPG elements in gameplay. Also, AO offers as same share of excitement and features as players could find in Eve Online, and it’s the best free MMO alternative.
Game client, which includes all expansions is 1,75 GB big and can be downloaded on the official page: http://www.anarchy-online.com/wsp/anarchy/frontend.cgi?func=frontend.show&template=main

Recommended system requirements are silly compared to newer games. You’ll need Pentium II 450 with 256 Mb RAM and 3D card with 32MB in order to play this gem.


Allegiance

Allegiance is a team-oriented online multiplayer space combat simulation with real-time strategy (RTS) elements. You can even have old Pentium II 300 and you’ll still be able to play it. Game client is 85 MB “big”.
Site: http://www.freeallegiance.org/

   


The Lord of the Rings Online

The Lord of the Rings Online (commonly abbreviated to LOTRO) is MMORPG set in a fantasy universe based upon J. R. R. Tolkien's work. LOTRO is also subscription-based ($14.99 monthly) and offers free trial for 10 days.


Free alternatives:


Rohan Blood Feud

If you’d like to stay in Middle Earth setting, then Rohan Blood Feud might be a game for you. At least because of the name Rohan. You’ll need Intel Pentium D 915(2.8Ghz) or AMD Athlon64-X2 3800(2.0Ghz) and 2GB or more RAM, with 256MB graphic card in order to play. Game client is 1.81GB big.
Game site: http://www.playrohan.com/


Perfect World

Perfect World is one of the most popular free MMORPGs. Based upon a collection of ancient Chinese mythology, culture and history, the world of WanMei (other name for Perfect World) is a blend of fantasy and adventure. Game client file size is 2.4GB, and you’ll need 1.5Ghz CPU with 1 GB RAM and graphics card that support Pixel/Vertex shaders 1.4 or later.
Official site: http://www.perfectworld.com/
   
  







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Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (officially abbreviated as WAR) is another MMORPG title that is famous for being popular among broad player base. It also offers 10 days free trial and then it’s subscription based with monthly fee of $14.99.

Free alternatives:

Dungeon Runners

Dungeon Runners would be first recommended alternative to WAR, and one of the widely popular free online games. Dungeon Runners is game spiced with witty characters and dark humor, a treat that WAR also has. Greeting message on their official page, goes like this: “It’s dark, it’s dank, it smells awful down here and you just stepped in something squishy... Yup, you guessed it — it’s Dungeon Runners — an online multiplayer action role-playing game that transports you to an exciting realm of magic, adventure, giant monsters, and icky things.”
More info: http://www.dungeonrunners.com/
   

Silkroad Online

Another popular free MMOPRG that is also great alternative for Warhammer Online. The only requirement for download is registration on their official page: http://www.joymax.com/silkroad/    


Last Chaos

Finally, there is Last Chaos, free MMORPG that allows you adventuring with thousands of other players. All you need for playing is 2 GHz Intel Pentium IV or equivalent processor, with 1 GB RAM and 64 MB video card.
Official site: http://lastchaos.aeriagames.com/










Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures

Despite all flaws and downhill moments that follow Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures since its release, this MMORPG is still ultra popular among broad fanbase worldwide. The game doesn’t offer free trial (there was 30 days but only for the first month) and the monthly subscription costs $14.99, which makes this game the least payable MMOG.
Fortunately there is free alternative:

Requiem: Bloodymare

If you like the amount of blood delivered in AOC, then you’ll like this game as well. Requiem Bloodmare is set into a dark world of bloodshed devastated by generations of scientific and magical abuse. Before downloading game client you have to register. Pentium 4 2.0 GHZ, 1 GB RAM and 128 MB video card are requirements.
More info: http://www.playrequiem.com/index.aspx
   





EverQuest II

EverQuest II, once the most popular online game and often called the father of all MMORPG genre, still has own base of devoted fans. However, many expected that EQII will become free to play game, when others, much stronger MMORPGs entered the scene. But unfortunately, that didn’t happen. EverQuest offers only free 14-days trial, but in odred to play on regular basis, players must pay $14.99 each month.
Good alternative would be Runes of Magic, a game that is already mentioned.
Besides RoM, another good free alternative is Archlord.

Archlord

Set in the world of Chantra, this game is an epic fantasy mix, featuring great graphics and brilliant soundtrack scored by the London Symphony Orchestra. ArchLord brings together all the elements that make MMOs so enjoyable but with a unique hook, the chance to rule the in game world and with it receive a range of benefits. Archlord is created by Codemasters, makers of ultra popular MMORPG Lord of the Rings Online, and many other popular single player titles such as Operation Flashpoint, Leisure Suit Larry and Collin McRae games.
This is probably the best choice when it comes to free-to-play MMORPGs.
For all info, including requirements and game client download go to the official page: http://www.archlordgame.com/index.php


To summarize this article, these are 5 recommended free-to-play MMORPGs, sorted by popularity and quality:

1. Anarchy Online
2. Archlord
3. Runes of Magic
4. Perfect World
5. Dungeon Runners