After years of development and innovation, MMORPGs are still one of the most popular genres of modern gaming. Their popularity has seen a plateau since the early days of the genre and has gone through some profound changes.

Related
8 MMORPG Games that Have Been Thriving for More Than 10 Years
Some MMORPGs have withstood the test of time and still have an active, passionate player base.

Unlike a single-player or stand-alone game, each player feels as if they've inserted their custom-built avatars into a unique, living universe. The art of customization options in any game is something worth the developer's precious time. With that in mind, here are some of the best MMORPGs and their character creators.

Updated on December 13, 2023, by Kristy Ambrose: It's been a decade of ups and downs for a genre that was flying high almost 20 years ago, but there's still a wide variety of existing MMORPGs that are getting expansions, updates, and new content. The older ones that date back to the turn of the century are getting remastered and re-released, which includes ports to consoles, phones, and tablets. New games are being pitched and developed with character customization as a top priority. Most have them have made character customization a high priority because developers and producers know how important this detail is to gamers, especially in a role-playing environment, but it just comes down to making our characters look good.

23 Star Wars: The Old Republic

Detailed Options For Both Characters And Starships

swtor-jedi-knight screenshot with light saber
Star Wars: The Old Republic

Developer(s)
BioWare
Publisher(s)
Electronic Arts
Platform(s)
PC
Released
December 20, 2011

Most MMORPGs are set in a medieval fantasy setting, so when it's time to play something different with just as many character customization options, there's SWtoR. The mix of science fiction and space opera means that players can also have their ships along with unique gear, companions, and mounts.

Star Wars fans would appreciate a world built around their favorite franchise, but even players who aren't familiar with the aesthetic will warm up to the accessories and design. Classes include selections like Sith Warrior, Bounty Hunter, and of course, Jedi Knight.

22 Secret World: Legends

Customize Using The Modern Spy Aesthetic

Secret world Legends protagonists fighting monster

Originally called The Secret World, this game was launched in 2012 but eventually failed economically, only to be resurrected as Secret World Legends in 2017. The setting, design, and subject matter haven't changed, and players still use modern weapons to fight monsters like zombies, vampires, and strange, mysterious beings from other dimensions.

The character creation process starts with choosing from one of three factions, which doesn't affect the look of each character. Secret: World Legends doesn't stop with a myriad of choices for basics like hair and head shape, but also includes options for facial hair, eyebrows, accessories, and more. An MMO doesn't have to use a fantasy aesthetic to offer a wide variety of choices, some of them shocking or even gruesome, for character building.

21 Lost Ark

So Complex, Save A Preset And Decide The Rest Later

Warriors in Lost Ark
Warriors in Lost Ark
Lost Ark

Developer(s)
Smilegate RPG
Platform(s)
PC
Publisher(s)
Amazon Games
Released
December 4, 2019

Lost Ark has some of the more conventional limitations that most RPGs have when it comes to character customization. Players have to choose a class first, and their selection of clothing and weapons is limited by that choice to a certain extent, but the developers seemed to understand how important this stage of the game is to their fanbase and compensate accordingly.

Related
18 Best Free To Play MMOs Of All Time
MMOs are perfect for escapist gamers that want to embark on a crazy adventure in another world. This gets a bit easier with free-to-play options.

The character customization process includes a display outfits stage, an emote preview, and the standard hairstyle and face choices, which naturally include details like cheekbones, chin, and eye color. Players can get even more detailed with tattoos and facial hair, and, if they work on it for a long time, they can save a preset with this MMORPG character creator and decide later.

20 Ashes of Creation

A Fantasy Setting Designed With Detail

ashes of creation, unreal engine 5

Ashes of Creation is still in development has has been for the past year, and is only available to Alpha One testers, but a recent major development update indicates that an official launch is imminent. Players have already been reviewing the character creation process over the past year, and the lengths that you can go through to make a unique custom character are extensive, with more improvements expected before release.

The process of character creation begins with choosing one of two factions, followed by choosing from a total of nine playable races. There are presets to choose from, which is a nice time saver because the choices for hair, tattoos, eyes, body type, skin tone, and every other detail can be overwhelming.

19 Destiny 2

Ways To Build A Human, Awoken, or Exo

Destiny 2 character creation screen
Destiny 2

Developer(s)
Bungie
Platform(s)
PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , PC , Stadia
Publisher(s)
Bungie
Released
August 28, 2017

Technically, Destiny 2 isn’t an MMORPG. It’s more of a live service game than an MMO, but it's pretty close to being one. The game went free-to-play back in September 2020, so it saw a massive increase in concurrent players. That increase has kept up and the game isn't dead by any means.

Those new players saw just how neat the MMORPG character creator is. It’s simple, but there are a ton of different ways to build a Human, Awoken, or Exo character. And, once in the game itself, the sheer amount of cosmetics for weapons, vehicles, and armor means that the customization keeps going. It's missing some of the customization options common in other MMOs, but it still does a pretty good job.

18 Kurtzpel

A Robust Character Creator

Kurtzpel character creation screen

As an anime-centric MMO, Kurtzpel has a lot to live up to. Sadly, it sort of drops the ball in the gameplay department. It was originally thought to be an MMORPG, but fans quickly discovered it was more PVP action battle-oriented. Recently the game made an effort to be more MMO by adding elements such as dungeons, levels, gear, guilds, and questlines.

Related
8 Best MMORPGs That Are No Longer Playable
MMORPGs, even those beloved by their fanbases, don't always last forever. These online games are fondly remembered but are no longer playable.

The combat looks nice, but it isn't very engaging, the costumes look great, but they're such a slog to grind for, and the PvP looks fun, but their servers constantly have issues. The biggest draw for Kurtzpel is its robust character creator that could easily fit into something high quality like Genshin Impact. Quite frankly, since the game is free-to-play, players could easily just download it to try out the character creator for themselves.

17 Crossout

Design And Build Characters And Vehicles

Crossout vehicle creation screen

When talking about MMORPGs with cool customization options, Crossout has to be part of the conversation just for its sheer uniqueness. After all, this is a car-combat MMO released in 2017 that gives players full control over the design and build of their vehicles.

For reference, players need to think of how much control players had over their "lifeform" in Spore, then multiply that by two or three. That's Crossout. It doesn’t have a huge community, but the community it does have is insanely faithful. Plus, it’s also free-to-play, which is always great for bringing in new players.

16 City of Heroes

Customize Even The Character's Heroic Cape

City of Heroes character creation screen

City of Heroes was one of the most memorable games of all time, at least to us, simply because players could create their very own hero with a shocking amount of control. From their power combination, race, battle cry, background, and archetypes, players could even customize the character's heroic cape past a certain level. While the character creator was pretty top-notch, it was the combination of powers, classes, and other customization options that made this heroic game shine.

Related
Ranking The Oldest MMORPGs (That Are Still Online Today)
MMORPGs can have great longevity if made correctly. Here's a look at some examples of old titles that are still online today.

When the servers finally fell back in 2012, CoH fans were heartbroken. In 2019, a hero among gamers released the source code for the game to the public, and now there are several private servers players can check out if they want to see what this classic game has to offer.

15 New World

Trappers And Traders In The Age of Exploration

The Arena PVP Mode in New World MMO
New World

Developer(s)
Amazon Games
Publisher(s)
Amazon Games
Platform(s)
PC
Released
September 8, 2021

While so many other games use the medieval fantasy aesthetic with little variation, New World gives players a refreshing change with a style based on the Age of Exploration. This was a real-world time that lasted from about the 16th to the 19th century and the island of Aerternum, where the game takes place, is designed as a lost continent from ancient history.

Unlike other MMORPGs that require players to choose a class, this game has no classes and compels players to build both their character and class from the ground up. Even if the initial character customization is fairly simple, relying on choosing a body type, hairstyle, and skin color, the class customization is wildly creative. Players dress in furs, linens, leather, or plate armor, and create professions and classes like Trapper, Musketeer, Pirate, or Survivalist.

14 Maplestory 1 & 2

Crossovers And Collaborative Character Design

Maplestory 2 character creation screen

It's difficult to name another MMO where players can get a helmet that’s just a bear that sits on their head. Or how about another MMO that constantly has collaborations with anime series and/or K-pop groups like BTS? Plus the amount of different classes and jobs is unlike any other MMO. From Buccaneers to Blaze Wizards, Beast Tamers, Shades, Mechanics, and even a Demon Avenger, there are just so many classes to pick from.

Related
20 MMORPGs Perfect For Newcomers To The Genre
MMORPGs can be daunting for new players. Luckily, plenty of stellar options exist for those looking to break into the world of online multiplayer.

Each class has a ton of different ways that players could customize their build and experience. Then there's the Cash shop, a place with a shocking amount of cosmetics for characters, some of which are account-wide. This combination of factors is why Maplestory is still decently popular even to this day, though it's sad that Maplestory 2 didn't find the same success.

13 Elder Scrolls Online

As Notorious As The Rest Of The Franchise

Elder Scrolls Online character creation screen
Elder Scrolls Online

Developer(s)
ZeniMax Online Studios
Platform(s)
PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Stadia , PC , macOS
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Released
April 4, 2014

Those who enjoyed character customization in Skyrim can rejoice, as here it is again, but this time in an MMORPG format. Elder Scrolls Online has been around since 2014 and it's not on the level of World of Warcraft or FF14, but this game is one of the top picks for MMOs if you have a similar taste.

The pure depth of the character creator helps with that reputation. Orcs, High Elves, Humans, Khajiit, Argonians, they’re all here and are all able to be modified to pretty minute levels. Players who have a subscription have even more options for weapons, accessories, gear, and extra storage for all of the above.

12 Lord Of The Rings Online

Fully Customizable In Middle-earth

A Man, Elf, Dwarf, and Hobbit in The Lord of the Rings Online
Lord of the Rings Online

Developer(s)
Standing Stone Games
Platform(s)
PC
Publisher(s)
Daybreak Game Company
Released
April 24, 2007

Most players overlook LotR Online when it comes to customization because they assume that all of the characters have to resemble those of the books or movies. The classes and races are indeed inspired by the lore of the franchise, but each is fully customizable, and the expansions have given players even more choices.

The original four races were Hobbits, Humans, Elves, and Humans, and other races like Beornings and High Elves have been added since. The classes are unlike any other MMORPG and include choices like Lore-Master and Burglar along with more traditional roles like Hunter and Guardian. Expansions consist of locations that appear throughout the books, and players can experience their journey to Mordor while striking out to have their unique adventures.

11 Tera

The Sheer Number Of Variables Combined With Several Unique Races

TERA introduction and char creation screen
TERA

Developer(s)
Bluehole Studio
Publisher(s)
En Masse Entertainment , Gameforge , Nexon
Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released
May 1, 2012

Tera’s Character Customization isn’t anything mind-blowing, but it’s the sheer number of variables combined with the unique races that make it amazing. In particular, the Popori is just such a winner in terms of a playable MMORPG race. Tiny round dog creatures, that players can customize and even pick the breed. How adorable! It's like playing as one's own custom-made Palico from the Monster Hunter series.

Related
17 Best Mobile MMORPGs
Mobile gamers have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to great MMORPGs, from EVE Echoes to RuneScape.

Now Tera has 7 races in total, the Amani, Baraka, Castanic, High Elves, Humans, and of course Popori. Say what one will about Tera’s overall gameplay loop as an MMO, but its unique combat combined with the immensely enjoyable character creator is what causes this MMO to live rent-free in players' minds, even to this day.

10 Final Fantasy 14

An Obscene Amount Of Tools, Races, Classes, And Cosmetics

FFIV character creation screen
Final Fantasy 14

Developer(s)
Square Enix
Platform(s)
PC , PS3 , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Publisher(s)
Square Enix
Released
August 27, 2013

Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn is one of the biggest comeback stories of all time when it comes to gaming. The original release of this MMO was not well received. Thanks to director Naoki Yoshida and his fantastic team, they managed to save and re-release it to get to the eventual 16 million registered users they have today.

Since the re-release, the game has benefited from a constant stream of expansions, updates, and returning fan-favorite characters. It's one of those MMOs that just keeps getting more and more unbelievably huge as time goes on. One of the best aspects of the game is just how varied the characters can look thanks to an obscene amount of tools, races, classes, cosmetics, crossover items, and plenty of other things.

9 Blade & Soul

Make Almost Any Character You Want

Blade And Soul character creation screen

Blade & Soul is one of the more unique MMOs on this list. B&S is heavily based on Chinese/Korean folklore, with the four playable races (the Gon, Lyn, Yun, and Jin) based on Chinese constellations like the Azure Dragon, The Black Tortoise, The Vermillion Bird, and The White Tiger.

The combat is also unique, taking nods from fighting games and forcing players to combo their attacks together. The character creator is what put this game on the main stage. It might not be as complex as some of the other MMORPGs, but it gives players the tools to make just about any character they want. With new classes and content still coming out every once in a while, this is a game that actively benefits those who have stuck with it.

8 Warframe

Players Can Massively Augment Virtually Everything

Warframe character creation screen
Warframe

Developer(s)
Digital Extremes
Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X , Switch
Released
March 25, 2013
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter

Warframe is a different type of MMO, in just about every sense of the word. It's made by Digital Extremes and was originally a launch title for the PlayStation 4, where it bombed pretty hard. Since then, the team has put in the time through updates, dev streams, and massive expansion all to improve and build this weird mish-mosh MMO where players control bio-synthetic space ninjas meant for destruction.

The style of Warframe is probably one of its most obvious draws, and while players can't design their Frame, they can massively augment just about everything else. Outside of their wearables, they can also augment their weapons, load-outs, ships, pets, and more. It's a bit overwhelming at first and causes a lot of new players to bounce off it. Still, no two players have similar-looking frames, and that's a pretty big achievement.

7 Guild Wars 2

Not Just a Look, Also Their Past, Personality Traits, And Future Goals

Guild Wars 2 character creation screen
Guild Wars 2

Developer(s)
ArenaNet
Platform(s)
PC
Publisher(s)
NCSoft
Released
August 28, 2012

Guild Wars 2 is another long-time fan-favorite MMO. The original release was way back in 2012, and the game is still pretty well known. And, it has one of the best character creators ever seen. Not just visually, but in terms of characterization as well. Players pick their character's past, personality traits, and future goals all at once.

Related
7 Anime That Would Work As MMORPG Games
These anime shows will serve as great MMORPG game adaptations.

While other games might have a more in-depth physical creator for their avatars, GW2 still has by far the best personality creator, and that's not something many MMOs can brag about. Seriously, the races the game allows players to choose from are incredibly unique in their designs and backgrounds, so adding one's backstory and visual touch on top of that can make for some personal favorites.

6 Phantasy Star Online 2

Limitless Possibilities

PS02 character creation screen
Phantasy Star Online 2

Developer(s)
Sega
Publisher(s)
Sega
Released
July 4, 2012

Phantasy Star Online 2 is another one of those MMOs that will just last forever. The original game came out in 2003, and it's been one of Japan's most consistently popular MMOs ever since. The gameplay is a bit different from the standard MMO in that it's action-oriented. Players chain combos together and fight big creatures sort of similar to Monster Hunter World. On top of all that, the character creator is outstanding for the time it was made.

The amount of variables allows players to make all their favorites with the MMORPG character creator, and the sheer number of customizable in-game options leads to limitless possibilities. Thankfully, it's finally coming out in the West, after what felt like an eternity of waiting.

5 Albion Online

Build A Certain Look Initially And Change It Later

Albion Online gameplay
albion online
Albion Online

Developer
Sandbox Interactive
Platform(s)
Android , iOS , PC
Publisher
Sandbox Interactive
Released
July 17, 2017

Considering it's a mobile game that focuses more on combat and progression, the character customization options in Albion Online are more than decent. After going through a fairly detailed process that includes choosing hair, body type, and other basic details, players can change their appearance later with different avatars and special borders for their in-game portraits.

Albion Online also has a lot of ways to customize a character in ways that are purely decorative or cosmetic, and some of these items have functions in combat or have other uses. For the most part, special items used for creating unique characters are purely cosmetic, but that doesn't keep players from collecting them.

4 EVE Online

Detailed, Amazing, And Only A Fraction Of The Gameplay

Eve Online character creation screen
EVE Online

Developer(s)
CCP Games
Platform(s)
PC
Publisher(s)
CCP Games , Atari , Simon and Schuster Interactive
Released
May 6, 2003

EVE Online is what No Man's Sky wanted to be; a gigantic connected universe where players are free to do either a million different things or nothing at all. Players can all band together, and spend all their income, both in-game and real-world money, on gigantic ships to make an armada and go to war against another group.

Alternatively, players can buy a small ship to smuggle cargo, all while avoiding any conflicts whatsoever. EVE Online is complex to the highest degree, but that complexity also allows players to customize almost anything in the game in a staggering amount of ways. What's surprising is its character creator. It is way too detailed and amazing for a game where players spend almost no time looking at their character. This dedication to detail is why it's still so popular and the devoted fanbase has spent so much hard-earned cash on it.