The 3 Best Free MMORPGs for Chromebooks (2023). BEWARE: You’ll Get Addicted.

MMORPGs have always been one of my favorite types of games to play, right behind MOBAs.

They’re fun, not too grindy, and terribly addicting.

You probably use your Chromebook to do some work (right?), so it’s only obvious you want to play some awesome games in your free time.

So…without further boring intro text, here’s my list of the 3 best MMORPG for Chromebooks.

Let’s get on with the list.

Last updated: 3/4/23. I’ll keep this updated in case new games show up or these ones get stale or “uncool.”

Choosing the best MMORPGs

Note that I’ve tried dozens of MMOs on my Chromebook- everything from free to paid.

And with being said, these 3 games are probably the best of the bunch in my experience (and the only ones I still play daily).

They’re all free to play with the option of paying for premium content, so you can try them out for yourself without spending a penny on anything.

But unlike many other ripoff MMORPGs, these games offer a fair balance whether you’re a paid or free player. They’re not pay-to-play. And they’re definitely not pay-to-win either.

Okay, let’s roll out and get on with it.

Best MMORPG #1: Arcane Legends

Arcane Legends is one of the best MMORPGs for Chrome OS.
Arcane Legends is an awesome MMORPG with everything you could want. It’s the only game I play daily.

Arcane Legends is my favorite MMORPG on Chromebook, without a doubt.

If I had to compare it another game, it’d be like a miniature version of World of Warcraft (WoW). It has similar graphics that weirdly brings back memories of WoW and plays on a much smaller scale.

Arcane Legends has a selection of three different classes, each with their own skills.

There are quests, skill trees, auction houses, dungeons, and even party quests that you can group into and take on epic bosses.

The game doesn’t work on an instance-based system, but rather a giant pieces of land that serve as dungeons. When someone enters the area, you can easily party with them.

The game encourages partying and questing together- even with random strangers. It just makes it that much more fun to play together and make friends. For the most part, people are nice and willing to party.

They’ll send you party invites even if they haven’t seen your character’s stats yet.

Arcane Legends is built to run within the browser, as it’s a browser-based MMORPG. The best part is that it doesn’t require much to run, yet plays and looks amazing.

You can play it on any device that runs Chrome, your Chromebook, or even on your Android phone on-the-go.

AL also features PvP and PvE environments, along with dugongs that have mini-bosses along with an epic boss battle. The loot is first come, first get. So be fast to loot it.

You’ll often find other players partying with you, as it helps out with gaining experience and makes questing easier, though you can easily kill steal mobs to complete a quest.

The maps are huge and will take several minutes to run through. You get a map system that lets you instantly warp to wherever you want to go (for free), along with recommended levels for the area.

I found that the recommended levels are way too low. Even if you hit the level requirement, you’ll likely find yourself struggling to kill the mobs efficiently for experience and wandering back to the familiar areas to grind.

The game really isn’t that grindy at all, as you can gain levels quickly from just basic mobs.

Update: As of 2023, I don’t play nearly as much. But I had my time with this RPG. Good times. When I last checked, the devs are still putting out content and the playerbase is huge. The towns are packed and there’s a good mix of high level players and noobs.

I just signed into this the other day. It’s still going strong with a ton of players. Quests, events, and the whole shebang. I played it for a few minutes and saw that the game is largely the same, which is a good thing.

Here’s the trailer for Arcade Legends. Notice the cutscenes are amazingly done:

What’s amazing is that it’s browser MMORPG, but it doesn’t look like one. It definitely looks like a game you’d have to download due to the quality behind it.

The soundtracks are all somewhat memorable and you’ll find yourself humming the city music whenever you enter one.

The graphics are also beautiful and mesmerizing to the point where you find yourself saying “this is really a browser game?” You can even zoom in and out and the game still looks amazing.

Arcane Legends isn’t really a pay-to-win game either. You have a ton of content to explore, as well as access to epic gear without needing to pay a single penny.

As long as you don’t PvP against a subscriber who knows what they’re doing, you shouldn’t face too many disadvantages playing the game for free. The payments will only get you some cosmetics, gear, and speed up some processes.

It’s pretty much just like any other game that uses a microtransaction system to keep their game free.

This is still the only MMORPG that I play daily. The quest rewards are rewarding enough to keep you addicted. And you gotta feed your pet too.

Pros:

  • Lots of quests
  • Auction houses
  • Enchanting system
  • Daily quests
  • Party quests
  • Huge playerbase
  • Very nice graphics
  • Soundtrack is spot-on

Cons:

  • Lags when lots of players on-screen, though this depends on your system
  • Game geared towards early game players
  • Needs more endgame stuff
  • Storyline isn’t immersive

With over 16,000 reviews and an average of 5-star ratings on the Chrome Web Store, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Update: Arcane Legends is still going strong. I don’t play this game as much now, but I recently checked-in for a few hours and it they’ve expanded the overworld map like crazy. Glad to see this game is still being played and has an active playerbase. Cross-platform works like a charm!

Best MMORPG #2: AdventureQuest Worlds

AdventureQuest Worlds on Chromebook.
AdventureQuest Worlds is one of the best MMOs that’s free to play.

AdventureQuest used to be that flash game that no one knew about. In fact, it still is for a huge chunk of the population.

However, it has evolved into a game where people actually recognize the name and respect it. It became so big that it got its own game. Enter AdventureQuest Worlds.

AQW is a 2D MMORPG that features a ton of things to do, with appealing graphics. You’ll literally never run out of things to do and go around killing level one wild boars. There’s always something to quest, kill, raid or dungeon crawl.

First, the gameplay.

AQW offers thousands of armor, capes, weapons, and pets. That’s right- thousands. You can customize your avatar to your liking and likely you’ll never look like anyone else in the game.

You can use a combination of different equips to make your character look however you want- a pirate, a ninja, a dueler, an assassin, a bold brute. Whatever you want.

Second, the quests. The assortment and variety of things you can gather and do in this game are vast. You’ll always have something to do (I can’t stress that point across enough).

There are a ton of quests to complete and they’re always releasing more. Compared to other MMORPGs, they don’t compare to the sheer number of equips and quests that AQW offers.

Artix Entertainment releases new updates and content on a weekly basis, so you have something new to do literally every week. It’s always fresh. The updates include bug fixes and new content.

You’ll likely get piled up on quests you’ll need to complete before the next update rolls out. And then you’ll be even more piled.

Third, the art style is gorgeous to look at. Although it seems to draw from a hybrid of anime mixed with modern, I still haven’t seen any other game quite like AQ. If you’ve been a player of AdventureQuest since the beginning, you’ll know that it always had a unique anime look to it.

The environments, monsters, and other players look hand-drawn and give you that feeling the developers actually put in the effort to design a game that looks stunning. The graphics are simply amazing.

AQW is a 2D game, but the graphics make it feel like you’re in a 3D world (also known as 2.5D).

And last, the combat system. The combat is also pretty advanced. You fight in real time, as opposed to right-clicking and waiting for cooldowns then mashing hotkeys.

There’s also PvP as well as PvE so you can actually duke it out with your new gear. You use abilities, potions, basic attacks to hack and slash at baddies and bosses.

Damage numbers pop up like crazy in big fights. You get that sense of satisfaction by thinking “look at all this crazy damage I’m doing it’s so much I can’t even read the numbers.” I know that feel, bro.

You can check out some gameplay footage of AQWorlds in this video and get a feel for it:

AQW is very, very far from a pay-to-win system. There’s a ton of content to keep you busy for hours without ever needing the subscription unless you like the game.

Pros:

  • A ton of stuff to do
  • Friendly community
  • Weekly updates
  • Appealing graphics
  • Soundtrack is very nice
  • Quests, party system, and friends system
  • Combat is real time
  • Customizable characters with thousands of equips
  • Epic loot
  • Not pay-to-win

Cons:

  • Overwhelming number of quests- you’ll find yourself juggling multiple quests simultaneously (though this isn’t always a bad thing)
  • Game can randomly crash for some users
  • Lots of bugs, but they get patched quickly

Overall, AdventureQuest Worlds is an excellent game if you’re looking for something to keep you constantly busy.

It has a huge assortment of things to do and a team behind it that stands by their product. If you like the art-style along with a 2D world, this is your game.

Check out AQW here.

Update: It’s 2020, and I’m still playing this game. They keep adding content and the dailys keep me busy. This is still the best MMO on Chromebook I’ve ever played so far. This game and Arcane Legends are both very easy to get into and seriously addicting.

Best MMORPG #3: RPG MO

RPG MO is a very nostalgic RPG game for Chrome OS. It's one of the best for old-school gamers.
RPG MO plays as a classic RPG and is perfect for both casual and hardcore gamers alike. It’s very reminiscent of old-school RPGs.

This one caught my eye because of the simplicity. RPG MO is a top-down, basic, and addicting MMO. It’s a take on classic games.

The graphics are 8-bit and simple. There are a ton of skills to choose from. You basically battle through dungeons and level up. Think the original Legend of Zelda with multiplayer.

If you don’t care for amazing graphics or modern RPG elements, this will do. It’s simple and easy to learn, but difficult to master. You’ll get sucked in and forget to eat dinner. It’s that good.

The web-based medium makes it easy to pick up and play. No downloads, plugins, installations, or other nonsense needed.

The game takes on the old-school RPG format and brings back a ton of nostalgia feelings.

If you’ve played stuff like The Elder Scrolls or Diablo, this game is like a slimmed-down version of those which will remind you of the good ol’ days when games were simple and you had to use your imagination.

What’s different about RPG MO is that there aren’t any classes to choose from, but rather, you take on a path based on the skills you get when you level. You can opt for a hybrid build if you want, but yes, you can mess up your skills. If you train heavy melee, you could be screwed against ranged enemies.

Also, you can’t max everything. If you try to spread out your skill points, you’ll be spread too thin and won’t be able to master any of them (thanks to a reader for pointing that out!).

RPG MO has a heavy focus on gathering items. Foraging for items, fishing, woodcutting, mining, jewelry, breeding, farming, and a lot more skills are important to the game. You can make your own gear or even sell it off to other players in the marketplace.

But that’s not all. You can also dungeon solo or party, and fight bosses along the way.

When you’re a high enough level, you can also farm bosses as well. Solo questing, farming, and bossing is also completely available, so you can play however you like.

There’s also PvP, but it’s completely optional if you don’t want to engage in combat. RPG MO appeals to both casual and RPG enthusiasts alike.

One thing that I really like about RPG MO is that no items become bound to your character. That means if you want to upgrade your gear and sell it off, you can do so in the marketplace without fear of throwing it out. A really nice feature that more games should have.

The community is also a lot more helpful than other games. If you’re new to the game, just ask and someone will be happy to help. There’s usually also a staff member online as well.

The game has a semi-AFK feel to it. A lot of the tasks in it can be left to idle while you’re waiting for another game to queue, as more and more games have waiting queues now.

Or you can simply run the game in a tab while doing something else- browsing, watching YouTube, or even play while working (like I am now).

The game is cross-platform and runs smoothly on any device. It’s lightweight and fast and you should have no problem running it on a toaster.

RPG MO has premium content, but it’s basically in-game currency. As a free player, you can explore all maps, access all gear, and take on all quests. It’s far from the pay-to-win model all gamers despise.

Some people like those idle games that play themselves. This is good for having in its own tab in the background while you work or do something else to keep you occupied.

Whether you’re waiting for queue in League of Legends or just playing in between matches in Apex Legends, RPG MO is a good to keep you from getting too bored on your Chromebook.

Here’s a gameplay video. The graphics and color palette are just amazing:

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this game to anyone who’s looking for a lightweight, yet super addictive MMORPG. This game can be played both competitively as well as casually. That’s the beauty of it.

Pros:

  • Not pay-to-win
  • Casual and hardcore gamers can both appreciate the game
  • Core gameplay elements are there, yet super simple
  • No “screwing up” of ability points
  • Very addicting gameplay
  • 8-bit graphics
  • Beautiful color palette
  • Nostalgic of older RPGs
  • Helpful community
  • Good queue game for other games
  • Excellent game to play while doing something else or when you’re just AFK
  • Game plays itself

Cons:

  • Graphics may not appeal to modern gamers
  • No class system
  • Combat system isn’t as involved
  • Click-based gameplay
  • Not a huge playerbase, but decent sized

Get your old-school RPG going here.

Update: Recently checked out the game after a long hiatus of nothing. RPG MO still proves to be way better than idle clicker games. It’s a fine line between a clicker game and a full-out MMORPG.

Do you have any awesome MMORPGs for Chromebooks to recommend?

Well, that concludes my list of the best MMORPGs for Chromebooks.

Overall, if you’re a modern RPG gamer, you’ll probably like Arcane Legends.

If you like anime RPGs, you may like AdvertureQuest Worlds.

Or, if you’re a hardcore RPG fan but appeal to the classic gameplay mechanics, then you may want to check out RPG MO.

Nonetheless, all these MMORPGs are the best of what I could find that’s available for Chromebooks- and are all free to play.

Try them out, you don’t have to install any of them as they’re all browser-based games and require absolutely no money to play. Go for it.

Do you have a game I should try out? Or that you’d like to add to this list? Leave it in the comments below and I’ll check it out. Check out these games, you’ll get addicted.

About Andy Z.

Andy is a casual-hardcore Chrome OS fan and contributes to the site regularly. He likes computers, tech, sports cars, videogames, and of course, Chromebooks. Thinker. Introvert. Geek. You can find him on Twitter (@platytech), or send him an email (check the "Contact Us" page).

10 thoughts on “The 3 Best Free MMORPGs for Chromebooks (2023). BEWARE: You’ll Get Addicted.”

  1. “Also, you can max everything. If you try to spread out your skill points, you’ll be spread too thin and won’t be able to master any of them.” (Third game, fifth paragraph) Didn’t you mean “Also, you CAN’T max everything…”? Just thought I’d point it out in case it is a typo because it’s a pretty important one if so. I could be wrong, but I think it is. Anyway, thanks for the list! I think I’m going to try out the third game!

    Reply
    • Hey there,

      Thanks for pointing that out! It’s indeed a typo. I haven’t started up RPG MO in quite some time now and reading this comment totally brought back the nostalgia.

      Thanks again for letting me know. I’ve corrected the typo!

      Reply
    • Hey Andre M. Pietroschek,

      Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll check it out after a round of Arcane Legends =]. I never got into Diablo, but Torchlight was awesome. And offline play is always a plus!

      Reply
  2. I recommend playing Blade of Queens its available on any laptop, Chromebook, and PC. Not on mobile yet. I’m already on level 73 and i’m a proud owner of a Chromebook OS and its a very fun game considering MMORPG.

    Reply
    • Hey Jessica,

      I’ll have to check this game out. I’m always ready to try out new MMOs- they’re the flavor of the month =].

      Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll add it to the list after messing around with it for a bit.

      If you have any more, keep ’em coming!

      Reply

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