Classic world with slow progression
Your character grows slowly, every level and every item takes effort, and the world carries on without resets. Patience and reputation are valued here: people remember you for what you do over months and years.
Worlds
Game catalogue
Online role-playing worlds differ in more than setting and graphics. What shapes your life in the game far more is how they are built: how fast your character grows, whether the world starts over from time to time, who runs the show (the loner, the clan or the trader) and how many evenings a week the game expects from you. This catalogue collects world types and formats rather than titles, so it's easier to see what fits you.
You don't choose a world by its cover but by its rhythm. If the game's rhythm matches the rhythm of your life, the rest falls into place.
How this section works: it's a catalogue of online world types and game formats, not a list of projects. We describe the traits that identify each format, what it asks of a player and who it usually suits. You won't find names of games, studios, publishers or servers here, or links to them.
Types of online worlds
Six common formats. Live games often mix them, but one usually sets the tone.
Seasonal world with resets
After a while the world starts over and everyone begins on equal footing. It keeps competition fresh and gives newcomers a chance, but you have to be ready to let go of what you have built up.
Clan war world
The main event here is communities fighting over fortresses, land and resources. It's tough going solo in a world like this: success depends on teamwork, scheduling and trust inside the clan.
Crafting and trade world
Combat takes a back seat, and workshops, the market and production chains become the heart of the game. You can spend years here without ever becoming a fearsome warrior and still be indispensable.
Relaxed "social" world
Minimal competition and plenty of socializing: your own home, festivals, outings with friends and unhurried pastimes. This kind of world suits people who come to the game to unwind and chat, not to prove they are the best.
Subscription or free to play
Some worlds charge a regular fee for access, while others let you in for free and earn money from in-game purchases. The model shapes the pace of progress, how newcomers are treated and the temptation to pay to speed up.
How to choose a world that fits you
Four questions worth asking yourself before you create your first character.
Time
How many evenings a week are you truly ready to give the game? Worlds with scheduled sieges and clan meetups clash with an unpredictable schedule, while relaxed formats forgive long breaks.
Team
Are you coming with friends, looking to meet new people or happier playing on your own? The answer tells you whether you want a world where you can barely do anything without a group.
Pace
Some people enjoy slow growth and distant goals; others prefer a quick start and a fresh season every few months. Be honest with yourself about what wears you out faster: monotony or the endless race.
Attitude to competition
If losing to another player ruins your evening, look for worlds where player-versus-player combat is optional. If you love a fight, pick worlds where it is fair and the rules are the same for everyone.
Read next
- Guides
Guides to the key crossroads of the long game: role, clan, budget, big battles, returning after a break and account protection. Plus our article catalogue.
- Mechanics
How experience, gear wear, crafting, markets, clan holdings and seasonal events work, and how to avoid burning out on the game too soon.
- Reviews
How to judge an online world without scores: its economy, how it treats newcomers, how it fights cheating, transparency and account protection.
- Glossary
A plain-language dictionary of online role-playing games: terms about your character, your clan and the game-world economy.
What we draw on
- Terms of service and rules of online games (in general terms)
- Editorial materials of L2vs
We write about the general principles of life in online role-playing worlds. Every game has its own rules, menus and mechanics, and they often change with updates, so check the exact wording against your game's terms of service and help pages.