10 Fictional Universes That Would Be Perfect For An MMO

A truly great MMORPG relies on more than just combat and flashy cosmetics to survive. The best MMOs are set in worlds that feel alive with mysteries to uncover, new faces to meet, and intriguing lore/narrative to discover through quests. Keeping this concept in mind, there are so many brilliant universes from the likes of movies, TV shows, and books that feel like they would be the perfect environment for such an experience. Here are 10 of the best universes that would make amazing MMO games.

Harry Potter

Hogwarts Legacy was the first real glimpse at how open-world exploration would feel in the Harry Potter world. The only thing players desperately wanted more from the game was some kind of co-op compatibility, which only further proves that there's an audience out there who would adore a Harry Potter MMO. Players could create their own custom witch or wizard, be sorted into one of the four houses alongside other players, learn spells and magical skills through a progression system, and, of course, explore iconic locations from the Harry Potter story. On top of that, there's even fun potential for sparring matches, co-op questlines, in-game house events, and even extracurricular activities such as the classic Quidditch tournaments.

Stranger Things

A Stranger Things MMO would be a nice breath of fresh air, as it would thrive on supernatural tension, narrative mystery, and exploration, with some combat elements. Players could create their own resident of Hawkins who finds themselves tangled in the Stranger Things story alongside the main cast. Co-op missions could involve venturing between Hawkins and the Upside Down, rescuing civilians, investigating anomalies and leads around town, closing dimensional tears/doors, and more. Players could make use of a survival/crafting system to create makeshift weapons, hone particular skills for combat or investigation, and work together to discover just how far the mystery of the Upside Down and Vecna goes. Plus, now that Season 5 is airing, the main storyline will be concluded, leaving room for either a faithful game adaptation or an alternate universe of sorts.

Game of Thrones

The world of Westeros would be a brilliant fit for an MMO game based on the faction potential alone. There are so many different houses in the game that being able to select one and explore key areas of the world is a key feature. In addition to this, being able to forge a path for your character as a Lord/Lady, a knight, a sellsword, a member of the Watch, part of a criminal underground, or even a wildling, would be very intriguing. Forging alliances with other houses or characters would introduce a strong social aspect to the game, and PVP combat would feel right at home. On top of this, you could unlock different mounts based on your house, from a simple Horse to a dire wolf, or even a Dragon. Looting, exploring every gorgeous environment, and discovering new secrets or pieces of history can also keep players coming back for more over time.

Of course, there have been rumors of a Game of Thrones MMO already. The last we heard, about a year ago, Netmarble was working on a mobile MMO for the IP.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The ATLA universe has remained dearly loved by fans of all ages for a number of years. In terms of an MMO, the world of Avatar has the potential to create that harmony between combat and exploration. Players can choose their nation and then develop their bending skills or non-bending weapon skills through unique skill trees. The world of Avatar is massive, with lots of little areas that fans would just love to walk through in a 3D variant - just imagine exploring the ancient Air Temples, or the great city of Ba Sing Se, it would be incredible!

There's also potential for huge boss fight events (perhaps linked to the spirit world, as seen in the events/aftermatch of Korra?), as well as environment-based weather or effects to help bring the world to life. Each location can be crawling with interactive puzzles, quests to follow, and adorable hybrid-creatures to admire. Teaming up with friends to create your own Gaang would be so satisfying, and the bonus of mini-games such as Penguin Sledding, Air Scooter races, or Omashu Mail Shute slides would also be the perfect cherry on top of everything this universe has to offer.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

The MCU already has dozens of heroes, villains, factions/organizations, and interconnected narratives. An MMO would be an absolute dream for Marvel fans, creating their own hero, choosing their origins and abilities from different categories. This would be particularly successful as Marvel has never really had a true MMO game, and the likes of similar competitors, such as DC Universe Online, are quite outdated. From answering simple daily alerts or threats with your powers to participating in huge events such as boss invasions or story 'blips'/crossovers in the multiverse timeline, stepping into the role of a Marvel hero would be nothing less than magical. Add on the possibility of squadding up with friends or taking on other players into the mix, and you've got a recipe for success.

The Walking Dead

Survival MMOs are extremely popular, thriving on tension and threats from not only the environmental hazards and undead, but also other hostile players or NPCs. The Walking Dead universe takes this exact approach, making it perfect for a game adaptation. Players can come together to forge or join survival groups/factions, with options for resource scavenging, crafting, and base building coming into play, too. Players can fight over zone/territory control, fend off walkers, work together to go on supply runs and find loot, embark on story or item-based quests, and implement impactful narrative choices to create a highly successful, gritty, and satisfying zombie survival MMO.

The Hunger Games

Back when The Hunger Games movies were taking off, there was constant chatter and fan-made attempts about the concept of a Hunger Games video game. There's potential for playing through the games themselves with randomly generated or preset arenas and rules, forging bonds/alliances with other players, going through the Capitol interviews/rating system, and then all of the brutal survival moments the games enforce, all as some sort of Battle Arena mode. And then, in addition to that, it would also be interesting to see some story quests or progressive PVE covering the rebellion. There would be tension, strategy, resource management, stealth, combat, and everything in between

The Mortal Instruments / Shadowhunters

The Shadow World is the perfect setting for a supernatural MMO, with the potential for players to become Shadowhunters or Downworlders (warlocks, vampires, werewolves, and more). Each one of these factions could have unique quest lines, skill progressions, abilities, and more. There's also a great mix of fantasy and the supernatural in such a world, perfect for the likes of portal-based travel and exploration, combat against various entities, and meeting familiar faces from the show/books. The universe would feel unique and exciting to those unfamiliar with the franchise, yet completely captivating to those who are, making it quite a niche concept, but one with a lot of potential.

Invincible

If not Marvel, then why not Invincible? This comic world has become increasingly popular over the last few years, thanks to the high-quality animated series. An MMO set in this universe would let players design their own hero or villain, as in any other superhero MMO concept. However, where Invincible would stand apart from others would be in the way it dives shamelessly into brutal beat-em-up combat scenes. Pair that with the classic Invincible-styled dialogue, and you'd get a game that sets itself apart from the 'lighter' superhero tone, making it perfect for a slightly older audience. Players can expect an intense, morally messy, but undoubtedly fun and fast-paced MMO experience should the Invincible franchise ever push a title out within this category.

The 100

While more of a niche pick, The 100's world would be a deeply satisfying survival environment for an MMO to take place. Players could design their character as a member of any one of the Coalition's factions - Skaikru, Trikru, Azgeda, Floukru, Sangedakru, and more. There would be endless exploration in each faction's home territory, littered with abandoned bunkers and ruins of the world before, mutated creatures to hunt, fight, or study, and ancient technology/resources that could be used to upgrade your character's skills and gear/armors.

Players could hunt together, explore moments of the story through narrative quests, interact with characters from the show, take one another on in PVP battles, scavenge for loot, and manage their needs such as hunger, thirst, injury, sickness, and stamina. With so many evolving threats and environmental hazards, the original world/Earth that The 100 first takes place on would be an incredibly lively and intriguing sandbox for a survival MMO to take place in.