Best MMO game?

[stormtr00per]

What mmo game do you sugest to a new player?

[Ragingheadache]

What mmo game do you sugest to a new player?

Depends on what games you normally enjoy playing, as the mmorpg genre is very broad. For example:

1. Enjoy action / fantasy games - then give Elder Scrolls Online a try. It's very accessible, good value and has action-oriented fast-paced content.

2. Like slower-paced RPGs with plenty of story, then I'd suggest looking at Final Fantasy 14.

3. Want to play a big archetypal MMO for the traditional experience, then look at World of Warcraft Classic when it comes out in August.

The MMO market is flooded with games, a few good ones and lot of bad ones. The best thing to do is give a few a go and see where your own preferences sit.

[Taeldorian]

I’d probably suggest: WoW, GW2, FFXIV as the 3 main MMORPGs, I don’t personally like FFXIV but it’s certainly something that would be worth trying. I love wow (not much love for the current expac tho) and I enjoyed gw2 for a while. I’ve heard ESO is another good choice but I haven’t played it so not sure. I’d definitely recommend those 3 though.

[oxyzz]

I want to mention Anarchy Online, a sci-fi MMO that's been around for 18 years. Much like Runescape the graphics and mechanics are dated as hell. But the world and lore are amazing and it is quite a unique game. You have a total of 39 equipment slots, unqiue ways to customize you character and so on.

For a new player, I probably recommend GW2. It has fantastic graphics and scenery and it is quite fun.

[ro9ue]

To me the best MMOs for new players:

WoW
ESO
GW2

One of my personal favorites is EQ but I would never recommend that to a new player.

WoW is pretty much the holy grail of entry level MMOs.

[Th3Scourge]

Classic WoW. Retail WoW is a clusterfuck for new players

[Denizly]

I'd recommend WoW to any player regardless of how new they are, over other MMOs.

Simple reason for that is a healthy population, constant updates, and good CS. Some other MMOs out there are good, but most are under populated and that can't hurt you experience of the game. In some cases it might event prevent you from doing group content cuz no one wants to group with you.

Now the Classic wow vs Retail wow is another story. You'll have to look into both and figure out what you like more. Given you're a new player, you'll have plenty to do in both.

[Calfredd]

Sci-FI: Eve Online

They said they were new to MMOs and Eve has a giant, giant, learning curve.

[Serenais]

From my personal experience, WoW, ESO and GW2 are the top candidates for that title (disclaimer: I played FFXIV for only a short time, although I hear it is pretty solid too). It boils down on what you want from the MMO.
WoW is good if you want to go into large player content, mythic+ and raiding is really fun.
ESO is good if you are into small group or solo play and like to quest a lot. Especially if you played other Elder Scrolls games, start here.
GW2 is heavily story driven, and while it has group content, my personal opinion is that it is mostly about progressing your character with some MMO on the side. The game doesn't offer questing as much as a "steadily progressing story". This is probably the most farm-heavy of the three, but also, that farming is quite rewarding in the end.

I would summarise (again, my personal opinion) in this way:
WoW:
+ large group content
+ the world is MASSIVE
+ probably the largest player community among MMOs
+ the whole world is accessible if you just buy the game and the last expansion
+ zones are connected seamlessly; loading only happens when switching continents
+/- sharding; not that important, however, given how the outside world is less relevant than the other two games
- mandatory subscription; you can play without one, but the limits on what one can do in such a case are immense to the point of making such gameplay pointless
- a lot of the world does not matter; the world is "stratified", with large areas fitting into their own level brackets
- crafting system is very, very obsolete
- no real solo play option
- faction system; if you and your friend have mains in different factions, you pretty much can't play together
- player character customisation is very shallow and quite visibly obsolete

ESO
+ small group content
+ you can pretty much combine any race, any class and any role (unless you specialise in top notch endgame, then you obviously have to minmax)
+ the world is BIG
+ questing and storytelling is quite above the standard
+ many options for reasonable solo play
+ subscription covers all DLCs
+ secondary levelling option is accountwide
+ crafting is relevant and progressive
+ world fully scales; you can level anywhere you wish
+ player housing system (and a well implemented one at that)
+ player character customisation is quite extensive for an MMO
+/- faction system, although it doesn't really limit players outside of guilds and PvP; other faction zones are fully accessible for PvE
- a lot of the game's zones are behind DLCs; if you do not buy them or do not subscribe, a lot of the game is locked away from you
- PvP is just BAD; if you are not top level (lvl50, CP 810) or close to, you will be farmed
- getting to competitive level (lvl50, CP 300+) takes a significant amount of time, especially for a new player
- being able to sell on auctions requires a player to be in a guild that hires a merchant NPC; most such guilds require ingame currency donations from players
-instanced zones; loading between them can be long, especially if playing from a non-SSD harddrive

GW2
+ no subscription
+ massive world
+ probably the best crafting I've seen in an MMO
+ pretty solid option for solo play
+ story delivered in pretty decent chunks pretty frequently
+ best mount system in an MMO that I have seen so far
+ world event system; other games could take lessons from GW2 on how to make the whole game world relevant
+ no factions at all whatsoever; play with whom you want with zero restrictions
+ solid player character customisation
- some zones are locked behind Living Story; if you didn't play when said chapter was current, you have to buy the chapters; the problem is similar in scale to ESO
- large group instanced content, while present, pretty much just doesn't matter
- instanced zones; loading is usually short, however
- sharding; players can be split into MANY instances of a zone, especially if they contain a large/important event

All three of the games have pretty solid visuals, while having their own visual style; WoW is the most cartoony, GW2 the most extravagant, ESO the most "down to Earth" (while still being beautiful in its own right).
All three games contain "ingame" shops that offer a variety of items; ESO has probably the most extensive one, while WoW's is the most limited. In all three cases (with the exception of GW2's gems, see above), the options are either purely cosmetic, or offer options (ie. ESO's housing furniture, GW2's costumes (or what they are called) ) that do not impact the gameplay itself.
All three of the mentioned games have pretty solid gameplay, especially if you are a new player; you won't end up lost in either of them. You will see a lot of veterans being angry about some or all elements of gameplay in them, but from the point of view of a new player, you won't be bored in either of the three.
As a side point, it should be mentioned that WoW has a different approach to player movement in the world than the other two games; ESO and GW2 implement a waypoint/wayshrine system, where you can teleport to any wayshrine you already visited; WoW offers no such option, however, unlike the other two, has implemented flying (although its implementation and integration into the world is staggered, and often controversial; this is a subject of a very long and very heated community-wide debate). I didn't list those as + or -, because they can be either or both for each player.

EDIT: Dropped the pay to win minus for GW2; several people made good arguments against it. One can buy gems and through them, some of the early legendaries, but it is true that it's not a way to gear, and one legendary won't make you into a killing machine.

[Motso]

DC Universe Online is pretty fun and it isn't too bad for a new player, especially since the tutorial overhauls. It has a f2p and a sub version.

[Mask]

Start from the beginning. Ultima Online or Everquest.

[DevilTrigger1989]

WoW, for sure, reasons? previous posts have done a lot haha~

[DesoPL]

Definetly not WoW.

[Foverskov]

- an option to pay to win - you can buy gems for RL money, transfer them to gold and buy ascended gear and legendaries on the trading post (player AH); that being said, doing so is very, very expensive

This is not really relevant GW2 is much more skill based, as gear dosen't really matter in GW2, like it does in WoW, you will never get an advantage by buying gear.

[Super Kami Dende]

Final Fantasy 14. All other current MMO's are trash, especially ESO and GW2. WoW could move back into the Top if they actually change things for the better.

[Serenais]

This is not really relevant GW2 is much more skill based, as gear dosen't really matter in GW2, like it does in WoW, you will never get an advantage by buying gear.

You have a good point; I amended that part in my post.

[Aeula]

For new players? Forget WoW, the new player systems for that game are a mess, despite Blizzard trying to simplify things.

I’d recommend Elder Scrolls Online, particularly for those who’ve played an Elder Scrolls game before.

[Onikaroshi]

This is not really relevant GW2 is much more skill based, as gear dosen't really matter in GW2, like it does in WoW, you will never get an advantage by buying gear.

That's actually why I could get into gw2, I love gearing and the "gear treadmill". The other thing that finally killed it is no Trinity. Great for those who love it but those two things are bare minimum for an MMO for me

- - - Updated - - -

For new players? Forget WoW, the new player systems for that game are a mess, despite Blizzard trying to simplify things.

I’d recommend Elder Scrolls Online, particularly for those who’ve played an Elder Scrolls game before.

I'd recommend at least trying ESO, the story is good! Combat is standard elder scrolls/fallout though and not the greatest

[Foverskov]

That's actually why I could get into gw2, I love gearing and the "gear treadmill". The other thing that finally killed it is no Trinity. Great for those who love it but those two things are bare minimum for an MMO for me

The trinity is there but only for raiding pretty much.

I enjoy the gear treadmill aswell, but sometimes it's nice to comeback to the game and don't be miles behind, thats what I like about GW2. even thou WoW is a better game, just not atm for me.

[Onikaroshi]

The trinity is there but only for raiding pretty much.

I enjoy the gear treadmill aswell, but sometimes it's nice to comeback to the game and don't be miles behind, thats what I like about GW2. even thou WoW is a better game, just not atm for me.

I know that they made some changes since I last played, just don't know how far it went lol, I last played back before the first expansion even