Massively Overthinking: What will be your three most played MMOs in 2023?

Last week, in Massively Overthinking, we talked about our top three most-played MMOs of 2022 – and whether, at the very beginning of this year, we had guessed what they would be (and some of us didn’t!). Now we have to talk about the coming year. Taking both your most awaited (should they actually release) and your old favorites into account, what do you think your top three most-played MMOs of 2023 will be? And yes, at the end of the year there will be a reckoning if we guessed right!

​Andrew Ross (@dengarsw): I expect Pokemon GO unfortunately remain my top game. At least for the first half of the year, depending on how bad it gets. Orna will probably be the most traditional MMO I play, but its MMOARG features are a bit more sedentary than I’d like in my ARGs, so I’m not sure if it’ll increase, and it’ll probably be number 3. So second I will play and say Pokemon Violet, just because it has so much passive play, it’s easy to cut the hours. I spend a lot of time AFK farming and sending out the results to hopefully help the community keep up with the raid meta and that will likely continue with the DLC whenever that comes out.

When we talk about active engagement, turn 3 will probably take this slot. There’s no passive play, and I still have outfits that I want to add super snail bonuses to. And god help me when the trading card game goes online!

Andy McAdams: I don’t know exactly – I would guess Impressive and GW2maybe then FFXIV or IT? I don’t know, I don’t see much coming that piques my interest. perhaps New world? As an MMO nomad, I know that predicting my top played MMOs for 2023 will require a PhD in statistics. the IT The stuff looks fun so I’ll probably pick it up and play, and I always find my way back GW2 Sometime. FFXIV to. I just don’t know where I’m going to spend most of my time. I just go where the mood takes me I guess.

Ben Griggs (@braxwolf): This is easy for me because I tend to either cling to a game and play it for months or burn it out and drop it completely. I predict that most of my year will continue to be filled with world of warships and hell break up. The third slot is a bit trickier as I mostly burn out on both EVE and IT at this moment. I think it’s possible I could get those IT Itching again in the middle of the year and maybe even catching up on my unplayed chapters before December.

Briana Royce (@nbrianna, blog): My top 3 will probably be the same as last year, with caveats. I’m sure I’ll be there Lord of the rings online since it has become my theme park home and of course I will continue to cook the food in my sandpit home, SWG Legends. I expect to be there again Guild Wars 2 albeit the new season starts whenever that finally happens. I had both nightingale and signpost also on my expectation list, but they’re big ifs: if they actually launch into something that isn’t just half-done Early Access (I’m still suspicious of Early Access), and if they become something that will catch on with my family or Guilds, I can see them both dominating my playtime.

Chris Neal (@wolf eyesBlog): I don’t foresee it Final Fantasy XIV fall on the path, and I want to run a lot deeper into my face as well Guild Wars 2so my third game remains my wildcard pick and I’m going to play Blue log.

I don’t have too many compelling reasons why I think this will be a regular visit if I’m being completely honest, and I’m not revving up my hype drives either, but at the same time it looks very good and promising, or at least like it a good time. And really, I can’t expect much more from an MMORPG.

Colin Heinrich (@ChaosConstant): I’m pretty predictable these days when it comes to MMO playtime. Guild Wars 2 my tip is of course followed by The Lord of the Rings Online. LOTRO is just so convenient, and I’ve decided that this is the year I actually get a character to the end (or at least close to it). Third is less secure, however The Elder Scrolls Online has had my attention again lately, and looks like it’s holding it after a new class was announced. I’m not a big fan of Cthulu tentacle horror, but a new class is a new class; I will try everything. So often I find a class playstyle I like with a theme I don’t like.

Justin Olivetti (@system, blog): My problem with this question is that I always assume that the MMOs I’m playing right now will be the ones I’ll play forever. So if that’s the case, then Lord of the rings online and Elder Scrolls Online have a good chance of being my mainstay in 2023. A third game? New titles are always difficult to predict, so I’ll throw Guild Wars 2 get out of here and run off laughing into the snowy night air. It probably won’t happen, but you never know.

Mia DeSanzo (@neschria): I commented on this last week, but I’ve thought about it a bit more, and although I still think I’ll probably spend more time on it EverQuest II, DDOand LOTROI can find myself too IT and FFXIV, which could outshine everything else. I know people who are currently re-engaging with old games, and the prospect of a regular group is enticing.

I’ve got my eye on a few games that are currently in alpha and if I’m allowed to test some of them I’ll be very happy. I want to play something new and shiny, but I’m careful about hoping too much.

MJ Guthrie (@MJ_GuthrieBlog): The game I will play the most in 2023 is pretty sure Adventure Quest 3D. I play it most hours now and stream it weekly (both on OPTV and my own channel). The new content is frequent and gives me something new to do most weeks, and I enjoy the many creative and holiday events. I’m pretty confident Guild Wars 2 will also be in my top 3 especially since I stream it weekly with my group. I also have a lot of expansions to work through as I skipped all but mounts. As for the third… that’s who knows! if soul frame comes out, it will probably eat up a lot of my gaming time. Nothing else has captivated me for the long term this year, and I’m not overly optimistic about next year either. But we’ll see in 12 months!

Sam Cash (@thesamkash): I can say that with some certainty Guild Wars 2 will still be in my top 3. Hopefully I’ll even take the time to finally play End of Dragons.

I actually think so Harry Potter magic awakens will make it into my top 3 too. It just looks like it’s going to have a lot of good MMO features without sacrificing anything.

The last game I bet on is going to be something that catches me completely off guard, just like MultiVersus did this year. I assume I’m still playing MultiVersus too, but I bet my playtime keeps ticking off – similar to constant after a year or so rocket league.

Tyler Edwards (Blog): I guess New world will remain my focus for the foreseeable future as far as MMOs are concerned. I’m not sure what would come in second or third place. A return to Lost Ark is possible, but I’m in no hurry. I thought about giving LOTRO a second chance if they roll out this difficulty slider for all servers, but I don’t expect it to stay that way. I’ll probably keep playing GW2 with my boyfriend, but that will be sporadic, I’m sure. I am interested in Blue logbut I don’t know if it will be a brief flirtation or something more serious, nor am I 100% confident that they will meet their 2023 launch date.

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