MMO Compass

Ranked list · 2026

The best sci-fi MMOs in 2026.

Science-fiction and space MMOs: starships, distant planets, shooters, and futuristic sandboxes. Every pick has a convincing science-fiction setting, from space sims to looter shooters. Not sure which fits? Take the quiz.

  1. 01
    Shared-world MMO

    Warframe

    Lightning-fast movement, imaginative sci-fi, co-op missions, and a vast collection of frames and weapons.

    • Active, movement-led combat
    • Plenty to collect and make your own
    • A convincing sci-fi setting

    Windows · PlayStation 4/5 · Xbox One/Series · Switch/Switch 2 · iOS · Android · Free to play

  2. 02
    Shared-world MMO

    Destiny 2

    Superb gunplay, buildcraft, co-op strikes, raids, and a shared sci-fi world designed for repeat visits.

    • Gunplay sits at the center
    • A convincing sci-fi setting
    • Rich hand-crafted content

    Windows · PlayStation 4/5 · Xbox One/Series · Free base game · paid Collection

  3. 03
    MMORPG

    Star Wars: The Old Republic

    Eight cinematic class stories, companions, choices, and a huge Star Wars adventure that welcomes solo players.

    • Built for story-first players
    • Welcoming to solo adventurers
    • A convincing sci-fi setting

    Windows · Apple silicon Mac (beta) · Free tier · optional subscription

  4. 04
    MMORPG

    EVE Online

    A player-driven space sandbox where industry, espionage, markets, and wars create the story.

    • Serious room for competitive play
    • A meaningful crafting and economy loop
    • Rewards planning over reflexes

    Windows · Mac · Free tier · optional membership

  5. 05
    Shared-world MMO

    Dune: Awakening

    A large-scale survival world on Arrakis built around exploration, bases, vehicles, crafting, guild politics, and the dangerous Deep Desert.

    • Rewards curiosity and roaming
    • A meaningful crafting and economy loop
    • A convincing sci-fi setting

    Windows · Buy to play · optional DLC

  6. 06
    Shared-world MMO

    Star Citizen

    A sprawling crowdfunded space sim where you fly ships, fight on foot, and trade, mine, or bounty-hunt across a seamless persistent universe — still in open alpha.

    • A convincing sci-fi setting
    • Gets better with a real community
    • Freeform builds from open skills

    Windows · Buy to play · open alpha

  7. 07
    Shared-world MMO

    Elite Dangerous

    A 1:1-scale Milky Way you fly by hand: trade, mine, explore uncharted systems, hunt bounties, colonize new stars, and step out on foot — alone, with friends, or in the open galaxy.

    • Rewards curiosity and roaming
    • Welcoming to solo adventurers
    • A convincing sci-fi setting

    Windows · Buy to play · cosmetic shop

  8. 08
    MMORPG

    Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis

    A bright sci-fi action MMO of acrobatic classes, open zones, urgent quests, character fashion, and fast co-op battles.

    • Active, movement-led combat
    • Plenty to collect and make your own
    • A convincing sci-fi setting

    Windows · PlayStation 4/5 · Xbox One/Series · Free to play · in-game shop

  9. 09
    MMORPG

    Star Trek Online

    Captain a customizable starship, command an away team, explore story episodes, and collect decades of Star Trek history.

    • Plenty to collect and make your own
    • A convincing sci-fi setting
    • Welcoming to solo adventurers

    Windows · PlayStation 4/5 · Xbox One/Series · Free to play · optional purchases

  10. 10
    Shared-world MMO

    Tower of Fantasy

    An anime sci-fi open world with fluid weapon-swapping combat, traversal, bosses, exploration, and cross-platform co-op.

    • A convincing sci-fi setting
    • A rewarding climb toward stronger gear
    • Active, movement-led combat

    Windows · PlayStation 4/5 · iOS · Android · Free to play · gacha shop

  11. 11
    MMO

    Prosperous Universe

    A persistent space-economy simulation where every factory, shipment, market move, and corporation matters.

    • A meaningful crafting and economy loop
    • Rewards planning over reflexes
    • A convincing sci-fi setting

    Desktop web browser · Windows · Mac · Linux · Free to play · optional PRO license

  12. 12
    Shared-world MMO

    EVE Frontier

    A harsh single-shard space-survival sandbox from EVE Online's studio, where you scavenge, craft, and fight over a lawless galaxy recorded on a blockchain.

    • Gets better with a real community
    • A convincing sci-fi setting
    • A genuinely player-driven world

    Windows · Paid Founder access · blockchain economy

  13. 13
    MMORPG

    Stellacept Online

    Asobimo's long-running sci-fi fantasy mobile MMORPG — a PSO-flavored grind-and-party adventure through the world of Sadalsuud, still quietly patched and playable, if thinly populated.

    • Plenty of long-range goals
    • A natural fit for a small party
    • A convincing sci-fi setting

    iOS · Android · Free to play · in-game purchases

  14. 14
    MMO

    PlanetSide 2

    A free massively multiplayer shooter where three factions fight nonstop for continents with hundreds of players, tanks, and aircraft in the same battle.

    • Serious room for competitive play
    • Gunplay sits at the center
    • A convincing sci-fi setting

    Windows · PlayStation · Free to play · optional membership

  15. 15
    MMORPG

    Stars Reach

    Raph Koster's science-fantasy sandbox in early access: terraform simulated planets, build homes and towns, craft and trade, and help run player governments across a galaxy of shared worlds.

    • A meaningful crafting and economy loop
    • A genuinely player-driven world
    • Freeform builds from open skills

    Windows · Early access from $29.99 · free to play at 1.0

  16. 16
    MMORPG

    Anarchy Online

    Funcom's 2001 sci-fi MMO on the planet Rubi-Ka: deep, number-heavy character building, implants and nano programs, and a famously dense, old-school systems layer.

    • A convincing sci-fi setting
    • Plenty of long-range goals
    • A rewarding climb toward stronger gear

    Windows · Free to play · optional subscription

  17. 17
    MMO

    Entropia Universe

    A long-running sci-fi sandbox with a real-cash economy: its PED currency is pegged to the US dollar, so hunting, mining, and crafting all trade value you can deposit and withdraw.

    • Freeform builds from open skills
    • A convincing sci-fi setting
    • A genuinely player-driven world

    Windows · Free to download · real-money economy

Questions

What is the best sci-fi MMO?

Warframe is our top pick. Lightning-fast movement, imaginative sci-fi, co-op missions, and a vast collection of frames and weapons. Destiny 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic round out the top of the list.

How was this list picked?

Every pick has a convincing science-fiction setting, from space sims to looter shooters. Rankings come from MMO Compass's hand-written profile of each game, the same data behind its MMO quiz.

Which one is right for me?

It depends on how you like to play. Take the MMO Compass quiz to rank every game by your combat style, schedule, group size, and dealbreakers.

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