Secret World Legends

When it comes to telling a great story in an MMO, The Secret World has a lot to teach the rest of the genre. Not only does it abandon the generic fantasy aesthetic in favor of a gritty contemporary one, but it also connects so many disparate themes—from the Illuminati to vampires—that it shouldn't make any sense, but it does. Not many MMOs can claim to have borrowed from Lovecraft and The Matrix and made it work.

The Secret World's investigation missions, which require donning your detective hat to search the internet for clues to decipher puzzles, best demonstrate that love of a well-told story. You'll sift through Wikipedia pages and backwater websites looking for that one piece that will tie the whole thing together.

Originally a subscription-based MMO, The Secret World was relaunched as Secret World Legends, with many of the game's weakest systems, such as combat, revamped. The update doesn't necessarily fix everything, and it was met with some criticism from veteran players, but it does go a long way toward making The Secret World more enjoyable for newcomers. Just keep in mind that it's a little quiet these days, but so much of what makes it great can be enjoyed alone, so it's still a great choice for any MMO player looking for a compelling yarn.

Steam rating: 6/10

Release Date: 2012
Developer: Funcom
Payment Model: Free to play
Buy now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/215280/Secret_World_Legends/
Website: https://www.secretworldlegends.com/