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Looking for truly fun, exciting and imaginative "virtual worlds"
It's kind of hard to explain.
Basically, back in the day I used to really love Phantasy Star Universe. It had this perfect balance between fleshed-out, dynamic social content and fleshed-out, dynamic combat, and neither one intruded on or spoiled the other one.
So, I'm ok with combat as part of an overall experience, but what I really want are MMO experiences that pull the focus away from questing and combat a bit and flesh out the WORLD more, the social side, exploration and so on and so forth.
Now, I know what you're thinking... Second Life! Or at least you might be thinking that. And that's what I thought too! But Second Life just comes across to me as barebones and uninspired.. you know? It has no flair or excitement, and without ANY truly exciting activities like combat or storyline or anything, I find it can be depressingly dull, you know?
So far, I have tried:
- Entropia (which is pretty cool, but a bit demanding on resources and cash-hungry)
- Mabinogi (pretty sweet, I will download this again)
- Ryzom (this is definitely along the right lines - imaginative and fleshed-out game world)
- Onverse (great, but quite basic and also a bit dull like Second Life)
And soon I want to finally retry Wurm Online and give Villagers & Heroes a go as that was recommended to me in another similar-ish thread I started before.
So anyway, in summary... I am looking for your opinions on what the best exciting and imaginative virtual world is!
Thank youuuuu! 
Comments
Might want to check out The Repopulation. It is not released yet, but should start closed beta soon. If you are familiar with Star Wars Galaxies, then you will find many familiar skills.
In a nutshell :
- Sci-fi setting
- Player cities (non instanced) and player housing (both instanced neighbourhoods and non instanced plots)
- Elaborate crafting, and other non combat skills. Animal taming, cloning, Entertaining skills (SWG vets know this one).
- Skill system without cap, no player levels. Raising skills through use.
- PVP not mandatory. Actually, combat is not mandatory, because you can just focus on other skills. Although I think that player cities are only in contested areas.
- Best gear is crafted. Aesthetics and stats in gear are seperated. So you can have any stats on any look.
Just from the top of my head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLAVNriGsus
A gift for you my friend
Any mmo worth its salt should be like a good prostitute when it comes to its game world- One hell of a faker, and a damn good shaker!
The Repopulation looks interesting too.
Shame that neither are fully out yet.
It's weird that most MMOs seem to be just combat and questing, with little to nothing else. Kind of sad.
Also popularity doesn't really mean much, mainly because most people LIKE the dominant MMO formula.
I think ArcheAge has pretty much become my #1 game I'm looking forward to now!
I am trying SO many games... the diversity is amazing one you start digging through them!
Sandboxy-type games with focus on socializing, crafting and exploring:
Achaea
Face of Mankind
Wurm Online
Windborne
Archeage is nothing like what you're looking for, stay away from it unless you seeking for ganking other players and clan wars.
MUDs offer some of the most immersive and belivable worlds. Achaea was already mentioned, also Dragonrealms, Lusternia (what Im playing myself now), Discworld MUD. If you want graphical MMO, check TESO even though I dont like it
Life IS Feudal