Review of 2021 MMORPG: What is your favorite MMORPG story this year?

I’ve played quite a few MMOs this year – I mean, I hope it’s thanks for my job title and the name of the site on the left side of the screen. Throughout those MMOs, stories were woven and told, some good and some not. This year, however, some of the MMOs that dominated my out-of-work gaming time really stood out to me because of their stories.

I mentioned earlier this year that I’m “catching up” to talk about Lord of the Rings Online. Specifically, I felt uncomfortable because I was sleep in the stories of the Dwarves told in the region north of Rhovanion, and the trials of Durin the VII. That was just put in Gundabad’s Fate which, although I think the storytelling is intentionally spread out to get players to spend Mithril Coins to travel instead of embracing it through the twists and turns of Mountain-home, I really enjoyed the story.

In fact, it’s probably my favorite story quest I’ve been playing all year. And part of this is because it accomplishes some things that are important to me.

First, it tackles much of the story Standing Stone Games has weaved over the past few years with the Longbeards, Zhelruka, and the Dwarf Stout-Ax. Although the speed is a bit questionable at times, and I do enjoy knowing that I am not the “main” hero in Lord of the Rings world (that distinction belongs to Samwise, thank you), I don’t like the mundane things that SSG usually sends me to do. However, the ending of Gundabad’s Fate (so far) is satisfying, and it ends the stories in a way that the journey is worth it in the end.

Second, and most importantly Lord of the Rings Online: the story feels like it belongs in Middle-earth. Without spoiling anything for those interested in checking it out for themselves, the protagonist’s actions and motives are Tolkienian. Almost a bug in some cases.

While I feel the story falls into Dwarf heavyweight like greed for power (and Mithril) as well as the Voice of the Dragon (this time replacing the Dragon Sickness Tolkien uses not only on Dwarves but also in Turin (thanks for that, Glaurung), at least they fit the world.This is what Standing Stone Games has done to great effect over the years and it’s been fun to see that. , even after the stories in the book are “over”, that hasn’t gone away.

How about you? Is there a particular storyline from an MMO you played this year that made you feel memorable? Let us know in the comments below.