Dune: Awakeningadapts the dangerous world of Arrakis into a survival MMORPG set in an alternate timeline from the story of the books. As it turns out, Dune: Awakening is a massive success, which proves that an MMORPG based on an epic fantasy world could be just the thing we need to revitalize the genre.
With how good Dune: Awakening is, we can’t help but wonder how others of our favorite fantasy worlds would translate into the MMO space. From Roshar to Westeros, here are some epic fantasy worlds that we want to see get the Dune: Awakening treatment next.
7Mistborn
At this point, I’ll take any Mistborn video game I can get, but an MMORPG sounds like the perfect fit for this expansive world. The three Metallic Arts used by the characters in Mistborn, Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy, would make the perfect basis for classes or skills in an MMO.
Plus, with the concept of Twinborns, introduced in the series' second era, you have even more class-building opportunities, allowing players to specialize in both an Allomantic and Feruchemical power. The possibilities are endless thanks to Mistborn’s intricate magic system, and it would translate so well to a multiplayer game.
6Malazan Book Of The Fallen
Steven Erikson’s intricate and complex world is already built on the foundation of roleplaying games, so why not take it a step further into a full-fledged MMORPG? The world of Malazan was originally created as a backdrop for the author’s tabletop RPG campaign, so the books mesh naturally with gamification.
The closest thing we currently have to Malazan in video game form is Elden Ring, but anything that can capture the scope and scale of Malazan is good enough for me. That said, an Elden Ring MMO does sound enticing.
5Red Rising
While technically set in our Solar System, Red Rising’s sci-fi technology and dystopian structure would make for a great MMO. Considering the path Darrow takes in the story, it would probably have to work similarly to Dune: Awakening; either an alternate timeline from the books in the same setting, or set before Darrow’s journey.
There’s a distinct lack of sci-fi MMORPGs that let you fly around in space and land on planets to explore them, so Red Rising would definitely be filling an important gap. Plus, the wide range of tech and equipment available would be great for defining classes in an MMO.
Imagine a large-scale PvP battle in space that then transitions onto the surface of a planet through an Iron Rain. If that doesn’t get you excited about a Red Rising MMO, nothing will.
4The Stormlight Archive
Brandon Sanderson’s other massive fantasy world, the Stormlight Archive, would also make an interesting setting for an MMO. In my mind, it would work very similarly to Dune: Awakening, with the Highstorms functioning like Dune’s massive sandstorms that sweep across the land, forcing you to take shelter.
With how harsh the world of Roshar is, a Stormlight MMO would definitely work better as an open-world survival game, but it could also be interesting to explore more parts of the world. Also, Stormlight and Shardblades could make for an interesting formless class system, where your equipment determines your skills.
3The First Law
The First Law series is primarily focused on its characters and doesn’t do a whole lot of worldbuilding. Heck, the books don’t even include a map of the world. But still, an MMORPG in this setting would be undeniably intriguing.
A survival MMO like Dune: Awakening set in the North would be a lot of fun, but any setting could work with an open world PvP system similar to Throne and Liberty’s large-scale PvP battles. There’s quite a bit of room to develop the world and introduce new characters with an MMO set in The First Law.
2The Expanse
The Expanse has already received an excellent TV series, but an MMO set in this world could be the next big thing after Dune: Awakening. The Expanse is set in our Solar System, but unlike Red Rising, it features a prominent alien aspect that would set it apart from other realistic sci-fi games out there.
Since the setting is really just outer space, there’s tons an MMO could do within the series, all while not stepping on the toes of the original story. To that end, an Expanse MMO could flesh out smaller stations or factions that aren’t seen as much in the books or show.
1A Song Of Ice And Fire
The world of Westeros has been adapted into a video game several times throughout the years, but honestly, none of them are very good. After the planned MMO Game of Thrones: Seven Kingdoms was cancelled and turned into a browser-based, P2W mess of a game, it may seem unlikely we’ll get another chance at an MMO set in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire.
But we’re still holding out hope, because after the success of Dune: Awakening, the prospect seems more likely than ever to succeed. Game of Thrones is massively popular, and a game that allows you to exist within its world alongside other players is just too good an idea to pass up.
