7 MMORPGs That Shine in PvE (Player vs. Environment)

In this week's list, we're looking for the best PvE out there. Player vs. Environment is a key part of many MMORPGs and is what the vast majority of the player base is looking for. If you're a PvP fan, you don't have to feel left out as we have already covered MMOs with stellar PvP. However, this list is all about going out into the world and taking on the environmental challenges.

World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft was the gold standard of MMOs for many years, and we're adding it to this list for being the one most often copied by other games. WoW's raiding in particular has garnered much praise over the game's existence. Players often seek out the endgame PvE content in World of Warcraft and expect it to be nothing short of top-notch. It can be both challenging and engaging, often being the finale to the story of each expansion.

Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy XIV does all the things you expect in your MMO PvE and does them all very well. There's story in your questing, endgame content, and enough to keep both casual and hardcore players busy and interested in the game. The game has regular expansion releases and tons of content to keep even the most discerning consumer of PvE content busy.

Lord of the Rings Online

Lord of the Rings Online is set in the Tolkien-created world of Middle Earth, and for many that is enough. The questing and story follow along with the story of the Lord of the Rings books, with characters and locations that will be familiar to any fan. LOTRO also allows you to choose the difficulty level of your overworld experience, something I'm surprised more games have not borrowed.

The Elder Scrolls Online

I love the way the PvE content is structured in The Elder Scrolls Online. It encourages exploration and always tells a story as to why you're doing whatever it is the NPCs set you out to do. Not to mention ESO has some of the best dungeons in the entire genre. There's also action-combat which helps set this game apart from the rest of the ones on this list. Put it all together and ESO provides a fantastic PvE experience for players to immerse themselves in...which is good seeing as the PvP isn't grand.

Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 features a living world story that continually adds to the world and builds the story in a way that few other games do. The hybrid combat system is unique enough to be different from your standard tab-target fare. GW2 also respects your time more than any other MMO with a level cap that never increases. All progression past level 80 is horizontal, and your gear remains relevant from expansion to expansion.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

The class story quests in Star Wars: The Old Republic are some of the best in MMOs, with great storytelling and intrigue throughout. The questing is your standard MMO offering, but there are also raids and flashpoints to take part in that are very well-designed encounters that can challenge groups. Taking place in the Star Wars universe doesn't hurt, as you can live out your Jedi fantasies.

Runescape

Let's kick it old school with Runescape. You have your choice of Old School Runescape or the more updated version, but no matter which way you go you'll find players living their best lives in the game and enjoying everything they have to offer. Despite the game's age it remains one of the more popular MMOs out there, offering a plethora of PvE content for players to engage in.

That's out list of the 7 MMORPGs that shine in player vs. environment. Let us know your favorite PvE MMORPG down in the comments.