In spite of the apparent domination of World Of Warcraft, new massively multiplayer online games continue to be announced and released by various companies. This is a good thing, as it gives gamers who are sick and tired of the WOW formula other options.

Keeping track of the MMO scene can incredibly confusing. With all the different games hitting the market with their own pricing structures it can be hard to decide where to spend your money. Should you go free-to-play? Should you take on a monthly subscription? In the end, you should play whichever MMO features gameplay that compels you. With that in mind, check out these upcoming MMOs that look fantastic. If you are looking for something new to play, keep these on your radar, as each one brings some awesome features to the table that will keep you busy for hours.

Elder Scrolls Online

With as big as Skyrim was, it's hard not to keep anything with the Elder Scrolls branding on your radar. While the MMO set in the universe will be quite different from the single-player version, but with the Bethesda team behind it, there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a fantastic game, even if it might not be the "Skyrim Online" game players wish for.

Even with some of the gameplay concessions that are required to make the game work as an MMO, we will still have the fantastic lore for which the Elder Scrolls franchise is famous. This means we could see an MMO where the story is actually a critical part of the game, which will be a welcomed addition when the game ships sometime in 2014.

Everquest Next

I've covered Everquest Next and why I think it is going to be next great MMO before, and I have not changed my opinion. The changes to the tried and true MMO formula have me on the edge of my seat with anticipation for what this game could end up being.

Seriously, every piece of information I hear about this game makes me even more excited. The visuals, the characters, the classes, the destructibility, and everything else looks incredible. Keep your eyes on this one when it drops next year.

Game of Thrones: Seven Kingdoms

Anything with the Game of Thrones brand piques my interest. The lore and characters fit well in what we expect an MMORPG to be, so it's easy to see where this game's existence makes sense. Sadly, not many details are known about it at this point, and it was expected to launch this year, but with it almost over, we are assuming it will not hit until sometime in the early part of next year.

What we do know is that the game is built with the Unity engine, and it will be playable in a web browser. This might turn some hardcore MMO players off, but seeing some of the fantastic stuff that Unity is capable of allows me to keep a reasonable amount of faith that this game will deliver an MMO experience that is on par with that we get from traditional games in the genre. We also know that the game will feature a heavy PVP focus, which could be very interesting for players seeking that kind of experience.

Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade

Warhammer 40,000 is a very established brand, especially in the tabletop RPG space. Video games based in the universe have been rather hit or miss over its history, but this one looks very promising. The main feature that has me intrigued is the combat system that promises to be very action-oriented, which is a big change from the typical MMORPG formula.

If you are bored with the same old MMO, this is one to keep your eyes on. The team has some very lofty goals of changing the way we think about an MMO, and they certainly have plenty of time, as the game is not set to release until late 2015. In spite of how far out the game is, it really does sound like it could be incredible, but it will come down to execution.

WildStar

This is a very attractive MMO with a very light-hearted sense of humor, which is a welcomed change in the overly dark genre. Even the cartoony art in the game looks downright joyous. Couple that with the action combat, and you have a game that looks like it could be something truly special. The ability to own land also adds a new layer to the gameplay that could be quite entertaining.

Another interesting part of this game is the way you pay. You can sign up for a subscription, as you would in any MMO, but you can also buy a form of currency with in-game money that provides time in the game. This means you can essentially play for free as long as you are willing to put in the time and effort to get enough. This is a mechanic I would like to see in more MMOs, as it has proven successful for EVE Online, and I will be very interested to see how it does here.

What Do You Think?

Which upcoming MMOs have you excited? Do you agree with the ones posted on this list? Hit the comments section and let your voice be heard!