Anarchy Online

 PC
  • Publisher: Fun Com
  • Release Date: Jun 26, 2001
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 46
  3. Negative: 10 out of 46

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  1. Zarniwooop
    Jan 29, 2014
    10
    My second favorite game of all time.

    There is no other game out there like AO. Nothing comes close. I'd get into its pros and cons, but suffice it to say that its the most atmospheric and otherworldly gaming experience I've had in an MMO. I still love it after 10 years of play. Be warned: It does have a steep learning curve and its not for the impatient. But, on the flip-side it    My second favorite game of all time.

    There is no other game out there like AO. Nothing comes close.

    I'd get into its pros and cons, but suffice it to say that its the most atmospheric and otherworldly gaming experience I've had in an MMO. I still love it after 10 years of play.

    Be warned: It does have a steep learning curve and its not for the impatient. But, on the flip-side it has the most intelligent and mature playerbase of any online game in the world. Trust me on this.

    The best part? Its free to try up to the first 200 levels (out of 220). However, I HIGHLY recommend spending 5 dollars for the shadowlands expansion at least.    … Expand
  2. JustinFatalx
    Jun 25, 2015
    10
    Game has a brand new engine and it just makes this game 1000x better! The community on this game is so mature and kind. I am putting this game in my top 5 favorite of all time.
  3. RachelL.
    Dec 12, 2004
    10
    It's definitely got a bunch of mistakes, but the game has enough patches to fix them. It's graphix are so beautiful that I can't bare to give it a 9 and the content is extroadinary! It'll keep you on your toes all day by whatever interests you may have!
  4. Swordguy
    Mar 27, 2012
    9
    only reason its a 9? graphics are older, but new engine is getting close now, as they are advertising it. with new engine, this game would be an 11/10. no mmo in existence is as big, has as much content, as many classes, and as much character customization as Anarchy Online. plus, its Sci-fi done right. the only downside? its a game designed for above-average and higher IQ's (which isonly reason its a 9? graphics are older, but new engine is getting close now, as they are advertising it. with new engine, this game would be an 11/10. no mmo in existence is as big, has as much content, as many classes, and as much character customization as Anarchy Online. plus, its Sci-fi done right. the only downside? its a game designed for above-average and higher IQ's (which is often what sci-fi attracts in the first place). that is not an insulting statement, it is just a fact I've learned from playing AO for 8 years, with a break here and there. the learning curve is steep, and takes months, possibly years to experience the whole game. the difference between AO and newer mmo's, is that you must use your brain. putting on the best gear or equiping gear twice your level requires laddering implants, backpacks of gear swapping to temporarily ladder your skills to equip something that you should not be able to, which in turn bumps up skills to equip something else even more ridiculous to be wearing at your level. In any other game this would be exploiting. in AO it is the bread and butter, and is called "twinking" in AO lingo. no game in history has done this, or done it successfully to the scale that AO does it. when the new engine and starter areas are implemented, this game will be in a league of its own, and a perfect rating will not do it justice. until then, get some friends together and try the game. its definitely worth it.… Expand
  5. DeborahD.
    Dec 4, 2003
    9
    AO has come a long way from it's shaky beginnings. The most important thing that keeps me in this game is the developer's committment to improvement. Their humbling start did not deter them, and they forged ahead to the point where they've created something very unique, very beautiful in Anarchy Online. The new expansion, The Shadowlands, broadens the game to such an AO has come a long way from it's shaky beginnings. The most important thing that keeps me in this game is the developer's committment to improvement. Their humbling start did not deter them, and they forged ahead to the point where they've created something very unique, very beautiful in Anarchy Online. The new expansion, The Shadowlands, broadens the game to such an extent, that it's almost as if you are experiencing an entirely new game, which, in a way, you are. It focuses on 'The Journey' and this journey is one that takes you into yourself, if you choose to walk the path. I'm a player.. and I love this game. I've tried many other MMOG's but always keep coming back to AO.… Expand
  6. AnonymousMC
    Nov 20, 2001
    8
    True enough, AO does have a few problems but mainly because of the inabilty of users to read the recomended requirements. For the most part I find AO to be an incredibly engaging and addictive game. And seriously folks, if you read the reviews before you bought the game, then you wouldnt be in the situation you are in now, like the recommended requirements.
  7. StrongHarm
    Jan 27, 2019
    10
    Once a month I do a websearch for "new game" and "like Anarchy Online". For more than a decade I've searched and found nothing. There has never been a game or MMO like Anarchy Online. It's vast in underlying data and complexity. It's weird in it's visuals and story lines. You can delve into it shallowly and have a great time.. but OH.. if you delve deeper you can discover features andOnce a month I do a websearch for "new game" and "like Anarchy Online". For more than a decade I've searched and found nothing. There has never been a game or MMO like Anarchy Online. It's vast in underlying data and complexity. It's weird in it's visuals and story lines. You can delve into it shallowly and have a great time.. but OH.. if you delve deeper you can discover features and functions that perhaps no one has ever seen. It's that vast and complex. Build agility implants so you can install intelligence implants that are 20 levels above what you should be able to use. Use code scripting to enhance controlling your Meta-Physicist pets. Play a Bureaucrat and learn to charm mobs 100 levels above you and destroy entire areas. These developers don't "confine you" to a hard coded reality.. but you won't easily breach their secrets. I'll continue searching once a month, for any new game that's a fraction of what Anarchy Online once was.… Expand
  8. Nathanimations
    Feb 5, 2018
    10
    I've played Anarchy Online since 2009, and I've never once said I would never come back to it, because I enjoy it.
    In my opinion, It's a pretty unique game.. I dont think any other game that is like it.

Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Best PC Game of 2001
40
#40 Most Discussed PC Game of 2001
67
#67 Most Shared PC Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. Computer Games Magazine
    40
    It features great graphics, a slightly modified version of "EverQuest's" gameplay model, and lots of frustrating problems. True to its theme, you should only consider playing it in the future.
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  2. Just RPG
    84
    The communitiy is huge, the forums helpful, and there are no hunts for ennemies around a barren wasteland.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    72
    It's a brilliant, engaging, profound MMORPG, but with enough atrocious technical problems to make you scream more obscenities than a French truck driver.
    Read full review
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