Top 5 Science Fiction MMORPGs

Eve opens up a massive online universe in which your spaceship is your best friend. You can mine, battle pirates, be a pirate, or aspire to greatness within the game's corporate structure. This title has seen steady improvements over the years which have pulled in a lot of new players, and the economic component is unsurpassed. Note that the skill system is time-based rather than deeds-based, which is a major departure from most RPGs. It isn't for everyone, but there's nothing else quite like it.

Cryptic has had considerable success adapting the genre to a superhero theme, and Champions Online is their second such MMORPG. Based very loosely on the universe of the classic table-top RPG, Champions Online offers fast-paced combat, customizable hero powers, and one of the most detailed character creation systems yet. If you feel the urge to become a superhero, no game does it quite as well as this one.

The Architect Edition includes both the original City of Heroes and the follow-up, City of Villains. Although relatively simple for a game of this kind, it has a low learning curve, a fast pace, outstanding character creation, and it's a refreshing change for those of you that are weary of medieval fantasy settings. Become a super hero in Paragon City, or pursue the life of a master criminal on the nefarious Rogue Isles. The graphics are showing their age, but the game now includes player-created missions.

Launched in 2003, Star Wars Galaxies has seen more dramatic changes in it's lifetime than any other MMORPG I can think of. The "New Game Enhancements" which were implemented in late 2005 were particularly controversial, and created an enormous ripple in the game's community. Although some features from before the NGE have been revamped and put back into the game, it clearly hasn't been enough to satisfy many former players. Still, SWG encompasses everything from infantry battles to space combat, and it's currently the only persistent world based on the "Star Wars" universe.

Battle other players or mutant monsters with a wide variety of high-tech weaponry in this futuristic RPG. Characters have a lot of flexibility and advance based more on which skills they choose than what class they are. It offers an interesting combination of socializing, customizable missions, and player on player combat. The graphics are getting a bit dated, but the basic version can now be downloaded and played free of charge.