Crafting is a well-known thing in MMORPGs. Going beyond combat and exploration, it gives players a chance to feel rewarded once something has been made. In order to figure out which games excel in crafting the most, we asked players on 20 MMORPG titles. We also threw in an Other option so no stone was left unturned when trying to find the best crafting systems of 2024. Here they are:

 

• Final Fantasy XIV
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• New World
• Guild Wars 2
• World of Warcraft

 

↖ Final Fantasy XIV

Developer: Square Enix | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5 | Release Date: August 27, 2013 | Model: Pay2Play

Players are welcomed to try their hands at any profession they like without feeling limited by just one. You can learn every profession and switch between them as you see fit just by equipping whatever tool is necessary.

 

Crafting Mechanics

Once you've picked a profession, you're able to see what recipes there are at that level within the profession menu.

The progress bar shows how much work is needed before completing an item.

Quality bar determines how good the item will be once finished (especially important for stat-bearing armors).

Durability Bar represents how many actions you can take before your attempt fails.

To craft endgame items and higher skill level is necessary along with the right gear and special recipe books which can be obtained using crafting tokens.

 

↖ The Elder Scrolls Online

Developer: Zenimax Online | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia | Release Date: April 4, 2014 | Model: Buy2Play

All professions can be leveled simultaneously here but leveling up high enough to unlock higher tiers requires skill points that come from sources such as skyshards.

 

Crafting Mechanics

Players will have to use certain workbenches to craft certain items and while most recipes can be found by default, there are still key aspects that will need to be learned through item analysis.

 

↖ New World

Developer: Amazon Games | Platform: PC | Release Date: September 28, 2021 | Model: Buy2Play

In this game you don't have to specialize in any profession unless you want to. All professions level from the start and can reach maximum levels.

 

Crafting Mechanics

Workbenches are used to craft items. You'll be able to see almost every recipe there is with no requirements, but some housing blueprints will only appear once they've been randomly discovered.

 

↖ Guild Wars 2

Developer: ArenaNet | Platform: PC | Release Date: August 26, 2012 | Model: Buy2Play

You can only learn two professions at a time here, so if you're trying to get all of them done it's going to cost you a bit more in-game silver each time you switch without losing progress. 

 

↖ World of Warcraft

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment | Platform: PC | Release Date: November 23, 2004 | Model: Pay2Play

Each character is only able to learn two professions at a time but secondary ones like Fishing and Cooking are available.

Crafting Mechanics With Dragonflight being the latest expansion for WoW it adds a lot of new things including crafting playing a major role now too. If materials of higher quality or simple ones were used when crafting an item the item-level of the crafted good will fluctuate based on your choices in materials.

 

While these games may primarily about combat and questing they do at least give players something productive that they can do outside of the main story line. Whether it's generating powerful gear or simply just enjoying the process of creating things these games excel in what they do with crafting.