Games Like Ultima Online You Can Play in 2026

Ultima Online launched in September 1997. For many players it was the first online world that felt alive. You could be a blacksmith, not just a fighter. You could own a house on a real street. And the gear people used came from other players.

Plenty of MMOs since then have been bigger. Very few have felt like that.

Here are the games that still do, what each one gets right, and where it falls short.

What UO players actually miss

  • No classes. You raised the skills you used, up to a total cap, and you could be a tamer-mage or a fishing smith.
  • Housing in the open world. Your house sat on the map, next to other players' houses, and you could run a vendor out of it.
  • A player economy. Crafters made the gear. Prices came from players, not an NPC shop.
  • Risk. You could lose what you carried, so it mattered when you died.
  • Virtues and lore. Britannia had a moral system and a long history behind it, thanks to the Ultima games.

No single modern game has all five. The picks below each cover a different mix.

Shroud of the Avatar: the spiritual successor

Brings back: classless skills, open-world housing, a player economy, the VirtuesCost: free (Episode 1); Episode 2 Early Access is a one-time purchasePlatforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

If you want the closest thing to an "Ultima Online 2," this is it. Richard Garriott, who created Ultima and played Lord British, led the project. It ran on Kickstarter in 2013 and raised about $1.9 million in its first campaign. Most coverage calls it the spiritual successor to Ultima.

The setting is Novia, a land tied to Britannia. Its people still follow the Virtues but have lost track of what they mean. You play through one of three paths, Truth, Love or Courage, and at the start the Oracle asks you questions that decide where you begin. Longtime Ultima fans will recognise it.

The systems feel familiar too. There are no classes. You mix skill trees for combat, magic and crafting however you like. You can buy a lot in a player town and build a house on it. Crafters make most of the best gear, and player vendors sell it.

It went free-to-play in October 2018, and the whole Episode 1 story is free. Free players can own land, trade and join guilds. The store sells cosmetics, housing items and extra character slots. Episode 2 Early Access is a one-time purchase that adds the Bard skills and the Mistrendur areas. You don't need it to finish Episode 1.

Be aware: the community is small. It's an indie game from a small studio, Catnip Games, which took over from the original developer, Portalarium, in 2019. Check our player count page to see who's still active. Our Forsaken Virtues explainer covers the history.

Ultima Online itself

Brings back: all of itCost: free Endless Journey tier, or a subscriptionPlatforms: Windows

The easiest answer is the original game. Ultima Online is still running in 2026. Broadsword has run it since 2014.

Since 2018 you can play for free with an Endless Journey account. You can play on any shard and keep training skills. The free tier has real limits. You can't own a house or place a vendor, your bank is tiny, and newer expansions cost extra. A subscription removes those limits.

Be aware: the graphics and interface are from another era, and it's quieter than it used to be. If you want UO for the people you knew, many of them have moved on. If you want the game, it's still there.

Albion Online

Brings back: player economy, risk, classless buildsCost: free (optional premium)Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Xbox

Albion Online is the closest modern match for UO's economy. Nearly every item is crafted by players, and the market sets prices. There are no classes either. Your weapon and armour decide what you can do, so you can change builds by changing gear.

Like UO, risk depends on where you go. In the safer zones you just get knocked out. In the dangerous zones, other players can take everything you're carrying.

Be aware: it has a top-down view and simple visuals, and it's tuned for PvP and guild wars. Housing exists, but it's on private islands, not on the open map.

Mortal Online 2

Brings back: risk, open-world housing, skill-based playCost: $39 base game plus a $14.29/month subscriptionPlatforms: Windows

Mortal Online 2 is what you get if you take UO's danger seriously and put it in first person. It has full-loot PvP, skills you train by using them, player-built houses and keeps, and an economy run by crafters.

Be aware: it's hardcore, and it's the most expensive game on this list. You need the box and an ongoing subscription. Players who loved UO before the Trammel split, when PvP was everywhere, usually like it most.

Wurm Online

Brings back: housing and land, crafting, use-based skillsCost: free up to skill level 20; premium from about €4/month for new accountsPlatforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

Wurm Online is a slow, hands-on sandbox. You dig, chop, terraform and build entire villages tile by tile. If your best UO memories are of your house and the crafting skills you spent months raising, Wurm will feel right.

Be aware: free players stop at skill 20 and can't claim land. You need premium for that. It's also a grind by design, and the combat isn't the reason people play it.

EVE Online

Brings back: player economy, risk, player politicsCost: free "Alpha" tier, or Omega subscriptionPlatforms: Windows, Mac

EVE isn't fantasy, and you won't own a house. It's here because no other game has a player economy as deep as UO's at its peak. Players mine, build, trade and blow up nearly everything, and losing a ship actually costs you.

Be aware: it's a space game with a steep learning curve. Free players can only train to a limit and fly a smaller set of ships.

Which one should you try first?

  • You want Ultima's world and Virtues: Shroud of the Avatar. It's free, so you lose nothing by trying it.
  • You want UO exactly as it is: Ultima Online on an Endless Journey account.
  • You want the economy and PvP: Albion Online.
  • You want first-person danger, and you'll pay for it: Mortal Online 2.
  • You want land and crafting above all: Wurm Online.

Want more open-world games like these? See our list of the best sandbox MMORPGs. If price matters most, start with the best free-to-play MMORPGs.

FAQ

Is there an Ultima Online 2?

No. EA started a sequel called Ultima Online 2, renamed it Ultima Worlds Online: Origin, and cancelled it in 2001. A later follow-up, Ultima X: Odyssey, was cancelled in 2004. The closest thing to a sequel is Shroud of the Avatar, led by Ultima creator Richard Garriott.

Is Ultima Online still active?

Yes. Ultima Online is still online and updated by Broadsword, which has run it since 2014. You can play for free with an Endless Journey account, and the free tier has limits such as no house ownership.

What is the spiritual successor to Ultima Online?

Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues. Richard Garriott (Lord British) led the project after a 2013 Kickstarter. It has classless skills, player housing, a player-run economy and an Ultima-style Virtue system, and Episode 1 is free to play.