Why Turn-Based MMOs Aren't Popular

I love turn-based games. We’re talking Pokémon, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Fire Emblem, Slay the Spire, Undertale, Paper Mario — the list goes on. It’s hands-down my favorite genre. But it doesn’t mesh well with my other favorite genre: MMOs.

The problem is fundamental. Turn-based mechanics clash with the pacing and expectations that define most MMO experiences. MMO players usually want fluid, real-time gameplay — constant action and seamless interaction. Turn-based games can support exploration and social elements just fine, but when it comes to combat, things fall apart.

By definition, “turn-based” means actions and outcomes happen in distinct, sequential turns — not simultaneously. In practice, that means waiting your turn; so that means waiting to have fun. Now imagine you’re in a large-scale setting like PvP battles, public events, and raid scenarios trying to coordinate individual turns for dozens (or even hundreds) of players. Yikes.

Real-time combat creates immediacy. Players can react instinctively to threats, adapt on the fly, and feed off the chaos of the moment. Turn-based systems require you to pause, plan, and wait — and that downtime often creates a sense of detachment.

From a development standpoint, turn-based MMOs are also a tough sell. They don’t scale well, and they’re risky. MMOs are already expensive and time-consuming to build. Layer in a niche combat system, and you shrink your audience even further. That’s why most studios play it safe with tab-targeting or action combat — proven models that appeal to a broader player base (in an already tough market).

Still though, I’d like to give a shoutout to these turn-based MMOs that broke the mold and managed to garner respectable amounts of fans: Dofus, Wakfu, Atlantica Online, Wizard101, and Toontown Online.