Which MMO ruled in 2014?

Which was the best MMO in 2014? Simple, the one you enjoyed playing the most in 2014.

Unfortunately, individual preferences do not make for good numeral-filled tables and statistic-based infographics, so we must use other silly measurement parameters like money.

SuperData recently released its MMO research report which showed that MMOs – including MOBAs – account for 21 percent of the world’s digital game market and will generate $11 billion in revenue in 2014.

Which MMO claimed top spot in terms of revenue and market share? League of Legends of course.

The game has earned $946 million in 2014 so far, beating subscription-based titles like World of Warcraft (which came 4th).

Crossfire came in second at $897 million, with Dungeon Fighter Online taking third art $891 million.

“The recent news that World of Warcraft saw a 600,000 increase in its subscriber base in the lead-up to its new expansion, Warlords of Draenor, silenced critics of the subscription-based MMO revenue model,” SuperData says.

“Generating well over $1 billion in annual revenues, the game is on track to tally 8.2 million subscribers by the end of the year. Its underlying mechanics have changed, however, as World of Warcraft now also offers microtransactions and a partial free-to-play component. It is a sign that things are changing, especially for the major publishers, when a company like Activision retires Titan and, instead, doubles down on Heroes of the Storm.”

Dota 2 fans, we have not forgotten about you – your title of choice came in 9th, followed closely by Hearthstone. The top 10 table can be viewed below.

Top MMOs 2014

The research also showed the split between free-to-play and pay-to-play MMOs across the world. As you can see from the infographic below, the free-to-play market easily beats the pay-to-play market in terms of revenue.

The graphic also shows which regions are spending the most money on online multiplayer titles, with Asia the dominant player. Europe takes second, while North America rounds off the top three.