Turn-based MMORPGs: seven sourced titles, Dofus and Wakfu to Pirate101

A turn-based MMORPG lets each side act in order instead of in real time. This list covers seven titles for which a cited report describes the combat that way and a store or publisher page shows them available as of 30 October 2026.

As of October 30, 20267 games

Checked .

What turn-based means in an online game

Most MMORPGs of the 2010s ran in real time: you press a key, your character acts. A turn-based MMORPG pauses the fight so that each side takes its move in order. Massively's 14 February 2011 preview of Wakfu puts the practical effect plainly: each turn is timed, so a slow decision costs you the bonus that a quick one earns.

The format is rare enough that a list of turn-based MMORPGs stays short if you insist on a cited report for every entry. This one does, and each entry notes where it runs and how it is paid for.

The list

Ordered by first appearance, then newer titles. Status is as of 30 October 2026.

  1. Dofus

    Turn-basedFlash originAnkama

    RPGFan's interview with Ankama calls the original game a turn-based strategy MMORPG based in Flash. In a Gamasutra interview of 1 October 2009, Ankama's Chafer said the game began as a PvP-only, turn-based fighting game. The Unity rebuild launched on 3 December 2024, per Gamewave, which names Ankama as developer and publisher. Steam's older Dofus page says the game is no longer available on the Steam store.

  2. Image: VALOFE / Nexon, key art from the Atlantica Global Steam page (2020). Shown to identify the game; the image belongs to its owners.

    Atlantica Online

    Turn-basedMercenariesArchive game

    RPGFan wrote in 2009 that the game has a turn-based strategy style combat system, with North American servers live since 30 October 2008. A Ten Ton Hammer developer diary of 20 July 2008 says you can bring up to eight mercenaries into a fight. The full record is on the Atlantica Online page. Steam lists Atlantica Global as free to play from VALOFE, released on Steam on 14 May 2020, with a choice of Standard or Turn-based combat.

    Read the record

  3. Steam header art: the Wakfu logo beside an orange-haired hero swinging a flaming sword
    Image: Ankama Games, from the Wakfu Steam store page. Shown to identify the game; the image belongs to its owners.

    Wakfu

    Turn-basedTacticalAnkama

    DualShockers reported on 28 October 2011 that Square Enix would publish the tactical MMORPG worldwide in February 2012, with Ankama as developer. Massively's closed beta preview of 14 February 2011 describes timed turns and calls the combat almost identical to Dofus. Steam lists it as free to play from Ankama Studio, published by Ankama Games, with a Steam release date of 18 September 2014 and the tags Turn-Based and 2D.

  4. Dofus Touch

    Turn-basedMobileAnkama

    Ankama's press release of 3 April 2024 announced the global relaunch of Dofus Touch for iOS and Android, with a new English server. The release says players "engage in strategic, turn-based fights" and that all content can be accessed without spending money. It is the way to get Dofus-style fights on a phone, not a PC.

  5. Steam header art: the Wizard101 logo beside a blue-haired young wizard in a dark hat holding a glowing card
    Image: KingsIsle Entertainment, gamigo group, from the Wizard101 Steam store page. Shown to identify the game; the image belongs to its owners.

    Wizard101

    Turn-basedCard combatKingsIsle

    Steam lists Wizard101 as a wizard turn-based deckbuilding MMORPG from KingsIsle Entertainment, published with gamigo group, released on 2 September 2008. It is free to play, though the page notes that certain areas require an in-game purchase to progress. KingsIsle's release of 7 March 2024 announced the Steam launch in European countries.

  6. Steam header art: the Pirate101 logo beside a green-haired pirate in a red coat swinging from a rope in front of a ship
    Image: KingsIsle Entertainment, gamigo group, from the Pirate101 Steam store page. Shown to identify the game; the image belongs to its owners.

    Pirate101

    Turn-basedTacticsKingsIsle

    Steam lists Pirate101 as a pirate-themed, turn-based tactics MMORPG from KingsIsle Entertainment, released on Steam on 31 May 2023 and published with gamigo group. You recruit companions and use their skills to trigger combos, which is the nearest echo of Atlantica Online's party of mercenaries among the picks. The page lists it as free to play with in-app purchases and requires an account at pirate101.com. Checked on 30 October 2026.

  7. Steam header art: the Temtem logo over a grassy field with small flying and sharp-toothed creatures
    Image: Balor Games, from the Temtem Steam store page. Shown to identify the game; the image belongs to its owners.

    Temtem

    Turn-basedCreature collectingPaid

    Steam lists Temtem as an online multiplayer creature-collection adventure from Crema, published by Balor Games, in the Massively Multiplayer category with Turn-Based Combat among its tags. It left early access on 6 September 2022 and the base game costs 44.99 EUR on the page as of 30 October 2026. It is a 3D game and a one-time purchase, unlike the free-to-play entries.

Each entry names its source. Checked as of 30 October 2026.

How the seven compare

Sourced facts only

  • Dofus

    Developer or publisher named
    Ankama
    Combat described as turn-based by
    RPGFan interview; Gamewave
    Cost model on the source page
    No current model listed

  • Atlantica Online

    Developer or publisher named
    NDOORS; VALOFE on Steam
    Combat described as turn-based by
    RPGFan, 2009; Steam
    Cost model on the source page
    Free to play on Steam

  • Wakfu

    Developer or publisher named
    Ankama
    Combat described as turn-based by
    Massively, 14 February 2011; Steam
    Cost model on the source page
    Free to play on Steam

  • Dofus Touch

    Developer or publisher named
    Ankama
    Combat described as turn-based by
    Ankama release, 3 April 2024
    Cost model on the source page
    Free, per Ankama

  • Wizard101

    Developer or publisher named
    KingsIsle, gamigo group
    Combat described as turn-based by
    Steam
    Cost model on the source page
    Free to play, some areas need purchase

  • Pirate101

    Developer or publisher named
    KingsIsle, gamigo group
    Combat described as turn-based by
    Steam
    Cost model on the source page
    Free to play, in-app purchases

  • Temtem

    Developer or publisher named
    Crema, Balor Games
    Combat described as turn-based by
    Steam tags
    Cost model on the source page
    44.99 EUR on Steam

For Dofus, press and databases disagree on dates, so none is stated for the original release.

How we chose and what is not on this list

Each entry needed a source stating its genre, a source naming its publisher, and a page showing it is available as of 30 October 2026. Waven, Ankama's tactical RPG, is turn-based but Steam coverage calls it a multiplayer tactical RPG, not an MMORPG, so it is left out. Titles that only describe themselves as turn-based on aggregator sites are left out too.

One caution on Atlantica Online: sources disagree on how many mercenaries you control. Gaming Nexus gives seven in the 2008 beta, Ten Ton Hammer's 2010 review says three besides your character, and the 2008 developer diary says eight in a fight. The Atlantica Online regional versions article covers who published which version.

Questions about turn-based MMORPGs

What is a turn-based MMORPG?

It is an online RPG where combat proceeds in turns instead of in real time. RPGFan describes Atlantica Online's combat this way.

Is Wakfu turn-based?

Massively's February 2011 preview describes timed turns in combat. Engadget reported in September 2014 that the Steam version dropped subscriptions.

Was Atlantica Online fully turn-based?

Gaming Nexus said in 2008 that overworld movement is real time and combat is turn-based and instanced.

Which turn-based MMORPGs are free to play?

Steam lists Wakfu, Atlantica Global, Wizard101 and Pirate101 as free to play, and Ankama's April 2024 release says Dofus Touch content is free. Wizard101 and Pirate101 gate some content behind purchases.

Is there a turn-based MMORPG on mobile?

Ankama relaunched Dofus Touch globally for iOS and Android on 3 April 2024, according to its own press release.

Are all of these 2D?

No. Steam tags Wakfu as 2D, but Temtem carries a 3D tag, and the Atlantica Global page describes a 3D tactical MMORPG.