The Secret World
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Secret World across the outlets.
Latest coverage
The Daily Grind: What are some of your favorite MMO Halloween memories?
This article asks players to share their favorite Halloween memories from various MMORPGs, highlighting specific events like the Haunted Burrow in Lord of the Rings Online, the Headless Horseman's mount in World of Warcraft, and Dr. Kane's House of Terror in City of Heroes. It encourages reminiscing about past seasonal in-game activities.
The MOP Up: A RuneScape animated show is in the works
Jagex is developing a RuneScape animated series in partnership with creator Charlie White and Lyrical Media. The article also rounds up other recent MMO news, including updates for Sea of Thieves, MapleStory Classic World, and Riders Republic, as well as a new client for The Elder Scrolls Online on Apple Silicon and a delay for Forza Horizon 6 on PlayStation 5.
Massively Overthinking: What’s your preferred form of MMORPG character build system?
This article discusses various MMORPG character build systems, with staff members sharing their preferences for granularity, freedom, or defined rotations. Some prefer deep, customizable systems like City of Heroes, while others favor simpler, meta-driven approaches for ease of play. The core theme revolves around balancing player choice with game design and accessibility.
The Daily Grind: Has an MMORPG ever scared you?
This article discusses the intersection of MMORPGs and the horror genre, particularly during the Spooky Season. It asks players if they have ever been genuinely scared by an MMORPG, referencing The Secret World as a positive example.
Perfect Ten: Revisiting the winners of our last 10 underrated MMORPG awards
This article revisits the winners of the last 10 years of "underrated MMORPG" awards, offering retrospective thoughts on each choice. While some picks like Project Gorgon and Final Fantasy XIV are celebrated, others like Elyon are noted for their short lifespan, and New World's inclusion is bittersweet due to Amazon's decision to sunset the game.
One Shots: Dogs and cats, mass hysteria!
This week's "One Shots" feature highlights community screenshots from various MMOs, including The Elder Scrolls Online, Guild Wars 2, and The Secret World. Players shared humorous and striking in-game moments, with one player noting the incorporation of "Dogs Playing Poker" into The Elder Scrolls Online's questline. The article encourages readers to share their own virtual vacation screenshots.
Massively Overthinking: What did your favorite MMORPG add to the genre?
This article discusses whether popular MMORPGs have truly innovated within the genre or simply built upon existing foundations. Several writers share their favorite MMORPGs and analyze their contributions, with Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, and Guild Wars being highlighted for their significant impacts on social gameplay, economies, and business models.
Massively Overthinking: What year of MMOs would you pick to repeat forever?
The Massively OP staff discusses which year in MMORPG history they would choose to relive forever. Contributors like Brianna Royce, Carlo Lacsina, Chris Neal, Sam Kash, and Tyler Edwards share their picks, ranging from the early days of Ultima Online and EverQuest to the peak of World of Warcraft and the launch of Guild Wars 2.
Perfect Ten: MMORPGs whose fans I feel sorry for
This opinion piece discusses ten MMORPGs whose fans are felt to be underserved or unfairly treated due to various issues like poor publishing deals, legal troubles, corporate decisions, or a perceived lack of developer care. Games like Fractured Online, Ashes of Creation, The Elder Scrolls Online, and New World are highlighted for their fanbases facing significant challenges.
One Shots: Now powered by molerats!
This week's 'One Shots' feature highlights community screenshots from various MMOs, including Fallout 76, Elite Dangerous, Final Fantasy XIV, The Secret World, and Guild Wars 2. Players shared unique in-game moments, from radioactive power generators to alien flora and fantastical mounts.
WRUP: Things the cat tube produces edition
This week's "What Are You Playing" roundup features community members discussing their gaming plans, including Guild Wars 2, Star Wars Galaxies Legends, The Division 2, and Warframe. Several staff members also shared personal anecdotes about unique family traditions, ranging from elaborate fireworks displays to specific holiday meals and egg-cracking games.
One Shots: Yet another MMO without handrails
This week's "One Shots" column highlights community screenshots from various MMOs, including The Secret World, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Witchspire, Final Fantasy XIV, and Guild Wars 2. Players shared humorous and scenic moments from their in-game adventures, with a call for readers to submit their own screenshots.
WRUP: What I think the positions in soccer mean because I didn’t listen edition
This article humorously explores the author's lack of understanding regarding soccer positions, contrasting it with their engagement in various video games like Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and Warframe. It also touches on personal reflections about school life and social events.
Massively Overthinking: Is the era of the themepark MMORPG over?
Industry veterans discuss the sustainability of themepark MMORPGs, with Raph Koster suggesting rising development costs are making the model unsustainable. While some argue that modern themeparks incorporate sandbox elements to survive, others believe the dichotomy is false and that innovation from both styles is key. The discussion highlights the challenges of content creation speed versus player consumption and the evolving player base's preferences.
WRUP: Every toy version of G1 Devastator from Transformers
This article examines the evolution of the G1 Devastator toy from Transformers across various iterations, including the original 1985 release, Universe (2003), Combiner Wars (2015), and Studio Series (2025). It also includes community members' thoughts on effective and ineffective advertising.
The Secret World players are keeping the game’s narrative alive in honor of the 14th anniversary
Players are organizing a community-driven event to celebrate the 14th anniversary of The Secret World on July 3rd, focusing on a mystery broadcast from Kingsmouth Lighthouse. Despite the game's owner, Funcom, not actively promoting the anniversary, the dedicated player base is ensuring the game's narrative and community remain active.
One Shot: Avengers Endgame has nothing on these portals
This week's "One Shots" column highlights community screenshots from various MMOs, featuring notable moments in Guild Wars 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Secret World, Hytale, and Fallout 76. Players are encouraged to submit their own impressive in-game captures for a chance to be featured.
Massively Overthinking: How much effort do you put into your MMO characters’ backstories?
The Massively OP staff discusses the varying levels of effort they put into creating backstories and personalities for their MMORPG characters. While some players craft elaborate narratives, others prefer simpler concepts or let personalities emerge organically through gameplay, with some games like Palia naturally encouraging more in-depth role-playing.
WRUP: The context of this entry is Guillaume edition
This week's 'What Are You Playing' roundup features staff and community members discussing their weekend gaming plans. Titles mentioned include Star Wars Galaxies Legends, The Division 2, Forza Horizon 6, Final Fantasy XIV, and Age of Empires IV, among others. The discussion also includes a bonus question about the definition of a 'quick errand'.
Massively Overthinking: Which MMORPG tutorials are actually effective – vs. functionally useless?
This article analyzes the effectiveness of MMORPG tutorials, distinguishing between those that genuinely teach players and those that are functionally useless. Contributors discuss examples like Albion Online's integrated newbie area and Star Wars Galaxies' lack of guidance, highlighting that successful tutorials often blend gameplay with instruction in a low-danger environment. The complexity of MMOs and varying player learning styles are identified as key challenges in tutorial design.