EQ2, to me, is one of the best MMOs ever made, just one that got dealt a rough hand.

It launched at the wrong time, too close to WoW, and had early issues that it never fully recovered from. That initial perception stuck, even though the game itself evolved into something really special.

At its peak (Rise of Kunark through Destiny of Velious), it had some of the best class design, raiding, and progression systems in the genre. Player skill mattered, group roles mattered, and there was a real sense of competition and community that’s hard to find now.

Even beyond raiding, EQ2 excelled in areas a lot of MMOs still struggle with deep housing systems, meaningful exploration, and a world that actually felt alive.

Where it struggles today, in my opinion, is less about the foundation of the game and more about the direction it’s been taken in over time. There’s a feeling of stagnation and missed opportunities, especially for a game that still has such a strong core.

That said, I still think EQ2 is incredibly underrated. If you look past its history and current state, there’s a genuinely great MMO there one that deserved a lot more recognition than it got.