Steam’s Big New Free MMORPG Is Genshin Impact Meets Zelda

Published Jul 21, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT Sharmila is an engineer-turned-gaming hardware journalist and freelance contributor at ScreenRant who has been covering the gaming and tech industry since 2021. While she first built her expertise writing about video games, she has since pivoted towards gaming hardware, with a focus on PC components, peripherals, handhelds, and performance-driven tech. When she’s not testing gear or writing about the latest hardware trends, she can usually be found diving into competitive shooters or keeping up with the evolving esports scene. If you’re addicted to Genshin Impact or just can’t get enough of RPGs, let us point you to this highly promising upcoming Steam game, designed to impress with its vast open world and Zelda-like exploration. Whether you’re an MMORPG veteran or trying the genre for the first time, this free MMORPG might just become your next obsession. Officially licensed by Gravity, it’s the first open-world title in the popular Ragnarok Online franchise. Best of all, it’s free to play, although you may be tempted by its eye-catchy “chance-based” in-game purchases. Your Next Big Free MMORPG Is Coming It’s worth noting that Ragnarok: The New World is already available to play on Android and iOS via the respective mobile stores and on PC via the official client by Gravity. The game was released in open beta test across all eligible platforms on July 16. The Steam version, however, has been delayed and doesn’t currently have a launch date. Unless you specifically want to wait for the Steam version to drop, you can just download the official client and start playing the game right now. In case you’re wondering what Ragnarok: The New World is all about, here’s a deserving introduction. To start with, this game is undoubtedly a major evolution of Gravity’s long-running Ragnarok franchise, being the first time the series has ventured into the open-world arena. From undertaking quests, fighting mighty foes, and exploring a seamless world filled with towns, forests, dungeons, and hidden places, it has everything you could ask for, plus more. There are eight classes to pick from, including the new Druid, along with the classic MMORPG features like guilds, PvP, dungeon raids, life skills, mounts, and a player-driven economy. Gravity has also added a number of quality-of-life improvements, such as free stat and skill resets, job switching on a single character, offline progression, and an equipment refinement system that doesn’t permanently destroy gear after failed upgrades. If You Like Genshin Impact, You'll Love This The similarities with Genshin Impact are practically unavoidable. Like HoYoverse’s hit RPG, Ragnarok: The New World also features anime-style art, an unrestricted world full of opportunities, and, of course, a focus on exploration. Players are encouraged to explore large environments, find hidden locations, and explore the world outside the main quest line. That said, the game is still a traditional MMORPG at its core, with persistent online worlds, cooperative play, guild systems, and large-scale multiplayer activities that differentiate it from Genshin’s action RPG formula. Not to forget, its vast world and focus on environmental exploration also remind us of Breath of the Wild, the iconic Zelda title. Ragnarok: The New World isn’t a straight-up clone of either game, but rather a fusion of modern open-world exploration with the multiplayer progression, classes, and social systems that have defined the Ragnarok franchise for over two decades, making it one of the most ambitious entries in the series to date. If you play the game via the official client, you can always shift when the Steam version launches. Account data can be shared across all eligible platforms, so you can switch between devices without losing any progress. Ragnarok: The New World also supports cross-platform multiplayer, so don’t forget to invite your friends to the adventure party. Brand Valve Original Release Date September 12, 2003