Sphere 3
About the game
Sphere 3 is a free-to-play fantasy MMORPG from Russian studio Nikita Online, operated in the West by GameXP. It's the direct descendant of Sphere, one of the earliest MMOs ever built in Russia back in 2003, and it carries the same ambition: an open world designed around faction conflict rather than solo grinding. It launched worldwide on August 18, 2015 and, against the odds for a niche title, it's still running with live servers years later.
What sets it apart: you do the aiming
Its signature is a non-target combat system: instead of the usual tab-target with selection-based autoattack, you aim your own attacks, and a crosshair that shifts colour by range hints at the best ability for the moment. On top of that the game offers nine playable classes, from the pure-damage barbarian to the support priest or the necromancer. The backdrop is an irreconcilable war between two sides —the Humans and their allies against the Demons bent on world domination—, each holding its own territory.
Its heart is large-scale PvP
Where Sphere 3 truly comes alive is massive PvP: castle sieges with siege engines, raids into enemy territory and PK-enabled servers where the conflict never lets up. All of it rests on a substantial PvE spine —a campaign of over a thousand quests, dungeons and world bosses— meant to carry you up to the level where open war begins. It's a classic faction-MMO design, closer to a clash of communities than a personal adventure.
What you pay for and what you don't
The model is free-to-play with microtransactions. On Steam it runs a points shop (cosmetics) and around ten DLC/packs ranging from roughly 2 to 90 USD; the version run by GameXP adds its own GXP store of cosmetics and convenience items, an account top-up system with bonuses, and an auction house for player-to-player trade. The sore point is plain: the shop lets you boost your gear —upgrading, enchanting and socketing gems—, which injects a pay-to-win element into competitive PvP. For those who stick to PvE, that weight matters far less.
Current state: alive and running events
Sphere 3 is still alive. GameXP runs it today with active servers —offering both PvP and PvE options—, regular technical upkeep and a calendar of recurring events: weekend rate boosts, world-boss returns, themed events and daily tasks, plus seasonal content. There are no headline expansions moving the needle, but the game gets steady care and a niche yet loyal community keeps it populated.
Who it's for (and who it isn't)
This is a game for anyone who enjoys the old-school faction MMORPG: open war, sieges, PK and the server politics that grow out of it. Let's be honest: it neither innovates nor shines technically. It carries dated visuals and stiff animation and combat that doesn't always respond the way you'd want, and the paid gear boosts weigh on competitive PvP. If you're after cutting-edge production or a perfectly balanced game, this isn't it. But if you want a free MMO with a combat identity of its own and a small community that still fills castles, Sphere 3 still has something to offer more than a decade after launch.