Actually, everyone knows that multiplayer games are generally better than single-player games. This doesn’t need explaining to you guys. At least, 2 people couldn’t understand this: podcast head Michael Graf and video editor Lennard Willms from GameStar, who believe single-player games are better. So, MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus and livestream lead Julius Busch from GameStar explained to them why they are wrong.
I don’t really know where to start. Sure, I also want my peace and quiet every now and then, but every game is generally better when you have the voice of a friend in your ear – or the cursing of your opponent in voice chat.
Co-op games attract thousands of players, even classic games like Diablo and Elden Ring (Dark Souls) realize now that an MMO approach is the future. Many genres and studios plan to bring more players together.
Single-player games are increasingly niche products for nerds and people with strange tastes, like I am. So, uh… of course, I still prefer multiplayer games, but a large portion of single-player titles still has a rather small target audience.
Michael and Lennard take a strong opposing view. They believe other players disturb them in THEIR games. Well, Jules and I decided to confront them for a good verbal fight. So, just with words.
You can find the video below or on the YouTube channel of Gamestar Talk. We recorded it live at the CAGGTUS 2023:
Single-player is fine, but the future is MMO
At the risk of our editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski making good on her threat to fire me if we don’t win the talk, I must confess: I also play single-player games or game alone from time to time.
The Pathfinder role-playing games, for example, are excellent, Dragon Age remains one of my favorite games of all time. Sometimes it’s nice to cut all other people and the world off and immerse oneself in a game until tired.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the development in gaming is increasingly leaning towards multiplayer and social gaming. Whether you like it or not is up to you, but the “old school” gamers are an endangered species. Unfortunately.
Diablo 4 and Elden Ring are the best current examples of games traditionally played alone that now offer real co-op and even MMO features. Many games in development are being created with this thought in mind.
Single-player games will still exist, possibly even “better” ones. One of my favorite genres, point-and-clicks, has developed to a point where only games that perfectly match the taste of the small target audience are created. This can also be a good thing.
However, the big successes will, with few exceptions, come from multiplayer titles in the future.
Disclaimer: The article and the talk were all produced with a wink. Despite the beef, we get along great and certainly have nothing against anyone personally or their preferences. Everyone has their own taste. Any potential black eyes and bloody noses are purely coincidental.
