The fewer new MMORPGs are released, the less clear the definition of the genre becomes. However, it is often referred to two subtypes: theme park and sandbox. We clarify where the differences lie and what might suit you better.
When we look at new MMORPGs at MeinMMO, the first question is usually whether it is a sandbox or a theme park MMORPG.
For us, these are two different things, and they also change the expectations with which we approach each game. To help you understand why this is so important and what suits you best, you’ll first get an explanation of the terms, but also three areas in which the two types essentially differ.
Loud Attractions: the Theme Park
A theme park MMORPG is structured like a theme park, as the name suggests. You are guided from attraction to attraction and are supposed to have fun, action, and adventure there. Ideally, the offering appeals equally to PvE and PvP fans, casuals, and hardcore gamers. The park is meant to be for everyone.
Nowadays, modern MMO parks are usually designed so that you can simply register for any attraction via a menu. Instead of pressing buttons, real legs were required in the past. You can tell this from older representatives, where attractions were spread out in the game world. If you wanted to enter a PvE instance, you had to walk to the entrance instead of just activating the automated dungeon finder.
The modern form of the theme park MMORPG has also increasingly developed away from the original massively approach in recent years. Most attractions can be completed with a small group or even solo. Only for certain highlights or difficulty levels do you still need a large raid that has to coordinate.
The most well-known representatives of the theme park genre currently are:
- World of Warcraft
- Final Fantasy XIV
- Guild Wars 2
- Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Elder Scrolls Online
What characterizes sandbox MMORPGs will be explained on the next page.
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