Conclusion
If you have already raised your finger while reading and now have some titles ready that have elements from each other’s genre, you are absolutely right. Even in theme parks like WoW, you can live the life of a wealthy merchant, and not every sandbox MMORPG does without dailies.
Ultimately, it is the developers who decide which elements come into an MMORPG. They do not just blindly pick features from their preferred sub-genre but use a mix that fits the intended design goals and target audiences. Nevertheless, most games can be clearly categorized into one of the two fields.
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Many titles borrow features from the other sub-genre that are consistent and fitting for them. In general, however, it can be said: Theme park MMORPGs typically cater more to casual players who want to unwind for a few hours, achieve noticeable progress during that time, and experience 1-2 highlights on weekends.
Sandbox MMORPGs, on the other hand, provide the tools for real hero stories, large alliances, and in-game politics, which unlock a whole new level of gameplay. One must have the desire for that and truly want it. However, if one has the time, they can dive much deeper into the MMO experience here than they ever could in a theme park.
In the end, everyone has to decide for themselves what fits their life situation and their own requirements. MyMMO expert Cedric Holmeier has prepared for 7 weeks and 350 hours for a battle in Throne and Liberty and explains whether it was worth it: I prepared for 7 weeks and 350 hours for the big event in Throne and Liberty – Was it worth it?
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