MMORPGs are currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity. However, many players often wait for that “one MMORPG” that they can play forever. However, MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch finds this attitude foolish.
For many years, I only played one MMORPG: Guild Wars 1. From 2006 to 2011, I didn’t know any other game and have spent more than 10,000 hours in it.
However, in 2011, I opened myself up to the MMORPG world. I played games like SWTOR, Aion, and later also WoW. And that broadened my horizons. While I focused fully on Guild Wars 2 for many years – partly due to my own fansite – I also tried other games like Blade & Soul, WildStar, ESO, and Black Desert.
By now, I am firmly convinced that every MMORPG fan should definitely try multiple games. The idea of fully focusing on just one game should be thrown overboard immediately.
Bridging Content Droughts with Alternatives
If you play multiple MMORPGs, you practically never experience a content drought. If there’s nothing happening in Guild Wars 2 and all story content and achievements are completed, I participate in a new season in Black Desert or test the latest DLC in ESO.
In the last 12 months, I particularly noticed this with my friends who have been playing WoW for decades. They reacted very differently to the relatively little content during this time:
- One group decided to try other MMORPGs. They joined the hype wave around FFXIV, which Asmongold and other WoW streamers sparked. Later, this group also looked into ESO together. They had a really good time.
- A few of my friends remained loyal only to WoW and didn’t want to cancel their subscription. Although they didn’t have a bad time – after all, they were still playing their favorite game – my gut feeling tells me that 2021 was significantly more entertaining for group 1.
I haven’t experienced a content drought in Guild Wars 2 since waiting for Heart of Thorns in 2015. Instead, I have continually dedicated myself to new MMORPGs, even if only for a few dozen hours of gameplay because it ultimately didn’t turn out to be fun enough.
You Experience Cool Niche Games
Most MMORPGs that have been released in recent years have been rather flops. I especially think of Bless Online, Elyon, and Crowfall. But I would like to positively highlight two niche games at this point.
One game is PSO2: New Genesis. In this sci-fi MMORPG, things get action-packed, and the combat system is just a lot of fun. Unfortunately, there is a lack of content and varied experiences, but the battles easily make up for it.
The other game is Broken Ranks. It is a 2.5D MMORPG with turn-based combat. This combat system is a lot of fun for me, offers a lot of depth, and makes the whole game a real hidden gem. It was already a big surprise for me in 2022.
I would probably never have tried both games if I had focused only on one big MMORPG. I would also have missed out on some really crazy experiences. My favorite anecdote by now is the character editor from Chimeraland. The gameplay is rather weak, but creating the craziest beasts was a lot of fun for me.
You Learn to Love “Your MMORPG” Even More
Every player has a favorite MMORPG, and that’s good. However, over time, that game can get boring because you have seen and experienced everything.
When you switch games – no matter which MMORPG – you suddenly learn to appreciate aspects you previously took for granted. For me, these are usually the incredibly good combat system, the jumping puzzles, and the wardrobe/dye system from Guild Wars 2. No other game compares.
That’s why I had so much fun playing Guild Wars 2 again as part of the new expansion End of Dragons. I was able to enjoy the strengths of my favorite game again. It simply offers so much comfort compared to New World and Lost Ark, which I had been addicted to in the previous months.
I Play What Matches My Mood
If you play multiple MMORPGs, you can freely choose what you want to experience right now. As a father, I currently only have about one to two hours each evening and want to use them in a way that perfectly takes me out of everyday life:
- If I want to dive into challenging dungeons or raids, I play Trials in ESO or dungeons in Lost Ark (here, Final Fantasy XIV would surely be the best solution, but I never got the hang of it)
- If I want to enjoy good PvP arenas, I play Guild Wars 2 or Lost Ark
- If I want to grind mindlessly, enjoy battles, and watch a series on the side, I play New World or Black Desert
- If I want to follow a cool new story, I choose ESO or SWTOR
There is no MMORPG that offers me all that. But with multiple games, I am so flexible that I can shape my evening exactly as I need it right now.
The Next WoW Won’t Come
The release of WoW was a phenomenon. It sparked a hype and experienced a growth over the years that is hardly possible today. However, that was likely a one-time thing for this genre.
Because there are simply too many good MMORPGs now and not enough opportunities to revolutionize the genre. Moreover, each new game will offer less content than those already established.
Only a significant technical change could build such hype again, if something like Sword Art or Ready Player One becomes reality. Twitch streamer Asmongold believes that too. But we are probably still years to decades away from that.
Switching Games Can Disrupt Guild Dynamics
The only problem with switching between many MMORPGs is holding your core group together, with whom you like to complete dungeons and raids or participate in PvP. Such a group can quickly fall apart with many game switches.
I have various approaches myself:
- So, I am in larger community guilds in GW2 and ESO, where we always do things together, but without obligations.
- My guild in BDO, on the other hand, knows exactly that I am an editor at MeinMMO and does not expect an active player, but supports me when I have questions or want to experience content.
- In New World and SWTOR, I know enough players who take me along when I want to dive deeper into the MMORPGs again.
- Additionally, I have a fun group on Discord with my colleague Mark Sellner that is not limited to one game but likes to try new games, like recently New World and Lost Ark, or just plays a round of LoL in the evening.
With these methods, I maintain good contacts with various players and always have a group available when I want to run a dungeon or experience PvP.
What do you think about this topic? Do you play multiple MMORPGs simultaneously, or do you remain loyal to just one game and one guild? Feel free to write it in the comments.
An MMORPG that could spark hype again in 2022 is Throne and Liberty. We introduced you to the game from NCSoft here:
New “€75 million” MMORPG shows massive boss battles – Looks breathtaking
