They are like fire and water, like dog and cat, like beer and wine. We are talking about theme park and sandbox MMOs. It seems that every online role-playing game falls into one of these two categories more or less. But what do the terms actually mean?
What is a Sandbox, actually?
By a sandbox, we usually understand a game principle that is supposed to offer players maximum freedom in as open a world as possible. So a game in which players are allowed to craft most or even all items, trade with each other, and explore the world freely. There is usually also a comprehensive housing system in which players can create their dream home along with interior design. Only a few quests, if there are any at all, guide players through the game world. It relies on grinding.
Instead of a predetermined plot, players write their own stories against the backdrop of the game world by interacting with other players and experiencing more or less exciting adventures. Just like in the namesake sandbox, where only the imagination of the children playing in it sets the limits of what is possible. Games like the old Ultima Online, EVE Online and Black Desert Online are typical sandboxes.
Theme Park?
The opposite of an open sandbox is the theme park. Here, instead of a freely accessible, open world, we usually have a pre-fabricated system of locations that guide us through the world with a continuous story and numerous quests.
It’s like when we go to Disneyland and obediently follow the path through the attractions. Free exploration is neither desired nor necessary in most theme parks. Because everything our heroes need to see is presented to them at the appropriate time.
Often, special events take place in instanced areas where only one’s own group exists. A good example is SWTOR, where every planet becomes a location at some point in the story, and a clear thread of quests guides us completely from A to B across the respective world.
Although many theme parks have a crafting system, crafting is often only trivial decoration: trading among players is not very relevant.
However, theme parks excel with excitingly staged stories and scenarios that would have no place in a rather generically handled sandbox MMO. Games like SWTOR and The Secret World are therefore particularly typical representatives of the theme park genre.
Can’t both exist?
Numerous games do not entirely fall into either of the two categories. For instance, ArcheAge has long been referred to as a “sandpark” game. Not as player-driven as a sandbox, but certainly more free than a theme park.
Even the hardest sandbox games usually have a tutorial where players are guided in a more structured manner; there is occasionally a plot – and one moves from the beginner zone A through the advanced zone B into the endgame zone C in games like Black Desert or ArcheAge.
And not every theme park game has crafting that is complete nonsense or exploration of the world that is pointless. A Final Fantasy XIV or Guild Wars 2 places significant value on crafting. Guild Wars 2 has also committed to exploring the world, and The Elder Scrolls Online often has that in mind.
One of the best housing systems can be found in WildStar, otherwise a typical representative of the theme park genre. Even in the prototypical theme park World of Warcraft, trading is left to players, allowing some to create their own economic simulation.
But fundamentally, every MMO can be found somewhere between the two extremes of “sandbox” and “theme park”.
Jürgen thinks: I am actually pretty much on the side of theme park MMOs. This is mainly because I am a fan of good stories and prefer a well-staged plot in every game. That’s why I was also very impressed by SWTOR and TESO. But on the other hand, the MMO genre is not ideally suited for such stagings.
Especially in SWTOR, it quickly became silly when several heroes in the group instances suddenly were the great hero of the Republic or the feared new Sith Lord. Solo RPGs like The Witcher handle that much better. Nevertheless, a game becomes more appealing to me when I can optimally identify with my character and the world. And theme parks achieve this – at least for me – better than sandboxes, where I am just a generic Joe among many.
But that’s just my humble opinion. I would like to know how you feel about this topic? Are you more of a theme park visitor or a dedicated sandbox player? Do the current titles actually meet your expectations?
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Do you want to learn more about this topic? Then read these articles:
Cook-off: Theme Park vs Sandbox
Is the future of MMORPGs in the sandbox?
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