What if the MMO you have invested years of your life into closes its doors? You will experience this scenario in the horror game Agony of a Dying MMO (PC).
What kind of game is this? Agony of a Dying MMO is not an online game itself but places you in one. You will experience the final hours of a game that has accompanied you for a very long time and has become a part of your life. In this, you take on the roles of several players who each have their own perspective on the title and its ending.
Why does the game have to close? The fictional MMO Agony of a Dying has been struggling with massive problems since the introduction of Nazis as a playable faction. A very toxic community has formed, and most players have turned their backs on the MMO. Only a few fans remain.
However, these players are not enough to keep the servers running, which is why the developers will soon close the doors to the game.
The suffocating end of an MMO
How does it play? Essentially, it is an adventure. The players you embody travel one last time through the virtual world and talk about the end. It mainly involves reading the chat and listening to other players. Meanwhile, you walk or drive through the very pixelated landscape.
All of this creates a suffocating and gloomy atmosphere, which is underscored by the quirky graphic style. It is still in Alpha. This means not all features and content are present in the game yet.
The game principle may sound quite simple, but Agony of a Dying MMO is received quite well by players. Because it strikes a nerve. It plays with the fear that many MMO fans likely have: that the game that means so much to them will eventually be shut down.
Players know the feeling when their MMO dies
What do players say about the title? We have summarized some comments on the trailer on Youtube and on the game itself from reddit for you.
- 葉10 says on Youtube: ‘This is unbearably real. How ridiculous it all seems is a perfect summary of how we cling to these simulations. It is truly depressing.’
- JVG writes about the trailer (via Youtube): ‘Well, that was really depressing. And it is just a demo.’
- Pontificatus: Maximus explains on reddit: ‘This is too close to reality for many MMOs and their players…’
- unpleasantraccoon writes on reddit: ‘After watching the trailer, I now feel sad.’
- EndlessKng sees it humorously (via reddit): ‘If I want to experience that, I just play Archeage or TERA…’
Here’s how to participate: You can download the current Alpha of Agony of a Dying MMO for free from its own website (via alphabetagamer). You need to engage with the game and its story. Graphically, don’t expect too much. The title looks more like a Playstation 1 game. But this only adds to the atmosphere. Agony of a Dying MMO already shows in its Alpha how depressing it can be for players to witness the end of their favorite game.
In reality, MMOs also die. Which ones might close in 2021 is revealed by MeinMMO author Alexander Leitsch.
