The opinions on solo content in MMORPGs are divided. Some say they are responsible for its decline, while others argue they save the genre. We at MeinMMO summarize.
MMORPG stands for Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game – yet many of you play alone. This has been revealed by our previous surveys on the topic, one in 2020, and another in 2022.
In older MMORPGs, one was lost without a group, or at least making very slow progress. Today, the content can often be completed just as well alone. Whether this development is viewed positively or negatively for the entire genre varies greatly.
In this article, we refer to statements from various YouTubers as well as comments from players. It is important to note that it is by no means about personally attacking anyone for their playstyle, but merely about highlighting the arguments for and against solo content in MMORPGs.
“Solo players kill MMORPGs”
For YouTuber NoblePlayers, it is clear that solo players are responsible for the downfall of the MMORPG genre. But not only the players, but also the developers who cater to their wishes.
According to NoblePlayers, solo players in MMORPGs could just as well switch to single-player games like Skyrim and it would change nothing about their experience. MMORPGs were originally not developed for solo players.
The encounters with other players, the joint setting out to face new challenges, and the exchange in guilds or groups are the actual core concept of MMORPGs.
For the YouTuber, the genre thrives on the social aspects within guilds and groups that create a community that keeps players in the MMORPG. Players who travel alone, on the other hand, drop a game faster.
He blames solo players for the fact that, for example, his favorite MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic has gotten “worse” over the years since the developers increasingly bring the desired solo content instead of focusing on group content.
However, in the comments under the video, there is more contradiction than agreement. While solo content has changed the genre, it has not ruined it.
Everything about the upcoming MMORPG Ashes of Creation:
“Solo players have saved the genre”
The YouTuber Lucky Ghost discusses the topic extensively in a video. For him, solo players have not killed the genre, but saved it: “Solo content has not ruined MMORPGs, it keeps them relevant.”
A common reason for playing MMORPGs alone, according to our 2020 survey, is that players wish to explore the MMO worlds and content at their own pace without needing to coordinate with others.
Once someone has found people to play with, they can quickly lose them due to differing progress speeds. “I was level 60 and everyone else was at level 42 or so,” says Twitch streamer Asmongold, who is reacting to Lucky Ghost’s video.
For many players, according to Lucky Ghost, the focus is on the main story, which is continuously progressed in MMORPGs when they receive updates. In a solo RPG, the story ends after a few hours and the game is over, which is why it is also worthwhile for solo players to play MMORPGs to have more content. Thus, MMORPGs become an RPG that takes place online.
Additionally, it used to be a big problem for some players to find groups. In games with a holy trinity of tank, healer, and damage dealer, tanks and healers could choose the best DPS for their groups and leave the others out, as most played a DPS. As a result, lesser DPSs had a hard time finding a group. “I was often preferred as DPS and invited to groups, but at other times it was not the case,” confirms Asmongold.
Dungeon finder in modern MMORPGs solves this problem. No one has to deal too much with other players, and no one gets excluded. Now, players without friends find it easier to find groups for content and are “no longer standing for hours in the city looking for teammates.”
In general, MMORPGs with a lot of solo content are more successful, explains Lucky Ghost. He cites Lost Ark, New World, and Final Fantasy XIV as examples. Thanks to this content, there are more players in MMORPGs because most prefer to play alone, as our survey results suggest.
There are therefore relevant arguments for both views. Which side would you align with? Do you believe solo players in MMORPGs save the genre? Or are they responsible for its decline? Are you currently playing MMORPGs and are you playing alone or with others? Do you generally prefer to play alone or with friends? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO!
