It is not that no MMORPGs are being released anymore. And there are plenty of online role-playing games that are already playable. But why are many still waiting for “even more”? Why does hardly any MMORPG feel “right”?
Why do MMORPGs not feel “right”? That’s the big question. What is “right”? This is probably defined differently by every player, depending on how they experienced their first MMORPG or their favorite online role-playing game. Nostalgia always plays a role. The rose-colored glasses often deliver a distorted view of the truth.
If one played Ultima Online for the first time, it was new, exciting, interesting, and thrilling. There was nothing like it before. The same goes for World of Warcraft, as Blizzard’s MMORPG was also new for many, because they had not dealt with the genre before and were attracted by the accessibility, but stayed for the fun and the scope.
This feeling still exists today: One only has to look at battle royale shooters. PUBG, for example, felt new and exciting. But will it still feel that way in ten years when the umpteenth BR shooter has been released?
What feels “right” is always subjective and depends on the experiences, desires, and expectations of the players.
Nostalgia can be deceptive
Why what was good in the past may not be good today: The beginnings of the MMORPG genre can be found in MUDs, the multi-user dungeons. These emerged in the late 1970s and allowed players to experience text adventures together. For those who played these MUDs, it was a fantastic experience, and later titles could not recreate that feeling. Because it was new and interesting back then.
There were no graphics, but everything took place in the imagination. And the imagination simply creates the most wonderful worlds, which often stay in mind much longer than the best graphics. Does this mean that MUDs were better than modern MMORPGs? Those who grew up with MUDs certainly long for that feeling from back then.
This does not mean that one would want to play text adventures again. The online game should be modern. But it needs to feel “right.” Just like back then. And that is not possible. Because that feeling back then was unique.
That’s why one should embrace something new: Perhaps it’s not so good to search for what one describes as “the right” gaming experience. Because nostalgia always resonates here.
We should let go of what MMORPGs used to be and what feelings they evoked in us, because the genre has evolved over decades. And one has changed too. Life circumstances are different, and one may not play like one used to.
Perhaps we should approach every game fresh, without comparing it to how we felt during our first online role-playing game. Because that way we deny ourselves a new experience. And perhaps it is this new experience that can grow on us just as well.
Yes, MMORPGs have changed. Many mechanics are different, games are aimed at a new target audience… But does that have to be a bad thing? One shouldn’t stay forever in their comfort zone and only want what was so nice before. We need to be open to new experiences, even if that might be difficult. Because otherwise, we might miss something we could enjoy.
Maybe we will like it in a different way than our favorite MMORPG from before, but that can be just as beautiful an experience to which we can fondly look back in a few years.
The search for the “perfect” MMORPG
Is it time to stop searching for the “perfect” MMORPG? There are so many MMORPGs on the market and new ones are always being announced. These games are designed to be played for the long term, yet we are always looking for something new. Because we want to experience the “right” feeling.
But if we cling too much to the past, we will probably never experience that feeling again. Therefore, we should engage with the games we have and try to open ourselves to new experiences.
This does not mean that we should settle for everything. If we do not like an MMORPG, we will of course look for another. And of course, we keep an eye on announced titles, because they may also be interesting.
We should just give the games a fair chance. And it is only fair if we let the past rest and approach modern and new gaming experiences fresh and openly. Then we will find the “right” feeling again, which can be unique for every MMORPG.
