Single player RPGs are alive and well

I like deep single-player rpg's. IMO they potentially offer a much more enthralling experience than MMOs do, and one which I prefer.

of the games listed, I'll probably only get Gothic 3 and the Sacred sequel, and I've already got Oblivion.

It's not fair to ask if they're a better value than MMORPGs though; that would be like saying "fighting games are very popular... do you think racing games are a good value?" Although MMOs and RPGs are similar in form, the execution is entierly different. Any rpg gamer will tell you that most good rpgs have an extremely strong story component, and very detailed worlds. In my experience at least, the story takes a back seat in MMOs, and while the worlds are large, they're hardly detailed (to whit, how many cities in WoW have the doors/furniture/items/rooms/decorations/etc you find in Oblivion?)which makes sense; an MMO's focus is not the single-player experience, but rather the multiplayer one; and it's just not fun to take a party on a raid of someone's pantry when you could be doing a dungeon crawl.

I can understand why you'd want to draw comparisons, both genres have "rpg" in the name so it seems natural; but they're apples and oranges.

Maybe once the better disks start coming out (Blueray, etc) we could see some really nice RPG games that are in great depth and are also a MMO.

Imagine filling up 5 blue ray disks like WoW does with standard disks. You could get tons of online stuff and enough room to have an awesome RPG as well.


Most likely wont happen soon though.

Like #1, I like deep RPGs too. And that's why I contend that single player RPGs are anything but alive and well, at least in the form offered in the past by games like the pre-Pagan Ultimas (and the Underworlds), the Fallouts, System Shock, or Planescape Torment.

I've played Oblivion, and while it's a decent game, and I enjoy it (so far), in terms of those historical games it pales in comparison. Likewise for the first Neverwinter Nights and most 'RPG's' released since the second Baldur's Gate. The focus on action Diablo style gaming is part of it, but the essential missing (or impaired) elements are storyline, immersion, and innovation. Oblivion is a great example - they've 'streamlined' a lot of the variety into far fewer choices as compared to the preceding games, while only innovating in the area of graphics (and console adaptability).

I'm not very hopeful for the genre after so many years with no truly great games...

If you're talking about the near future (e.g., Sacred sequel), don't forget about Mass Effect!

Also, good points by AoE, but then RPGs and MMOs are more similar in game mechanics than RPGs and shooters or RPGs and action games. If RPGs and MMOs are apples and oranges, then RPGs and action games are like apples and hockey pucks.

What pisses me off is that all named games have a fantasy theme! Is there nothing else today anymore? Why does everybody want fantasy? I can't see it anymore! Do ten space themed, dystopian themed, or whatever themed RPGs but stop making fantasy RPGs goddamit!

AoE, I wouldn't use the apples-oranges metaphor. Maybe a granny smith - golden delicious comparison is more accurate, because they are both apples. In both RPGs and MMORPGs, you create a character (or party), collect items, team up with NPCs or other online players, go on linear and non-linear quests, level up your character, and complete some type of overall mission with either a deep or shallow narrative. While not clones, the premise is not so different.

I also long for more BG/Planescape-quality storylines, but KoTOR was pretty damn good, so that leaves some hope.

I love single player RPGs, but I've never liked MMOs.

I play games to escape from the real world and real people. When I want to socialize, I go out.

Forcing me to deal with idiots who type like wannabe l33t h4xxors will ruin my gaming experience every time.

Give me a well-crafted story with over-the-top characters having an epic adventure in a surreal world. That's where I'll spend my money and time.

A brilliant way to combine the creativity of the masses without the hassle of actually interacting with them: Spore. Can't wait.

Yes, single player rpgs are much much better than MMO because you can play them at your own pace and also, to be a decent player in any MMO you have to give up your social life which I'm not willing to do :p

I'm sort of anti-social anyway. I like playing in my own style without any "ok team, let's do this!" nonsense. I'm just itching for KOTOR 3, and for some of those nice 360 games in the pipe to come to PC.

Personally, I just love the JRPGs, the feel is entirely different, and I do love my menus. None of this Bioware nonsense, where's the exaggerated female characters and the guy with funny hair and a stupidly big sword? Though seriously, JRPGs FTW.

That was my window into MMOs actually, FFXI. Whilst that's not the best (and quite arduous for a first time MMO), it was hella fun. Now I'm on the WoW. They just offer something completely different, and whilst it is fun to level up and collect items, that's not really why I play either genre, their similarities are more of a setting for the reasons why I really enjoy them:

Enjoyable characters, deep stories, interesting battle system (I don't count this much in MMOs, when you control one person there's less on-the-fly changing of strategies, unless everyone starts running away =P).

Or the heavy customisation, huge worlds, and the less lonely fact that your populated world has people who are giving more than just the one line of text over and over.

Both apples they may be, but to me their similarities are the setting to base their differences upon. Value for money's probably the same, you get more hours out of an MMO, but you pay monthly anyway. Don't really know about free ones, never really gave them much of a chance.

I beta tested a large amount of MMORPGs, quite a few text based, a few with poor graphics like Underlight, a few more mainstream ones like Asheron's Call...

The first one I paid for was WoW. I bought it a month ago. Put maybe 10 hours into it before I cancelled. So incredibly, mind-numbingly boring. Combat is hitting a number key and watching. And that's fun?


Oblivion lasted me about 40 hours. Before that games like Fallout, Planescape and Diablo ate enormous chunks of time.

MMORPGs just don't have the huge plot, partially since you're one of millions doing the exact same thing, sometimes over and over and over and over. They also have such weak, dull combat systems. Considering that's the bulk of your time... no good.

MosquitoControl, a bajillion people can't be wrong!

Well, it's definitely a matter of preference. I have friends I wouldn't recommend regular RPGs to, because they just don't understand the point of battles where they're not "in control". Of my current friends there's only one I'd recommend MMOs to (it definitely takes a certain kind of nerd), and he won't do it because he knows it'll be the ruin of him. =P

There's plenty of cross-over between the genres MMORPG and single-player RPG, but they are very different beasts.

One of my pet hates in MMORPG's, and something that may never be addressed, is how everyone is doing the same thing. As an individual player, no matter what quest I pick up I will only ever be treading in the footsteps of people who either started playing before me, or have far more time on their hands than me.

So nothing I do is unique. It's almost impossible to have world changing events that are directly linked to me as an indivdual player.

The complete opposite is true in single player RPGs where every interaction is a carefully scripted and arranged gaming moment. The story is just for me, and the success or failure of the story is in my hands only. It doesn't matter if the game has sold 10million copies and I'm the last to complete the game - it's still, uniquely, my adventure.

And that's a pure gaming delight for me; and one that I hope continues for a long time.

Mass Effect FTW!!!

The problem with MMORPG's is that as soon as one person can exploit the system it becomes unfair for everyone else. Gold farming hacks and cheats spoil the game and make the it more difficult and overwhelming for new people to join in.

Ill take a single player RPG any day of the week. Bring on 2worlds!

The day single player games (especially RPGs) die is the day I stop gaming. Online games are simply not fun the majority of time. People are inherently obnoxious assholes when they play online, and half the time they're better than you unless you are devoted to playing that one game constantly. When you play a single player game, whether it a racing game, action game, or RPG, things will play out how the creator of the game meant them to be played out.

MOREOVER, MMORPGs suck, imo. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM consist of a third-person camera view of your hero, and then you usually click on a monster to attack... Where the hell are the turn-based elements? WHERE ARE THE BOSSES? THE ACTUAL STORYLINE-DRIVEN BOSSES? There are none. You might have bosses, but the bosses are just harder enemies. You never go and defeat the final boss and get the ending credits in an MMORPG. To me, that's like reading a book, a book which is no different than any other of the thousand books that are out there, that is infinitely long. Very unpleasant.

Another problem with MMOs... They aren't timeless. There's a reason the emulation scene has been booming ever since it was created. It's because people like playing old games. You can't go and play WoW in ten years if you're feeling nostalgic. The servers will be gone, and it will be dead.


You all can have your MMOs and other online games. Have fun logging on, owning some n00b, and then listen as he curses at you with a voice like the chipmunks until you just want to stop playing. I'll be enjoying my old Dragon Quests.

My problem with newer single player RPGs is when they try to emulate the MMO experience. I think I'm probably the only person who can't stand Oblivion. It was the first game I got when I bought my 360. To me, it feels like an MMO that only I ever log into and with some pretty loose goals and very little direction. I've spent thousands of hours in EQ and WOW. I love MMOs, but I also count several single player RPGs among my favorite games of all time. I just feel that they shouldn't try too hard to offer what the other guy is offering because then it's just a mess of "features" that nobody asked for. Give us a well-made, unique experience and people will buy your game no matter how many people can play it at once.

I think it depends on what you are looking for. Single player RPGs will never allow you the social interaction and role playing capabilities that MMOs offer. They do however, have the ability to engage you in a deep story line that you feel you are a part of. Now if you could permanetly change the world your MMO takes place in...then single player RPGs would have a run for their money.

Pokemon MMO. Would be the best thing ever. EVER.

I'm not sure why would play action RPGs like Titan Quest or Dungeon Siege alone. Boring. These are totally different beasts than real single player RPGs like Oblivion.

My first "RPG" was Arcane Nites MUD. My favorite since then has to be Sacred(severely underrated). The MMOs just don't cut it. It is all about grinding and hoping you will find a decent partner since you can't do crap on your own. I applaud the software companies for working on single player RPGs in a MMO age.

Where's the "couch co-op" RPGs? I hate the term, but really: where are the console RPGs that you can play with another person who is in the same room?

nice, a Dungeon Siege 2 expansion. Although I never bought the game the demo was pretty good.

titans quest demo wouldnt install on my computer for some stupid reason.