The internet keeps us all connected. More people are gaining access to the world wide web globally. It is no surprise that long-distance relationships have become the norm. Friends can keep in touch, even when miles away. Estranged family members have rekindled their relationship. Digital technology has brought about a sort of connection that many thought impossible.
Multiplayer gaming is thriving in this connected world. League of Legends and DOTA are two of the biggest titles in gaming right now. MOBA games wouldn’t even be possible, let alone popular without the internet bringing us all closer together. The same could be said of MMFPS games. Fortnite, Overwatch, and most recently, Marvel Rivals are dominating the market in their own way.
But what does that mean about solo games? Single-player games don’t need the internet to function. They are also solitary experiences. The question that some have is this; is there a place for solo gaming in the ever-more connected future of the 21st century? The answer may come as a surprise to many.
The Single-player Experience
The solo experience is a popular trend in gaming. Many are reminiscing about an era when big-name games were entirely dedicated to solo play. Indeed, it is part of the reason that so many gamers have left gaming behind, in pursuit of an alternative. Perhaps the search for single-player games has led many gamers to online pokies, which are not concerned with multiplayer options? The iGaming industry is thriving, and we have gaming to partly thank. After all, many of the development techniques used in iGaming come from the greater video game industry.
The gamers that have stuck around in video games often lament the erasure of the single-player experience. The complaint may seem silly at first glance. Titles like Elden Ring or the new Doom franchise are perfectly capable of giving players a fantastic solo experience. However, any fan of both titles will know that these games feature an online multiplayer option. Of course, more options mean more bang for your buck. But, some gamers have found fault with this line of reasoning.
The issue that they’ve brought up is that game companies focus on multiplayer a little too much. Many are completely ignoring the single-player experience, in lieu of improving the multiplayer. Furthermore, a lot of game developers view the multiplayer experience as content in and of itself. Thus, they believe they can get away with reducing the amount of content and quality of the single-player experience. Luckily, that doesn’t seem to be a problem with Elden Ring or Doom. But, it is certainly an issue, particularly in the realm of mass-market FPS games and fighting games.
Do Players Prefer Single-player?
The big reason that company spokespeople give for their focus on multiplayer and multiplayer games seems to be that the players prefer them. Indeed, co-op games dominate the market. League of Legends is the biggest game on the planet right now. Backed by a critically-acclaimed animated series and the eSports community, it is unlikely that LOL will drop in popularity any time soon. But, are gamers’ views on League of Legends consistent with their thoughts and opinions on gaming in general? Some claim that single-player games are far more popular.
The success of League of Legends or Fortnite has pushed many studios to focus on multiplayer. However, the endeavor did not pay out for these studios. Many were met with criticism for taking focus away from the single-player experience. Most of them lost a bulk of their fans. The worst part is that some games that had great potential and hype were sidelined in favor of multiplayer-oriented games. There are players who still believe that Elder Scrolls VI isn’t happening, because of Bethesda’s decision to release Elder Scrolls Online, and the MMO’s subsequent failure.
Opinions on League of Legends and similar games don’t seem to reflect most people’s thoughts on gaming as a whole. The success of most massive multiplayer titles could aptly be called an outlier. It is obvious that the games in question had something special. Perhaps they came around at the right time, when online multiplayer was just getting popular and many more gamers were excited for it? Or, perhaps it is simply that the studious behind them put special care into these games. Maybe, League of Legends is just that good. But, its success should not detract from the single-player experience. Of course, this then begs the question; is there a future for single-player games?
The Future of Single-player
The good news is that much of the hubbub surrounding the “death of the single-player” is vastly exaggerated. Games that focus on solo play are still incredibly popular and quite prominent. The indie scene is thriving off of old-school platformers and action-adventure games. Many of the titles require single-player. Hades, Blasphemous, and The Binding of Isaac are just three examples from an ever-growing market.
But, the single-player experience is thriving in the realm of AAA as well. We brought up Elden Ring before. While a multiplayer option for the game is there, it has not done anything to detract from the solo play. In fact, most fans of the game have been so invested in the single-player option, that many have not even noticed the multiplayer. As for Doom, the new entry in the franchise, Doom: The Dark Ages, reportedly won’t even feature a multiplayer option.
One could look at the broader industry as well. The Video Game Awards are often called “The Oscars of Games.” The most prestigious award at the show is the “Game of the Year Award.” We need look no further than here to see that single-player games are alive and thriving. After all, a multiplayer title has not won the award in almost a decade. So, while we understand the annoyance that some are expressing regarding the multiplayer takeover, we are here to lighten the mood. Solo games are thriving more than ever, and their future is certainly a bright one.
