Multiplayer Games You've Played That Suffered When NOT Played with Others?

AlBQuirky

What Multiplayer games have you played that weren't near as "fun" as the single player experience?

These games can be from MMO(RPG)s to online multiplayer to couch sitting consoles to the old LAN parties. Did playing with others significantly make the game experience better?

I know I've many times said that EQ was vastly better when I played with others, either in a group or a guild. I still had "fun" singularly (until between levels 15-20 where combat became too hard for me), for there were many activities one could participate in solo.

I've been watching a couple (3-4) of streamers play Dying Light 2 the past few weekends. Every one of them admit that they would NOT the play game as a single player game. It was "that bad" of an experience for them.

Then, I look back at single player games that players clamor for "multiplayer" editions. Skyrim pops into my head as I mention this. I can't imagine getting immersed in Tamriel with other players in those single player games. This may be why ES:O never appealed to me.

I enjoy playing Valheim singularly, but there are times I wish there were others that could lend me a hand, yet I don't seek out multiplayer servers or create my own.

What games have you played that seem to suffer when played as a single player game?

Sovrath

I think the multiplayer experience is precisely about "multiplayer."

Skyrim (or any similar game) is a great example as there is even a mod that is being made to facilitate a multiplayer experience.

But when you look at footage you see people having a blast. However, it's not about immersing themselves in the world but doing things together. One of the reasons I soloed a lot in Lineage 2 was that I wanted the world immersion. I've had so many great moments discovering things on my own over being in a group and discovering them. I still loved grouping with clanmates and doing things with them but the world then takes a backseat to the world that is offered.

edit: I'll add that Elder Scrolls Online has very different game play and is very quest oriented. It's exploration is "so so."

Scot

I think studios realised multiplayer was where the money is years ago and in one form or another be they BR's or MOBA's that's where players spend money. So that can studios focus more on multiplayer rather than solo play in a game with both playstyles. That plus the fact games are nearly always better with friends means multiplayer wins out.

There is no better way to make your game more than the sum of its parts than add more people. That's one reason why MMORPG's are the best genre there is.

Kyleran

I love the Fallout IP playing every title in the series multiple times (except New Vegas, only once,).

Much as I enjoyed them as single player games I was thrilled when Fallout 76 released and I found 18 months of fun there.... eventually.

I first tried it totally solo, and it was not really a pleasant experience.  I had never played anything with survival mechanics and truthfully, I spent most of my game days just surviving, but certainly not thriving.

I quit after reaching level 35 as I just wasn't finding the fun, but went back a year later when my friend wanted to start playing a game together.

Well, we started out just as I had before, struggling to survive but at least I had a friend to share the pain with 

Then it happened.  Or rather "he" happened.  We were trying to build our first camp structure and we were struggling on how to add a door to it.  As we couldn't, we put a window in and were jumping through it to get inside the building.

Along came another player in a silver space suit who approached us so we did what everyone would do, we drew our weapons on him, stranger danger and all.

He made it clear he was friendly, so we warily turned on our world chat and actually "spoke" to the Captain.

Cap not only showed us how to add a door but in later days built both of us a full camp structure which were well beyond our limited building capabilities.

He showed us how to obtain water purifiers to free ourselves from pumping it, which could also be farmed and sold to vendors for caps, freeing us from poverty.

We learned so much from him, and in turn met others in game and passed out knowledge on to them.

Never played a game where I so easily made friends with random people on the internet.

So FO76 is definitely better with friends than as a solo experience.

TheDalaiBomba

Almost all survival grinders suffer from not having buddies to spread the grind and speed things up.  Most of them are built that way intentionally.

A lot of session-based shooters are much better with friends, too.  Games like GTFO or Deep Rock Galactic.  Very cool experiences when played with a cooperative group.

Dibdabs

It's personal preference really, but for me I just don't like playing with other people any more because, in general, they're so bloody irritating.  No matter what game I play, I play it as a single player experience.

lahnmir

Remnant: From the Ashes, which is brilliant when playing solo and bloody brilliant when playing in a group. I really should play it again….

/Cheers,
Lahnmir

cameltosis

I find the wording of this thread very tricky to get a handle on! So, I'll try to answer the three separate questions that I can see:

1) Multiplayer Games You've Played That Suffered When NOT Played with Others?

All of them. I mean, these are games designed to be played with other people, so not doing so nearly always hurts you at some point. Either content will be blocked, or undoable without other people. Maybe a bunch of my skills will be useless because there aren't others to use them on.

2) What Multiplayer games have you played that weren't near as "fun" as the single player experience?

This is the part that is confusing me a lot. Are you talking games with separate modes - multiplayer and single player - or are you talking about a game which can be played either together or solo?

For example, I love GTAV, as a single player game it was amazing. But, I hate GTAO, absolute garbage. Are they the same game with different modes? Different games?

The other game that springs to mind is ARK: Survival Evolved. I love playing this single player, and coop, but I disliked playing it on a proper multiplayer server.

3) What games have you played that seem to suffer when played as a single player game?

I guess this one I'll reserve for MMORPGs that are designed around having a good community. If most people are playing as a single player game, the community suffers and thus the whole game suffers.

All of this is kind of besides the point. I'm of the opinion that, with a few exceptions, just about everything in life is better when shared with friends. Whether thats a good meal, a bike ride, a good sunset, or gaming.

The trick is finding the right people.

I'd rather play a shit single player game than a great multiplayer game with the wrong people.

Just like I'd rather play a shit multiplayer game (like D3) with friends than a great single player game by myself.

Scot

lahnmir said:

Remnant: From the Ashes, which is brilliant when playing solo and bloody brilliant when playing in a group. I really should play it again….

/Cheers,
Lahnmir

You have changed my mind on this one, I have always played games solo then done them as multiplayer (if that aspect is good enough) but its hard to be sure how good the solo in a game is these days. Maybe its another dinosaur moment but if a game offers both solo and multiplayer I expect at least good solo, hopefully good multiplayer. I couldn't work out if the solo was good enough, but now on my wishlist.

lahnmir

Scot said:

lahnmir said:

Remnant: From the Ashes, which is brilliant when playing solo and bloody brilliant when playing in a group. I really should play it again….

/Cheers,
Lahnmir

You have changed my mind on this one, I have always played games solo then done them as multiplayer (if that aspect is good enough) but its hard to be sure how good the solo in a game is these days. Maybe its another dinosaur moment but if a game offers both solo and multiplayer I expect at least good solo, hopefully good multiplayer. I couldn't work out if the solo was good enough, but now on my wishlist.

Remnant was my big surprise of 2019. It combines several well known elements and creates something unapologetically its own out of it. Solo it is a thrilling and harsh ride, multiplayer ads another layer of crowd control (needed in most boss fights and somewhat difficult on your own) and synergy between builds and weapons. The switch between solo and multiplayer is almost seamless btw and you can bounce back and forth between the two modes in a single session. Yeah, I am a bit of a fanboy for this game, it just really, really works.

Also, get the complete package. And also, also, later zones get more and more creative in case you find the first one a bit basic (which I don’t).

/Cheers,
Lahnmir

AlBQuirky

cameltosis said:

I find the wording of this thread very tricky to get a handle on! So, I'll try to answer the three separate questions that I can see:

Welcome to the wandering world of "Al's Brain!" lol

You deciphered well

PS: The Dying Light 2 portion was what prompted the thread

user298

AlBQuirky said:

What games have you played that seem to suffer when played as a single player game?

Pretty much all of them. Even the ones which allowed me to play solo. Especially MMOs - the major reason I play MMOs in first place is because I can see other players in the world, running around, doing their own things. They make the world feel more alive and pleasant to be in, even if the game doesn't force me to group up with them. If some MMO didn't have other players whom I can frequently see - I would instantly quit playing it, regardless of its other aspects like graphics or gameplay or the story or the music.