Player progression is central; it’s what drives us forward, keeps us logging in, and provides that dopamine hit when we achieve something. That said, progression is not always the same through MMOs. In fact, there are usually two approaches to maintaining player engagement. I named horizontal and vertical progression. Understanding the benefits and limitations of each approach can help you decide which path you prefer.
The power chase
Vertical progression is the classic approach in many games, especially in MMOs like Black Desert Online or World of Warcraft. Players are encouraged to continuously increase their power levels and gear stats in these games. It’s a lot about making the number go bigger. A new raid drops? The gear it provides gives objectively better stats than anything before it. This approach naturally creates a drive to become more powerful.
(via Wowpedia)
Vertical progression is compelling because it taps into a fundamental enjoyment of becoming stronger, of seeing your character going up. As new content is added, it keeps providing a steady stream of goals. There’s always a new summit, and as long as the developers keep pouring in contents, players will chase the next best thing.
However, the fate of outdated content is a drawback to vertical progression. With new updates, previous activities could become obsolete. The excitement surrounding those early raids and quests may have faded, and they may no longer be relevant.
The broad experience
Horizontal progression, on the other hand, emphasizes providing players with multiple paths. This strategy is demonstrated by games like Guild Wars 2 or The Elder Scrolls Online, where players can work toward a variety of objectives. Progress in this context refers to expanding your experience. Completing achievements, gathering items, or pursuing special builds are all options, but they don't specifically make you more powerful than someone else.
For example, Guild Wars 2's legendaries (right), which give exactly the same amount of stats as ascended (left), but offer the possibility of changing the item's stat set at will.
A true horizontal progression system also offers players genuine choice. You don’t have to participate in every piece of new content to keep up with everyone else. Instead, you engage with what interests you, and you can do it at your own pace (as gear will stay at the same power level through expansions). This allows for content that remains relevant even as the game ages.
For example, if you’re progressing through Heart of Thorns for the first time in Guild Wars 2, it still feels viable. That is because the rewards are of an equivalent level to later similar contents. Thus, when releasing a new progression path, horizontal progression games would often offer new stats or effects rather than more stats or effects.
Both approaches trade-offs
Vertical and horizontal progression each have their advantages and trade-offs. For a game to thrive financially, vertical progression has clear benefits. Mainly, players are encouraged to stay engaged with the promise of new power levels. This formula is simple and effective: new raid, new loot, rinse, repeat. Players and developers both understand this approach, and it surely helps games to maintain a certain level of engagement.
On the flip side, horizontal progression allows players to slow down and fully enjoy the game on their terms. It’s obviously appealing for those who prefer to explore or complete collections. It also provides a healthier competitive environment, where players have little to no worry regarding gear score and can instead almost solely focus on their skill and build theorycraft. The thing is, once players feel they’ve completed everything they want to do, they might leave the game. Then, it could be harder for the developers to keep adding truly interesting content that doesn’t just feel like another variation of what’s already there.
Which path is yours?
Choosing between horizontal and vertical progression depends on what you want from your gaming experience. If you love the idea of *always becoming more powerful*, of chasing the next best gear, and don’t mind seeing older content fade out, then a game with a strong vertical progression system is for you. This approach offers linear achievements and clear goals, making it easy to understand what’s “required.”
(via reddit)
However, if you value freedom, the ability to choose your journey without the pressure to keep up, and a fair competitive environment (like, for example, Guild Wars 2 equalized ‘Structured PvP’), then horizontal progression could be a better fit. Horizontal games encourage you to explore different aspects at your own pace. This can feel more relaxing and rewarding for those who enjoy persistent and varied content that wouldn’t become obsolete with a new update.
In the end, no MMO is fully vertical or horizontal. The best MMORPGs manage to combine aspects of both. It all comes down to finding the ideal balance for you. Just keep in mind that sometimes, the journey can be just as fulfilling as the destination.
Featured image via Reddit.
