A couple of weeks ago, we pitted the two hottest MMO releases of the month against one another and asked which one you would play, Throne & Liberty or New World Aeternum? This week, we’re tossing a new pair of combatants into the ring: solo play vs. group play. It’s the nature of MMOs for players to have to engage in both solo and group play, but which one is better?
Group Play
MMOs were some of the first online games, and they flourished because they took the solo RPG and turned it into a group effort. I mean, it’s right there in the name: Massively Multiplayer. Players gather day after day to take on dungeons and raids. Bosses have mechanics that require teamwork, and there’s no better feeling than finally defeating a boss through well-coordinated tactics.
Solo play has its purpose. Much of the leveling grind is done solo, and end-game dailies are solo tasks that must be completed. But that’s all they are: tasks. Players do these mundane activities to gather XP, materials, and other items they need for the fun stuff that is group play, similar to how a basketball player shoots 100 free throws a day to maintain peak performance for game day.
Solo Play
Some players may find solo play boring, but for others, it’s the only way to experience an MMO. Yes, our games are Massively Multiplayer. That refers to the number of players logged into the game world, not the number of players needed to enjoy the content.
As a solo player, you can enjoy quests and other activities at your own pace. There’s no pressure to zerg past an entire dungeon because the rest of the group only wants the “kill.” You can stop questing anytime and just explore, pull out a fishing rod, or mine materials for an entire session. And should you get the urge to play with other adventurers for an hour or three, you can always jump into a party finder and kill a dungeon boss or two.
My Take
Some people think solo play is diluting the MMO genre, but I don’t think it’s a problem at all. No one ever complains when there’s that guy who loves the solo endeavor of crafting rare items, so why should they care if I want to play solo?
If I'm going to be honest, I wish I was more of a group player. For nearly two decades, I spent multiple nights a week with friends, taking on group content to get BiS gear. But now, I often find myself with only a few hours a week to play, and solo content better fits within that time constraint.
In the end, the more ways you have to attract players, the better off everyone is, says I. What says you?