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Are Players Killing Indie MMORPGs with Unrealistic Expectations?

Steven Weber Updated: Posted:
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Editorials 0

Indie MMORPGs have hit the scene at staggering numbers over the past several years. While most of them could hardly be called MMOs simply due to their low populations, the misnomer is also due to their inability to house populations that wouldn't hit the designation of massive without their servers exploding. For the vast majority of these indie titles, we see the writing on the wall. We know what to expect. Then why do we come down so hard on studios when they actually meet those low expectations?

The Quinfall, the latest indie MMORPG to launch into early access, has been met with harsh criticism. I'm not going to say it's undeserved. In truth, we knew the game wasn't in the best state during our previous playtests. Despite ample time to see and research the state of the game, the fantasy MMO developed by the small team at Vawraek Technologies has faced a tidal wave of negative Steam reviews.

Currently sitting at nearly 70% negative, and with only a few thousand players playing at its peak, I can state unequivocally that the $20 price tag feels both too much and too little—too much because it doesn’t yet deliver $20 worth of value, and too little to fund the improvements it desperately needs. It seems The Quinfall is fighting an uphill battle, but it isn't unlike the usual plight of the modern Indie MMORPG. But this raises a broader question: are we being too hard on indie MMORPGs?

It’s no secret that The Quinfall is riddled with issues, from buggy gameplay to server instability. But should anyone have realistically expected a small indie studio to deliver the polished experience of a modern AAA MMO? The game wasn’t crowdfunded via Kickstarter, nor does it boast a big publisher's financial safety net. Vawraek Technologies is pushing through the notoriously grueling process of MMORPG development with their own grit, their funding, a keyboard, and a dream. For all its faults, is it fair to hold them to the same standard as studios with tens of millions of dollars and years of development time?

Tell Me I'm Wrong

Here is the part where you argue that being an indie studio doesn’t absolve a game of scrutiny. The Quinfall is competing in the same market as titans like Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft. We aren't out here intending to pay for potential, we pay for the experience the developers promised, even in early access. It’s true that the MMORPG genre is unforgiving, with even well-funded projects failing to find their footing. If a small studio steps into the arena, they’re signing up to face the same high expectations and scrutiny as their larger counterparts.

Yet, it feels like indie MMORPGs bear the brunt of player frustration. The anger often stems from unmet expectations, and in some regard, it makes a lot of sense. We put a lot of hope into upcoming MMORPGs because this genre is so confusing. In many ways the genre is both over saturated and lacking options. Development takes longer than just about any other type of game on the market currently, and in addition, development never stops. It is meant to keep going indefinitely until the money runs dry.

When Indie Developers enter this market why are we expecting perfection from games that clearly state they’re in early development? The gaming industry has evolved, and early access is no longer about testing games—it’s about selling an idea to players who want to be part of the development process. But somewhere along the way, that understanding has eroded.

In many ways, Early Access is treated as a "soft launch" with players shelling out hard-earned money to partake, but for many gamers, that first impression will be the only impression they have. Many players seem to forget that by joining an early access game, they’re stepping into an unfinished experience, often riddled with the very issues they later complain about.

This Article's Review Score: 80% Negative

Of course, there’s a fine line between constructive criticism and outright vitriol. While feedback is vital for indie developers to improve their games, piling on negativity can be demoralizing for teams that are already pushing their limits. To be fair, some developers should be extremely demoralized, because even if their intentions were good, overselling and underdelivering to drastic degrees feels a lot like a scam.

But even if we set that aside, If players know what they’re getting into, why is the backlash so harsh? When we opt into early access, we’re agreeing to take part in the messy, iterative process of game development. Shouldn’t there be a measure of grace extended to these small teams who are often learning as they go along with their players? 

Ultimately, the question isn’t whether indie MMORPGs deserve critique—they do. But do they deserve the relentless negativity? The answer lies in us. Are we signing up to actually help the project evolve, or is it more fun just to watch a trainwreck in motion? Which side of the aisle are you on? Join us in the comments and let us know your thoughts. 


StevenWeber

Steven Weber

Steven has been a writer at MMORPG.COM since 2017. A lover of many different genres, he finds he spends most of his game time in action RPGs, and talking about himself in 3rd person on his biography page.