I’m sure all of you heard, even from your friends who look down on single-player experiences and publishers like Electronic Arts, that single-player based games are dying – are irrelevant in this generation where multiplayer games like Fortnite and PUBG are taking all the spotlight. Well, if you think that single-player games are irrelevant and multiplayer games are the norms, here’s a stick for you – it’s not going to happen.
Fortnite, Dota 2, and Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds’ huge success and its loyal fanbase and communities are impressive, no doubt. They’re the kind of games that people often go back to. People stream PUBG and Fortnite 24/7 on Twitch and they’ve entertained a lot of viewers to encourage them to hop in and play the game. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great that there are multiplayer experiences that people enjoy and love, but when these kinds of people start to say single-player games are vintage, old news, and irrelevant, it becomes different.
Once I had a discussion with a stranger over at a game store just 2 days ago. I was looking for DualShock 4s for my partner and a couple of games on sale that I might be interested in, then this guy comes rolling in with his friend. This dude, who’s wearing a Dota 2 shirt, blabbers about how insignificant single-player games nowadays especially with games like Fortnite and PUBG are getting all the attention so loudly that everyone in the store could hear him, including me.
He then continues with his arrogant and self-centered living soul; and still talked about that even the upcoming Spider-Man game, and the recent God of War sales, are nothing compared to the number of players playing like what Fortnite, Overwatch, and PUBG are so proud with.
I stepped in in the middle of their discussion and said: “Single-players games provide experiences that not all multiplayer games can,” I told the guy wearing a Dota 2 shirt with a strong tone. “Do you have a compelling story like Uncharted has? Are there characters that you can heavily invest your emotions with like the characters in The Witcher 3? And are there multiplayer games that will let you take control of decisions with dozens of possibilities that will turn the tide of game’s story like Detroit: Become Human? None. When developers stop making content and other modes for your multiplayer games, then the game dies with a snap.”
Some might not agree, but when developers begin to stop supporting the game, there’s pretty much no reason to back. It can be the same for single-player games since its success depends on the experience that players get, the amount of lore it can offer, and the easter eggs and the overall playtime. But with a rich storytelling, innovative gameplay, and great character development, those concurrent number of users playing multiplayer-only games are nothing compared to the quality and immersion you get from single-player games.
Don’t get me wrong, multiplayer games should always be there to give that competitive edge. I love playing them, it’s fun, enjoyable. The only thing I hate is when people start to become toxic and say awful things.
Single-player games are here to stay and it will never be insignificant, irrelevant, or even meaningless. Look at those great single-player games: The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Batman: Arkham Knight, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Horizon: Zero Dawn, God of War, Halo 3, Killzone 2, Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper, Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda, Harvest Moon, Until Dawn, Fatal Frame, Resident Evil 4, and there are thousands to mention – all of them are critically acclaimed titles that live on in decades.
To those who think otherwise, without this so-called “internet” then there wouldn’t be a vast number of multiplayer games today.
