Yet my sense of fulfillment and connection remains strong—not despite my solitude, but because of how I engage with it. The outlook for a positive impact on the pro-social behaviors of MMOs is not strong. This conclusion is based not just on the evidence for and against its benefits, but on thinking about the likely consequences of the contingencies it operates—what behaviors it reinforces.
There are a lot of games where it is baked into the ruleset, especially for cooperative games. So if we look at something like Aeon’s End or Gloomhaven, they basically tell you to play as at least two players. With Tainted Grail, the amount of energy it takes to do thing, how long the Menhir are lit, and what level monsters you get are all determined by number of characters. Besides that, those games are the same game as you play multiplayer.
Solo Gaming Is It For You?
OK, I admit it.Solo games really are [also] great for people with no friends.But if Highlander and Blind Fury has taught us anything, being a lone wolf can sometimes be a noble calling. So say I go fishing and see some guy, we chat for abit, but don’t add friends or anything, log out and come back the next day. I’ll most likely, never see him again because of Mega-servers. Meanwhile in older MMORPGs, with dedicated servers, I might see him there again and a few times, or just locations where you always see someone for some reason, or see them in passing as I travel the world and that builds a community. Basically around the time WoW was becoming popular, the “Solo player” started becoming a thing. Someone who wanted to do the entire story and hit max level / content by themselves.
The Soapbox: Why solo players don’t just play a single-player game
Other social engagements Even if you don’t like grouping up for content, you can still want to play in a group. Roleplaying, for instance, requires another person to interact with. There are games that facilitate a certain amount of storytelling, like The Sims or most BioWare titles, but in order to really throw open the doors and be what you wish you need more players. Maybe you prefer playing solo, but if you want to interact with others you need, well, others. It’s not the only social interaction available, however. For some people, playing an MMO is a way to keep in touch with friends who might be doing totally different things, or a way to get the fun of crafting and playing merchant.
And, yes, sessions were usually paired with sweets, crisps and the occasional joint – another crutch of adolescence – but I didn’t feel guilty about it. In fact, Fortnite (and a very long ethernet cable) was just what I needed. The study also provides insight into why some people experience distress when alone while others thrive.
Finding a Community on Twitch/Youtube
I’ve done that with my friends mutliple times and it works well – I was on Battlefield or The Sims while my friends played other games such as Call of Duty or Animal Crossing. We can catch up, chat about random things and have a good time without being in the same game. I find that playing a little bit every other day or a few times a week can really solve this.
Even at the higher difficulties, you know that you can beat it if you practice at it. It’s not a final fantasy quiz question of “is this even doable” so much as one of “how do I do this correctly,” which is much less engaging for some players. There are plenty of socially acceptable reasons why someone might need to become “a soloist,” as Wakasm referred to it.
It also really depends on my mood – sometimes I just want to play alone and not talk to anyone. In the age of multiplayer games, I almost feel lonely playing games by myself, and wonder if that could be why I don’t play them. I’ve tried streaming some gameplay of FO4, and that definitely helps (when I have viewers), although it seems like everyone on twitch wants to watch Shroud or whoever else play PUBG. I’m not knocking this, as that’s their culture and that’s fine. While playing video games definitely improves your social skills if you play with other people, it can lead to social isolation if they take over your life entirely. Back in June, I got a board game from a Buy Nothing group at the Slate office and tucked it away on my shelf for when I had enough company to play it.
If after that you still find that you can’t enjoy gaming on your own, try some of the tips I suggested above. Look for streamers who play the same games you enjoy, or simply your favorite streamer. Obviously DO NOT go to a creator’s livestream and go “Who wants to play x with me? Chances are you will either get warned, timed out or outright banned. That being said, voice chatting might be a little bit distracting when it comes to single-player games requiring your attention and immersion.
Except “Channels” exist, because obviously they can’t fit EVERYONE playing into just one server / location, due to the small size of newer MMORPG worlds, it just can’t be done. Robert, This article reframes solitude as a source of strength rather than a condition to escape. The research shared highlights a crucial truth—our perception of being alone directly shapes our neurobiological response.
The basic reason often repeated is that lots of people want the fantasy of an MMORPG without the time commitment due to personal responsibilities. I had no idea MMORPG players were such productive members of society. This may all be true, and these positive effects, as they relate to the digital world, have been replicated9,10. Yet the question remains as to whether such a digital bolstering of a virtual personality is at all important.
I can certainly understand why – it made them money. This isn’t about rejecting social connection—it’s about expanding our understanding of fulfillment. We do not need to be constantly engaged to be deeply connected. We do not need external validation to experience meaning. And we do not need to fear solitude—because when approached with the right neurobiological mindset, solitude is not just something we endure. In fact, I live an untethered life, free from the constraints of permanent residence, traditional stability, or constant social engagement.
Unlike in most single-player games, you can really make a legacy for your character in MMOs, and you have a certain sense of persistent accomplishment as you achieve new goals.Dynamic encounters A single-player game is by its very nature static. When I’m playing my way through a given bit of content, I’m going to be the only person there every time. Even games like Diablo III that offer a system for players to drop in don’t allow them to just be at work clearing a region when I suddenly stumble across them. On the other hand, if I’m questing through an area in an MMO, I might be the only person there. I might run into someone else, or several someones. I might have a friend stuck in an area who needs help to get back out safely.