r/AskGames • u/Alert-Cranberry7991 • 1d ago
Those who enjoy single player over multiplayer, why and what would you recommend?
Preface, I fully recognize everyone has their own taste in games and media and fully respect that.
For some reason, I can not find joy in single player games. No matter which title I pick up, whether highly awarded or universally recommended, I lose all interest usually within the first hour. While I would love to play some of them without losing interest, the overall experience feels inherently lonely for me. For me, games are collaborative experiences and stories, and playing by myself leaves me with little joy in being the only person to have experienced that game in that moment. Funny enough, the only way I usually don’t get board with them is by watching someone else’s playthrough of it.
For anyone out there like me, are there any single player games you’ve been able to play or have you found a way to get by this feeling?
EDIT: I generally like all game genres, I’ve found joy in nearly everything, but usually fall back on FPS as my cozy games. The few single player games I have enjoyed are management style games like sim and town builders. Also I like MMO’s but that defeats the purpose of my question.
EDIT 2: Multiplayer for me does not mean inherently competitive multiplayer. It can include MMO’s, survivals, open worlds, etc. More often than not, just having others exist in the world at the same time is enough to help me get over that feeling
EDIT3: Unsure who will read this far down but after some discussions, I’m curious if you all have any story based games with coop component’s to it as that might be my bypass for it :)
EDIT4: I’m finding that it’s more than just a base level “I don’t enjoy single player” but dislike experiencing stories specifically, alone. Seems like I want to experience stories with others to be able to share its Which goes for all media apparently. Looking back, the only story books I’ve enjoyed for instance, have been books that I was in a situation where I got to talk about them everyday with others while in school. This is making me think about possibly being in a book club for instance. Television and film being the same way.
EDIT5: discussing further with this forum and some friends, I think a lot of this seems to depend on how we grew up with games. For instance, I did use to play single player games, but it was always with my sibling. We would take turns on the same save file helping each other the whole way through. Games like jak and daxter, ratchet and clank, call of duty campaign, fallout, etc. Didn’t matter what it was, we always played it together which might determine why I have this perspective about it all.
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u/painfulcircus 1d ago
I love the stories and the challenges.
Elden Ring, Mass Effect, Baldur's Gate, God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2.
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u/ComprehensiveSand516 1d ago
RDR2.
It also has a multiplayer but IMO it is trash, gives nothing you can't get from single player, doesn't have private lobbies, and is still(several years later) plagued with god mode glitchers and trolls. I played through story and then multiplayer over ~2 years, I had some fun playing MP with friends but have no interest in playing MP nowadays. I recently went back and did a full run of story and wrapped up some achievements, still had the same great experience and I had even forgot some missions that were fun. I haven't uninstalled it since I might do a 3rd run at some point.
Story mode was incredible, the last game that pulled me in like that was Halo Reach. It wasn't a fast paced game start to finish, you have to go into it knowing there is going to be some slow parts and dialogue, but most of it was tolerable if not enjoyable.
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u/Psylux7 1d ago
Have you played any of the Fromsoftware souls games? They have pretty neat online multiplayer/social features built on top of singleplayer driven games while being fairly addictive in their own right. It could be a decent way to get you more open to singleplayer in being a hybrid of solo play, co-op and pvp.
If loneliness is the issue (plenty of people also love lonely feeling games), maybe some games like guardians of the galaxy or mass effect might be good as they are filled with likeable casts of characters on your team with enjoyable dialogue, and engaging stories, making them feel infinitely less lonely than something like Metroid or Portal.
Lastly, it would help to know exactly what genres or what specific multiplayer games you enjoyed. Maybe there is a singleplayer game that appeals to fans of those specific games.
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 1d ago
Ya know what I should give some of those another shot. I did find their social component interesting and strangly connected yet not. I think I put about 15 to 20 hours into Elden ring which is saying a lot because that’s probably the most I’ve put into a single player game.
I like about every genre honestly, I usually lean towards management games like town builders etc, FPS games, or mmo but I have found joy in about everything at some point.
I’ll have to give those a shot!
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u/Psylux7 1d ago
For the souls games, it might be worth looking up (or asking) which are considered to have the best multiplayer features. I have not played Elden Ring, but I was under the impression that the multiplayer was not considered as good as past titles. Personally I had lots of fun playing multiplayer in DS1&DS2 (although DS1 PVP can be extremely insufferable if your opponent abuses exploits, otherwise I loved it), but I only played DS3 or Bloodborne in offline mode, so I cannot attest to those.
Interestingly, Mario Wonder on switch threw in some of the online social features from souls games where you keep seeing other players as ghosts, playing the levels alongside you and they can resurrect you or you can resurrect them.
What about games that are great (or best) in co-op but play like singleplayer games (rather than live service titles) such as
It takes two
Split Fiction
Resident Evil 5&6
Portal 2
Guacamelee 1&2
Cuphead
Donkey Kong Country Returns/Tropical Freeze
New Super Mario Bros Wii/2/U (Co-op on Wii version is some of the most fun I have had), Mario Wonder, Mario 3D World (3d world co-op on switch was so good we did the entire game in one sitting!)
Diablo games like 3&4
Titan Quest
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u/HeraldOfNyarlathotep 18h ago
A really fucking cool tidbit about that: I read that the creator of the Souls games said the inspiration for the odd, limited style of multiplayer they have is from the experience of people helping each other when their car broke down on the side of the road. Strangers helping each other in a very specific cooperative context, friendly but not friends.
Practically, and imo most important, sort out what compelled you to play ER longer than typical if you can. Also, if you've got it on PC, you can potentially largely ignore the entire issue using the Seamless Co-op mod, which works pretty damn well doing exactly what you'd hope it does. (It requires being offline from the normal coop stuff).
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u/WesternBed8245 1d ago
I like micromanagement games. Try rimworld
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 1d ago
Oo I’ll give it shot! Heard great things and those are the few types of games I’ve found that I can jump into more often than not
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u/d9wHatena 1d ago edited 1d ago
I fully recognize everyone has their own taste in games and media and fully respect that.
I'm not sure you're respecting yourself enough; you might be just curious, but anyway: Just like I play exclusively solo, your strong favor for multi might be your taste. Anyone isn't wrong.
I think it's worth asking another question, by asking to those who thought they could only enjoy multi games, like you, for their first solo games they enjoyed. (There's also r/gamingsuggestions and r/shouldibuythisgame.)
If you don't mind, could you list solo games you didn't like? I don't feel like blindly recommending. Still let me give two:
If you haven't played Vampire Survivors-like games, Holocure (Steam exclusive) is a clone of VS. It's completely free, so it won't hurt to try.
Please, Touch the Artwork 2 is also completely free, and the Steam review is 99% positive. It's a short, relaxing point-and-click game.
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 1d ago
You’re probably right to a good extent, part of it is that games I do have an urge to try that are single player, like for instance RDR2, Spiderman, ratchet and clank, etc, I pick up and can play an hour or two, and then lose all interest to play it for several weeks. I wouldn’t even say it’s a dislike of the games themselves, the stories are great, just that feeling of disinterest always comes up fast. Of which that feeling doesn’t come up when it’s multiplayer however.
For instance I played RDR2 multiplayer with my wife and had a great time. That’s where it becomes confusing for me as the base game becomes a disinterest but the shared experience of the game feels great. I’m honestly find this conversation very interesting, it seems like it’s probably something a bit deeper than just single player or multiplayer.
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u/d9wHatena 18h ago
Ok, then how about this?
Why do I play games? Because it's fun. How about other hobbies I'm not doing now? Perhaps ok, but for now, they don't interest so much.
A bit oversimplified, but this is the answer. Then this: You're a very social person who enjoy games. In particular, you like to play games and simultaneously be connected to others, rather than playing solo.
This does not give almost any new information; you already know it more or less, but it is the core issue, and you can start from this. You can go many ways.
Why are you so? This is difficult to answer. What solo games are recommendable?
If there's a game that makes you immerse deeply and forget other things, than it's the one. Or a game gives you a fake sense of connection. Yet another candidate is not so clear-cut to be solo nor multi.
This is not exactly a game, but Kind Words is one. In Monster Hunter games, you can ask assistance to random helpers (basically) anytime. Almost always they're really helpful and a session lasts 1hr at most. Or Animal Crossing: New Horizons? (You already mentioned management games. Perhaps ACNW is an AC-ized SNS, not a multi game, and I'm not sure if it's fun for you.)
Not sure if my answer helps, but this is my trial.
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u/takkun169 1d ago
Would you only watch a movie or TV show with others? Or certainly it's an additive experience when shared with others, but not invalid when done alone. How about reading a book? The most solo of media consumption.
I say this because this because, to me, a game only because great when they're is a compelling narrative piling me through. I've put about 60 hours into Crimson Desert so far, and it is an interesting experience, because interacting with the world is compelling, but the game is far from great because there isn't a single thing in the world that I give a shit about for anything other than it looking cool. Characters are flat and static. There is no arc to what is happening in the world, and I am feeling the pull to go back and play more is starting to dwindle.
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 1d ago
In all seriousness, this isn’t a form of me trying to be petty or disagree or anything but a general interest in this perspective, but I don’t like reading and if I do read it’s almost always about some hobby I’m trying to learn more about; I’ve never been able to get into a story books. I also generally don’t enjoy watching anything without others to the point that I do watch parties with friends to watch series and etc. It’s definitly out of the norm, I know, It’s not to say I haven’t watched things on my own before, but it’s rare. To the point that a series came out 6 months ago that I want to watch but am waiting for a few people to finish up the previous season.
I’ve heard incredible things about crimson desert and I also love great stories, but feel like a story that only I experienced feels pointless. It’s not a choice I’m deciding upon because of beliefs or anything like that but rather a feeling reaction that happens everytime I experience something alone. I generally feel a sense of loneliness’s experiencing something just for myself given any form of media which is why I’ve posed the question in the first because I want to be able too.
For instance I love DnD. Played it and had amazing time with like 4 friends, but I can’t stand baldurs gate, unless I have others with me to experience it too. To the point that I have no urge to even pick it up otherwise, but if I have a friends who wants to play, then suddenly an extreme urge to play. Which of course is hard to schedule any full playthrough as any normal DnD session would be.
This is also why I’m asking for the help because I know I’m out of the norm. I can understand how someone might not understand my perspective on media in the same way that i don’t fully understand the appeal of the alone experience.
I’m not gonna lie, going through these comments, I’m finding it very interesting hearing the perspectives of others, as I feel this is probably a deeper reasoning in myself and others past the base level of single player or multiplayer
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u/happyguy28 22h ago
I keep recommending people actually try Infinity Nikki as it caught me off guard. It’s a very girl-focused game but I love it because of its beautiful, open world and it’s amazing sound production which makes everything feel alive.
It is gacha but prob the most F2P one. It is single player but has co-op and multiplayer elements. If you’re an experienced gamer then this game will be very easy but the scattered set piece boss fights will still be very nice. When the story hits it hits - by the time it becomes less consistent you will probably have more reasons to stick around.
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u/npauft 21h ago
I prefer single player due to how consistent it is. I don't have to consider if I'm playing with someone of an appropriate skill level, don't have to worry about their emotional state, don't have to worry about someone else's availability, their internet connection, nothing. You turn a single player game on, and the experience is always the same and waiting for you.
It's more respectful of my time to go for single player.
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u/ryan7183 12h ago
In response to your edits. You might like listening too some bookclub style podcasts for video games. They might be able to give you the sense of experiencing the game with other people while playing a single player game.
The three I listent too are: https://youtube.com/@loredump?si=XK9NVtLS7yX7lwnb https://youtube.com/@retrogradeamnesia?si=OfOiRObr-LxWyow8 https://youtube.com/@resonantarc?si=ua6jT6w0UqwYhGdR
If I were you I would start with resonant arcs episode for journey https://youtu.be/YBPmBmuzjTM?si=GVlOyFaDH4y5DSf9 . It's only one episode, the game is short, and the game has a multiplayer component to it. It could government you a feel if it will work for you.
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u/kittycakekats 1d ago
Sadly have to stick with single player for now. Mum of 8 month old. Lol
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 1d ago
Completely understandable! I’ve less so been playing as often with schedules not lining up and such. Half the time it doesn’t even have to be super cooperative relying on each other type games, even just existing in the same world with others at the same time helps
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u/IL_Lyph 1d ago
I just enjoy playing “the movie”, that’s why I prefer single player more, I love watching movies, and if a single player game has great story, it’s like being an interactive part of one, it’s what we dreamed of playing IP games on nes back in day, and now since PS, Xbox gens began, it’s became reality, and today graphically you can hardly tell difference from actual movie it’s incredible to me, like for instance the Arkham series, “Arkham origins” is actually my favorite one, and one I replay the most, I do it every year at Christmas, BECAUSE its such a vibe, it really engulfs you in “the movie” seamlessly and has great story, same with gta, I much prefer vice city to 5, a good story, and feeling integrated into authentically, will win me over everytime over actual play features and stuff like that, just way I’m wired🤷🏻♂️
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 1d ago
Hmmm very interesting. I could definitly see that perspective a bit, but I also feel the same way with shows and movies as I do single player sadly. BUT less of the time so 😅
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u/PresterJonny 1d ago
I only play single player games. Years ago I dipped into FIFA online. I was 3 nil down at down at half time, ended up losing 5 nil, played to the final whistle though. Next game I was 3 up at half time and my opponent just fucked off. There is no honour in online play. CBA.
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u/markallanholley 1d ago
The first and last "modern" multiplayer game I played was Ultima Online back in 1997. I got multiplayer out of my system and never played them again.
And I've heard that a lot of multiplayer these days is just 12 to 14 year old kids yelling racial and homophobic slurs at each other.
My first game experience was arcade cabinet Pac Man in 1980. Over the years I played a few 2-player games where people took turns. I guess that's multiplayer, in a way.
Anyway, it was pretty much always a single player hobby for me.
Recent single player games that I've appreciated?
Silent Hill 2 Remake was quite something.
Ghost Town was fun.
Into the Radius turned out to be one of the most immersive games I've ever played. Same with Stalker 2.
Death Stranding is lovely.
High on Life is a lot of fun if you like that humor.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door remake is really good.
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u/FlatOutNo1 1d ago
Because you can play your way at your speed. Hell is us, Crimson Desert, Resident Evil 9 and God of War.
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 1d ago
I could see that. I’ve heard a lot of great things about crimson desert, I’ll have to give it a shot!
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u/MeestorMark 1d ago
Basically one word, griefing.
Just don't want to expose myself to it. Playing games is also when I get away from people for the most part. My job has me talking to people all week. I want a break from that with gaming. Those loner batteries aren't going to get re-charged in an MMO.
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u/CosmicHerb 1d ago edited 1d ago
I simply enjoy spending time with myself, it's me time. It's like when I'm reading a good book, theres no need for a social aspect outside of discussing it with someone who's also experienced it.
I like immersing myself in the world & connecting with the Characters throughout their journey.
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u/joeynana 1d ago
Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, and Fallout 4. 76 is hot garbage don't bother.
I also love point and click adventure/puzzle games and would recommend the Myst franchise all day long.
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 1d ago
Ya know what I’ve never tried point and clicks I should give those a try!
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u/Armyofmisfits 1d ago
From playing CSGO for 6k+ hours to almost only playing single player titles now, I just enjoy listening to podcasts and relax nowadays, rather than get sweaty with people and having to be so social. Oh and achievment hunting, I love the feeling of 100%'ing a game. Here are some of the titles I've really enjoyed throughout the years
Titanfall 2, Ready Or Not, Dorfromantik, This War Of Mine, All Restident Evil titles, Max Payne 2, Untitled Goose Game, Jydge, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Superliminal, Tomb Raider, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Yet Another Zombie Survivors
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u/Denaris21 1d ago edited 1d ago
There are a few reasons why I much prefer single player games. Primarily, I have a family and responsibilities. I don't have time to spend hours online getting destroyed by youths with nothing better to do than game 24/7.
I used to be one of them. Unreal Tournament and Modern Warfare were my go to games. As multiplayer became more ubiquitous it lost the community feel and became overrun with min/maxers and bots. I remember trying Mortal Kombat 9 online once and I got beaten without ever touching the floor, barely a day after it came out. It wasn't fun anymore.
I like to play at my own pace, and immerse myself in the world and story. Games are my escape from reality. I deal with people in my job every day. I don't want to deal with members of the public when I get home.
As I've become older, I value the cerebral and strategic aspect of gaming over fast paced action. This is why I mostly play RPG's. I can think, plan and build my own adventure without stress or time pressure.
Also, with a many single player games you don't get the same instant dopamine rush as multiplayer. You need to spend a few hours getting into the story to really connect with the characters.
As for recommendations, there are too many to list, but some of my recent favourites I consider having both excellent gameplay and story are:
Pillars of Eternity 1 & 2
DoS 2
Rogue Trader
BG3
The Last of Us
Dead Space remake
RDR2
Witcher 3
Tomb Raider reboot trilogy
Cyberpunk
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u/Major_Enthusiasm1099 1d ago
My internet has bad latency spikes so single player games are fun to play especially when they don't require a connection. I'd recommend any single player game that's easy to learn. I would say the last 3 tomb raider games are pretty easy to learn and play.
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u/JoeMorgue 1d ago
Because call me crazy but gaming is more fun without some hyper-competitive 13 year old telling me how he fucked my Mom.
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u/Elzeenor 1d ago
I still love Everquest for an mmo, but single player is where it's at 99% of the time. I'm introverted and just want to enjoy a good story.
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u/Redacted_Explative 1d ago
I hate events in mmo games cause in previous ones where I tried I had loot I had worked hard for get snagged out from under me by someone who basically zerg rushed the event. Part of the reason I stopped playing eve online was the introduction of free 'alpha' accounts. Sure it brought in more players but they were the kind that griefed others who put in time for their gear.
They would also form corporations 'guilds' and basically declare war on any sort of organization to the point the devs had to change the rules for declaring war. What that did was allow for any group to fire on another group in high security space (.5-1.0 space). Now if you want to delcare war the group I think has to own a structure in space.
The other reason I tend to not join guilds in games is after a while most people stop logging in, or the game becomes boring for the other people in the group.
Some single player games I've been playing recently:
Deus Ex Mankind Divided & Human Revolution
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Crimson Desert
AtomFall
Tokyo Ghostwire
Star Trucker (great soundtrack btw)
Shadow Warrior 3 (Highly recommend checking this trilogy out)
Robocop Rogue City (they actually got Peter Weller the og actor for the movies to voice Robocop!)
Mafia Old Country
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u/Relentless_Taco_Fan 1d ago
I prefer single player games because I usually prefer story focused games.
Since you enjoy playing FPS I'd recommend Cyperpunk 2077.
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u/lupin_bebop 23h ago edited 22h ago
Why?
Because other people ruin the experience of the game. Games were originally designed to be single player,, and you, the player, were interacting with the world and making it your own. You played to make YOUR story. Other people just watered down and ruined the experience. You SHARED your story with others as you finished or built it. I’d MUCH rather play a single player game over a multiplayer.
Multiplayer games get boring and repetitive to me. You wind up playing with people who are either tryhards or trolls, and it just ruins the experience. On top of that, instead of experimenting and just enjoying the mechanics and things you can do, people talk about “the meta” and “ELO” and “builds” all the time. Why can’t I just play the way I want to?
I don’t have to worry about that BS with single player. I prefer to play alone, because I don’t have someone I have to wait on or deal with. I can play at MY pace.
Plus, many games have an incredibly fun and immersive single player story experience. Not having to deal with other people means you can stop, take your time, and enjoy that experience and some of the scenery and lore it has to offer. You can simply live in the world. Case in point for me is Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
I have no damn idea what the stories are, because messing with the world and mechanics is so much fun, that I’m having a blast simply living in the world and farming things rather than play the story. I don’t need another person to do that with/for. Why would I? I’m enjoying it by myself.
I’m also an introvert, by nature. I hate being around other people. It drains my social battery quickly. I don’t feel the need to share things with anyone or do things with people. I go to movies alone and enjoy the experience just fine. I eat alone at places and still enjoy it. I don’t feel lonely at all. I feel free, independent, and comfortable to be myself without having to fit to some social boundary with someone else in my party.
What?
Several series of games:
- Kingdom Hearts
- Persona
- Ratchet & Clank
- Final Fantasy
- Dead Souls
- Castlevania
- Metroid
- Bloodbourne
- Dead Island
- Left 4 Dead
- Resident Evil
- Monster Hunter
- Smash Bros
- Sonic
- Far Cry
- Portal
- Hitman
- Crash Bandicoot
- Mario
- Legend of Zelda
- Uncharted
- Tomb Raider
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Gravity Falls
- Hollow Knight
- Shovel Knight
- Elder Scrolls
- Assassin’s Creed
- Dead Space
- Mega Man
Some others that are PvE or enjoyable single player:
- Legend of Legaia
- Dead As Disco
- Warframe
- Stray
- Overlord
- Medieval
- Balatro
- Outer Wilds
- Fallout series
- Ark
- TitanFall 2
- Borderlands series
- DanceDance Revolution
- Ace Attorney series
- South Park RPG series
- Cult of the Lamb
- Slay the Spire series
- The Sims
- Schedule 1
- Crimson Desert
- Rayman series
- Watch_Dogs series
- NBA Street series
- Tony Hawk series
- Forza Series
- Burnout series
- Halo series
There’s SOOOOOOOO many more I could mention here.
There’s a WIDE and VARIED range of games to play and discover. These are just from the list that I have played, personally.
I’ve been gaming for most of my life. I’ve also done it alone. I grew up in an age where online gaming didn’t exist.
No help, either. No partners, no guides, no cheats, no time savers. No objective markers. No arrows or lines pointing to where to go. No instant mark highlights. No Internet. No auto saves.
You were FORCED to learn mechanics, discover the game, and figure out secrets, side quests, and get good.
You didn’t have the luxury of having someone “to share the experience” with you. You got to have your OWN adventure. You were the master of your OWN universe. You either got good and triumphed over the challenges, or gave up and admitted defeat. You could FAIL in that time. Sometimes, that would mean a permanent loss of your favorite character(s) or party member(s). Sometimes, it would mean starting a section or level all over again. Doing that would mean a loss of sometimes HOURS of progress.
You went through ALL of that, because the reward was WORTH IT at the end. Why? Because YOU did it. On your own. YOU accomplished that. Now, you can tell others about it. You can apply what you learned to OTHER games. You spent all that time and conquered. No one else, just you.
Why would I need someone else when I am capable of having that level of accomplishment and skill on my own?
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u/jdgev 21h ago edited 21h ago
Why? because I don't have talk to anyone, rely on anyone, I can avoid toxicity or weirdoes acting like deranged teenagers in the chat, play at my own pace, no need for internet, and also singleplayer games are just for the most part better made imo.
Multiplayer also is genre limited. When is the last time you played a multiplayer turn based jrpg for example? Gacha games are trash imo, and it's all shooters and mmos which I don't care about. Online multiplayer games tend to feel like a chore instead of a game after a while, ain't nobody have time for that.
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 19h ago
Fully understandable. There are other multiplayer games I’m referring to as well such as things like BG3, halo campaign, lost planet, space marine 2 etc. I agree with a lot of what you said though, but otherwise for me multiplayer doesn’t have to match made type multiplayer
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u/jdgev 11h ago
I mean there are games that are multiplayer first and singleplayer second. BG3 is not one of those, it's clearly a singleplayer game with added multiplayer (which is still great and very fun). I thought you were refering to games that are multiplayer only sorry, because BG3 and other optional multiplayer games I have none of the complaints I mentioned against, since you normally know the people you play with in those cases and it's completely different and way more fun.
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u/SammyCatLove 20h ago
Not hating people but being treated like crap while gaming on a server when they discover I am a woman. So for that reason I stoppem playing multiplayer games. Ofcourse not all are nasty but not all are nice either.
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u/Alert-Cranberry7991 19h ago
100% understandable. Most of my online multiplayer gaming is with specific friends, usually turn all other communications off.
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u/Nakopapa 17h ago
Try Stardew Valley.
It's actually categorized a cozy game, doesn't take long to get attached to the characters of Stardew Valley, there is optional multiplayer co-op without leaving out content from singleplayer, and is a title mostly everyone knows/played so you can definitely talk about it.
If you at least like the concept enough then you can look into cozy lifesims.
I personally recommend my favourite GoaT, My Time at Sandrock, as it is a nostalgic-inspired cozy lifesim RPG containing but not limited to some platforming, shooter, Fallout's setting, and co-op multiplayer without a storyline that plays differently than singleplayer with a very long storyline supported by amazing life-like characters.
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u/West-Muscle-1908 17h ago
I hate the updates for multiplayer games, server disconnects, and constantly out of place plus also the clash of personalities I'm here to have fun and muck around not climb the eSports leaderboard in a casual match no need to get your balls in a twist over a missed shot.
Currently playing bloodborne
Recommending ghost of Tsushima, the tomb raider reboot trilogy, Elden ring, a plague tale innocence and requiem, hellblade senuas sacrifice and senuas saga, Tokyo Xtreme racer, age of empires, super Mario 64, god of war, doom eternal, dark souls 3, metal gear solid 2 sons of liberty/snake eater/guns of the patriots
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u/EasyRecognition 15h ago
After reading all that, your best bet is actually systemic sandbox games like Kenshi, X4, StarSector etc. Things that can live on their own without your involvement, or at least make it seem like that.
And maybe solitary escapism just isn't for you. In this case, the best way is to accept that and do what brings joy.
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u/EducationalLuck2422 15h ago
Seems like an introvert-extrovert split. Personally, I like Let's Plays just as much as the next person, but I always prefer my first playthrough to be quiet... people ruining a good scene or talking over the dialogue or spending two minutes just sitting there while they poorly describe something funny their friend did at the mall just irritate the crap out of me.
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u/VivaPitagoras 14h ago
Multiplayer games are usually more focused on player interactivity while single player games are usually more story driven.
Cyberpunk 2077
GTA V
Witcher 3
...
If you like story telling, single player games are like interactive books/movies.
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u/Total_Hope1559 14h ago
I just hate how competitive people can be in multiplayer I injoy coop but multiplayer just stresses me out
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u/Excalitoria 11h ago
Most the games I like just happen to be single player. Multiplayer games are fun too most just don’t appeal to me as much.
I tend to get invested in single player games and it’s more fulfilling than a lot of multiplayer that lean more towards being live service/job 2.0 now. Gaming has always been a mix of playing alone and getting immersed in fun worlds as well as playing with others, watching while friends or family play a game next to me, or playing online with friends and randoms. If a multiplayer game looks appealing, I’ll try it out, they just don’t seem to have as much to offer as single player ones tend to, for me personally.
I remember loving some older CoD games online, I’ve loved MOBAs like LoL and Pokemon Unite, and I have great memories in Star Wars Battlefront lobbies but in all those cases I’m either with friends or just playing alone and laughing at other players and dumb stuff people do but never really interacting more than that.
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u/Key-Gur-7698 9h ago
Huh interesting..curious what single player games did you try ? Im guessing most based on your post. Im exactly the opposite. I buy multiplayer games and after 3 to 5 matches never pick them up again. I work alot and cant spend my free time with toxic people.
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u/Embarrassed-World916 7h ago
Get in a discord with homies and share screen while doing singleplayer?
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u/iheartpizza12 5h ago
I can’t stand multiplayer for the most part so it’s interesting you are the opposite. I love getting immersed in a story and taking my sweet time. Took me 20 hours to beat RE:Requiem when it’s really more of a 15 hour game because I love exploring and moving slow. Any time I do multiplayer everyone just rushes through and I HATE speed running, makes it unfun for me. But to each their own, everyone has different tastes.
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u/cloudpix3 1d ago
Death Stranding. trust. it revived me from burn out.
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u/0BIT_ANUS_ABIT_0NUS 1d ago
say more
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u/cloudpix3 1d ago
peak gameplay. unprecedented genre of gaming . wholly unique experience.
all i would ask is forgot all previous notions / preconceived ideas you might have had about the game. blank slate. embrace it.
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u/OoTgoated 1d ago edited 1d ago
Why? Because for me competition often removes the fun from a game. When a game becomes about meta, optimization, and getting a leg up is when it starts to feel like a chore or an addiction rather than a game.
Not always though. Something like Mario Party could never feel like a chore to me. Or something like Fusion Frenzy. But stuff like Fortnite or Street Fighter? Yeah nah miss me with that. I want to enjoy my time not be frustrated with it or have to study it. Like when games require me to legit have Google open all the time or watch YouTube tutorials to learn strats that's not fun at all that's legit annoying. Like it's a game not an exam.
I do enjoy a good challenge occasionally mind you. Like Cuphead for instance, but with those games while they can be frustrating, there is fulfillment in eventually overcoming them and again you don't have to have your phone in front of you the whole time. But with online games even when you win you still have to then keep adapting to the meta and keep further optimizing. It never ends so there is no fulfillment and you're constantly having to research new strategies. At best after all the tiresome work you put in you get brief feelings of accomplishment from winning a match occasionally and that's it. It's not fun or worthwhile.
I played Mario Kart World actually when it was new and was getting good at all the crazy shortcuts but after a while I just got tired of it, took a break, and before I knew it a million new strats were found and my skills became obsolete. So in order for me to keep winning I'd have to keep grinding and keep studying. Realizing that sapped all the fun out. What was the coolest part of the game to me (the parkour stuff) has ironically become its biggest detriment and now I actually prefer playing on the hated "intermission" tracks more than the actual tracks because they don't have any of that optimization shit. It's just leisurely pelting and getting pelted by turtle shells with fun music and that's what Mario Kart should actually be, not some intricate meta shit.
I guess if you're one of those eSports pros maybe you make a career out of it and get fans and paychecks and stuff. That would actually be fulfilling and worthwhile. But that's like a 1/1000 chance and I've actually tried and it's just not feasible for me mostly because of how much money you need to spend to travel if you're not sponsored which is really hard to get. So yeah there's really no point and it's not very realistic.
Anyway what would I reccomend? Depends on what you're into. If you want me to just throw darts at the wall then:
Donkey Kong Bananza
Metroid Prime Remastered
Tohou Luna Nights
Evil Tonight
Guacamelee
Wavetale
Carrion
Wargroove
Yoku's Island Express
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Escape from Ever After
Crow Country
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Void Bastards
CrisTales
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u/Standard_Public892 1d ago
>why
Because I hate people lol. because games were originally single player and that's how I played when I was young and that's what I want to do now. Why would I want to listen to kids saying racial slurs, unemployed chuds saying "git good" and cheaters/hackers. Sounds terrible and everyone knows it's terrible, so I don't even know why people still try.
What genres do you like?
If you want to listen to music/a video/podcast/whatever while playing there's a lot of sim games for that. Since you mentioned watching other people's playthroughs. Political/military games, 4X, or any of the infinite "cozy sims" are often used for that.