Long Live Single Player Experiences

When I was growing up video games were a social event. LAN parties were the pinnacle of this experience. We would load up as many televisions and Xbox consoles as we could and head to any space big enough to hold all of us. Before the internet and social media exploded, this was the only way to play games with as many friends as possible. I will never forget those times and they will always hold a special place in my heart but, as the world grows smaller and we connect daily on twenty different forms of social media, chat apps and, yes, gaming consoles – I find myself using my time with video games more selfishly. Since we spend most of our day connected to the rest of the world that becomes my time to unwind and spend alone. Through my evolution as a gamer I’ve played less and less multiplayer games in favor of single player experiences both in the AAA space and indie scene.

I’ve sat on the sidelines and watched Battle Royale games take over the world. Even your grandparents have heard of Fortnite at this point. While I believe there is a place for those games (they clearly don’t need my validation, but even someone who doesn’t play them can see their significance) I’ve become more and more thankful for the studios committed to bringing quality single player games to the masses side-by-side with these other fresh experiences.

It was a slow transition for me. I would find myself buying games like Call of Duty and starting with the campaign instead of the multiplayer. Though I’d always find my way to the multiplayer it wasn’t until the campaign was complete. In my past life I would maybe get around to the campaign, but sometimes I just wouldn’t because I wanted to play with my friends and that took precedence. This generation really solidified my change into a single player gamer. When the PlayStation 4 was released I was incredibly eager to play Killzone Shadow Fall at launch While I did buy and play the game to some extent, it wasn’t until Infamous Second Son that this generation really began for me. Suddenly gaming was a relaxing time where I was able to recharge by myself and still feel just as fulfilled as I had in the past surrounded by all my friends.

Sony has led the way giving us incredible games like Uncharted 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War, Spider-Man and so many more. When I think back on this generation these are the experiences I will remember most. Bethesda has had their fair share of single player bangers as well. Both Wolfenstein games, Fallout 4 and Doom have proven that the single player game is far from dead. Bethesda believed in this so much that they had an incredibly funny ad air during The Game Awards in 2017 featuring Lynda Carter that was as true as it was hilarious. Gamers need these experiences as much as they need multiplayer ones. As we connect to more and more people and spend more of our day plugged in, it’s nice to have a place to escape and hide for a while.

Battle Royale and other multiplayer experiences will continue to grow in popularity and rightfully so. But I, for one, will always be thankful that we live in a day and age that offers bother types of experiences for gamers. We are blessed to have so many options in gaming and it’s time to realize there is no wrong way to game. Play what makes YOU happy.

Phil Neyman

Editor

Philip is better at buying video games than he is at playing them. He was once told “it must suck to love something so much and be so terrible at it.” As a boy he would write terrible poems about himself and Ross Perot. He enjoys the best and worst of all forms of media, but nothing in the middle. Puyo Puyo Tetris has almost caused unreconcilable differences between him and his wife. He’s never had a hangover, but not from lack of trying.