So this is a weird one. Yes, I know an offline MMORPG is just an RPG, but I’m looking for a specific kind.
I loved FFXIV, but there was always something in the back of my mind that said “I don’t own any of this, it all goes away if I stop paying, and I could be banned tomorrow and lose everything”. I’d love to have a game that plays somewhat similar, but offline and for a single payment, please.
I know about the .hack series and those games seem pretty fun, but don’t scratch the same gathering resources/crafting items/using or selling items cycle. Also they’re apparently grindy as fuck.
Anyone have any suggestions please? Preferably PC please, but Switch and PS1/2/3 also valid suggestions. Thank you.
AzerothCore.
Funny enough, there’s Erenshor that is basically simulated single player Everquest
What! I love this conceptually.
Yea planning to pick this up eventually - reminds me of playing EQOA on the ps2
I spent a lot of years playing EQ1, and I don’t think any game will ever really capture that magic again, but this sure looks like it’s a great attempt at doing so.
Most of these don’t fit “offline MMO” super closely, but are games I’ve played that share various aspects that I enjoyed in MMOs:
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Minecraft with mods
Hytale
Various Bethesda games with mods
Sword Art Online games
V Rising
V Rising has the option of setting up a local game. I made the mistake of starting a game with default settings and i couldn’t play with the internet connection gone. Had to start anew with the correct selection.
In a similar vein are Conan Exiles and possibly Dune Awakening (haven’t it).
What they lack is more neutral or helpful npcs. There’s some merchants and the enslaved pawns, but progression is more automatic through menus rather than quest givers.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2382520/Erenshor/ is a single player mmo with simulated other players.
You may also want to check Valheim and the like out.
Also, F2P games are definitely a thing. Warframe and Where Winds Meet are both not really cash grabby to play.
Was also going to suggest this one. I tried the demo but unfortunately doesn’t play well on the deck and my sit time in front of the PC is limited as is.
CrossCode could scratch the itch a bit?
CrossCode was great fun, and it really captures that MMORPG feel. Very much enjoyed my time playing it.
Came in to recommend CrossCode. I had an extremely similar itch to OP and this game scratched it. The plot literally revolves around being an MMO, but the entirely game is single player. They did a really good job of capturing the vibe.
I was honestly baffled at how well they captured the vibe of starting a new MMO, when i played through the first 10 or so hours. I kept having this urge to tell my friends to play it so they could come play and explore with me
The best and worst part about CrossCode is the lack of sequel.
I’ve had Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning on my wishlist for a while and it’s basically been described to me as playing as lot like an “offline MMO” of the WoW/FFXIV style.
Did KoA change my life with its gameplay or story? No. Did I have fun playing it? Yes. Have I replayed it to try out different builds? Also yes.
One piece of advice is, don’t worry too much about doing everything because it is easy to out level the game’s curve.
It’s really good, not sure it’s really the same as an mmorpg…100% worth buying though.
It has MMORPG vibes, particularly with the gathering/crafting systems and little side quests, but it doesn’t have an “endless endgame” to speak of. It was my first thought, too—if OP isn’t looking for an endless endgame loop, then Amalur is a great suggestion.
Lots of Diablo clones have endless endgame and single player, but not sure if they’d be what OP is looking for. Last Epoch is the best of them all, imho. I saw Grim Dawn recommended; it’s also great. Torchlight 2 has a WoW-like cartoony aesthetic and is pretty great. Titan Quest is the other obvious req in this genre, and there are many, many Diablo 2 mods that add new systems and end game loops. (Path of Exile 1 & 2 are both great, of course, but they’re online only.)
It was supposed to be an MMORPG before the publisher had to reel it in.
Maybe not exactly MMO-like cause it’s like Diablo and Path of Exile: Grim Dawn.
The Xenoblade Chronicles series and maybe FFXII.
Xenoblade Chronicles X in particular feels like it was meant to be a MMO and then they just kinda… gave up on the multiplayer part.
Apparently FFXII and FFXIV 1.0 both are heavily inspired on the FFXI formula, so perhaps FFXII is the closest to what the OP is asking.
Yes!! I came here to recommend Xenoblade Chronicles X. It’s the most MMO feeling game I’ve ever played that wasn’t an MMO.
Goat MMO Simulator, but just technically.
Removed by mod
Not exactly what you need but have you tried Neverwinter Nights? Its base game is pretty standard linear RPG from BioWare but it was released together with its development kit, and there is an endless sea of community content, some being MMO style worlds.
Did you ever play Runescape? If so, might I introduce you to 2009Scape. The 2009 Runescape experience that you play locally on your PC.
Phantasy Star Online for the GameCube could fit the bill. You can also emulate it on PC, and people even run custom servers if you did want to play online.
I played this game with my friend called Wayfinder that was going to be an mmo but I guess at some point in development changed course. The game scratches a kind of itch that I didn’t really need but maybe 10 years ago could have been fun. Might be worth a try.
I mean your looming for a specific kind or RPG you can’t have a massively multiplayer online role playing game be offline.
