Why MMORPGs Will Forever Be My Favourite Game Genre

Fantasy, a word defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as, “A creation of the imaginative faculty whether expressed or merely conceived,” is a genre that piques the interest of countless individuals across the globe from all walks of life. Is it because these people enjoy an escape from their personal reality, a break from the usual routine? Or is it because they simply like getting immersed in a world with characters and environments previously unbeknownst to them? Or maybe even that they’re genuinely entertained and amused by the brainchilds of other gifted individuals? All of the above, of course, are correct and plausible answers. Fantasy can be conveyed through all types of medium, whether it be books, shows, movies, music, or games. Of all potential media, my personal argument for the best way to convey a fantastical world or universe is undeniably through Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs).

What makes a work of fantasy great? Again, there’s a plethora of solid answers. However, I believe the majority of people would agree that world and character building, or developing the setting and establishing character profiles and personalities, are key to a thriving story. Popular books like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, movies such as Inception and Interstellar, and games such as Detroit: Become Human and the Fallout series all lend themselves to the two aforementioned keys. They have extremely unique and refined worlds and characters, while taking the time to portray exactly how the creator envisioned those things to be.

Now imagine a new world, with the established setting and characters of a great fantasy piece. Imagine it’s a game, so it’s up to you to interact with and learn more about them. Now imagine there's a completely new facet — an entire community of unknown characters, all with unique backgrounds and personalities. This community is constantly evolving, as the people within it grow and change, come and go, and live their lives. This group of people aren’t entities bound to the digital world they were born in, but other players just like yourself. Not only are you adventuring through a fantasy land enjoying what content has been prepared for you, you’re alongside other people on the same ride at the same time. You could embark on this journey with friends already known to you or make new ones along the way. Depending on the game, you could be sharing the same digital soil with thousands of other players at the same time, which offers an experience any other genre simply cannot.

Regardless of how you choose to interact with others and to what degree, they will undeniably have an impact on your experience in that game, just like people change your day-to-day lives in the real world. You can choose exactly who you want to be and what role you want to play in this environment, whether that’s someone who plays the player-driven economy and amasses quite the personal wealth, a crafter/merchant who makes/sells equipment and consumables for other players, or an adventurer who finds their calling fighting monsters or even other players out in the world.

I’m absolutely in love with the flexibility and dynamism an MMORPG has to offer, and continue to be fascinated by the ways the genre has adapted and evolved over the decade I’ve enjoyed it. I believe that there is no better way to get immersed in a fantasy realm than by delving into an MMORPG, becoming one of the thousands of the community within it and simply enjoying your time there however you see fit. If you consider yourself a gamer and haven’t found yourself in one of these games before, I strongly suggest you do; I believe you won’t regret your decision!