New Steam Game Is Essentially a Single Player MMO

Key Takeaways

• Erenshor is a single-player MMO with all the genre perks – quests, raids, loot – minus time commitments.
• Simulated AI players enhance the MMO experience in Erenshor, adding authenticity with unique personalities.
• Erenshor’s indie RPG format may appeal to both MMO veterans and newcomers.

Burgee Media’s upcoming fantasy game Erenshor is basically a single-player MMORPG with all, or most, of the hallmarks of the genre. MMORPGs have been incredibly popular for a couple of decades now, and some gamers have been playing them since the very beginning, as titles like World of Warcraft, RuneScape, and Final Fantasy 14 demonstrate how immersive and long-lived the experience can be.

The vast open worlds of MMORPGs are one of the major draws of the genre, offering diverse realms with varied inhabitants, flora, and fauna to investigate and endless quests to pass the time. The deep lore, often developed over the course of years, along with numerous classes to experiment with, add to the appeal. But there are downsides as well, of course, not the least of which are dealing with trolling players, never-ending MMO subscription fees or paywalled content, and obligations to raid for hours at specific times.

With Erenshor, Burgee Media is attempting to offer all the perks of playing an MMO without the downsides. Dubbing its fantasy RPG a “single-player nod to the MMORPGs of the past,” the indie developer has created an experience with “all the joys” of an MMO — the quests, raids, and loot — without the time commitments. And Erenshor will feel familiar to anyone who’s enjoyed an open-world MMORPG or two before. Though a bit rudimentary, it features many of the things one would expect, from quest NPCs standing idly around to roaming crocodiles to other players yelling “LFG” in world chat.

Single-Player MMORPG Erenshor Has Simulated Players

These other players will be central to creating a believable MMO experience in Erenshor. It just wouldn’t feel authentic without someone spamming their iron ore for sale or optimistically inviting people to join their guild, for example. The game features what are called SimPlayers, AI-controlled players with unique personalities and opinions. Some of these will become recognizable regulars in town or even frequent party members, and they’ll progress through the game at their own pace just like real people.

In addition to veterans of the genre, Erenshor may also entice newcomers to MMORPGS who want to see what they’re all about but feel a little overwhelmed at the prospect of diving into an established game world with years of lore and thousands of players more experienced than them. Though still in active development, the indie RPG shows a lot of promise, and a demo is currently available on Steam thanks to the platform’s current Next Fest.