Open world games are synonymous with immersive and engaging experiences. During the last decade, there has been a focus on allowing players to share these living, breathing maps, and hubs with other people online.
Linear, single-player titles have not gone away, but open-world games continue to evolve. It has also created more exciting “emergent” gameplay where complex reactions often arise from even the most basic game mechanics. Even a good game of solitaire online like Julia S can improve your social skills.
Game developer Peter Molyneux believes a great shared world system gives players the tools to do what they want and then have it respond realistically to their actions. The added human element of multiplayer and co-op adds another captivating layer to these shared worlds.
World of Warcraft
Massive multiplayer online role-playing (MMOs) games were among the first to offer a shared world experience and World of Warcraft was one of the biggest pioneers following its release in 2004.
In addition to being a compelling RPG in its own right, World of Warcraft offered a unique party dynamic with twelve different classes and a quest and raid system that nurtured an online community unlike any other at the time.
The world of Azeroth and its battlegrounds are also frequently exciting and unpredictable, making the shared-world a location for incredible multiplayer action gaming. Warcraft refined and perfected the genre elements, which is why it went on to achieve huge success.
Destiny
There was evolution again in 2013 when Bungie launched what it called the “world’s first shared-world shooter.” The shared aspect of the game was central to the design philosophy as it brought players together in collaborative and competitive multiplayer modes in a “persistent” world where dynamic day and night cycles increased immersion.
Before release, Bungie co-founder Jason Jones claimed, “everything you do in life is more fun if you do it with your friends”, and that the shared-world and role-playing elements in a mythic science fiction setting would break free of “decades” of gaming titles built around solo actions.
Minecraft
If Destiny brought shared-world shooters to the masses, Minecraft did the same for creative, sandbox survival experiences. Unlike Destiny with its rigid character progression, Minecraft pitches no specific goals for players to accomplish, merely providing them with a playground to build a world as they see fit. Players here have the freedom to choose how they play the game.
All of this takes place within a shared world where up to 30 players can come together to mine ores, build structures and even fight living, moving creatures such as bats, cows, villagers and ender dragons. Since its launch in late 2011, Minecraft has sold more than 200 million copies and still retains a monthly active user base of 126 million.
Grand Theft Auto
The shared-world genre took another step forward in 2013 with the release of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V and the accompanying Grand Theft Auto Online. The latter was built as a separate experience to the single-player game with a continually evolving world that allows up to 30 players to free roam or partake in a range of competitive and cooperative modes.
Rockstar’s attention to detail took the shared-world experience to the next level with players walking, driving and shooting in the fictional city of Los Santos, which is basically a fully realized version of Los Angeles. Chaotic action ensues as different groups of players conduct heists, steal cars, and engage in shootouts in and around each other. This allows for a unique, organic shared experience that is different every time.
Online co-op
Co-op is another area of online multiplayer that has evolved during the last 20 years. Microsoft’s Halo franchise led the way on console with its litany of co-op campaigns, which is something that has been replicated in a range of titles in recent years.
Sea of Thieves, another Xbox published game developed by Rare, is built entirely around a core co-op experience where players man a ship together with the aim of becoming a “pirate legend”.
Online casinos also offer a shared-world of sorts by enabling players to come together and compete at card games and slots via casino apps in New Jersey. These apps, available on both iOS and Android, are convenient, offering players a gateway to excellent software that delivers compelling online experiences.
Shared-worlds will continue to evolve as new tech and more powerful hardware reaches the mass market. Perhaps virtual reality or augmented reality will be the next frontier that delivers a revolution for shared, open-world gaming.
