MMORPGs may not appeal to everyone, but players who like them enjoy being immersed in a real living world. There are other elements of MMORPGs that players love, including the strong sense of heroism that comes with their character's progression to the freeing sense of wonderment that comes with exploring the wide-open world, filled with various quests for players to complete.
There are many single-player narratives that do well at replicating the MMORPG experience without the need for other players or online systems. They often include elaborate fantasy worlds filled with extensive lore, fun combat systems, and role-playing aspects to fully immerse the player in the mind of their character. Here are some of the most enjoyable offline single-player games with MMO vibes.
9 Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning features a sprawling, enchanting open world ripe for exploration as players uncover the dark mysteries shrouded in Amalur. Hailed as featuring "more content than any single-player game deserves," this fantasy classic is guaranteed to keep players entertained for hours on end with the sheer amount of content available, from its robust crafting system to the wholesome RPG elements.
Players will experience unparalleled satisfaction as they get to continuously evolve their character to suit their individual play style, becoming more powerful with every passing moment. With dozens of combinations and weapon synergizes available, players can seamlessly switch from powerful magical spells to brutal melee strikes with Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning's completely fluid MMORPG-like combat.
8 Fallout 4
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Bethesda's Fallout 4 takes place in the year 2287, as a devastating bomb destroys most of the planet, leaving the player as the supposed Sole Survivor of the apocalypse and left to deal with the radioactive debris. The playable character is fully customizable and voice-acted, adding to the immersion.
Fallout 4's open world is incredibly expansive as they journey alone through decimated wastelands and abandoned cities, completing quests and meeting some oddball characters along the way. Although strictly a single-player franchise, Fallout clearly has MMO potential, as seen with Bethesda's Fallout 74.
7 Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
Dragon Age: Inquisition is heavily inspired by the popular tabletop game, Dungeons & Dragons and is the perfect game to satisfy any fantasy cravings. Players take control of an Inquisitor, a survivor of the world-changing event that tore a hole in the Veil that separated the physical realm and the Fade.
While not being an MMO itself, Dragon Age: Inquisition features many of the same classic tropes, including an in-depth combat system, intriguing world-building, and immersive RPG mechanics that can alter the lore depending on the player's choices. Like many modern fantasy games, the player is permitted to explore the massive open world awaiting them at their own leisure.
6 Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch
Although it is considered quite dated now, Final Fantasy 12 is regarded as one of the best MMO-like games in history while being a true single-player experience. The world of Ivalice is faced with war and political turmoil. Players take control of Vaan, an orphan who dreams of freeing his country from the grip of the Archadian Empire.
Final Fantasy 12 is considered one of the best iterations of the Final Fantasy franchise, sure to scratch the itch for any World of Warcraft fans that want an offline RPG to spend hours exploring.
5 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Set in the glorious greenery of Norway and Britain, Assassin's Creed Valhalla sees players planted straight amid the Viking invasion of England, following the story of the legendary Eivor Varinsdottir, a Viking raider.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla relies less upon stealth-based gameplay, making it more accessible for players who want to embrace their inner Viking strength and rush straight into battle. The range of different vegetation, gorgeous flora, and the sheer amount of life in the characters make Assassin's Creed Valhalla one of the best offline open-world games available, with a world so real players will feel like they are physically immersed in it.
4 Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch
For a game adaptation of an anime all about thousands of players being trapped in a fantasy video game, Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris is surprisingly a mostly-single-player experience set in an MMO universe. This colorful world sees players control fan-favorite character Kirito as he awakens in a completely unknown virtual reality.
Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris features silky smooth combat, utilizing legendary sacred arts and swordplay to create epic battles that are sure to keep players on their toes! Players will almost always have a party of two other AI-controlled characters fighting alongside them, with an online co-op option unlocked later in the game if players crave the company of others.
3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch
Non-linear storylines and expansive environments are important for any single-player RPG, as CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt executes these thematics perfectly. Players take on the role of the titular Witcher, namely Geralt of Rivia, in his pursuit to find his adoptive daughter Ciri before the Wild Hunt captures her.
The Witcher 3 is one of the most atmospheric games ever made. Every homestead and village Geralt passes on horseback has a sense of gritty, medieval realism that makes the player feel as though the world is truly lived in. Players can either continue the main quest line, solve local mysteries, or even pass the time playing friendly card games of Gwent - the choice is theirs!
2 Cyberpunk 2077
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Another of CD Projekt Red's games makes this list: the controversial Cyberpunk 2077. After a tumultuous launch full of bugs and glitches in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 has since settled down, with many players diving head-first into this dystopian neon-plastered open-world experience.
The bustling streets of the vibrant Night City are full of life, granting players a deep and immersive experience they will never forget. This is the perfect game for gamers looking to explore a living, breathing world bursting with crime, violence, and gang warfare. It's clear to see how epic an MMO version of Cyberpunk 2077 would be, but for now, players will have to settle for the single-player experience.
1 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
- Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim beats many games in terms of longevity and success. Initially released in 2011 and remastered in 2016, this fantasy classic has been kept alive and relevant through community-made modifications that add tons of fresh content to the game, from new areas to explore to fan-made quest lines!
Where Skyrim truly excels is through its expansive open world, ripe for player exploration for any fans of open-world MMOs. Although it has a crucial story campaign for players to follow as the mighty Dragonborn, they can take it at their own pace and indulge in some side-quests in their downtime. The sheer number of available combat builds and activities ensure that no two playthroughs of Skyrim will ever be the same!