Everyone hates that feeling when you are just getting into the groove of a game then the credits roll, or you find yourself with nothing meaningful to do.
Multiplayer games are not exempt from these horrors, but fear not: this list has thebest slow-burnmultiplayer games, so you canhave your fun without worrying about the end being nigh.
There is no set template for what makes a good, slow multiplayer game. Some of them have youadventure with your pals, and others have you set the autopilot at flight level 410 while enjoying the view of the Alps.
You also have some variety of company: some games here workbetter with friends, others make you a little guy in a world surrounded by randos. Nothing wrong with changing things up, right?
The Pinnacle of Crafting
Terrariais where you go whenMinecraftstops scratching that itch. The 2D wonders ofTerrariahave a sense of purpose and consequence that Mojang’s modern classic lacks, making multiplayer worlds matter so much more.
The only caveat withTerrariamultiplayer is that running a world works best with friendswho agree toplay together. It is possible to run solo in a shared world, but that often ends up sucking for whoever cannot join at that time.
Terrariarewards exploration but does not skimp on the combat and progression systems. These systems offer a decent challenge even for experienced players without locking newbies out.
7EVE Online
A Fun Job Outside Your Job
EVE Online
If you somehow wake up craving the rhythm of a 9-to-5 job but in a gaming format, it does not get any better thanEVE Online.
The game isan economic simulator dressed up as a space game, to the point that the developers producemonthly economic reportsthat are more detailed than some real-world financial documents.
On top of the intrinsically slow nature of space travel, what makes EVE Online stay fresh for long is thevariety of jobsyou can pick up, from mining to bounty hunting.
The risk/reward ratio varies greatly, so you can always change things if you are bored.
6Fallout 76
Rebuilding America, One Side Quest At A Time
Fallout 76
Bethesda’s multiplayerFalloutattempt had anawful start, but it has matured into a nice and chill open-world multiplayer game.
The main storyline inFallout 76takes less than 100 hours to finish, but there are no incentives to rush it when you could be having a chill time.
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If you love Fallout and want to find similar games to play, this list can give you some ideas.
What makesFallout 76relatively unique in this list is thatyou can play it like a single-playerFalloutgame or interact with players.
Some encounters do have that toxic MMO veneer, but most of the time, it is a fun time rebuilding America.
5Microsoft Flight Simulator
From Airlines To Bush Flying
Microsoft Flight Simulator
The world is your oyster. Few games give you an accurate rendition of planet Earth with no limitations to play with, andMicrosoft Flight Simulatorbundles that with a bustling multiplayer environment and a huge aircraft line-up.
Flying online inMicrosoft Flight Simulatorhas one limit: your free time.You can go bush flying in Alaska, or get on VATSIM and enjoy a full human ATC experiencefor that airline fix.
This is a dynamic and fun game that makes the joy of flight accessible without sacrificing fidelity, something that is incredibly hard to do.
4Sea of Thieves
Ahoy, Matey!
Sea of Thieves
Hitting all of the achievements inSea of Thieveswill take you over 1000 hours, but most players never stop there.
The game remains the primepirate experiencedespite Ubisoft’s abortive attempts to supersede it withSkull & Bones.
What keepsSea of Thievesfresh for so long is howthe game is unlimited dumb fun, especially if you are playing with friends.
Player encounters are chaotic, the world is unpredictable, and even when nothing is happening, you have a good time sailing the seven seas.
Because War Is Fun With Friends
War is horrible, butFoxholeplayers make it feel like a party. This cooperative action-strategy game plays out live across a world map, where all players collaborate toward a common goal.
UnlikeHelldivers 2where everyone is on the same side,Foxholepits Wardens and Colonials against each other in a grinding war inspired by the first half of the 20th century.
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Start your competitive gaming journey the right way.
You havelumbering tanks, artillery for days, players running supply missions, and a disdain for human lifethat would make Super Earth proud.
Wars inFoxholecan last over a month, and you get more personally attached to it with each passing day. Victory is sweet, and defeat is ever bitter, but it is all short-lived once a new war starts.
2Final Fantasy XIV
Endless Magical Fun
Final Fantasy 14
The first fully onlineFinal Fantasyexperience is over 10 years old, but it remainsa fresh and engaging game thanks to the love Square Enix pours into it.
A lot of franchise veterans are skeptical about the game initially, and that apprehension is normal. After all, how come a solo story-driven series works as an MMO? As it turns out, that makes it even better.
Most players who enjoyFinal Fantasy XIVstick with it past the 1,000-hour mark, and you regularly find people close to or above 10,000.
Between DLCs, events, and base content, there is enough adventure here to keep you busy for years.
1Old School RuneScape
Timeless Perfection
Old School RuneScape
We saved the best for last. When chasing slow-burn multiplayer games, you might as well go straight to the source.
Old School Runescapepreservedthe game’s old spirit but with enough improvements to keep it relevant, and it has been one of the leading MMOs in the world since the ripe year of 2001.
The only problem inRuneScapetoday compared toRuneScapetwenty-something years ago is that most players do not have a full day to sink into it after coming home from school.
RuneScapeis a pure affair. It is unpretentious fun that rewards your time and makes the grind worth it. It does not get any better than this.
10 Best Slow Burn Single Player Games
The time you do spend playing these titles rewards you for every minute.
