This single-player game uses a simple but effective trick to capture an MMO feel

As someone who played MMOs practically in their infancy, it’s so cool to see a game like Erenshor pop up. It’s a game that’s been on my radar for a while now, and although it has no real release date to speak of, the developer has done a lot to make this single-player world feel full and alive. To go one step further, I found it easier to find a party in this game, than in some other MMOs I’m active in on a weekly basis.

I did a preview of Erenshor not too long ago, as I was active in the demo for the game. However, I do want to get deeper into the actual game itself, beyond the few hours I had in that teaser.

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Erenshor uses effective coding and its AI-driven NPCs to perfectly replicate an MMO world

It’s the little things that make Erenshor such a perfect little MMO world. It’s very clear to me that the developer understands the genre. Even the things that are frustrating about playing an online game — like the characters (sims) running up and stealing enemy aggro before you can run up and start attacking.

This simulated MMORPG feels more alive than some other games I've played lately. (Image via Burgee Media)

The game’s AI scripts are well above par — I don’t mean AI like Chat GPT, either. The scripting for the various sims you come across in the world is excellent. Occasionally, you’ll see NPCs that are better geared than you, and they might drop a heal on you as they run past. This is something all too common in, say, Final Fantasy XIV. If I’m on as a White Mage or Sage, I’ll also heal players that are low, as I explore and work on quests.

It’s like .hack, but less anime and more EverQuest. You’ll see sims spamming chat to try and buy/sell/trade for powerful gear or other items, which sadly, I couldn’t put to the test yet. I didn’t have any of the items they wanted — but I assume they’re in the game somewhere.

If you kick someone from your party, they might say “GG” or “Thanks for the party," or they could flame you in global chat — without the racial slurs and swearing. They’ll just say something to the effect of not wanting to party with weak players. It’s such a magical experience.

This game has a classic look and feel — it makes me incredibly nostalgic. (Image via Burgee Media)

It’s the little things that make this a true-to-life MMO experience. It’s for those who love MMOs, but just don’t have the time to commit to one of the big ones like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV. You can hop on, find a little party, complete some dungeons, or find some quests to take on.

While it’s definitely an easy game to get into, it won’t hold your hand, other than a solid tutorial. It’ll teach you how to look for quests, enter combat, set up your hotbar, and more. There aren’t many games that capture a simulated online sensation quite like Erenshor.

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Unfortunately, we don’t have a release date for Erenshor, but I’ve got really high hopes for it. Everyone I know who's familiar with it has nothing but positive things to say.

Out of its 199 reviews on Steam, only four of them are negative, which is saying something, when it comes to Valve's client. If you love classic online games, but don’t have the time, or don’t want to subscribe, consider this one when it goes live.