There Can Only Be One: Singleplayer or Multiplayer?

I personally would say multiplayer, because if it done right then you could have singular experiences inside of a multiplayer game. Example: I played a large portion of vanilla World of Warcraft and the beta without partying up with anyone or any other player character effecting my game and it was always multiplayer. I think that's the biggest thing to solve in this generation where single and multiplayer lines are blurred: does it negatively effect my experience of the game?

Multiplayer

Single player, everytime.

QFT

Single player, because it could at least make it seem to be multiplayer. And those virtual players are all awesome, instead of the dregs of society you usually play with. ;)

Most of my favorite games of all time have been well-crafted single player games. So, I'd have to go with that.

Seeing how Dark Souls/Demon's Souls can be regarded as a multiplayer game (it's certainly not a singleplayer game), and most future games are blurring the lines between singleplayer and multiplayer in a similar fashion, obviously multiplayer - there's just so much more potential left to be explored.

None of the qualities of a singleplayer game are exclusive to singleplayer games, they all can be found in well-crafted multiplayer games eventually, where-as the excitement and challange and dynamism of multiplayer can never be fully recreated in a singleplayer game.

Multiplayer all the way.

@seppli: I agree, 100%

@seppli: Oh, if you're including a game like Dark Souls into "multiplayer", then the obvious answer is multiplayer. If singleplayer games with optional multiplayer elements are included in multiplayer, then it should be the clear winner. You get it all.

@seppli: Eh. I think that's dependent on your definition- I would take issue with labelling dark souls a "multiplayer game". I mean, if your gonna say that any game with an integrated multiplayer option counts as multiplayer, than sure- but I think it's far more in the spirit of the poll to look at it like this: If you choose single player, all the dark souls multiplayer aspects get removed. If you choose multiplayer, you can never not be actively playing with others- people are always in your world, can always team up with you, and can always attack you.

Single player, all the way.

Single player, obviously.

Yeah, the spirit of this question seems to be the choice between singleplayer only and multiplayer only. For example, a RPG with only your lonesome or a fighting game or shooter with only multiplayer with others.

Well, I don't play multiplayer games anyway, so I think I'll pick singleplayer...

Single player. I think some multiplayers can be fun, but I rarely ever, on my own play multiplayer games (as in, I'll really only play it if it's local play). Even if it's a spectacular game like The Last of Us, it wasn't until a few days ago that I gave in and tried the multiplayer... For one match. It was fun, but I stopped after the first go to probably never go back. So yes, multiplayer can be quite a lot of fun, but I'm a single player campaign kind of person. If we were to look at it plain and simple, would I rather play video games if it was more like Call of Duty multiplayer (or Battlefield and what have you), or Bioshock, I'd very much take Bioshock over the previous.

I barely play multiplayer games anyway so this is an easy decision.

If I really had to choose, I'd keep multiplayer. Sure you meet alot of bad apples in multiplayer, but my favorite game-related stories are always about the experiences ppl have playing with or against each other. The stories like I met this dude playing street fighter when i was 10 and now we're lifelong friends 20 yrs later, the we met online in EVE/Mincraft/WoW and now we're married, the EVOs/Internationals of the world, and so on. I don't think I would trade that kind of stuff in just for a great single player campaign.

Multiplayer, obviously.

What's the point of games if not to play with other people.

Singleplayer.

Singleplayer.

If I want to play with friends, I'll go outside.

Single player. Multi-players don't behave according to the game world. Single player experiences are more memorable. I prefer obstacle stages and an emphasis on exploration over arenas. The enemy designs are more varied. The goals in multi player matches are always the same, whereas in single player you have a story. Some of those things can be added to multi player games, but then they become the main focus and the multi player becomes an extra, like in D. Souls, whose players make up their own rules, spam useless messages, congregate and idle in the same PvP areas and act like players rather than characters. When a "campaign" has both, I care more about the single player elements. If all single player games had multi player like D. Souls or Journey, the creators would have to change their stories or settings to incorporate it, potentially making them less effective or ruining them. Imagine if Sony told Team Ico they had to come up with an excuse for having other players in the desolate, peaceful world of Shadow of the Colossus. The games don't disconnect, lag horribly, cheat on you or cease to be playable within a few years.

I've played multiplayer games alone. This is like asking whether I want a dollar or two.

Hmm multiplayer games are just what I waste time in while I wait for the next singleplayer game I want to come out. I guess id ban multiplayer and find a new hobby to do in between.

@seppli: I believe that hybrid of singleplayer and multiplayer is what we in the business* call mingleplayer.

*The business of hating ourselves.

Video games have too much potential as a storytelling medium.

If more video games focused their talents on the narrative of the game, then hell yes. Unfortunately, if a game ships without multiplayer these days without being an established name, its chances of survival are slim and the title is unfortunately nerfed.

Single player. Other people fucking suck.

Single player, every time. I hate people, and having to play a game with people that don't care and just want to fuck around and not actually play the game are the icing on the shit cake.

I guess multiplayer, but I sure don't feel good about that choice.

A world without Worms?

Nope.

Single. All you choosing multi should be locked in a dungeon you savages.

You all don't understand either that it'd be a world where Call of Duty will still reign. Whenever a game integrates multiplayer, it's usually shitty aside from a few games and most games die out within a month. So no thanks. I don't want to stick to playing shooters the rest of my life. Rather not play games at all.

FUCK OTHER PEOPLE.

Single player, always. I don't like people.

No matter what you vote for the machines have won. :(

Single player all the way. Multiplayer's fun for a distraction but I've always struggled to get really invested into it, except for maybe Street Fighter 4 and Mario Kart.

Single Player

I hate people in my games.

Who knew this site was filled with misanthropes who hate fun?

To be fair, this is Giant Bomb. The site and its community are not really something any of us can ever fully understand.

Absolutely singleplayer, I haven't played anything multiplayer since Halo 3 and before that, I didn't play multiplayer.

Single Player would be my choice, because I like to game at my own pace. For example If I want to just stop and explore in a game.. I can. Or quit whenever I feel like. In Multiplayer games I usually feel as if I'm being dragged along by everybody else, it's not as enjoyable.

Normally I would say single player in a heartbeat, but now, idk. Dota 2's pretty good, you guys...

@canteu said:

Oh right, the glorious fun in playing with other people over the internet... . Singleplayer all the way. Keep those assholes out of my games.

Single Player. Usually when I play games its because I want to escape into my own little world away from people. I enjoy multiplayer but if push came to shove I'd take my solitary experiences every time over multiplayer every time.

Multiplayer, because Demon/Dark Souls.

EDIT: Also, EVE.

Single player, I enjoy a good campaign and can easily move on to the next game rather than playing on the same maps over and over.

Hmm my message disappeared, too lazy to write another. This is a really easy decision, 95-99% of multiplayer communities are shit; if every community was like Starcraft: Brood War's then you might have some capacity for discussion.

I like multiplayer games fin but I play way more single-player

Single-player or bust. Sometimes I do 2 player local play, rarely ever play online.

I've tried a lot of multiplayer games, but they just don't stick. Personally, it's the stories (i.e. narratives) that bring me back to games over and over. The worlds and the stories in them. No multiplayer game has done that for me in a compelling way, yet.

I may try out Elder Scrolls Online, though, and I do wish I knew more people to play co-op games with online.

Single player is two words. And I very rarely play games with other people.

Multiplayer, because Demon/Dark Souls.

Funny I was going to say single player because Dark Souls. Huh.