Lengthy-time guests to MMOBomb may recall my yearly custom of manufacturing articles round this time of 12 months that appeared again on the gaming trade from the earlier 12 months or ahead to the subsequent. That gained’t be taking place this 12 months, mainly as a result of I’m not as “plugged in” as I used to be after I was dealing with information and podcasts frequently and had a greater concept of all the pieces that was taking place within the gaming world. Possibly subsequent 12 months, as soon as I get again into the swing of issues.
I did wish to push out yet another piece earlier than the top of 2025, nevertheless, so slightly than have a look at the trade as a complete, I assumed I’d have a look at my private free-to-play gaming expertise and see if there’s something fascinating I can gleam from the 12 months passed by. Don’t fear, this gained’t be simply idle navel-gazing; I’ll provide you with one thing that shall be value studying even if you happen to aren’t me. Which I certain hope you aren’t, or else that is going to be actually bizarre.
I scoured my listing of free-to-play video games that I performed in 2025 and got here up with eight, which fell into two distinct classes. Right here’s when these eight launched:
2004
2007
2012
2016
2024
2024
2025
2025
That’s 4 video games within the realm of 1 to twenty years outdated and 4 that launched this 12 months or the final. It’s fairly the divide!
The 4 older video games are all titles that launched as paid video games: the primary two with month-to-month subscriptions (Metropolis of Heroes and The Lord of the Rings On-line) and the opposite two with out (Guild Wars 2 and Overwatch 2). That’s largely the way it went within the first half (to date) of this century, and the way they had been after I began enjoying them.
The opposite 4 video games are Marvel Rivals, Zenless Zone Zero, Umamusume: Fairly Derby, and The place Winds Meet. All of these had been free-to-play from the beginning.
The distinction is notable, and never simply within the graphics. The latter group had been all made by Asian builders and three of them are on cellular units.
That final reality in all probability helps clarify why they’re overloaded with dopamine hits, notifications of achievements for doing nearly something. Killed 10 monsters? Achievement. Entered a brand new zone? Achievement. Crafted an merchandise? Achievement. Click on over right here to get your reward! Earned three achievements immediately? Guess what? Achievement! And so the cycle continues. Engagement is king, and nothing engages you greater than continuously providing you with rewards, proper?
I like reward as a lot as the subsequent man, however sooner or later it will get a bit of overwhelming. The place Winds Meet was particularly the butt of my jokes after I streamed it, as each couple of minutes my consideration was pulled away from the sport to assert my rewards, most of which I had no concept what they had been for.
That was my early expertise in Zenless Zone Zero as effectively, and I did ultimately be taught what most of these currencies did, so extra time in The place Winds Meet will in all probability assist. It’s clear that builders wish to offer you loads of loot so that you be ok with your self and wish to maintain enjoying, particularly in a recreation’s early phases, however for a few of us, enthusiastic about the place all that loot is coming from and what you’re purported to do with it induces extra stress than it does pleasure.
This isn’t to say that the older video games I discussed don’t have pop-ups to reward you as effectively; they actually do. However I really feel like I can really play them for a size of time earlier than getting a type of GW2 bouncy chests or seeing I’ve earned a loot field in Overwatch, they usually usually aren’t nested achievements-within-achievements-within-achievements. There’s a way of restraint in these titles, maybe due to their age and the way intrusive older gamers would discover the fixed notifications.
The factor is: In the event that they’re intrusive in these video games, they’re intrusive in all video games.
Personally, I play that The place Winds Meet much less as a result of, as calming as it may be whenever you’re having fun with a splendid vista in medieval China, it’s irritating to really feel like I would like to tug myself away from that to assert my newest shiny. That vibe works higher for me in a fast-paced recreation like ZZZ or Umamusume, however I believe it ought to have been toned down a bit for The place Winds Meet.
However this isn’t meant to be a downer publish to finish your 12 months. I really get pleasure from enjoying these video games, new and outdated, regardless of no matter gripes I’ve with them. As I typically say to individuals who suppose the subsequent huge shiny MMORPG would be the excellent one which solves each problem they’ve ever had with the style, go forward and watch for that. I’ll be enjoying video games which are already right here, and you may be too after you’ve been disillusioned for the 826th time.
We stay in imperfect occasions. That assertion clearly will be utilized to issues much more essential than video video games and different types of leisure, however that’s not what we cowl right here. In that discipline, I can solely supply the reply that I all the time give each time somebody asks me what recreation I’m wanting ahead to: nothing.
No, that doesn’t imply the gaming trade is dying, or that there’s nothing I would like in any respect – I’ve a Steam wishlist, in spite of everything. However I’m not not pinning all my hopes and desires on video games with nebulous launch dates or non-existent developer updates. When one thing comes out, it’ll come out, and I’ll (hopefully) be pleased. Till that point, nevertheless, I’m content material with the video games I play, and those I’ve but to play – I’ve a Steam backlog, too.
If you happen to’re in search of a New 12 months’s Decision, that may be it: Get pleasure from what you’ve received, gaming-wise a minimum of, and don’t pine for a future which will by no means come. Possibly your jam could be a recreation that got here out this 12 months or the final, or possibly it got here out twenty years in the past. So many video games being free-to-play now make it simpler than ever to get into older titles. Attempt one thing new (to you) and look ahead to new gaming experiences to return, but in addition don’t oversell your self on one thing which will by no means arrive, a minimum of not within the type that you really want it.
And don’t preorder or closely spend money on damaged alphas. Clearly.
