The Future of MMOs Is Indie
Gaming's biggest and most ambitious genre needs that small studio spirit.
Hades. Stardew Valley. Vampire Survivors. Balatro. Hollow Knight. Celeste. Undertale. Terraria. Cuphead. Slay the Spire. Phasmophobia.
Indie games are the future of gaming. Small teams — sometimes even solo developers — keep proving you don’t need a massive budget or a big-name publisher to make something players fall in love with. I want that same indie spirit to reshape one of the industry’s biggest and most ambitious genres: MMOs.
Let’s be real — the MMO space has been stuck for years. Big studios keep chasing the ghosts of World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV, pumping out formulaic games designed more for monetization and retention than actual innovation. Flashy launches, sure — but the fun wears off fast. That’s why indie developers are so important.
I’m not saying indie MMOs are flawless. And honestly? There aren’t even a ton of them yet. Off the top of my dome, I can only name BitCraft Online, Palia, and Temtem. These games seem like they were built with love. There’s a focus on player creativity, emergent gameplay, and actual community.
If the future of gaming is indie, then the future of MMOs has to be indie too.
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About the Author
Matthew “dinofries” D'Onofrio is a writer, content creator, podcaster and — most importantly — a gamer. With such a strong passion for video games and a severe case of FOMO, it's no surprise he always has his finger on the pulse of the gaming world. On the rare occasion Matt's away from a screen, you'll find him strumming away on his acoustic guitar or taking care of his cat Totoro.
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