The death of single-player video games has been a hot topic for several years now, with Larian Studios founder and Baldur’s Gate 3 director Swen Vincke weighing in on the matter. Vincke stated that he believes traditional single-player experiences are not dead yet and emphasized the importance of quality in game development.
Vincke’s comments align with his previous statements, where he discussed how other studios could replicate the success of Baldur’s Gate 3. At The Game Awards last year, Vincke also emphasized the simplicity of the winning formula for a game, which he believes is often overlooked.
While multiplayer and live-service games are popular, they also come with significant risks for studios, especially when competing against established titles that dominate the market. Vincke highlighted the challenges studios face in creating successful multiplayer games, citing examples of titles that failed to maintain momentum after launch.
Despite the dominance of multiplayer games, there were several single-player games in 2024 that achieved both critical and commercial success. Metaphor ReFantazio was praised as one of the best games of the year, exceeding sales forecasts. Additionally, top-selling games like Elden Ring, Hogwarts Legacy, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth showcased the continued appeal of single-player experiences.
In 2025, two games have already shown promising sales numbers. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 reached 2 million copies sold by February 13, while Capcom’s Monster Hunter: Wilds sold 8 million copies in just three days. This demonstrates that single-player games can still attract a significant audience and achieve commercial success in the gaming industry.
