Over the years, online gaming has grown beyond PC to give players a more immersive competitive experience. This is best shown by free games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone and Apex Legends. Part of the appeal of these games is the freedom of expression between players who can pick their ideal characters and their appearance, as well as a high degree of unpredictability and replayable design. Each title offers a new experience that single-player adventures struggle to replicate. Thankfully, sandbox games like Assassin's Creed: Valhalla have played a major role in the evolution of the single-player experience.
Single-player games almost always feature amazing stories with characters that quickly become beloved. However, the more linear the game, the less likely a player will be to pick it back up once it's completed. As a result, solo titles have been forced to evolve and grow existing mechanics to create something comparable to multiplayer games. Open-world design has become the answer.
Sandbox games have been around for decades. 2D development offered Metroidvania-type games that let players explore a massive map to complete objectives. As the medium evolved, the gameplay structure grew as well, with franchises like Assassin's Creed helping push the concept to its limits. One of the biggest benefits of this format is how it allows players to experience a story at their own pace. If they don't want to get right to the main narrative, there are countless side missions to complete that will also benefit the player in the long run.
Sandbox games also have the ability to continuously update the map with new events, whether seasonal or DLC-related. Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a great example of this as the game has already added festivals to celebrate holidays like the Yule Festival. Much like starting a new season in Fortnite, these events ensure that each session never feels the same and gives the player a reason to return to the game.
Side-missions and random events also ensure a level of dynamic fun comparable to multiplayer. When playing a new title, there are often multiple side-missions available on the map. Each can vary in length, and some even feature a short story more emotional than the main narrative, like Ghost of Tsushima's Yuriko side mission chain. Random events also ensure that the flow of gameplay never becomes monotonous. Marvel's Spider-Man consistently uses this mechanic to make the player feel even more like a hero through stopping random crimes.
Online multiplayer shows no signs of stopping when it comes to popularity and new content. However, this doesn't have to mean that the single-player experience must suffer because of it. Thanks to sandbox titles, the ability for players to create a personal adventure each time they play offers its own thrills that are similar to what multiplayer offers. While sandbox games don't offer the same replayability as challenging real opponents does, the occurrences within the map can surprise players with new features and events. Sandbox titles have the same value as multiplayer, and they also showcase the best qualities that single-player games have to offer.