Summary
The MMO genre seems to be strong in 2023, with a handful of games carrying the load and keeping players' attention. It houses plenty of visual styles and creative ideas, be it the sci-fi setting ofStar Wars: The Old Republicor the high-fantasy ofNeverwinter. Both also show that existing fictional franchises can adapt well to packed servers and strong player-counts, as well as find ways to adhere to the conventions of normal MMOs. If this is possible, then it’s high timeNarutomade the leap.
Narutois one of the most beloved manga and anime properties of all time, and has all the components it needs to be the topic of a truly great massive multiplayer offering. The titular character made his way intoFortniteand the string of fighting games are great, but an MMO where players can explore the Hidden Leaf Village and beyond is clearly long overdue.
RELATED:What a Naruto MMO Could Do Better Than its Ultimate Ninja Storm Series
Naruto Has Been Stuck in the Fighting Genre for Years
Narutofans have been spoiled in gaming with a consistent stream of plenty of good titles. FromNaruto: Rise of a Ninjato the excellentUltimate Ninja Stormgames that prioritize re-crafting the intense fights from the anime and manga, the IP is well represented, but it has the potential for much more. It has the capability of more than justifying the deployment of a fully fleshed-out open world and the plethora of memorable characters to make it feel well populated.
As of this year theNarutovideo games have sold around 32 million units worldwide, and around 250 million copies of the manga are in circulation around the globe.
Withthe introduction of Boruto, the franchise has gone through some changes in recent years, and it’s the right time for gaming to reflect that. Taking advantage of the ever-growing world ofNarutois something that has to happen in games and, asFinal Fantasy 14has proven, an MMO is the most viable way to give players a big setting, a dense story, and content that can be introduced gradually to keep people coming back. The fighting genre can’t offer that much, even if the past games have their own charm.
Anime MMO Games Are as Popular as Ever
Betweengames likeFinal Fantasy 14,Phantasy Star Online 2, and evenNi No Kuni: Cross Worlds, anime-inspired MMOs are rising in popularity on a number of different platforms. A title that justifies and rewards returning players, an art style that keeps it familiar and comfortable, and the success of the aforementioned projects shows that gaming is fertile ground for an expansion of theNarutostory, particularly with the massive multiplayer genre in mind.
Final Fantasy 14has an estimated player count of over 40 million active users, andPhantasy Star Online 2has an approximate total player base of around 3.4 million.
ANarutoMMO would give avid players of the genre as well as fans of the property the perfect opportunity to see its world through new eyes. Creating a character, choosing a shinobi village to call home, and carrying out missions while leveling up to achieve the ranks of a Genin, Chunin, and Jonin to show off to other players would be the stuff of dreams.
The structure ofNaruto’s storyfits the MMO idea like a glove. The fighting-centric offerings are fun, but a lot of years have passed, and it could be time for something new. An online multiplayer that puts setting, story, and lore at the forefront is one of many possible answers, but there’s little denying that it’s one of the right ones.
