5 Reasons I Can’t Get Into Mobile MMOs (No Matter How Hard I Try)

Look, I want to like mobile MMORPGs. I’m not opposed to playing games on my phone, and sometimes I don’t feel like sitting at my computer. The couch or my bed is comfier. People even rave about playing popular MMOs like RuneScape and Albion Online on their phones. But every time I try one, I bounce off hard. Here’s why mobile MMOs just haven’t won me over (yet).

1. Pay-to-Win

The overwhelming majority of mobile MMOs are free-to-play, and therefore feature relentless monetization. Because that’s how mobile gaming be. It’s never just “buy a cool outfit” or “speed up crafting” — it’s usually five different currencies, a gacha pull for a mount, stamina that locks you out after five minutes, and VIP tiers that straight-up make your character better if you pay.

2. Auto-Play

I don’t mind quality-of-life features like automatic pathing or quest tracking, but when the game literally plays itself, what’s the point? Some of these MMOs will auto-everything while I stare blankly at the screen wondering what the heck I’m doing with my life. I want to play my character so I can escape into another world, not watch them live out my fantasy.

3. Touch Controls

MMOs usually require a decent amount of buttons to press. You’ve got skills to manage, mobs to kite, menus to navigate, inventory to juggle. Trying to do all that on a touchscreen is a nightmare. Even when the MMO is on the simpler side, it’s never clicked for me on mobile. And I see more of my thumb than the actual game. Maybe my fingers are just too fat.

4. Time Gates

Most mobile MMOs love to drip-feed content. You log in, do your daily quests/chores, hit the stamina wall, and then wait. Come back tomorrow to continue progress.

5. The Feel 

Even if there’s guilds and chat, something about mobile MMOs feels hollow. The world’s on rails, the community is silent, and you wind up feeling alone — which is the exact opposite reason ofwhy I am a fan of this genre. MMOs are at their best when they seem alive. Mobile MMOs appear artificial to me.

I’m not saying mobile MMOs can’t be good — there are a few good-looking ones out there that I’d like to try. But they usually suck, and most don’t delineate from the bad reputation mobile MMOs have garnered. Until something gives, I’ll stick to playing MMOs on my PC where they belong.