Games That Shine Solo
When it comes to single-player and multiplayer modes, some games don’t always get it right on both fronts—even amazing ones. Many deliver incredible single-player campaigns filled with depth and strategy, only to completely flop when multiplayer enters the picture. It’s like two different worlds packed into the same disc, and only one truly works. Are you wondering which games nailed the single-player only to flounder on the multiplayer side of things? Let's dive in!
THE LAST OF US Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PS5 PRO] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
1. Dead Space 2
While the single-player campaign of Dead Space 2 is a tense, expertly crafted sci-fi horror experience, its multiplayer feels like an afterthought. The 4v4 Necromorph mode never captures the atmosphere of the main game, and objectives quickly become repetitive rather than frightening or engaging.
DEAD SPACE 2 Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PC ULTRA] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
2. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
In solo play, the game’s platforming is celebrated for responsiveness and pacing. Multiplayer shifts that tone into disarray. Constant collisions make coordination difficult, and planned jumps collapse under shared movement, which leaves an experience that feels far removed from the campaign’s deliberate design.
3. Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy is dazzling solo, with inventive gravity mechanics and masterful level design. The two-player “Co-Star” mode, however, adds almost nothing. The second player only collects Star Bits, contributing minimally and never capturing the sense of discovery or precision platforming that makes the game shine alone.
[Longplay] Nintendo Wii - Super Mario Galaxy (4K, 60FPS) by Gamelong
4. Dead Island
Exploring the undead island alone builds atmosphere and tension in ways that hold attention. When a second player joins, balance problems creep in. The uneven pacing pulls energy away from scavenging and crafting and makes cooperative play less compelling than intended.
5. Red Dead Redemption 2
The heart of RDR2 lies in Arthur Morgan’s journey. And the online version tries to replicate this, yet multiplayer feels disjointed. Story-driven encounters and carefully paced missions lose their narrative weight when scattered across a constantly shifting online environment.
6. Far Cry 5
Single-player exploration reinforces the narrative weight of Far Cry 5. Co-op integration throughout the campaign disrupts this cohesion. Story missions diminish in impact once shared, and key dramatic moments fail to maintain the intended intensity under cooperative conditions.
FAR CRY 5 Full Gameplay Walkthrough / No Commentary【FULL GAME】1080p HD by Gamer's Little Playground
7. Wolfenstein (2009)
While the single-player campaign of Wolfenstein delivers intense, story-driven FPS action, the multiplayer is underwhelming. Class-based combat is generic, maps are forgettable, and it lacks the pacing and cinematic tension of solo play. Multiplayer never approaches the adrenaline and narrative depth of the main game.
8. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Inquisition shines when you’re shaping politics and fighting dragons on your own. Jump into multiplayer, and the spark fades. The dungeons repeat, objectives blur, and the entire mode feels less like a grand quest and more like busywork tacked onto brilliance.
Dragon Age: Inquisition - Is it Worth it in 2025? by MrHulthen
9. Diablo
Solo Diablo is thrilling, but multiplayer often falls short. Lag and level imbalances create chaos, which slows the exploration that makes the dungeons so addictive. Online play can leave players longing for the smooth, controlled experience of a single-player run.
Diablo ... (PS1) Gameplay by 10min Gameplay
10. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes thrives in single-player, where atmosphere and exploration shine. It's split-screen multiplayer struggles to capture that intensity. Combat feels awkward in a shared setting, and the layered design of Light and Dark worlds loses weight once divided among players.
Longplay of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes by LongplayArchive
11. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Drake’s solo adventure captures the spirit of a movie unfolding onscreen, with tense escapes and bold storytelling. In comparison, multiplayer stumbles. Its standard multiplayer matches lack the story depth and high stakes that make the campaign so thrilling.
12. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Renaissance Rome comes alive in this game’s single-player mode, where Ezio blends stealth and epic story moments. Multiplayer adds a competitive layer, yet hunting real people feels less thrilling. The tension and artistry of assassinations fade, leaving a lighter gaming experience.
ASSASSIN'S CREED BROTHERHOOD Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (4K 60FPS) No Commentary by Shirrako
13. Tomb Raider (2013)
Solo play in Tomb Raider is an intense mix of exploration and survival. Once you jump into multiplayer, the excitement drains away. Objective-based modes are repetitive, and Lara’s character-driven story cannot carry over, which makes multiplayer a bland add-on.
Tomb Raider (2013) PC Longplay Walkthrough Playthrough (FULL GAME) by Virtual Gaming Library - VGL
14. Max Payne 3
Cinematic gunfights give the campaign its reputation, with bullet time creating tension and control. Online matches fail to carry this balance. When players trigger the mechanic at once, the effect fragments, and the sense of immersion central to Max Payne 3 dissolves.
MAX PAYNE 3 Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PC ULTRA] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
15. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Exploring Los Santos and San Fierro alone in San Andreas offers endless possibilities and pure chaos. Cooperative missions try to capture the fun but feel restrictive, which forces players into narrow objectives that can’t match the thrill of solo sandbox adventures.
GTA SAN ANDREAS Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PS5] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
16. BioShock 2
Rapture’s story in BioShock 2 is gripping solo, with Big Daddy mechanics and atmospheric horror. But multiplayer reduces everything to generic deathmatches. The city’s personality and narrative tension vanish and leave players with combat-only encounters that cannot hold a candle to the single-player immersion.
BioShock 2 - Longplay Full Game Walkthrough [No Commentary] 4k by Loopy Longplays
17. Final Fantasy XV
The open-world epic of Final Fantasy XV shines when played solo, with character development and breathtaking exploration. Multiplayer Comrades, however, strips away story context and reduces missions to repetitive grind. Fans seeking the same narrative and world-building experience find themselves disappointed.
Final Fantasy 15 - Free Roaming and Fighting - 4K HDR [PS5 GAMEPLAY] by XianaDuke
18. Dark Souls II
Multiplayer in Dark Souls II introduces invasions that often pair weaker players against far stronger ones. These clashes can feel unfair, disrupting momentum. By contrast, the core single-player loop built on exploration and perseverance delivers the game’s most enduring and rewarding triumphs.
Dark Souls 2 Remastered | Full Game Walkthrough | No Commentary by The Game Archivist
19. The Last of Us
The Last of Us achieved acclaim through a story-driven campaign that relied on survival pacing and emotional arcs. Factions multiplayer added team combat but offered limited thematic consistency. This difference illustrates the difficulty of aligning narrative-focused games with competitive frameworks.
THE LAST OF US Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PS5 PRO] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
20. Spec Ops: The Line
The strength of Spec Ops: The Line lies in its intense, morally charged narrative. Multiplayer tries to mimic excitement but delivers only standard combat modes. Without consequence or tension, these matches feel hollow compared to the solitary experience the story was crafted for.
SPEC OPS THE LINE Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PC ULTRA] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
