A gamer's recent year-in-review on Steam and PlayStation revealed a deep-seated love for open-world experiences, a preference the player attributes to the 1993 release of "Wing Commander: Privateer." The player, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported their most-played games of 2025 included "No Man's Sky," "Civilization VII," "Assassin's Creed Shadows," "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered," "The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria," "The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind," "World of Warcraft," "Meridian 59," "Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon," and "Unreal Tournament."
With the exception of "Civilization VII" and "Unreal Tournament," the player noted that their top games were open-world titles focused on immersion in fictional worlds. This preference, they stated, solidified in the early '90s with "Wing Commander: Privateer."
"Privateer" allowed players to carve their own path as a mercenary in the "Wing Commander" universe, a departure from the series' traditional narrative-driven campaigns. Players could choose to be pirates, traders, or bounty hunters, shaping their own story within the game's expansive galaxy. This freedom resonated deeply with the player, who stated that it taught them to appreciate games that offer a space for creating and living out fictional lives.
The impact of "Privateer" can be compared to the influence of games like "Elite" (1984) and "Freelancer" (2003), which also offered players open-ended spacefaring experiences. However, "Privateer" distinguished itself with its integration into the established "Wing Commander" universe and its focus on character-driven narratives within a sandbox environment.
The player's continued preference for open-world games suggests that the core appeal of "Privateer" – the freedom to forge one's own destiny – remains a powerful draw for gamers seeking immersive and personalized experiences. The player stated that they have "unconsciously judged almost every game" since 1993 by how well it captures the feeling of freedom and self-determination that "Wing Commander: Privateer" provided.
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