Where Winds Meet presents you with an ARPG and MMORPG choice when you launch the game for the first time, and choosing one mode comes down to how you want to play. The modes can be switched between at any time, and neither locks you out of long-term progression. The main difference is how much of the world you want open, whether you like solo or co-op play, and your preference for combat and UI.
ARPG Mode (Lone Wanderer)
ARPG mode is the default mode, and for a good reason, it’s the full game. Story progression, world exploration, boss fights, puzzles, Breakthrough challenges, skill unlocks, and everything this RPG is developed around are offered in ARPG. You get the complete single-player RPG structure, but you aren’t restricted to a solo bubble either. You can invite three players to create a four-man squad for co-op, and most early and mid-game content functions exactly the same way it does offline.
ARPG mode uses the more action-focused control layout. You can aim reliably, don’t need to hold mouse buttons to rotate the camera, and the UI isn’t cluttered with MMO-style bars. However, PvP is not available in ARPG, and it’s good in a sense because only you (or you and friends) enjoy the world events at your own pace. With that said, this mode allows co-op raids, but some high-tier raids and future dungeon content are exclusive to MMORPG. If you want to complete the story or wish to enjoy the full game content, you should pick ARPG mode.
MMORPG Mode (Shared Journey)
MMORPG mode is the online-focused part of the game. It’s not a traditional MMO—no huge player-trading economy and full open-world PvE loop, but just a shared world where everyone is visible and you can access social systems.
What you can do in MMORPG:
- See thousands of players in the open world
- Use PvP features
- Join public events, guilds, raids, and social zones
- Use healers to cleanse injuries and illnesses instantly
- Access MMO-specific content and modes
What you can’t do:
- Progress the main story like in ARPG
- Rely on open-world combat (there’s little to no outside PvP)
- Expect fast leveling (it’s very slow)
MMO mode is akin to a lobby hub with PvP, raids, and social interaction like some other titles, such as Monster Hunter World, Red Dead Online, or mobile action-RPG hub areas, not a full MMORPG like Age of Wushu or BDO.
ARPG or MMORPG: Which Mode Should You Choose?
Select ARPG mode if you want the full game, story progression, proper combat action, and full world exploration. But if you have to socialize, duel players, join large raids, or hang out in shared hubs, all this is only possible in MMORPG mode. Almost everyone starts and stays in ARPG mode because it delivers what Where Winds Meet is designed around. But being able to swap whenever you want is the real strength of the system.
