Erenshor's Planar March patch brings raids to the solo simulated MMO

Erenshor – the solo simulated MMO where AI-controlled NPCs called simplayers fill the role of other players – just got its biggest update since launch. The Planar March patch dropped last Monday, adding full raid content to the game.

Solo developer Brian of Burgee Media called it "the biggest day for Erenshor since its launch" in a Steam community post. He admitted raids were a daunting promise to keep: "When I promised raids I had no idea how the heck I was going to implement it. It sort of hung over my head like an intimidating shadow until I finally dove into it." The patch adds four raid zones and 21 new bosses, all dropping high-end loot. Raid teams are built through the guild menu, and simplayers join automatically when you start an instance – no scheduling conflicts, no waiting on someone to repair their gear.

Erenshor draws heavily from the pre-World of Warcraft era of MMOs, think EverQuest-style grinding, group play, and a world that feels lived-in despite every other "player" being an NPC. The simulated MMO concept is a clever workaround for players who love the genre but can't commit to raid nights or coordinating with dozens of real people. Adding raids to that formula is a meaningful test of whether the game can replicate the scale and difficulty of the format without the social friction that usually comes with it.

The game currently holds a Very Positive rating on Steam with 94% of user reviews recommending it, suggesting the audience for this particular niche is real and growing. Brian credited the community of testers and "a few really late nights" for getting the update across the finish line.