Ever Felt Embarrassed About an MMO You Love?

A recent Daily Grind asks whether you've ever been ashamed to enjoy an MMO. We explore why that feeling happens and why you shouldn't let it stop you from having fun.

Have you ever fired up an MMO, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and thought, "Why do I actually like this?" You're not alone. That's the exact question posed in a recent Daily Grind over at Massively OP, and it's one that hits closer to home than most of us would like to admit.

The piece starts with a simple truth: we don't get to choose what we enjoy. That's just how our brains are wired. What we do get to choose is what we do with that enjoyment. The author uses a pretty extreme example—squirting ketchup on your neighbor's dog—to make the point that while you can't control the urge, you can control whether you act on it. In gaming terms, that means you can't help it if some janky, buggy, or widely mocked MMO just clicks with you. But you can decide whether you let other people's opinions ruin your good time.

So why do we feel ashamed in the first place? Maybe it's a game with a rough reputation. Maybe it's one that got review-bombed or became a meme. Or maybe it's just not the kind of thing your guildmates would approve of. Whatever the reason, that sense of embarrassment is real—and it's surprisingly common. The Daily Grind is basically a support group for anyone who's ever whispered, "I actually enjoy this," while secretly hoping no one heard.

The important takeaway? There's no shame in liking what you like. The MMO genre is massive, and for every critically acclaimed hit, there's a weird little niche title that speaks to someone. If that someone is you, that's totally fine. The only thing you owe anyone is basic decency—not an explanation for your gaming tastes.

Of course, that's easier said than done. Peer pressure doesn't vanish just because you're an adult with a Steam library. But the next time you catch yourself feeling guilty about logging into that one game, remember: you're not hurting anyone. You're just having fun. And if anyone gives you grief, you can always point them to the ketchup analogy.

So, what about you? Have you ever been ashamed to enjoy an MMO? What game was it, and did you ever get over it? We'd love to hear your stories—drop them in the comments below. You might find you're in good company.