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Last Epochstrikes a great middle ground between accessibility and depth. Nearly every feature in this game has been built with a wide range of players in mind, including the likes of crafting, creating builds, and endgame content.
One option players can opt into is offline play, trading certain online features for a few quality-of-life improvements like a pause button. Choosing to play offline or online can be somewhat challenging, especially since Last Epoch provides multiple offline modes to pick from. Before you choose a mode, let’s first explain how Last Epoch’s offline modes work and how they differ from online play.
How Does Offline Mode Work In Last Epoch?
Last Epoch has a somewhat unorthodox way of handling offline play. The game has two different offline modes to choose from: Play Offline and True Offline. One is accessed from the main menu, while the other must be selected before launching the game. Both modes are virtually identical and only differ in chat functionality. We will cover the exact differences in the next subsection.
Characters created in either offline mode cannot be played online.For example, if you create a character in Play Offline, you may only play that character in Play Offline or True Offline modes. If you switch to Online Play, your character will not transfer. In other words,if you create an offline character, they cannot play co-op or trade items.
Character Transfers (Or Lack Thereof)
Online characters may not be transferred to offline play and vice versa. Once you create an online character, they may only be used online. Similarly, offline characters may only be played in offline modes.
Playing offline does have a few upsides.Both offline modes allow you to pause the game at any time by pressing Escape.There is no limit to how often you can pause the game this way. Additionally, load times and input latency are significantly reduced while playing offline. Combat will generally feel more responsive, and load times between zones will be faster.
Play Offline Vs. True Offline
Last Epoch actually has two offline modes to choose from, one of which ironically requires an internet connection:
Play Offline is accessed by selecting the “Play Offline” button in the Last Epoch main menu.Bear in mind that to log in,you will need an internet connection. Once you’re logged in, an internet connection is no longer required. Play Offline disables co-op and trading, and all hub towns will be instanced; no other players will appear. Global chat is still enabled, provided you have an internet connection while playing.
True Offline is only available if you select the “Play Full Offline” mode upon launching the game on Steam.You do not have to log in to play Last Epoch in this state, sono internet connection is required.As with Play Offline, most online features are disabled. Game chat and co-op are disabled in True Offline, and the Merchant’s Guild becomes irrelevant since you may’t trade with other players.
Offline Vs. Online
Online characters might not have access to a pause button, but they can play the game co-op with others and use the Merchant’s Guild to trade with others.Players who enjoy trading to earn best-in-slot gear will only find that experience in online play.And if you love playing ARPGs cooperatively with others, your only option is to play online.
Server Downtime
Online players will occasionally be unable to play Last Epoch due to server maintenance. A notice will be visible in the main menu if the servers are currently unavailable. you may check theLast Epoch Discord serverfor updates on server downtime.
Server downtime has no impact on offline functionality.
Conversely, those who prefer playing at their own pace might prefer offline play. Offline modes allow you to pause the game at a moment’s notice, perfect for those with unpredictable schedules or intermittent internet connections.If you prefer playing at your own pace or don’t have a consistent internet connection, offline play is ideal.
Should You Play In Offline Mode?
Overall, playing offline is ideal for players with poor internet connection speeds or those with unpredictable schedules.The ability to pause the game at any time makes it far more approachable for certain types of players. However, the inability to trade with an offline character is a major drawback and makes the Merchant’s Guild more or less useless.
If you play offline, join the Circle of Fortune as soon as possible. Prophecies and higher drop rates will offset the lack of player trading.
If you highly value cooperative play or trading, we suggest creating an online character instead.Nothing else in Last Epoch meaningfully changes between either mode, so don’t feel pressure to play a specific mode.Leveling is fairly straightforward, buildcraft is far less intimidating than similar ARPGs, and no content (excluding trading) is gated in either mode. If you don’t care about co-op or trading, there’s no harm playing offline.
