Last Epoch is finally here and with a working online mode to boot. At its 1.0 release, however, the developers included an option to play the game in a dedicated Offline Mode where you can even pause the game by bringing up the in-game menu. That ought to leave you with quite a dilemma on which mode to play, so we’re going to help you choose between Last Epoch Offline Mode or Online Mode by detailing their differences.
Last Epoch Offline vs Online Differences
Fundamentally, the loot-based ARPG experience is the same. You get the core experience in either mode, where you level up, get loot, and try out harder content in an entrancing loop.
The connectivity modes will change how you approach the game, however. You might miss some big components if you opt for one instead of the other, especially if you’ve already invested much into a character. So before you choose, consider these key differences.
Offline Mode
- Works even if you have no internet connection (this is especially useful if you still want to play but can’t get into the servers during launch).
- Characters and data are saved locally, meaning you can transfer them, share them, or even modify their contents (given enough time and dedication).
- The game won’t be reliant on Ping or latency, so there’s no network-based lag or delays in actions.
- You can pause the game if you press ‘Esc’ or bring up the in-game menu. Pretty handy when mom is angrily asking you to take the garbage out or come down for dinner.
- You can’t play with other players.
Online Mode
- Gives you access to Cycles (basically Leagues/Seasons). These are temporary three-month content seasons where you can try out new mechanics, items, or quests.
- Gives you access to the Bazaar or the in-game auction house where players can trade items.
- Characters and data are saved on servers (as of 1.0), and you can’t modify them or copy them. This helps prevent cheating or duping.
- Get access to Leaderboards and see data about which classes are leading.
- You can’t pause the game.
- You get to play with other players.
As you can see, there’s quite a sizable number of benefits with the Online Mode in Last Epoch. The Bazaar is a huge help in gearing up. The Cycles also offer exciting new reasons to keep playing and trying out new builds or classes.
You’d be missing out on quite a lot if you play Offline exclusively; however, it’s still a good option to choose if you have poor internet in your immediate area or if you mostly commit to a solo-self-found character. It’s worth noting that Last Epoch Offline and Online characters are not interchangeable or can’t be migrated, so choose wisely.
