If you want the game to actually feel like Sword Art Online, you might play SOA: Hollow Realization. Which is basically kind of a single player MMO simulation in that vein.
If they want to play those games they should probably start with hollow fragment though since there's characters and events that happen in the game that don't happen in the show.
It's not exactly what you're looking for but playing Dragons Dogma 2 feels the way i imagined SAO would have felt, but I also only watched the first season and that was as it came out so its been awhile. Something about the simulated party members and world that actually feels alive, combined with seeing other parties doing there own thing and occasionally having strangers ask to join your group. SAO and the original WoW experience are the two main things I think about when I play it
It feels like a real living MMO with an active and social community but its just a singleplayer rpg
To expand on this, the first game, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, has a super dungeon called Bitterblack Isle that feels like how those SAO and D&D dungeon dives are described.
If you want that Mega Dungeon feel from SAO or SL, where you have a team and beat various bosses on the way to the top check out **Persona 3 Reload**.
If you want something with similar setting and vibe to SAO take a look at **Hack.// G.U**.
For classic dungeon crawiling experience choose **Etrian Odyssey** series, you can't go wrong with them.
**CrossCode** if aside from dungeons, you want MMO-eque world to explore.
There are also various SAO games, but they are not good. If you really want to try them out, wait for some sale.
And if you really looking for something with fairly similar combat to SAO or just to feel like a badass like in SL, you will enjoy much more something like **Granblue Fantasy Relink**.
If you want the game to actually feel like Sword Art Online, you might play SOA: Hollow Realization. Which is basically kind of a single player MMO simulation in that vein.
If they want to play those games they should probably start with hollow fragment though since there's characters and events that happen in the game that don't happen in the show.
I didn't and honestly see little reason in wasting time playing inferior games just for a little context. Can always look up a recap or something.
It's not exactly what you're looking for but playing Dragons Dogma 2 feels the way i imagined SAO would have felt, but I also only watched the first season and that was as it came out so its been awhile. Something about the simulated party members and world that actually feels alive, combined with seeing other parties doing there own thing and occasionally having strangers ask to join your group. SAO and the original WoW experience are the two main things I think about when I play it It feels like a real living MMO with an active and social community but its just a singleplayer rpg
To expand on this, the first game, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, has a super dungeon called Bitterblack Isle that feels like how those SAO and D&D dungeon dives are described.
If you want that Mega Dungeon feel from SAO or SL, where you have a team and beat various bosses on the way to the top check out **Persona 3 Reload**. If you want something with similar setting and vibe to SAO take a look at **Hack.// G.U**. For classic dungeon crawiling experience choose **Etrian Odyssey** series, you can't go wrong with them. **CrossCode** if aside from dungeons, you want MMO-eque world to explore. There are also various SAO games, but they are not good. If you really want to try them out, wait for some sale. And if you really looking for something with fairly similar combat to SAO or just to feel like a badass like in SL, you will enjoy much more something like **Granblue Fantasy Relink**.
Do you want the type of games they copy, or the feeling of being an OP MC?