Instance dungeon

In MMORPGs, an instance dungeon is a special area, typically a dungeon, that generates a new copy, or instance, for each group that enters the area. This ensures that there will never be competition (kill stealing, spawn camping) over mobs within the instance and that player characters receive a minimum of lag. Instance dungeons may contain stronger than usual mobs and sought-after equipment.

Games that have been known to use instancing include EverQuest, Anarchy Online, City of Heroes and Guild Wars. The latter uses instancing extensively to help make the product free of monthly fees.

World of Warcraft and Dark Age of Camelot also use this for Dungeons, but do not or only partly generate it randomly.

Eve Online is uncommon in that it makes use of no instances.

The use of instancing is a hotly debated topic among the MMORPG industry.