Among boys, and less commonly among girls, MMORPGs enjoy great popularity. Translated from English as massively multiplayer online role-playing game into Russian, it means a multiplayer role-playing game. In such games, a large number of users interact with each other in a virtual world. They become engrossed and addicted because the game's outcome depends on their progress.
The game becomes a reality because in MMORPGs, players build relationships with other users (where anything can be expected from them), engage in trading, battle, create their own clans, and so on. In this way, users immerse themselves fully in the game, as if they were creating their own life and environment in real life. Players who "vanish" into such games are often referred to as hardcore gamers. Among them, there are so-called level 80 elves, which signifies the highest degree of gaming addiction in MMOs.
Such users lack a personal life, finding it difficult to establish relationships with people, especially with the opposite sex, and overall struggle to achieve success in life. The characteristics of level 80 elves resemble the characteristics of hikikomori. Hikikomori refers to individuals who withdraw from social life, seeking isolation and seclusion. The same happens with level 80 elves, favoring their virtual life.
The concept of a level 80 elf originated in the MMORPG gaming community and became a meme. The meme emerged after a misinterpreted inscription that read "I'm an 80th level elf" in response to the question "Why don't I have a girlfriend?". The inscription was translated from an English diagram, which actually referred to a different meme with a paladin. The paladin meme revolves around a guy pondering why he doesn't have a girlfriend. He lists his flaws but then encourages himself by stating that despite all that, he is ready to fight for her because he is an 80th level paladin. In games, being an 80th level paladin signifies mastery and great achievements. The incorrect interpretation eventually led to the creation of the meme about a level 80 elf.
The incorrect translation of the meme first appeared on Pikabu and then spread to various humor collector websites. The level 80 elf meme gained popularity on demotivational posters as well. On the internet, you can also come across derivative memes from the level 80 elf meme, with names that do not differ much from the original. The sub-meme is called "X 80th level," where X can be replaced with any profession or any other type of activity. The essence of the sub-meme remains the same as the level 80 elf meme, suggesting that the user has achieved a high level of mastery or addiction in a specific field.