The best multiplayer games on PC in 2022
So you want to know about the best multiplayer games? Intricate gameplay and glistening visuals only go so far; it’s humans that provide the surprises, the schemes that transform the average FPS game or co-op game into that one experience you’ll be talking about until the end of time.
Fast and frantic or tense and calculated, the best multiplayer games come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it’s vying for control of the payload in Overwatch, or fighting for survival in Valheim with your friends, these games wouldn’t be the same without a bunch of real people running around killing, maiming or, occasionally, helping each other.
The best PC multiplayer games are:
War Thunder
War Thunder is a free-to-play multiplayer game all about military vehicles knocking seven bells out of one another, whether that’s in aerial dog fights, sprawling tank battles, or naval skirmishes. That pitch might sound familiar, but no free MMO has achieved what War Thunder has in terms of quality, balancing, and the sheer scope of vehicles waiting to be unlocked. While the multiplayer game started out with a humble suite of aircraft and ground vehicles you’ll recognise from WW2 games, its myriad tech trees now encompass the military histories – past and present – of several nations, from global superpowers to smaller nations famed for punching above their weight.
What separates this war game from its competitors are its incredibly detailed ballistics modelling and simulation game modes. A 1v1 between two tanks can be affected by countless factors, as armour thickness, armour angle, material, shell size and type, and distance from target can be the difference between a shot ricocheting and dealing no damage, or piercing and wiping out the entire enemy crew. The more you play the more you learn to spot different types of vehicles so you can exploit their weak points and win the fight with a single well-placed shot.
It’s an endlessly satisfying loop, and with hundreds of vehicles to earn, it will be a long time before you run out of new content.
Play War Thunder for free
World of Tanks
Even though World of Tanks was released over ten years ago, this free-to-play PvP vehicular combat game just keeps growing and evolving into one of the best multiplayer PC games. With its bustling servers and international playerbase, you’ll never struggle to find a team whenever you get that urge to hop into a tank and blow stuff up.
Whether you favour brute force battling, or a more strategic approach, the easy-to-grasp game mechanics lend themselves well to different playstyles. Destroy all of the enemy tanks with powerful artillery fire right off the bat, or, if you’d rather take the subtle approach, you can triumph by finding a way into your opponent’s base and capturing it from within.
The more you play, the more vehicles you unlock, with over 600 of the best tanks from around the world to discover and exclusive rewards for those who want to participate in clan battles.
It’s a very moreish game which may seem straightforward at first, but the more you play, the better you’ll get and the more you’ll discover. Trust us – you’ll be in a world of thanks once you’re hooked.
Play World of Tanks for free.
Mech Arena
Fancy hopping in a mech suit so you can blow people up? Well, give Mech Arena a try. From Plarium, the developer behind Raid: Shadow Legends, this is by no-means a high concept game, but it’s one of those simple games that are ideal to unwind with. You’ll no doubt plan to fill a few minutes with a quick game, but then end up saying “just one more match” so many times that before you know it, a whole hour has gone by.
If you’re worried it won’t have enough substance to you, don’t be. There’s actually quite a lot of nuance when you get down into it, with so many different mechs to unlock and so many customisation options as well. Eventually you’ll get to the point where you’ve honed your mech to perfectly suit your preferred battle strategy – and with every other player doing the same thing, you’ll find a great diversity in battle.
Play Mech Arena for free.
Valheim
Dropped into Viking purgatory in nothing but a loincloth, it’s up to you and nine other friends to survive the Norse wilderness by crafting, building, and ultimately, surviving. You and your Viking pals start out in the meadow, but must slowly progress through different biomes by defeating enemies and discovering crafting materials to build up your armour and weapons.
Valheim’s world grows increasingly sinister as skeletons from the swamp attack your base, wolves tail you across mountains, and greydwarves fling rocks at you in the dark forest. Valheim is a glorious multiplayer and you’ll find something for all the party from scavenging for materials, epic battles with Valheim bosses, or building a sturdy base that can withstand the swing of a troll club.
Valorant
Riot’s ultra-slick tactical team-based shooter is coming for CS:GO’s crown, and it has a lot of shiny new features to set it apart. The gameplay will be familiar to CS:GO players: teams of five players begin the match either attacking or defending, and swap halfway through; players must also purchase weapons at the beginning of each round, earning currency based on their performance in the previous round.
Crucially, though, in Valorant players choose from a roster of agents, each with unique abilities which they can purchase each round (and one they get for free). Each Valorant character has their own strategic strengths and weaknesses; some are experts at defending sites, while others set up pushes or secure kills.
Although skills play an important role, Valorant still maintains a heavy emphasis on gunplay and balance, to ensure it stands up as an excellent game for high level play – as evidenced by its thriving esports scene.
Among Us
If you haven’t heard of Among Us by now, that’s pretty sus. The social deduction game skyrocketed in popularity last year, as its classic formula of multicoloured beans stabbing each other in corridors became a veritable phenomenon. In each lobby, a handful of players are designated imposters, whose job it is to sabotage and murder the innocent crewmates without being discovered.
The game ends when imposters outnumber crewmates, or when crewmates successfully figure out the imposters’ identities and vote them off during emergency meetings.
This can be initiated by discovering a body or smacking a big red button in the meeting room.
Destiny 2
Whether you want to squad up for gargantuan PvE raids, duke it out against others in PvP, or even combine elements of both in PvPvE, Destiny 2 ticks all of the boxes when it comes to the best multiplayer games. A few years since launch and Destiny 2 is better than ever, with the Forsaken expansion addressing plenty of foibles and a free-to-play launch on Steam bringing the game to new audiences.
Loot ties all of the multiplayer arms together, so no matter how you’re playing Destiny 2, your goal is always to acquire powerful new weapons and armour like Destiny 2 Exotics. Every mission completed, miniboss slain, and PvP match won contributes by rewarding you with mightier gear, creating an ongoing, near endless power fantasy.
Apex Legends
From hyper-mobile gameplay that lends itself to flanking manoeuvres, to respawn beacons that bring your mates back into the fight after death, Respawn’s nimble shooter boasts all the usual trimmings of the best multiplayer games.
Where it truly excels, however, is its ability to bring everyone into the fold with its ping system. Should you feel uncomfortable talking to strangers with your microphone or simply don’t want to, you can still contribute by pinging enemies, locations of interest, and even the best Apex Legends weapons you want or think others may find useful.
The post-apocalyptic shooter is also early in its life cycle, meaning that now is an excellent time to jump in and try our Apex Legends tips. There will also be a steady stream of Apex Legends new Legends for players to sink their teeth into, which promises to freshen up the battle royale’s meta every few months. There’s also a very good chance you’ll bump into someone from this office. Be gentle, please.
Fortnite
Epic’s shooter first emerged as an intriguing mix of building, sandbox, and survival elements. The original Fortnite: Save the World mode – in which you construct fortresses to combat a severe zombie threat – has long been eclipsed by the world-conquering Fortnite Battle Royale.
Thanks to some phenomenal Fortnite player numbers, and the fact it’s a good deal more polished than PUBG, Epic’s last man standing extravaganza is one of the best multiplayer games on PC.
Where you stand on the great Fortnite vs. PUBG debate depends on personal preference. Both are strong battle royale games with devoted communities, but Fortnite’s eye-catching Pixar sheen, accessibility – helped considerably by being free-to-play – and Fortnite building mechanics give it the edge for some over the detailed, deep military sim sensibilities of PUBG. We’re in no doubt, however, that Epic’s cosmetics game is far stronger: the sheer number of Fortnite skins and Fortnite Wraps (weapon and vehicle skins) is mind-boggling.
Dota 2/League of Legends
Now before you baulk at the aggregation of these two rival beasts of the MOBA genre into a single entry, we’re intending to recommend one or the other, not both – and let’s face it, while the mechanics, items, lanes, and League of Legends Champions/Dota 2 Heroes offer different gameplay experiences, the multiplayer aspect of both these games is largely the same.
Gather four friends and discover how you each cope with blame and failure, or be assigned a team of four strangers who all somehow manage to be much worse than you at the game, even though statistically they are likely to be very close to you in rank.
The competitive scene around both of these games is gargantuan – almost four million people watched the LoL Worlds Semifinals simultaneously in November 2019, and back in August 2019 the prize pool for Dota’s The International reached over $34 million, the biggest pool in esports history.
League of Legends is Twitch’s most watched game of 2019, and with about eight million concurrent players a day to Dota’s average of 400,000, it’s clear to see which of the two is the most popular. That doesn’t mean LoL is necessarily the better game, but the figures do make sense when you consider how Riot churn out absolute bangers to promote their MOBA.
We recommend you try a couple of matches in both games before you decide on the best MOBA for you, but if you’re looking for a game that is a totally different experience every match depending on your draft vs the opponents’ draft, meaning you and your team can enjoy a new challenge night after night – we advise getting into LoL or Dota 2.
Team Fortress 2
If you were not there when Team Fortress 2 launched, it is difficult to convey what a delirious and unexpected pleasure it was in 2007. In development longer than Pangaea, TF2 blindsided everyone when it finally arrived in its cheery and lustrous Pixar sheen. Instead of the anticipated amalgamations of biceps and military garb we expected, its cast is a brigade of slapstick comedians whose interplay provoked frequent, spirited, and genuine lols.
Each had skills and abilities that interweaved beautifully. Heavy mows down Soldier. Engineer builds sentry to mow down Heavy. Spy saps sentry. Pyro incinerates Spy. Sniper takes out Pyro. Scout bonks Sniper on his noggin and runs off. Demo obliterates Scout with his sticky bombs, then resumes flashing people. No, not like that. Medic watches that Uber gauge, and licks his lips.
It’s a very different game today, now absolutely baffling to lapsed players. Still, the rich visual design, the sheer strength of its cast, and the interplay between classes preserve it as one of the best multiplayer games around.
An enduring classic… even if the emergence of Fortnite has lead to the biggest Team Fortress 2 player count drop ever.
Overwatch 2
The more things change, the more they stay the same – but as far as Overwatch 2 is concerned, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Overwatch is a cultural phenomenon, and its colourful cast of characters has successfully captured the hearts of many, from the most casual to the most hardcore of players. The class-based hero shooter owes much to Team Fortress 2 and League of Legends, fostering essential teamplay across payload maps featuring asymmetrical combat. It’s a tantalising mixture of popular styles, ripe with possibilities, which has captured the imaginations and evenings of the masses.
As our Overwatch 2 review points out, the sequel is more a continuation than a rebirth. Blizzard introduces a number of quality-of-life improvements to extend the legacy of the game’s predecessor, including a 5v5 format adjustment, minor hero changes, and replacing the game’s controversial lootbox system with a seasonal battle pass.
It’s also free-to-play, making it easier than ever to jump into quick play with your pals. Overwatch 2 introduces new maps and gameplay modes, and expands the impressively diverse and colourful roster, too. Want to master the best Overwatch 2 heroes? Prepare to commit months to the colourful blaster. Somehow, Overwatch gets even better while maintaining a careful competitive balance.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has an underwhelming origin story. A refresh of Valve’s previous refresh of a Half-Life 1 mod, CS:GO was conceived as nothing more ambitious than a console port; an experiment to see if PlayStation and Xbox gamers would engage with the Counter-Strike name. And, if PC players fancied a go, what’s the harm? As it turns out, we got one of the best multiplayer games on PC.
Thanks to regular CS:GO updates, the shooter sensation is consistently one of the most played games on Steam. Its weapon skins support an entire cottage industry of trading sites.
It is an ultra-competitive, high prize pool esport. You cannot move on Twitch for CS:GO streams.
Its popularity is self-evident, but its quality requires a deeper understanding of its appeal both as a nostalgia trip and a well-supported, pacey shooter with state-of-the-art spectator tools. Valve’s masterpiece is ripe for tactical exploitation, meaning you should check out our CS:GO tips if you want to succeed. Bristling with razor-sharp weapon feedback, this FPS is more comforting than mama’s homemade apple pie.
Warzone
Call of Duty’s battle royale game was relatively late to the BR party, arriving in March 2020, but it’s earned itself a massive following. The free-to-play game initially launched as part of Modern Warfare, but when Black Ops: Cold War and Vanguard came out, all the new weapons were integrated into Warzone – the game receives regular big updates, too, resulting in an ever-changing meta.
As far as battle royale games go, it’s particularly fast-paced and aggressive, as players can respawn if they win a 1v1 in the Gulag, or be brought back into the fight by their teammates spending cash at a Buy Station.
You can also set up your chosen Warzone loadouts and purchase them during the game, so players can customise their guns with assorted unlockable attachments to try and get the edge on their opponents.
Rocket League
The moment someone at Psyonix said “how about football… but with cars?” one of the best multiplayer games on PC was born. Despite the failed first attempt, Rocket League’s success is down to its streamlined design: you just push a ball across a pitch with a car. It is hardly something only hardcore petrolheads can understand.
Do not mistake simplicity for a lack of depth, however. As we point out in our Rocket League PC review, mastering all the key Rocket League tips and successfully passing, shooting, and scoring is a thrilling learning curve. It leads to a career – not just for new musical talent – of a thousand near-misses and ‘almost!’ moments, your body inching forward in your seat as the tension builds. Headshots in shooters are ten-a-penny, but a goal in Rocket League is something special.
Rocket League’s exceptionally moreish online games are even better in local split-screen multiplayer. Everyone in the room will be ooh-ing and aahh-ing as the ball zooms from one end of the pitch to the other.
Rainbow Six Siege
Despite surface-level similarities to FPS darling CS:GO, Ubisoft have made reinforcing a wall or laying barbed wire as heroic as no-scoping an enemy from two rooftops away. Perhaps more than even the best multiplayer games, Rainbow Six Siege is about planning, communication, and execution of a team-based strategy.
Rainbow Six made its name by taking a quieter, more considered approach than the bombastic shooters against which it debuted in the late nineties, and in doing so it made you feel like a highly-trained, goggle-wearing, silenced MP5-toting specialist. The latest series entry evokes that same feeling despite the meta changes presented by a barrage of Rainbow Six Siege operators with more new operators coming in regular post-launch updates.
If that sounds intimidating, Ubi do offer a Rainbow Six Siege Starter Edition so you can try it at a lower price.
Although, of course, there is destruction. Great big chunks of it that can kick up fine concrete dust every round. Just make sure you don’t get it all over your posh new cosmetics. Part of being ‘good’ at Siege is knowing each map intimately, and co-ordinating your team accordingly. The depth, nail-biting tension, and tactical potential of Rainbow Six Siege makes for a memorable cat-and-mouse multiplayer experience. No wonder the future of Siege is bright. As an esport it’s going global, while still allowing inexperienced high school minnows the chance to attain the glory of a major tournament place.
Arma 3
Arma 3 is about as close to finding yourself on a real battlefield, gibbering unintelligibly as the choppers and tanks go by. The large-scale battles and ultra-realism are not the only intimidating things about Arma 3, either. Populated by a diehard community with expertise levels second to none, the game’s players know things you didn’t know you knew.
Where pretend guns are concerned, this is one of the best multiplayer games around – no wonder Arma 3 sales are into the millions. Every battle is an engrossing spectacle, peppered with complex team chat and ingenious tactical manoeuvres (if you’re on a good server). It might still be buggier than the underside of a rotten branch, but it did its bit to bring about PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Enough said.
Don’t Starve Together
Don’t Starve Together is a little different from the other games in our best multiplayer games list. It doesn’t involve taking on an opposing team, but it does require a lot of teamwork, crafting, building, and not dying.
In this survival game, you and up to four other players are dropped into a sketchy Tim Burton-esque world filled with violent horrors and terrifying nightmarish creatures. These monsters are the least of your problems as you scramble to survive, keeping fed, warm, dry, and sane. If that wasn’t tricky enough, each night creatures emerge from the shadows ready to snuff out your campfire.
In Don’t Starve Together you’ll need to research new equipment to survive the changing seasons and progress through the world, all while collecting resources and trying desperately to, well, not starve.
Grand Theft Auto Online
Rockstar’s open-world game is nearly eight years old – shocking, we know – but Los Santos is still a popular destination for online multiplayer. In Grand Theft Auto Online, players create their own budding criminal before connecting to a multiplayer server and teaming up with other players to complete jobs and heists.
There’s a wealth of player-created content available, too, including races and deathmatches for you to compete in. On the unofficial side of things, GTA Online roleplay servers are especially popular among content creators on Twitch and YouTube, as players make great use of Los Santos’ bustling metropolis to create wild, improvised stories of their own.
So there you have it, the best multiplayer games on PC.
Many of the best upcoming PC games also have exciting new multiplayer modes, which means there’s never been a better time to tap into your competitive side.
25 best multiplayer PC games to play in 2022
With some being a decade old and others being at the peak of popularity, which PC multiplayer games offer the best experience in 2022?
Online PC games are all about focusing on a gameplay formula that works for a long time. It’s the only way to ensure that the title stays relevant for a while. After all, players need new content that changes and enriches a game that came out ten years ago.
What are the best multiplayer PC games that withstood the challenge of time or are still relatively new and maintain the hype? Here’s our list!
25. Dead by Daylight (Included with Game Pass)
If you’ve ever played Predator: Hunting Grounds or Evolve, the concept of this game is fairly similar.
You play as a murderer gifted with supernatural abilities, or you run away from him as one of the ordinary, extremely unlucky people.
As humans sometimes do, you may prioritize your life over the life of others. As the predator, you view the whole thing in FPP, whereas as “prey,” you have a third-person perspective, making it easier to be aware of your surroundings.
The game provides a healthy dose of adrenaline, no matter what side you’re on. It’s also easy to begin playing, as you get tons of the title’s currency, «bloodpoints.» These let you buy additional characters, with numerous killers known from pop culture.
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The title is also available on Game Pass, so if you’d like to try it out, the first month costs only $1 / 1€ / £1 / 4 zł for new subscribers, no matter which version of Game Pass you choose:
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24.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (Included with Game Pass and Ubisoft+)
The series always was a tactical experience that kind of reminds us of the SWAT franchise. You’re a part of a professional Rainbow squad that’s practically humanity’s last call and is only brought into action when absolutely necessary.
There are three main multiplayer modes in the game: TDM-Hostage, which puts players in the role of hostage “defenders” and attackers, who want to get the person back; TDM- Secure Area works similarly, but you defend/take over a special room; TDM-Bomb makes you either defuse a bomb or let it explode. Numerous Operators to play as and tons of new content (events!) make the game feel as good as the day it was released.
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The title is not only available via Microsoft’s subscription but also on Ubisoft Plus! Here are the current deals for the latter:
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23.
The Elder Scrolls Online
Can’t wait for a new installment in the main series, and you’ve also seen everything that Skyrim has to offer? The MMORPG variant of this phenomenal franchise takes place hundreds of years before we begin our journey as the Dragonborn. It has a gripping storyline that isn’t that inferior to a “regular” TES and is frequently flooded with new DLCs (for example, High Isle) that provide hours upon hours of additional gameplay.
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22. Naraka: Bladepoint
Cold steel may also work in an online game perfectly, especially if a title like that allows you to engage in battle with up to 60 people on the same map! Naraka is a martial arts-focused PVP experience that rewards you for a good understanding of parrying and counterattacking, similar to Sekiro.
Aside from phenomenal gameplay, setting the game in an East Asia-inspired world only makes it more similar to the mentioned From Software’s soulslike.
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21. ARK: Survival Evolved (Included with Game Pass)
This title has come a long way to the point it is now: and it’s never been better! You end up in a world full of dinosaurs, in which your task is simple: survive. Then, when you feel ready, you can breed and train various dinosaurs or get your friends together and start a prospering tribe. It’s a survival game that presents you with several methods of ensuring your survival. Choose whichever suits you best!
A nice bonus is that implementing mods is possible, thanks to the game’s Steam Workshop support.
You know that some players may exceed the developers’ expectations in that sense. ARK is also available on Game Pass if you’d like to give it a go.
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20. Rust
Speaking of survival, Rust is another example from the pool of online multiplayer PC games that put you in a rather unwelcoming environment. You wake up in a post-apocalyptic world with nothing but a mere stone and a torch.
You’ll soon realize that you’ll have to fight other players to live, and there’s plenty to fight for. Food, water, and items that you gather along the way, which you all lose whenever you’re killed. High risk, high reward, as some like to say. 😉
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19.
Team Fortress 2
This game is almost 15 years old now, so is it still worth playing today? It sure is! Since the moment when it was a part of Valve’s The Orange Box (remember that?), it changed a bit, but its balanced class gameplay never gets old.
At its release, the title was also standing out with its crisp look (until Overwatch and other similar games came out). Team Fortress 2 also began the trend of hero shooters that is still going with Apex or Valorant. What’s more, it offered customization that only became common several years later.
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18. PUBG
Here’s the first Battle Royale that kids are supposed to play all the time nowadays. We aren’t kids anymore, so we’re not 100% sure, but PUBG still provides a shooter experience that we can full-heartedly recommend.
The BR system makes you always on the run – as the area you can move on gets smaller and smaller. After the match, only one survivor remains on the map. Winning requires you to strategize your actions rather than launch a gung-ho attack on other players. Other games later adopted this idea, like, say, Warzone.
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17. Apex Legends
It’s been hyped up since its release for a good reason — Apex is still going strong. There are regular updates and, what all Battle Royale fans love, brand-new seasons to have fun with. The usual formula is enhanced by adding quirks unique to each character, which help you get an advantage over your opponents.
You can use skills that range from «reviving» your companions to abilities that make you move faster.
Choose the character that suits your playstyle best, and get ready for hundreds of hours in the world set in the Titanfall universe!
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16. Guild Wars 2
Yet another MMORPG on the list? Well, if it’s so good, then why not? 😉 This one doesn’t require you to fight alongside other players – which doesn’t mean that the experience won’t be much better with some company!
There are many quests, a friendly community to guide you through the beginning of your adventure, and numerous expansions that will extend the number of hours you can put into GW2. Still, the base title is free-to-play and offers plenty of quality content, including the expansions:
- Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns
- Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire
- Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons, aside from an upcoming DLC that will arrive somewhere in the future.
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15. Minecraft (Included with Game Pass)
What would Youtube be now if Minecraft never got popular? It’s one of these multiplayer games on Steam that even older generations have heard of – and it’s a world of endless possibilities! You only need to get used to its dated (yet still very charming) visuals, and you can explore to your heart’s content! The title supports RTX use since 2020, and it looks WAY better with ray-tracing.
There’s a reason why this game is still actively streamed, and mark our words – going on a «trip» in Minecraft with many friends is the best thing ever. As it’s included with GP, you can put this statement to the test and see for yourself.
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14. Lost Ark
Amazon Games must have thought that giving us New World isn’t generous enough, so they came up with another MMO. Lost Ark is one of the most recent PC games on the list, and it’s certainly shown in its graphics. The title has a full-fledged campaign with numerous NPCs and cutscenes that let us get to know its lore.
It’s an isometric homage to classic RPGs like Diablo has whopping 18 character classes to choose from! Amazon’s game has a similar premise and gameplay, mixed with a sprinkle of mechanics known from other MMOs. Since its release in South Korea in 2018, it has become an instant hit in Asia. It also changed significantly from that moment, in the best possible way!
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13.
Valorant
If Global Offensive got released in 2020, maybe this is what it would look like? Similar to Valve’s classic, this game puts us in one of the 5-person teams: Attackers or Defenders. The first plant bombs (called “spikes” here), whereas the latter try to defuse them.
The traditional concept meets modern features. For instance, there are all sorts of abilities in Valorant that you can get at first and some that you buy later in the match. Managing your finances is one of the crucial parts of the game. Should you get the best equipment from the get-go, or rather wait till the match reaches its decisive stage?
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12. Escape from Tarkov
This title takes a shooter experience to another level, combining it with a survival touch that ultimately changes it into a war simulator.
Even the fans of authentic weapons will find it very accurate with how much thought was put into the game. The battles are only a part of what you’re doing in Escape from Tarkov – you need to make sure that you have enough resources to not die from lack of food or dehydration.
Another cool feature is the system of abilities that, like in Skyrim, get better the more you use them. There’s a downside to it: if you’re not using a particular skill enough, your character will forget it over time. As in real life, eh? The game is rather difficulchallenginginto, but it’s a lot of fun once you familiarise yourself with its mechanics!
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11. Sea of Thieves (Included with Game Pass)
Now, for something completely different – who wouldn’t want to be a pirate? Sea of Thieves lets us experience this extraordinary and adventurous life.
It’s not only about sailing for a whole day or fighting a bunch of sea baddies. You need to drink some grog (accordingly to what Captain Jack Sparrow says) or sing shanties, often after a few bottles of the alcohol we’ve just mentioned.
All of this can be experienced whenever you want, as the game has a sandbox structure. You need multiple companions to take care of how your cruise goes: from taking the rudder to breaking the sails. Everything needs someone to do it; you can feel like a proper pirate crew while completing tasks.
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10. Roblox
We will begin the top ten of multiplayer games in 2022 with the one that encourages your creativity to go wild, and it’s not even Minecraft! As much as that title inspires players to explore and build, you’re not creating a new game there.
In Roblox, that’s the essence of the gameplay.
As in Nintendo’s Super Mario Maker series, you can either play in one of the worlds created by other players or take the lead and build your own. Fun fact – there’s also an alarming number of videos on YouTube done in Roblox if you’re interested.
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9. Destiny 2
Another post-apocalyptic vision of humanity? We can’t help it; game developers repeatedly love exploring the idea. As one of the so-called “Guardians,” you protect people from various dangers in this FPP shooter. Select one of three various classes, pick your favorite gear and engage in a looter-shooter fest.
If you’ve played other games of this genre, you know that there’s usually a massive pool of items and weapons to get, which will surely make you stay in-game for much longer.
Don’t forget that a massive expansion, The Witch Queen, came out recently. There are also previous DLCs: Beyond Light, Shadowkeep and others. All of them introduce new gear, raids, and campaigns. It’s worth checheckingem out, as they massively enhance and prolong the time you spend with Destiny 2.
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8. World of Warcraft
Has the king fallen? Not necessarily. WoW is still a great game in general, and it keeps the status of a cultural phenomenon for sure. It’s the MMORPG that everyone in the community knows about, and it’s still regularly updated and gets new expansions. It has made itself much more accessible now with Shadowlands; starting the journey in Warhammer’s universe has never been so new player-friendly!
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7.
Grand Theft Auto V (GTA Online)
GTA V has been with us for a very long time and across various platforms. As much as we would love Rockstar to give us another installment, GTA Online doesn’t seem to lose its audience. It’s still as fun as it initially was, if not more.
The amount of game modes is impressive, and Los Santos is the perfect place to wreak havoc. Races, deathmatches, the Capture mode, the Survival mode… There are so many things to do in this game that it simply can’t get old too soon.
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6. Final Fantasy XIV
We haven’t included a Japanese take on the MMORPG genre yet, so here you go.
Final Fantasy XIV is practically another FF entry that happens to be multiplayer. This was meticulously crafted for the story to be engaging; the gameplay is as good as in “regular” games in the series.
Once you progress in the game, you will be able to change classes and jobs. You need to unlock new classes first, but the effort is worth it nonetheless! Finally, there are hundreds of hours that you can spend in the title — especially with new expansions like Endwalker, you get even more areas to explore, quests to do, and skills to acquire.
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5. League of Legends
League is one of the best free multiplayer games, hands down. Its community may be a bit toxic at times, sure.
Nonetheless, the title itself is one of the biggest ones in the Esports sphere, and watching a good match feels equally as exciting as an adrenaline-packed match of a “regular” sport. Choose your champion and engage in 5v5 battles in one of the most popular MOBA titles ever.
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4. Call of Duty: Warzone
The Call of Duty series had its ups and downs, but it needed something new above anything else. Warzone may not be the first Battle Royale out there; still, blending the genre with everything the franchise excelled at before truly enhances the experience.
Balanced weapons and thought-through game modes make it a BR that lets a bit of desperately needed fresh air into the gameplay, giving something different to stay relevant. You could also play as Rambo or John McClane at some point, which is cool no matter how you look at it.
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3. DOTA 2
One more League-like experience makes it to the top three! Instead of Champions, you play as Heroes here. They are all available from the very beginning, which is a significant advantage over Riot’s MOBA. On the other hand, none of them can be a jack of all trades – they’ve mastered one aspect, lacking in others.
This fact changes the approach that you would have, playing LoL. Even though you can pick any Hero, you must know what you’re getting into. Otherwise, it won’t be a successful match. The game doesn’t have as much audience as Riot’s title, but Valve can’t really say that no one’s playing their masterpiece. It’s a bit more challenging but gives you a lot of space to grow as a player – and that’s why it’s so high on the list.
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2.
Counter-Strike Global Offensive
“Rush B” and shouting through a microphone of questionable quality have become a signature of Valve’s online shooter. It’s come a long way, considering that Global Offensive came out all the way back in 2012. It’s a classic, skill-based 5v5 match formula that somehow never got boring. You need precise, swift decision-making, mad skills to keep up with the enemy, and, most importantly, you need to co-operate with your team.
It’s one of these games that can’t be played without any means of communication; technically, it is possible. However, this doesn’t mean that you will be winning any rounds, as the opposite party may constantly relate your positions to its members. Even though the title has an old-school vibe around it, it’s still a fascinating example of how to deliver satisfying gameplay.
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1.
Fortnite
You may like it or not, but Fortnite is the video game equivalent of Naruto (considering the recent collaboration with the series, that’s a surprisingly accurate comparison) – even your grandma must have heard the name somewhere. The building aspect of the game differentiates it from other BR on this list, which makes it possible to camp a little (recently, a Zero Build mode was introduced, but the building is now back!). Above anything else, this game has STYLE.
It’s over the top and has a cartoony look that even Team Fortress 2 can’t be compared with, but it’s totally unapologetic when it comes to its atmosphere. It’s a bit of a chaotic bloodfest with a lot of jumping, looting, and absolute fun. Additionally, the number of collaborations with other game series (like Borderlands) and other pop-cultural references put Fortnite above gaming: all of the aspects that helped it reach the top of this list.
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Best Steam multiplayer games
Some gamers may be upset to see the Epic Games’ goldmine on the top of the list. Don’t let this victory overshadow the vast majority of the best multiplayer games available on Steam. No matter what sort of setting and type of gameplay you prefer, the most popular PC platform offers such a wide variety that you’ll surely find a perfect one for yourself.
And it’s not just the recent specimens like Apex Legends and Lost Ark that can tempt you with their addictive gameplay and enormous community. Despite the years’ passing and new titles generating hype, games like CS: GO, Team Fortress 2, and DOTA 2 continue maintaining their popularity and high positions onpositionsof top games by current players.
And on that note, we conclude our list of best multiplayer PC games that we recommend you play in 2022. As you’ve noticed, many of them aren’t the newest, but their worth shows in how they could withstand the test of time. If we haven’t included something important here, please remind us about it in the comment section.
These were only our picks; if you’re feeling generous today, please post your top 25 (it may also be top 10, 5, or 3) and tell us why game X deserves to be higher than game Y in the comment section below! 😉
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Game recommendations
0019
PC Xbox One
PC PS4 Xbox One
October 10, 2007
PC
All games rating.
So, our favorite multiplayer games. Another decidedly straightforward list, where almost, almost complete order reigns. In vain, that now even refrigerators are released with multiplayer. Previously, projects with all sorts of multiplayer modes were very niche entertainment, today we have exactly the opposite — even in GTA there are already n series as there is a network mode. And a good, you know, such a mode, full of chaos, with a bunch of mini-games, quite even in the style of the original unrestrained blackness. If you already got yourself a key to, say, the fifth GTA, the local online is worth at least a try.
However, the multiplayer classics still rule the roost, namely team shooters. The first two lines, as expected, are Team Fortress 3 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The main hit of 2016 has been dug in in many places and is not represented except in the top indie projects.
What to do if millions of gamers around the world found Overwatch to be a great game.
You have to go from text to text using the words “bright”, “dynamic”, “design”, “addictive”, “Blizzard” and “quality”. Well, among contemporaries there is no equal to our titan.
There is only ever-living Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Don’t you have enough hardcore, headshots through walls and B rushes in your life? Welcome back to the good old CS, which not only does not slow down, but also continues its crusade against League of Legends for the title of the most popular esports discipline among viewers.
Well, since we are now talking specifically about team-based FPS, it is worth mentioning Battlefield 1, which did not make it into the top ten, but still excellent. And after all, it was not a chamber drama that was promised, but large-scale battles, padded maize crops flying right overhead, epic armored trains and attacks with a saber unsheathed.
So what else do we have there besides shooting.
The best real-time strategy is still Starcraft 2. Because no one else, apparently, knows how to make such games, and Warcraft 4 has not yet been released.
To be honest, it’s hard to recommend SC2 as your new favorite online entertainment, because every first active player there now is a hardcore veteran, and the competitive scene is safely mothballed. I would like to advise you to go through the masterpiece campaign of Wings of Liberty anyway, but after all, our top one is about multiplayer … Which is also amazing, but very tough, for the most nerve-racking strategists. It is not easy to join the movement now, it is very difficult.
Here we have such an impregnable fortress in our rating.
There is some kind of nonsense going on with strategic entertainment. You move from real time to turn-based battles, and there you will find the sixth «Civilization» with mesmerizing gameplay and disgusting network code. Your humble person personally prefers to mock computer doodles for hours in a calm atmosphere, but his boss, no, no, and he will take a Steam account for a session in Civilization 6. After that, every first time he starts swearing that he would be happy in the game if two hours later, the party hadn’t left, and everyone wouldn’t have left from there.
A separate anecdote — once, just after the release, when the trees were big, the grass was green, and new tactics were unknown, one of the strategists dropped out of the session. Because I respawned in the tundra. There is nothing to do, the comrades had to play with the bot. Which put everyone on the shoulder blades with a quick religious victory.
In a word, you can take on strategies, but at your own peril and risk.
Fortunately, in competitive games alone, the online light has not converged like a wedge. There is also such entertainment as co-op. And here our parser again recommends the classics. This time — the sandbox classics, Minecraft and Terraria. However, you can also try the survival shooter Rust. Imagine the same Minecraft, only heaps of living marauders are still running around the world, who want to profit at someone else’s expense. And the graphics aren’t great either. And the game will never be completed to the end, but all sorts of fun updates come out regularly.
It turns out that many people like this combination; who knows, maybe you will suddenly like it too.
P.S. Apparently, we will have a separate section for Dota of all colors and stripes, and For Honor is a cunning kamikaze saboteur.
Advantages of computer games — Plarium
Have you ever wondered what are the advantages of computer games? Meanwhile, scientific studies have already appeared in which the benefits of computer games have been proven!
Is it worth it to play computer games
The days when computer games were considered an activity for children and teenagers are in the distant past. Everyone can play games for free today. After all, the gaming industry offers us real masterpieces that allow us to understand all the advantages of computer games.
With the current level of development and the number of indie developers, finding a game that will meet all your requirements is no longer a serious problem. Even if you want to graze a field of green magical goats whose milk you will exchange for a new hat, thanks to which the dwarfs will recognize you as their king and build a castle for you over a lava lake, most likely such a game either already exists or is in development.
And the benefits of computer games of this type have also been proven.
There is something for everyone in the variety of MMO games. In addition, there are advantages to computer games in that it is one of the cheapest forms of long-term entertainment: compare the cost of an hour of golf or even watching a movie in the cinema with the cost of an hour of online play — the game will always cost less money.
Online games give everyone the opportunity to communicate with people from all over the world, participate in competitions and just have fun — and do not require any special effort or financial costs. And this, too, can not be attributed to the advantages of computer games.
Computer games and their influence on the human body
Brain training
The older a person gets, the slower his body moves. Unfortunately, the human brain also tends to fade away. Usually, by the age of 40, most people already show signs of such changes. The benefits of computer games in slowing down aging is already a proven fact.
Many if not all multiplayer games are based on the principle of mental competition. This principle is rarely present in the real life of a person, unless he specifically seeks tests and exercises for his mind. A striking example of such an exercise is, for example, chess. However, if you have no one to play with, you will have to look for a mate. Moreover, for such a mental exercise to be effective, your opponent must be roughly equal to your level of play.
The advantage of computer games is that by using the Internet and online chess, you can be sure that you will easily find a suitable opponent. Most of the best MMO games are essentially the same chess, only not with one specific opponent, but with millions of players from all over the world. Regular mental competition and communication in online games will gradually sharpen your mind and prepare it to solve various problems in everyday life.
Puzzle games on PC and other devices are also a great way to train your thinking.
Scientists have proven that puzzles develop mental flexibility, and problem solving has a positive effect on brain health.
In addition, another advantage of computer games is the development of attention and judgment. So, all solitaire games require the player to remember separate interpretations for each card, as well as their location. This, of course, has a positive effect on the ability to analyze and memorize.
Life Simulator
There are simulation games that simulate either the entire life cycle or some particular life process. But to feel the advantages of computer games, it is not necessary to immerse yourself in a full simulation. There are games that allow you to hone the skills you need for real life without such immersion.
The essence of most online games, especially strategy and FPS games, is to compete with other players. Even in games where you cannot directly attack the opponent, competition and competition remain in the first place: if you strive to be better than someone, there will always be someone who wants to be better than you.
If even the old Atari football simulator, released back in 1994, is saturated with the spirit of competition, forcing you to become stronger, faster, calculate combinations and move towards victory, then what can we say about modern games!
In the conditions of a tough gaming competition, you can find not only opponents, but also players who can temporarily take your side and help you. The advantages of computer games are obvious here: in fact, the same human qualities and situations that can take place in real life are manifested in the game, but here they are more pronounced and do not have such important consequences.
Therefore, the usefulness of computer games lies in the fact that they can be considered a certain preparation for real life events. In addition, the experience of computer MMO games allows the player to analyze himself and his behavior in more detail. The advantages of computer games in this aspect cannot be overestimated.
Only through this analysis will you be able to assess your own strengths and weaknesses.
Obviously, it is easier to learn not in real life, but in a game where only a certain game progress is at stake.
Thus, the advantages of computer games become obvious: online games develop the spirit of healthy competition in a person and allow you to evaluate your own behavior in a competitive environment, which significantly stimulates a person’s personal growth in real life.
If you start to delve into the game, on one of the forums you will definitely come across someone who shares your views and interests. The more open you are to the gaming community, the more friends and acquaintances you will make, which means that the gaming world will also become a world of new friends and relationships for you. Often friendships that begin in the virtual world of a game can be much longer-term than the game itself.
On the other hand, you have absolutely nothing to lose if your relationship with someone doesn’t work out. The advantage of computer games is that they are one of the easiest and most convenient ways to make new friends and communicate.
Moreover, communication in the game can be a great training for any real communication.
Games in English
The benefits of computer games can be where you don’t expect them to be. Everyone who started learning English could be convinced that it is impossible to master it without practice. Among the tips for learners of English, you will always find a recommendation to immerse yourself in the English-speaking environment as much as possible. But finding it without leaving your native country is quite difficult, and lessons with native speakers cost a lot of money. And now we come to the discussion of another plus of computer games.
First of all, do not rush to switch the language in the settings and try to play in English. Do you think this is not enough? Regardless of which game you play, remember that in addition to the game itself, there is also a forum or official community where you can also find English-speaking users. Read news in English, write comments and communicate in English.
You will not even notice how communication in a foreign language will become easier and more enjoyable.
Reaction games
English, slowing down aging and access to entertainment are not all the advantages of computer games. Chinese scientists conducted a study in which they tried to figure out how computer games affect the brain. They recruited 38 students to participate, half of whom are professional League of Legends players.
This game requires strategic thinking skills, the ability to follow what is happening on the screen and, most importantly, react with lightning speed. To prove the advantages of computer games, scientists needed an electroencephalograph. They also conducted a mindfulness test for study participants.
What was the experiment itself? All participants had to spend about two hours at the computer with electrodes attached to their heads, which allow them to change brain activity. At this time, letters and symbols appeared very quickly on the screens in front of them.
