Aren’t multiplayer games the best? There’s something about going to war online that makes things more exciting. As you raise those scores and combine your skills to outdo your opponents, you experience the rush of competition and friendship. There is something here for everyone, whether you’re searching for a place to socialize or some of the greatest multiplayer games to test your talents.
And where to enjoy multiplayer games more than the old way of PCs? Even though playing games on consoles and smartphones is becoming quite popular, the PC is still one of the greatest platforms for online multiplayer games.
Online PC gaming is all about timeless and enjoyable gameplay. The best part? It offers many exclusive titles not available on smartphones or consoles, such as League of Legends and Dota 2, which are incredibly popular and some of the best online games you can enjoy today!
So, which multiplayer PC games have endured the test of time or are currently fresh and generating buzz? Enters our curated list of the best online multiplayer PC games. If you’re searching for a good online game on a new computer, you’re in the right place!
But before that, let’s know why multiplayer PC games are all the hype.
Counter-Strike 2
We start off this list with the sequel to one of the best eSports games of all time, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. At the tail end of Q3, 2023, Valve released Counter-Strike 2 as pretty much a complete surprise. Of course, that didn’t stop it from taking over the gaming industry.
Counter-Strike 2 features most of the gunplay and gameplay elements from its predecessor, while improving and adding more elements to make the gameplay seamless. Moreover, it looks better than ever before, thanks to the new Source 2 engine utilized by Valve.
If you’ve never played CS:GO and have wondered about the series’ hype for quite a while, Counter-Strike 2 is an excellent place to start. It’s already considered one of the best FPS games available today!
Developers: Valve
Publisher: Valve
Release Date: September 27, 2023
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Valorant
In contrast to CS:GO, Valorant is a strategic team-based shooter that features ninjas and cyborgs. This isn’t a game where you can run frantically around corners. Instead, you must work together with teammates, aim carefully, and master your favorite agents if you want to succeed.
And this is basically how Valorant differs from CS:GO. Each hero has interesting special powers like teleportation that can quickly move you behind enemies or flashbangs that can curl around barriers. Harnessing these abilities in novel ways and executing crucial plays is where the thrill lies.
Moreover, thanks to the addictive gameplay, you’ll find plenty of games like Valorant that are now trying to put their own spin on the original!
Developers: Riot Games
Publisher: Riot Games
Release Date: June 2, 2020
➡️ Check it out on The Epic Games Store.
Apex Legends
EA’s version of the best PC battle royale game continues to top the charts through Apex Legends. Initially released in 2020, this hero shooter takes multiplayer shooting and battle royale elements, along with the traversal mechanics from the Titanfall series, to create something truly unique.
Multiple new characters and content are added each season, and it’s become a staple in eSports tournaments. Whether you want to be a support character and soak up damage, or involve yourself in deep tactical gameplay by sabotaging the opponent, there are plenty of roles to familiarize yourself with in this game.
There’s a decent story in the game as well, considering the fact that Apex Legends is said to be a part of the Titanfall universe. So, if you’ve loved the gameplay of Titanfall and want the best of the battle royale genre, Apex Legends is what you need to play!
Developers: Respawn Entertainment
Publishers: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 5, 2020
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
The result of 14 years of development is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a team shooter that redefines its genre. The goal of the five terrorists is to arm a bomb or hold a captive. They are being stopped by five counterterrorists. But you already know that, right?
Although featuring a rather boring premise, CS:GO is one of the most engaging first-person shooter games you will ever play. Counter-Strike’s most exquisite moments are not created by these elements; rather, they serve to enhance them. The weaponry feels wonderful, and if the maps were any more perfect, they would start slicing through the fabric of reality.
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Counter-strike: Global Offensive Pc Game | 1,567 Reviews | Buy on Amazon |
Being the last survivor of your unit creates a lot of tension. That dynamic would apply to any game with a similar round structure, but Counter-Strike’s simplicity emphasizes it.
Developers: Valve
Publisher: Valve
Release Date: August 21, 2012
Dota 2
What started as a simple tweak has since evolved to be among the most well-known eSports in the world. Dota 2 is the industry benchmark for MOBAs, that odd cross between real-time strategy and team sports. Players now have a variety of new heroes to think about.
Yes, testing limits is an essential part of any multiplayer game, but Dota stands out for how many barriers it tests at once. There are the many objects and spells, the immense amount of knowledge it requires you to learn, and the limitless interactions between them all. You’ll require to hone your reflexes, your strategies, and your ability to be patient with others as well as yourself.
If you work hard to become an expert at this game, the sky’s the limit.
Developers: Valve
Publisher: Valve
Release Date: July 9, 2013
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Fortnite
Fortnite is a tangled metaverse that is awash with franchises and dabs, not just a battle royale game. But if you put up with the absurdity, you’ll start to see a polished shooter that’s surprisingly deep.
Fortnite, which started as a free battle royale feature for a failing multiplayer game, quickly gained enormous popularity. This is where building fortifications to help you in battle is essential to your success. Those with sufficient motor abilities will enjoy building battles that might break out between teams.
However, Fortnite has already transcended these limitations, offering a Zero Build playlist for people who lack building skills and social and creative hubs for those who simply want to hang out with pals. Today, millions of kids jump off the virtual war bus each day to shoot one other and construct enormous constructions while wearing brand-themed costumes.
Developers: Epic Games
Publishers: Epic Games
Release Date: July 25, 2017
➡️ Check it out on The Epic Games Store.
Left 4 Dead 2
Fans of Left 4 Dead will enjoy this one more than the prior one since it offers more zombie-killing action. Left 4 Dead 2 is one of the most unique cooperative games out there and supports some of the tensest team-based multiplayer gameplay. In fact, it’s one of the best Steam games you can play today!
Since the sequel has been enhanced in every way—from the variety of game types to the character and personality strengths to the replayability and visual aesthetic—if you’re still interested in intense team-focused gaming, you’ll love every element of it.
Developers: Valve
Publisher: Valve
Release Date: November 17, 2009
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeons, a spin-off of the original game Minecraft, is one of the best multiplayer PC games you can play. Despite the game’s shortcomings, the diversity and inventiveness that went into it did more to compensate for them.
The key elements of the original game are included in this edition, but they are presented freshly and innovatively. Unlike Minecraft, the world of Minecraft Dungeons is entirely built, replete with traps, riddles, and randomly generated foes in every game.
You and three friends can explore all the Minecraft dimensions while looking around the maps for hidden treasures and missing chests, gaining new things, and defeating various nefarious critters and mobs.
Developers: Mojang Studios
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release Date: May 26, 2020
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Battlefield 3: Premium Edition
Battlefield 3: Premium Edition is undoubtedly the perfect multiplayer game out there for you. It comes with all five expansion packs, as well as a multiplayer head-start kit that boosts the new player’s performance in online multiplayer games.
With Battlefield 3: Premium Edition, you jump into premium action. It offers you expansive battlegrounds, whether you like to use ground forces, air superiority, or both.
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![Battlefield 3: Premium Edition – PC Origin [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5181EDkYjcL.jpg)
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Battlefield 3: Premium Edition – PC Origin [Online Game Code] | 655 Reviews | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
If you want to enjoy an unforgettable, world-class multiplayer suite, this game is best for you.
Developers: DICE
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Mortal Kombat X
Mortal Kombat X is another wonderful game on the list. If you can get past the blatant gore, you’ll find a good punch fest between two amusingly bizarre characters. There are subtleties to explore, but you can get a lot done with only a few combos and some pizzazz.
This version of Kombat is especially keen on making each stage more than just a nice backdrop, providing chances to hop around and occasionally throw bystanders at your opponent. There is no chasing your character around an arena, yet combos are quick, and movement is responsive.
Long lists of combo chains and X-Rays, the game’s version of ultimate attacks that see your character crush people’s skulls, tibias, and fibias, are both there to be acquired. And, if you’re looking for the best fighting games, you’ll be pleased with this one!
Developers: NetherRealm Studios
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Release Date: April 14, 2015
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Rocket League
Tremendous delight. Arguably, these two words sum up Rocket League, a multiplayer game where players play football (or soccer, depending on where you’re from) while driving cars propelled by rockets.
From the very first second, that delight begins to pour. It starts off sloppy and chaotic, reminding you of schoolchildren swamping the ball as a child without regard for collaboration. That can still cause a fit of laughter, but once everyone gets the hang of it, Rocket League truly soars to new heights.
The popularity of Rocket League can be attributed to its streamlined gameplay: using a vehicle to push a ball across a field. It is barely an idea that can only be understood by diehard auto enthusiasts.
Developers: Psyonix
Publisher: Psyonix
Release Date: July 7, 2015
➡️ Check it out on The Epic Games Store.
Star Wars Battlefront II
One of the greatest multiplayer renditions of the Star Wars world to date, Star Wars Battlefront II hits all the right notes in the heat of fierce combat.
Star Wars Battlefront II is a comeback tale fit for the Skywalker saga, regardless of whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the battlefield or just taking up your blaster again after a long break.
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Star Wars Battlefront II - PC | 167 Reviews | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Overall, it’s a fantastic bundle that offers one of the greatest and most exciting ways to get a real Star Wars gaming experience right now.
Developers: DICE
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 17, 2017
The Elder Scrolls Online
An open-world persistent multiplayer game is The Elder Scrolls Online. Like the other games in the genre, you choose a character class and go on an endless quest. As a fantasy game with an online element, there’s plenty to do in the world of The Elder Scrolls Online!
You can team up with other explorers in a multiplayer role-playing game to complete missions, explore dungeons, and slay formidable dragons. You can also engage in player-against-player (PvP) combat with other players.
ESO is an exceptional game that aspires to greatness and a unique personality that goes beyond the benefits and responsibilities provided by its famous brand name, and it’s a good time to play it.
Developers: ZeniMax Online Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: April 4, 2014
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight
No matter who you are, this is the online role-playing game you should play. This is because World of Warcraft highlights many, if not all, of the finest features of gaming in general.
In more ways than one, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight is about returning home. For the titular Dragonflights of the game, who have been missing for endless years, picking up the pieces and starting again in their former ancestral home feels like going home.
Dragonflight is entertaining and pleasant, and its new content is particularly noteworthy and stands out.
Developers: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date: November 28, 2022
➡️ Check it out on Battle.net.
What Makes Multiplayer PC Games So Popular?
If you’re seeking new games, online multiplayer games are becoming increasingly popular. Valorant, League of Legends, Fall Guys, and Fortnite are more popular among gamers now than Mass Effect 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, or The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. There are various causes for this shift in popularity, from innovative gaming possibilities to technological advancements.
Let’s take a peek if you have wondered why multiplayer online games are more popular and sell better.
#1. Versatile Gaming Titles
Multiplayer games are those created specifically for group play. These games offer the ability to interact with other players, compete with them in-game, or collaborate, and can be played online or offline.
The thing with multiplayer games is that there is no single genre. It can range from action to racing, MMO, or even 2D platformers, and anybody with an internet connection and a PC can play.
For instance, online casinos offer the games that casino enthusiasts want. If they enjoy blackjack, they can try out Joe Fortune’s online games; if not, they can settle with slots, table games, live dealer games, and other options. The best part? You don’t even need expensive consoles to play them.
#2. Offers a Social Experience
Multiplayer games have the crucial advantage of providing a social experience, enabling players to engage and connect with people who have similar interests. Players who have a limited number of real-life friends or social chances can find this extremely helpful.
The unlimited replayability of multiplayer games is another plus. Multiplayer games continually change and evolve based on the player’s engagement activity. It means the gaming experience is constantly intriguing and thrilling.
#3. Unique Features
Most online multiplayer games have more entertaining gameplay modes than single-player games. It is typical for most shooters to include additional game modes like Elimination, Free for All, Capture the Flag, and Battle Royale. In single-player games, players are only allowed to choose among the campaigns that are often comprised of a brief amount of playtime.
Franchises like Fortnite are gaining popularity over time for no other reason than that. While single-player games began to innovate their visuals, in-game mechanics, and narrative, some online multiplayer games focused only on gameplay.
As a result, new subgenres emerged, including MOBAs, or Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas, which attracted millions of fans with games like Dota 2 and League of Legends. With those games, users can enhance their abilities and even turn into eSports players to fight for prize pools of millions of dollars.
#4. Competition
Competition remains another factor. Humans like playing with one another, but they usually enjoy competing with one another more. The ancient Greeks created the Olympics to honor this spirit of competition. And humanity has always retained it.
People like competing with one another, whether it’s a friendly competition or genuine rivalry. Likewise, online gaming satisfies people’s need for competition and their need to win. Gamers today are more likely than ever to play multiplayer PC games owing to the world’s ever-evolving landscape. Besides providing more fun, these games are a vital social component for most players.
The best multiplayer games come in a variety of styles, whether they are quick and frenzied or tense and strategic. These experiences wouldn’t be the same without a bunch of actual people running about slaying, maiming, or occasionally helping each other out in some of the best PC games, whether you’re competing for control of the payload in an FPS game or battling for survival with your buddies.
In conclusion
Here we are with the best multiplayer games on PC to have endless hours of fun with peers. Regardless of the game(s) you select, the significance of multiplayer games is that they enable you to establish a connection with other people, albeit digitally, and you can unwind and have fun while doing so.
There’s never been a better moment to embrace your competitive side because many of the best forthcoming PC games also have intriguing new multiplayer options. Also, games like CS: GO, Fortnite, and DOTA 2 keep on maintaining their popularity despite the course of time and the buzz surrounding new releases.
So, if you and your friends are into multiplayer PC games, these gaming titles are just what you’ve been waiting for!
You could also check out some PC simulation games if multiplayer games aren’t your thing!
