The Best Multiplayer Games On Steam

Steam is the perfect place for players yearning to get their hands on some fantastic multiplayer titles. Not only does Steam offer an abundance of great Triple-A releases, but it also showcases some of the best up-and-coming Indie games around. Many of these stellar titles come complete with a multiplayer aspect, whether it be PvE, PvP, or both. Anyone looking to get their hands on a great

multiplayer Steam game

has a veritable treasure trove of titles to pick from on the platform.

With so many choices, it can be pretty daunting to find the best multiplayer games on Steam. There is a ton of variety present, so there should be something for everyone.

Destiny 2

Bungie crafted a fascinating and entertaining world with

Destiny

, bringing thousands of players together thanks to its addictive gunplay and looter-shooter gameplay elements. Unfortunately,

Destiny 2

wasn’t as well received after its initial launch. However, it’s still maintained an impressive cult following and currently stands as one of the best free-to-play offerings on the Steam platform. Although there are some who are turned off by the grind of it all,

Destiny 2

offers the same amazing gunplay as its predecessor. With so many weapon types to choose from, as well as three distinct classes to pick between, there is a lot of variety found throughout the Sci-Fi FPS

release

.

Developers continue to improve and add to the long-standing release, with Seasonal content and DLC content dropping often. Those who enjoy both PvE and PvP elements

will

find a lot to enjoy with

Destiny 2

.

Rocket League

There are a lot of multiplayer sports games floating around Steam but few of them are as high-octane as

Rocket League

. Those looking for something unique and competitive should immediately fall in love with

Rocket League

‘s brand of high-speed Soccer-based action. Players will team up and hop into rocket-laden vehicles in an attempt to score goals against other players, using special items and a fun control system to fling their vehicles into a massive ball.

Rocket League

is a great alternative for players craving something sporty without sacrificing wild over-the-top action.

Cuphead

Cuphead

is easily one of the most visually engaging titles currently on the market. Those who enjoy the beauty and wackiness of old-school cartoon shows should find themselves enamored with

Cuphead

‘s gorgeous and meticulous art style. Players seeking a serious challenge will also enjoy the title’s rather punishing difficulty. It’s definitely one of the most engrossing and demanding platformers currently on the market and can be tough for one player to make it through on their own.

Thankfully, those looking for some help can bring a player with them in a cooperative adventure.

Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2

is one of (if not the) most engrossing and well-known zombie-survival games to ever hit the market. Not only does this title feature a mountain of content added by developers over the years, but it also hosts one of the largest and most dedicated modding communities found on Steam. Even though Left 4 Dead 2 was released back in 2009, players have been busy stacking as much content as possible into the release to keep things fresh and engrossing for themselves and their friends.

Left 4 Dead 2

offers one of the most satisfying and entertaining cooperative experiences on the market and is a must-play for Horror and FPS fans.

Lost Ark

There are some great ARPGs on the market, but few of them feel similar in scale to

Lost Ark

. Those who enjoy the

Diablo

series will feel right at home with

Lost Ark

‘s fast-paced top-down gameplay style. Players will choose from a variety of classes, each with their own unique skills and abilities, before embarking on a massive quest set in an expansive world that’s filled with other players. This free-to-play release is actually an MMO, meaning players will see many other adventurers on their travels and can easily join up with them to tackle dungeons and other particularly difficult bosses and enemies.

Players looking for a game that they can really sink some time into should give

Lost Ark

a try.

Elden Ring

From Software’s

Dark Souls

series has been so popular with gamers over the years that it has managed to spawn its very own sub-genre, dubbed Souls-like. Players looking for some tough-as-nails experiences can hop into

Dark Souls

or any of the Souls-like games floating around Steam. Many of From Software’s releases featured some type of multiplayer mechanic, with players able to join (or invade) others in certain areas.

Elden Ring

took this formula and amplified it, thanks to its vast open world. With so many bosses and areas to explore, it’s easy for players to find rival players to invade or cooperate with others who may be struggling in a specific area.

Elden Ring

offers one of the better multiplayer experiences found in a From Software game.

Dead By Daylight

Horror fanatics should find themselves drawn to

Dead by Daylight

thanks to its lineup of recognizable monsters and survivors. The release draws heavily from pre-established Horror tropes but also features some “branded” killers and survivors thanks to its crossover events. Those who want to play with a group will find themselves fighting for survival against a player-controlled killer, forced to repair generators and sneak around terrifying locations to avoid capture. On the flip side, players looking to “hunt” can take on the role of the killer and try to slay all the survivors before they complete their tasks and escape.

The free-to-play cat-and-mouse game is seeing constant updates, with new killers and survivors (each with their own abilities and skills) added often.

Team Fortress 2

Before there was

Overwatch

, there was

Team Fortress 2

, one of the most iconic multiplayer games ever created. Valve’s “class-based shooter” sees two teams of players choose from an array of classes like Soldier, Heavy, Scout, Pyro, Spy, Engineer, Medic, Sniper, and Demoman as they battle against one another in a variety of game modes, like Capture the Flag, Team Deathmatch, Payload, and more. The title still remains a cult classic today and has quite a bit of user-created content, with custom game modes and maps.

War Thunder

There are a handful of great vehicular combat titles out there but few feel as visceral, exciting, and engaging as

War Thunder

. This free-to-play release has players hoping into tanks, planes, and more to combat one another across a series of expansive maps.

Players will cap points in the main game modes but can also engage in things like air battles and deathmatch. With tons of vehicles to unlock and customization options,

War Thunder

offers a ton of replayability and will keep vehicular combat fans on the edge of their seats as they thrash through destructible environments.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Despite enjoying successful runs in their mediums, slasher or horror movie franchises have rarely tried their hands at the video game industry. Sure, they might have produced a SNES or Atari 2600 release back in the day, but very few developers have tried to adapt

A Nightmare on Elm Street, Child’s Play

, or

Halloween

. Even if its movies are more niche than some of the horror genre’s other stalwarts,

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

is no exception, and

Resident Evil 7

proved that the original film’s premise could result in a genuinely scary experience.

After tackling


Friday the 13th


, Sumo Digital moved on to

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

, an asymmetrical horror game similar to

Dead by Daylight

. This subgenre has produced its share of fun releases, but most exist firmly in the shadow of Behaviour Interactive’s hugely successful property. Although cut from the same cloth, Sumo’s effort incorporates enough innovation and novelty to stand out from the crowd. For one, matches are 4v3 affairs rather than the typical 4v1, which means that both sides will need to communicate with each other constantly.

Final Fantasy 14

The

Final Fantasy

series is one of the longest-running and most revered RPGs to ever hit the market. Players have become very accustomed to all the amazing classes seen throughout the years, as well as the plethora of great characters and intricate storylines found through each release. In 2002, fans were finally given the chance to live their own adventure thanks to

Final Fantasy 11

, an MMO experience in which players crafted their own character and joined others online to adventure through areas and dungeons together.

In 2010, Square Enix tried to perfect the formula but was met with some backlash for what many considered a horrible downgrade over the original release. Square Enix completely rebuilt

Final Fantasy 14

into A Realm Reborn, one of the most successful MMORPGs to ever hit the market. This fantastic release lets players pick from a multitude of races and classes, allowing them to switch Jobs on the fly.

DOTA 2

Many players are likely familiar with the

League of Legends

series, specifically its flagship MOBA release. Although it’s immensely popular

DOTA 2

stands as one of the original MOBA pioneers and is directly responsible for helping to elevate the genre into what it is today. Players will pick from a multitude of different characters, each with their own unique abilities, playstyles, and skills. From there, they will battle against other players, taking out AI-controlled minions and towers, in order to purchase new items and grow stronger. Players battle against one another until a team is able to break another team’s defense.

DOTA 2

has grown exponentially over the years and now features tons of characters to choose from.

PUBG: Battlegrounds

At this point,

PUBG: Battlegrounds

is pretty much a fixture of the multiplayer scene. While not the first of its type, the game played a significant role in popularizing the Battle Royale genre, leading to an avalanche of releases that sought to follow in

PUBG

‘s lucrative footsteps. Nowadays, Battle Royales come in various shapes and specializations, so players are generally free to pick the title that complements their needs. Consequently,

PUBG

can sometimes get lost in the shuffle since it is not quite as polished as some other popular games.

Still, there is a lot to enjoy here.

PUBG

remains a great option for anyone who just wants to kill an hour, and while the gameplay is not amazing, it is generally decent. In 2022,

PUBG

went free-to-play, making it a no-risk option.

SMITE

Another MOBA,

SMITE

differentiates itself from the pack by ditching the top-down aesthetic and instead allowing players the freedom to move around and attack from a third-person perspective.

SMITE

feels much more like a third-person shooter infused with a MOBA, and offers the same team-versus-team structure that has made the medium so popular. With tons of God and Mythology-based heroes to choose from, there is sure to be a character that will appeal to almost everyone.

SMITE

is a free-to-play release, meaning players have nothing to lose by logging in and giving it a try.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Rainbow Six Siege

‘s longevity has been incredible, especially since its launch was not without issues. Now, nearly a decade later, Ubisoft’s tactical shooter is firmly established as a staple of the multiplayer scene, one that has a huge and dedicated fanbase that will likely keep it alive for years to come. Now, newcomers might be hesitant to take the plunge since they will be essentially thrown into the deep end. While not devoid of beginner-friendly features,

Siege

is simply one of those games that rewards long-term commitment since direct experience is the only way to really become familiar with the maps, which is an important part of the overall package.

Siege

is good enough to make that effort worth it, especially if someone has a few friends to play alongside. For the uninitiated, the game revolves around 5v5 encounters that pit one team on the defensive and the other on the attack. It is a simple formula that works well, and the gameplay and progression have quite a lot of depth.

Apex Legends

Respawn’s

Apex Legends

launched out of nowhere and was an instant hit, cementing itself as a must-play entry in the Battle Royale sphere. A few years later, the game’s relevance is largely still intact, even if it is no longer the most exciting property on the market. Respawn knows a thing or two about satisfying first-person gunplay, and that expertise is evident in

Apex Legends

. The gameplay is tight and satisfying, arguably placing it among the best in the Battle Royale genre.

Focusing on squads and incorporating hero shooter elements,

Apex Legends

is fairly strategic and comes with a bit more of a learning curve than its contemporaries. Importantly, the effort is worth it.

Naraka: Bladepoint

Battle Royale releases have taken the gaming world by storm thanks to their addictive gameplay and structure. Players will hop into matches with tons of other competitors in a bid to become the last player or team standing. Many of these releases feature similar mechanics but few of them focus so heavily on melee elements.

Naraka: Bladepoint

sees players hopping into a war-torn world, inspired by Asian culture. Each match has players rushing to find weapons, gear, and other items to help them battle against other opponents.

As the match wears on, the arena will grow smaller, similar to other Battle Royale titles. Players who enjoy melee combat will find a solid array of weapons and abilities in

Naraka: Bladepoint

.

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike

has dominated the Steam charts for the last decade, and that is not going to change anytime soon. In 2023, Valve rolled out

Counter-Strike 2

, replacing

CS:GO

as the default option. Naturally, such a big change will always come with some growing pains, and the sequel’s initial reception was not especially glowing. That said, it is still – by far – the most popular

multiplayer game on Steam

, and Valve will likely iron out most of the rough edges given time.

Offering a few different modes that cater to both casual and professional players,

Counter-Strike

is very flexible, allowing players to play the game as they want to. The gunplay is generally rewarding and nuanced, while the maps are largely fantastic. The new version’s visuals are a sight better than its predecessor’s, although

CS2

is still not a graphical powerhouse. This is by design since accessibility has played such a big part in defining the franchise’s legacy.

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