2024 was an excellent year formultiplayer gaming. It felt like every month, there was a new viral craze taking over the internet.
At first, it was all about democracy. Then, we made our way through an open world filled withPokemon-like creatures. Valve even released a new game!
Of course, it wouldn’t be aGame of the Yearlist in 2024 without a certain DLC making the list.
We recognize that the opinions of gamers are varied, so we had the entire DualShockers staff vote on this year’s biggest multiplayer games. In the event of a tie, we voted on the games in question to break the tie. Based on our staff’s votes, here are the 10 best multiplayer games of 2024.
10Destiny 2: The Final Shape
Fulfill your Destiny
Destiny 2: The Final Shape
It’s hard to believe thatDestiny 2first launched over seven years ago. While it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, developer Bungie has found its stride.
The gameplay has always been on point, which is expected from a Bungie game.The Final Shapeexpansion proves that everything else has fallen into place, resulting in the best expansion sinceThe Taken King. It’s a satisfying conclusion to the story Bungie has been telling from the beginning, complete with the excellent missions you already expect.
While the game still has its fair share of problems and inaccessibility, that doesn’t take away from the runaway success ofDestiny 2: The Final Shape. It’s so good that it’s worth stepping back into the game and find out what your friends have been raving about.
9Throne and Liberty
An excellent free to play MMO
Throne and Liberty
Amazon’s first entry into theMMORPGgenre,New World, is far from perfect. There’s plenty to enjoy, but you have to be patient.
Throne and Liberty, published by Amazon and developed by genre veteran NCSoft, is a far better experience. It combines everything we love about older NCSoft titles with the best aspects of the genre today.
In terms of the game’s social aspect, few do it better thanThrone and Liberty. It’s a far too common occurrence in the MMORPG genre today to feel less like an MMO and more like an Action RPG.Throne and Libertyembraces its social aspect and rewards your time and effort with an unforgettable experience.
Things may be a bit daunting at first, but it’s worth it, especially if you’re looking for an old-school MMO experience in 2024.
8Once Human
I’m only human
Once Human
Just like another survival game that will appear on our list later,Once Human’s strength is its design.
In terms of gameplay, it doesn’t do anything unique or special. In fact, it has all the trappings of an AAAUbisoftgame.
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YetOnce Humanhas found an audience thanks to its commitment to being wholly unique. Taking place in an apocalyptic future,Once Humanembraces its aesthetic, and at the end of the day, isn’t that what matters? Survival crafting games are a dime a dozen these days. They need something to help them stand out and draw players in.
That’s whereOnce Humantruly succeeds. There’s no need to reinvent the gameplay wheel. Instead, the game embraces its out-of-this-world enemy design, immersing players into a world like no other.
7Webfishing
Reel it in
Webfishing
Sometimes, dealing with the end of the world is just too much. It’s better to relax, unwind, and enjoy the company of good friends.
EnterWebfishing, a game that’s about, well, catching fish on the web with your friends. The obvious comparison here isAnimal Crossing; the focus is less on diving into a story or completing missions to save the world. You’re just catching fish, upgrading your gear, and chatting with friends.
It sounds so simple, but that’s why it works. Everything doesn’t need to be a larger-than-life experience.Webfishingreminds us that sometimes we need to slow down, relax, and enjoy ourselves.
6Super Mario Party Jamboree
Palms sweaty
Super Mario Party Jamboree
It’s been an inconsistent ride forMario Partyon Nintendo Switch. 2018’sSuper Mario Partywas, in a word, bad, while 2021’sMario Party Superstarswas a return to form, even if it was a greatest-hits release.
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2024’sSuper Mario Party Jamboreeis an excellent balance between the two, incorporating original boards and mini-games while staying true to what makesMario Partygreat.
Not every board or mini-game is a winner, but quality-of-life updates (being able to vote on the mini-games is a very welcome feature) easily make this a game night staple.
5Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Who knew DLC could be so controversial?
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
We can’t escape a 2024 Game of the Year list without talking aboutShadow of the Erdtree, can we?
We’re not talking about its eligibility as a DLC, though, because there’s no denying thatShadow of the Erdtreepacks more of a punch than most modern-day full releases.
Yes, while most people view theFromSoftwaretitle as a single-player experience,Elden Ringfeatures multiplayer as a core gameplay feature. The PVP multiplayer you know and love is here, along with the addition of cooperative gameplay.
Whether you’re exploring the world with friends or bringing in a buddy to get through that annoying boss, multiplayer inElden Ringhas helped elevate the title to among the best games ever made, andShadow of the Erdtreeis no exception. If you’ve never playedElden Ringwith friends, now’s the time to start. You won’t regret it.
As good as ever
We’re in a golden age for the fighting game genre.Tekken 8is a shining example, offering some of the best gameplay the franchise has ever seen.
Backed by an incredible story mode, beautiful visuals, and an impressive roster,Tekken 8stands out from not just its fighting game peers likeStreet Fighter 6orMortal Kombat 1butcompetitive multiplayer gamesas a whole.
Tekken 8is a celebration of the franchise, refining everything that has worked in the past and delivering an experience that rewards players old and new.
The cherry on top ofTekken 8’s success is its community. While other fighting games this year have seen players come and go,Tekken 8still boasts a healthy player base, and there are no signs of that slowing down.
Locked and loaded
Can you believe it, a brand new Valve game in 2024? One of the worst-kept secrets of the year,Deadlockis super early in development, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the year’s best multiplayer games.
A hybrid ofTeam Fortress 2,Overwatch, andDota,Deadlockbalances the mechanics of MOBAs and Hero Shooters into one package. It results in a more strategic experience in the shooter genre rather than the controlled chaos other titles are known for.
The game may feel a little slower compared to its contemporaries, but that’s not a bad thing; it makes those climatic battles that much more important. Of course, being a shooter rather than a traditional top-down MOBA allows the game to become infinitely more accessible.
Even early on,Deadlockis shaping into a force in multiplayer gaming. We’re excited to see it reach its full potential.
Gotta catch ‘em all!
It’s impossible to talk about gaming in 2024 without mentioningPalworld, one of the year’s most successful and controversial releases.
The concept is simple: what if you played an open-world survival crafting game filled with Pokemon? Only the Pokemon were able to use guns. That’sPalworld.
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Truth be told, outside of monster design, the game is nothing likePokemon. All the essentials of a successful open-world sandbox title are still here, just with the added benefit of the Pokemon-like creatures. It’s not a perfect game by any means, but it’s still worth spending your time with.
1Helldivers 2
For democracy!
Helldivers 2
The originalHelldivers, a 2015 top-down shooter, came and went without much fanfare. Its sequel, a cooperative third-based shooter, took the gaming world by storm. The game was so popular at launch that the servers were overloaded.
Despite these issues, there’s no denying thatHelldivers 2is one of the year’s best shooters. The satisfying gunplay, combined with accessible gameplay, helps the title thrive where other co-op shooters have failed.
You’re not bogged down with confusing progression systems, downtime between missions, or countless cutscenes. It’s all about getting you straight into action so you can spread democracy!
