Multiplayer games can provide an experience that single-player games just can't, such as competitive spirit, fun, and companionship with friends or random players you can play with.

In this article, we have gathered a list of the most popular and best multiplayer games where you can spend your free time.

Baldur's Gate III

• Developer: Larian Studios
• Genre: RPG

Baldur's Gate III became the "Game of the Year" in 2023 for a reason. This game is the crown of modern RPGs; it provides a completely new experience for this genre. It's famous for variability in story development, diversified gameplay components, character customization, and mechanics. While none of these are revolutionary innovations in game design, it is their combination that makes this game stand out.

The plot of this game is very interesting, too, and you are able to share this experience with friends, which will make the gameplay even more exciting. At the same time, not everyone will be in their element with the turn-based gameplay and dice-rolled outcomes, either.

Counter-Strike 2

• Developer: Valve, Hidden Path Entertainment
• Genre: First-Person Shooter

Counter-Strike 2 is the most popular FPS shooter in which gamers are divided into two teams: terrorists and counter-terrorists. Each side has its own objectives on any given map, usually planting bombs or rescuing hostages.

This game will appeal to those who love classic team shooters without any superabilities or magic. Simple modes, straightforward gameplay, and matches in which the result depends only on your shooting skill, reflexes, and awareness.

PUBG: Battlegrounds

• Dev: PUBG Corporation
• Genre: Battle Royale

PUBG laid the ground for the "Battle Royale" genre, which is still trendy not only among computer users but also among smartphone owners. Its dynamic gameplay, the desire to stay alive on the map, and the possibility to form up to four-person teams have contributed so much to the development of the industry. The variety of cosmetic goods and events, which season the normal routine of the game, make it even more special.

Fortnite

• Developer: Epic Games
• Genre: Battle Royale/Third-Person Shooter

Another popular "battle royale" game, very famous among both teenagers and adults. Fortnite widely collaborates with other franchises, including the characters from other games, movies, and cartoons.

One of the distinctive features is a building mode structurally setting Fortnite apart from the row of similar games. The ability to build a quick and skillful construction for protection against enemies makes this game challenging in its own particular way.

Valorant

• Developer: Riot Games
• Genre: Tactical FPS

A tactical shooter that fuses CS2 gameplay with that of hero shooters. There are numerous game modes in Valorant, each with different game objectives and noteworthy mechanics. Adding to that is the ability usage of unique-ability heroes, making it a little different from other shooters in its genre, without going all the way into Overwatch 2 territory.

Dota 2

• Developer: Valve
• Genre: MOBA

The mythical MOBA game, spiritual successor to the very first of its genre, DotA. It has gone through many changes over the years by introducing new heroes and ability mechanics and changing the map to try to perfect it.

While not as popular today as it once was, Dota 2 still reigns supreme in the esports world and will see continued updates, which will sometimes bring in a new wave of new players who want to check the game out.

League of Legends

• Developer: Riot Games
• Genre: MOBA

League of Legends has always been the eternal competitor in MOBA style gameplay, rivaling Dota 2. LoL was based upon the original DotA ideas, but it has taken on its own mechanics and features within its system to give it almost an identity of its own.

Most of the same gameplay principles apply as with any other MOBA; however, LoL's interesting characters, visual style, and style of pace in gameplay have garnered it a bigger audience over Dota 2 in some regions.

Overwatch 2

• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
• Genre: Hero Shooter

This is the prime representative of hero shooters, where Overwatch 2 focuses on battles between characters with special roles and abilities in order to achieve team-based objectives. Despite all the mixed reviews, the second installment continued to develop this project, adding different competitive modes and maps that were designed especially to offer players a truly unique in-game experience.

Sea of Thieves

• Developer: Rare
• Genre: Action-Adventure / Open World

A great online adventure game in which you are a pirate, you sail in seas, fight other players on ships, and try to find some treasure. Of course, it's most fun when friends are around you so that coordinating your actions is easier, hence you get to beat your enemy pirates successfully.

GTA Online

• Developer: Rockstar Games
• Genre: Action-Adventure / Open World

Of course, GTA V's release made waves into the gaming world and created the monstrous popularity of GTA Online. Even years from now, these titles still retain a faithful community — surely remaining the same even after the release of GTA VI. There is just something about the classic chaos and car chases in the GTA series, but then multiply that by playing with others.

Dead by Daylight

• Developer: Behaviour Interactive
• Genre: Survival Horror

A multiplayer horror game whereby a person takes up either the role of a killer or survivor. The Killer must eliminate all the other players before any of them can repair the generators and open up the gate for an escape.

This contains a great number of characters, each having unique perks, abilities, and buffs that make every character's task easier. Up till now, no game of this genre has defeated DbD.

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

• Developer: Mediatonic
• Genre: Battle Royale / Party Game

A fun, exciting game which can be considered a different kind of "battle royale." In it, sixty players compete in races through obstacle courses and participate in mini-games to be the last player standing. Fall Guys has great cartoon-like visuals that will be fun both for younger and older players.

Deep Rock Galactic

• Developer: Ghost Ship Games
• Genre: Co-op FPS

A fun and relatively light game where you play as dwarves exploring different planets in search of resources. Though it's possible to play DRG solo, it really comes into its own when you're playing with your friends.

You'll be helping each other out with a range of humorous shout-outs, collecting resources, and fighting off alien bugs and insects. Or, if not, you can sit back and enjoy a drink at the station while playing some darts or something.

Don't Starve Together

• Developer: Klei Entertainment
• Genre: Survival / Adventure

In DST, you have to survive, gather resources, get accustomed to the world using special character abilities, fight hunger, cold, darkness, and monsters in general. The game is original, but maybe not everybody's cup of tea.

One of the significant cons is that it doesn't have in-game hints or tutorials, and most of the time, players have to find videos or articles which will tell them how to do this or another thing.

Team Fortress 2

• Developer: Valve
• Genre: Hero Shooter / FPS

While it may not be as popular now as it was when the game first came out, TF2 is still just as fun, with a very active community. Hilarious gameplay in the hero shooter genre, and no other game can currently replace its style of play.

You're able to choose one of the many unique characters in Team Fortress 2, all of which have different playful features to make the gameplay even more enjoyable.

World of Warcraft

• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
• Genre: MMORPG

The most famous MMORPG all over the world; it had a very long lifetime but keeps getting more and more alive because of its plenty of content, updates, and storyline development. World of Warcraft is available either in its present form or in its Classic version: way harder but with less content. Plenty of classes and races allow anyone to find their preferred fit.