Summary
Like all things technology-related, multiplayer games have come a long way since they were first introduced. Not only have things like physics simulation and graphical fidelity improved significantly since online multiplayer hit the mainstream, but they can also support more and more players.MMORPGshave been doing this for a while now, but now, more and more gaming genres are able to do the same while keeping their more complex sandbox features.
This list comprises the best games thatsupport 64 players or more. Some of these will be newer, and some of these will be classics, but most of these will be PvP games. There are a few exceptions, but most games use the technology to make more chaotic and robust PvP environments where more and more players can square off against each other.
This one is to be expected, but that’s not to say it doesn’t deserve its spot. There is a reason that this game is popular across age ranges: it’s dumb, goofy, and fun, with a lot of content.
Fortnite’s biggest advantage is that its sandbox is incredibly deep. It not only offers great gameplay variety in its staple modes, but also features the ability to make tons of spinoff modes like racing or even aValorantclone. The game is also completely free to try outside its original tower defense mode.
This entry can apply to bothBattlefield 1andBattlefield 5.These games are unique even within theBattlefieldlineup, as well as being the most played today. Despite the confusing nomenclature, both of these games are sequels toBattlefield 4, making various changes that streamlined the series in unique ways.
Battlefield 1is the simplest in the franchise, but also the most concise, sporting large-scaleWorld War 1combat that relies on class-based coordination.Battlefield 5spinsBattlefield 1’s formula by making ammo and health more scarce, and allowing players to build on the map to reinstate destroyed structures for cover. Both of these are decent entries in theBattlefieldseries, taking advantage of destructible environments to deliver 32 vs 32 multiplayer.
As stated above, MMOs likeWorld of WarcraftandEverquesthave been supporting high player counts for decades now, hence the “Massive” in “Massively Multiplayer.” However, the reasonNew Worldspecifically qualifies, as opposed to other MMOs, is due to the actual activities players do and how many players are required.
Unlike inWorld of Warcraft, where the max number of players required to reach the endgame is 5-20,New Worldhas players bumping into each other in larger groups to get the best gear and the newest cosmetics. For instance, there are many holiday-themed bosses, like a giant turkey for Thanksgiving, and it’s not uncommon to see large swaths of players facing them in unison. There are also “chest runs” where players band together to grab respawning world chests, and these convoys can get into the hundreds. This isn’t even getting intoNew World’s 50v50 territorial battles, which determine the tax rates of its regions.
The originalStar Wars Battlefrontgames are some of the most immersive Star Wars games to date, and that is because they are also the least concerned with balance. The joy of these games isn’t in their competitive structures or their skill expression. It’s about being absorbed into the Star Wars universe, which often means dying spectacularly. Being chased down by a little green goblin who is not only six times faster than the player, but is also six times harder to hit, is not only absurdly funny but even rewarding.
In these games, heroes can’t heal unless they kill people, so players are rewarded for applying pressure to heroes at the expense of dying so long as they can out-damage their healing. This leads to battles that look and feel like those from the movies, where both parties are being rewarded, even if those opposing the heroes will probably not be alive for long.
Squadis a multiplayer military simulator that sports 50 vs 50 large-scale combat, complete with land, air, andamphibious vehicles. The game is slow and deliberate, but not overly complicated so long as players don’t try flying the helicopters. The frontlines inSquadare very interesting to play around, because, unlikeBattlefield, the spawn points aren’t map objectives but placed by players.
Players are in control of the bases forces deploy from, but they also have to be careful. Ammo has to be manually delivered to the bases by truck drivers, or else spawning troops will spawn in nearly dry. Despite how daunting people make the genre sound,Squadis a legitimately chill game. Its community is the same, more interested in goofing around than taking things too seriously. If anyone has been sitting on a copy of this game, they should give it a go.
This is becauseDelta Forceis a relatively new game in the genre. While on the surface it looks like aBattlefield 2042 clone, it honestly does a lot more right than its competitor.
From better weapon customization with faster unlock rates, to operators properly designed around teamplay and coordination, it’s interesting to one game do another game’s ideas so much better. From map design to game balance, Team Jade shows that their appreciation for the genre runs deep. Those who are fine with a tone closer toG.I. Joethan otherBattlefieldgames will find a great competitor here.
