The greatest online games allow you to explore new worlds, take on new challenges, and collect ultra-rare treasure while doing it with your pals. Meet up with an old buddy for some virtual adventure even if you're thousands of miles away in reality, or meet new friends and form your own clan without ever leaving your house. There are more multiplayer games than ever before because of improved internet connections and the advent of live streaming games, but - whisper it - not all of them are fantastic. Fortunately for you, we've put together a list of the top ten online games available right now.
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10. Final Fantasy 14
MMOs haven't vanished; they've just extended their narratives in their own unique ways, becoming deeper and more complicated without sacrificing the social elements that the genre is known for. Final Fantasy 14 is a living example of this, establishing itself as one of the series' most intriguing games, and for good reason. The expansions not only included additional material but also entirely new stories and places to explore, as is customary.
If you've been waiting for an opportunity to dive in, now may be the moment. Not only does the free trial edition contain the main game, A Realm Reborn (which has been redesigned to be more inviting to new players), but it also includes the first expansion, Heavensward. There are no time limits, and you won't have to pay for hundreds of hours. You can also level up occupations up to level 60, which function as specialized character classes that have a significant effect on your playstyles.
9. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Is this the greatest Mario Kart game ever? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, an upgraded version of the Wii U racing game, is unquestionably the greatest online Mario Kart to date. You may play the Grand Prix, VS Race, and Battle modes via WiFi with up to 11 friends or internet strangers. Wait till you pip a real-life opponent to pole position if you thought playing against the CPU was exciting (and if you thought losing to AI racers was heartbreaking, wait until you get blue-shelled just before the finish line and have to watch a player-controlled Bowser drift pass).
8. Fall Guys
Fall Guys, one of the most innovative and inviting battle royale experiences available, is difficult to discuss without discussing online gaming. Instead of focusing on combat or achieving specific goals, developer Mediatonic opted for a more lighthearted approach. Sure, dozens of people fight against one another, but they do so in obstacle-filled courses that may be as amusing as they are difficult but never tiresome.
Fall Guys is best played with a group of friends, but it's also fun to play on your own, slowly mastering the obstacle courses and attempting to achieve a first place for that elusive crown. It's one of those games that we can suggest to everyone because of its pleasant look and quick learning curve.
7. Fortnite
Fortnite. Is. Everywhere. It's everything. It's something that everyone has heard about. It's understandable since it's a lot of fun. Yes, it's a battle royale game complete with all the bells and whistles: 100 people thrown onto a huge area, an ever-shrinking safe zone, and only one person remaining. But Fortnite is also a crafting game, with the top players being able to construct mega-structures and fortresses with only a few button clicks. Every few months, the game's seasonal structure introduces intriguing new features, giving players even more reason to return and check things out. It's also very accessible since it's free to play and works on almost any device. So, yes, Fortnite is all over the place, even on this list.
6. Monster Hunter World
Grindy? Yes. Confusing? Definitely. Monster Hunter World is one of the most gratifying action games available once you've gotten into your stride, and playing with buddies makes discovering and creating the finest gear all the more enjoyable. The focus is on combat in this game. You must hunt creatures across a deep, beautiful environment before confronting them in deathmatches. Enemies are clever, nimble, and genuinely respond to your actions, but if you work together as a team, you can take down even the most ferocious creatures. The grind is kept from becoming overpowering by a continuous feeling of accomplishment and a steady influx of new goods.
5. Minecraft
Wouldn't it be great if there was a game that was all about being productive and creative while also encouraging a feeling of community and cooperation? That is, after all, what Minecraft is. Don't be fooled by the simple graphics: Minecraft is a difficult survival game in which you must gather materials in order to tame the wilderness and build a house. Alternatively, go into free build mode and create anything you want; gamers have previously built everything from King's Landing to working computers. Yes, you can do it all by yourself, but where's the joy in that?
4. Apex Legends
Apex Legends was a surprise release, an unexpected phenomenon that altered our perceptions of battle royale games. Teams of three may use a ping system to flag up goods, tag opponents, and propose regrouping places without utilizing a headset. It's still the finest cooperative battle royale, with class skills that combine to deadly effect — for example, use Bloodhound's smoke grenade to cloud your enemy's eyesight while Bloodhound hunts them through the fog. If you haven't played it in a while, now is the time to do so and observe how the maps have evolved.
3. Sea of Thieves
In the finest pirate simulator available, you can sail the seven seas. The open-ended framework of Sea of Thieves allows you and your pals to cruise the seas as a crew of scallywags. You may be tasked with doing missions for various groups or transporting commodities between ports. You may collect treasure maps and go treasure hunting. You might simply hang out on deck and perform a merry song on one of the numerous instruments. You may even load your guns, mount the mast, and use your spyglass to look for other crews to sink if you're feeling bold. Just be careful not to run into a Kraken. Those monsters are going to rip your boat apart.
2. Among Us
If Zoom calls have become a thing of the past for you, Among Us may be the ideal way to keep in touch with friends and family. That is, assuming the prospect of up to ten people being trapped in an airship with one or more concealed imposters does not terrify anybody. On paper, this idea seems easy, yet it requires a great deal of talent to either survive or be a fantastic liar when it comes to determining who may be the perpetrator.
Developer InnerSloth LLC had planned to create a completely new sequel but instead will concentrate on improving the existing edition, adding new levels, cosmetics, and polishing what has made Among Us one of the most unexpected games of 2020, and which will undoubtedly continue in the future years.
1. Destiny 2
Bungie's not-quite-an-MMO Destiny 2 has had a few hitches over the years, but things have been looking better since 2018's Destiny 2: Forsaken expansion, and 2019's generous free-to-play offering Destiny 2: New Light attracted a large number of new players. In Destiny 2, there's a lot you can do with your buddies, such as farming for that next great piece of gear, mixing it up in the Crucible for some PvP, or learning the ins and outs of the next uber-difficult Raid. Bungie's superb gunplay, which simply feels so, is at the heart of it all. Damn. Satisfying.