2021 may not have been the most sociable year in some respects, what with the whole pandemic and having to keep as far away from other human beings as possible. But one industry has benefitted massively from this change in social event structure.
2021 has been a huge year for the multiplayer game, and there’s been no shortage of excellent additions to the genre. In partnership with games retailer Fanatical – the masterminds behind Fanatical Assistant, a Chrome extension that tells you when your favourite games are on offer – we are on a mission to find the best multiplayer game of the year. So if you were one of the millions of people playing with pals this year, we want to know your favourite!
What’s more, once you’ve cast your vote using the widget below and entered your email, you’ll get a free gift courtesy of Fanatical – which could be anything from a discount code to a full copy of games like The Jackbox Party Pack 8 and Humankind. If you’ve not yet played any of these, be sure to check out the Fanatical Winter Sale, which is on now!
Back 4 Blood
If we’re living in the renaissance of multiplayer games, then thank god the team behind one of the most beloved and enduring multiplayer games of all time is here with us. Back 4 Blood comes from the creators of Left 4 Dead, and brings a whole new generation of wannabe zombie slayers (and zombies) together.
Back 4 Blood Back 4 Blood $59.99 $53.39 Buy now Network N earns affiliate commission from qualifying sales.
Valheim
From drinking in colossal mead halls with a bunch of buddies, to corralling an army of enthusiastic Vikings into battle, the gorgeous landscapes and super easy multiplayer connectivity made Valheim a strong contentender this year.
New World
Amazon Game Studio’s first MMO, this gigantic open world is crammed with things to do, foes to slay, and loot to collect on the isle of Aeternum. Free from a traditional class system, friends can team up within Factions to take down the creeping Corruption with their own brand of heroics.
Battlefield 2042
Taking a brave leap into full multiplayer, the Battlefield franchise may have never looked better. Giving fans the ability to play with over 100 players online and offering a slew of imaginative game modes and maps, Battlefield 2042 marks the start of a new chapter for the series.
Battlefield 2042 Battlefield 2042 $59.99 $52.79 Buy now Network N earns affiliate commission from qualifying sales.
Chivalry 2
Dialling up the gore and chaos even further than its predecessor, Chivalry 2 pits players against up to 63 others in a battlefield full of melee destruction and brutality. Utilising siege engines, a complex class system, and a selection of crude weaponry, laying into your friends has never been so fun.
Riders Republic
It’s nice to include a game where you and your mates don’t necessarily have to fight for your lives at all times. Thankfully, Riders Republic gave us something a bit more chill this year – sending us on a virtual holiday to the slopes of some of the world’s greatest national parks, equipped with all manner of vehicles, from skis to rocket wingsuits.
Hell Let Loose
Hell Let Loose puts teams of 50 players under the control of two commanders, combining FPS action and real-time strategy to utilise modern multiplayer technology in a groundbreaking way. With such large teams to direct, it’s no mean feat to keep on top of everything, whichever role you end up with – making it a perfect multiplayer game to really get stuck into for hours on end.
Hell Let Loose Hell Let Loose $39.99 $25.99 Buy now Network N earns affiliate commission from qualifying sales.
The Jackbox Party Pack 8
Each installment of these games continues to be as irreverent and hilarious as the last, making a perfect alternative to the classic board game, and with less set-up. This year’s edition, the Jackbox Party Pack 8, includes Drawful Animate, Job Job (a job interview ad-libs), The Poll Mine (a frantic survey game), Weapons Drawn (a social deduction game), and The Wheel Of Enormous Proportions (a trivia spin-the-wheel game).
OUTRIDERS
Outriders gave us all a chance to grab our friends and leave this world behind, striving to find a new (hopefully pandemic-free) home for humanity. Perfect for smaller groups, the game gives players access to a futuristic arsenal of weaponry and equipment, along with some surprising super powers for that fantastical dystopian vibe.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
To round off this list, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is an excellent example of the co-op shooter genre done right. As well as a must-play for any die-hard fan, Aliens: Fireteam Elite gives players of all experience levels the chance to face off against an absolute avalanche of Xenomorphs… What’s not to love?
Aliens: Fireteam Elite Aliens: Fireteam Elite $39.99 $33.59 Buy now Network N earns affiliate commission from qualifying sales.
Tell us which of the above games made your year a little brighter, perhaps a little more sociable, and vote for the Best Multiplayer Game of 2021 below. Be sure to enter your email address to claim your free gift from Fanatical, and don’t forget you can check out any of the games you missed this year in their Fanatical Winter Sale!