The Best Online Multiplayer Games of 2024
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One of the most fun aspects of the internet is that no matter what time it is, no matter where you are, you can hop online and find dozens—if not hundreds!—of people who are eager to play the same game you want to play, right now. Whether you want to rank up in competitive games, work your way up to the esports scene, or just play some chill games with your online friends, these are our favorite online multiplayer games.
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Survive the Wasteland (and Woo Some Ghouls)
If you liked Amazon’s rather excellent Fallout TV series that dropped earlier this year, then Bethesda’s ongoing online game, Fallout 76, might be the perfect way to stay engaged with the post-apocalypse. While it was kind of a mess when it first came out, it’s gotten much better over the years. The game emphasizes the community-building and customization aspects of games like Fallout 4, while adding survival sim features that feel more pronounced in a multiplayer game than they did in some of Bethesda’s solo entries in the series.
Available for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
Dive Into Hell From Deep Orbit
Helldivers 2 is easily one of the hottest new multiplayer games of 2024. While its faced some technical issues during its initial rollout, the game has a Starship Troopers vibe, pitting four players against waves of alien bugs, all with a satirical tone that never really turns off. Sony stirred up a bit of controversy a while back by announcing that a PSN account would be require for new and current players, but fortunately the company has backed down on this decision.
Available for PC and PlayStation 5.
Be the Last Shooter Standing
It’s almost impossible not to have heard of Fortnite by now, but it’s still a worthy inclusion on our list. The classic battle royale game pits 100 players against each other in an ever-shrinking arena. The unique building mechanics add an element of creativity to fights that make it engaging, and the ongoing seasonal updates (and Battle Pass rewards system) give players plenty of reasons to fire up the game regularly. And probably encourage you to buy some V-Bucks while you’re at it.
Available for PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS (via direct download).
Answer the Recall to Save the World
One of my personal favorites, Overwatch 2 is a 5v5 team shooter with a roster of superpowered heroes that would make an Avengers movie blush. Players can swap heroes to counter the strengths of their enemies, making matches dynamic and adding an almost chess-like strategic element that goes far beyond simply clicking heads.
Available for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Smash. Just Smash.
There are few childhood joys that were greater than getting together with a group of your friends for a rousing Smash game. Now, with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, you don’t have to wait until everyone can sit on the same couch. Ultimate brings every character ever put in a Smash game into one roster, for a total of 89 playable characters. With a Switch Online subscription, you can get matched with up to three other players for a competitive game any time.
Available for Nintendo Switch.
Run Like a Ninja
Digital Extremes’ Warframe is an utterly unique game with a beautiful art style and constant stream of updates that have given it a vibrant community for over a decade. The game is centered around procedurally generated PvE missions that give players a roster of powerful armors (called Warframes), each with different abilities and weapons, to plow through wave after wave of enemies. It’s particularly characterized by fast-paced, parkour-like movement that feels incredibly satisfying, no matter how many times you play.
Available for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and iOS.
Launch Your Car, Land a Goal
“What if soccer, but rocket cars?” That’s all the pitch you really need for Rocket League. This game has been a mainstay in the online multiplayer gaming world for a long time and it’s not hard to see why. In this game, players control a car with a rocket strapped to its back, launching their vehicle across the map. The goal? Knock a giant ball into your opponent’s goal before they can get it into yours. It sounds simple, but it can take a lot of finesse to get good at it.
Available for PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Unravel the Secrets of the Veil
Bungie’s looter-shooter Destiny 2 went free-to-play several years ago and it’s been getting better ever since. This first-person shooter features an ongoing sci-fi story, and this is actually a decent time to hop on. The last expansion in the Light and Darkness saga dropped in June 2024, and the next update will start a whole new saga. So, whether you want to catch the tail end of the previous story, jump on before the new one starts, or just grind out some awesome weapons and skins, it’s worth checking this game out.
Available for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
Shed Demon Blood By the Bucketful
WIRED staff writer Boone Ashworth called Diablo IV a “mind-melting bloodbath” in his review last year, and the description still holds up. The game builds on the same dungeon-crawling formula that the series has been known for. Choose your class—like warrior, rogue, sorcerer, and more—team up with your friends or others online, and battle wave after wave of enemies to score that sweet loot.
Available for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
Become a Legend After the Frontier War
Another hero shooter in the vein of Overwatch 2, Apex Legends takes a page out of Fortnite’s book with a battle royale mode. Players can join up into two- or three-player teams, and are dropped into a 60-person match where the last team standing wins. Each Legend has their own unique set of abilities, strengths and weaknesses, adding complexity to a fast-paced, high-intensity game.
Available for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One, Android, and iOS.
