Working out the best multiplayer game becomes more difficult every year as popular live service and esports games continue to extend their lifespan. It’s hard for a new multiplayer game to break through the wall that is GTA Online, World of Warcraft, League of Legends, Valorant, Fortnite, Apex Legends, CS GO, and many others. But in 2022 several titles were able to cut through the noise or maintain their dominance with well-received content. Here’s PlayStation LifeStyle’s Best Multiplayer Game of 2022.
For more of PlayStation LifeStyle’s Game of the Year 2022 awards, click here.
5. Rocket League
Like the little engine that could, Rocket League still has thousands of players despite being released in 2015. Even over this last week, from December 9 to 15, this vehicular soccer game reached a peak of almost 50,000 players and 120,00 viewers on Twitch just based on Steam alone.
Some say the game is dying after the initial spike from when it went free-to-play in September 2020, but it’s the only game on this list that was nominated for Best Esports Game at The Game Awards 2022. That is an incredible achievement.
4. Final Fantasy XIV
Late last year Final Fantasy XIV experienced server congestion because of its rising popularity. Accusations of sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard and all the subsequent protests lead to players leaving World of Warcraft, with some searching for a new MMORPG like FFXIV.
The Endwalker expansion in December 2021 also brought veteran players back into the fold. Together, Square Enix has been able to carry the momentum through to 2022, with the game winning the Best Ongoing Game at TGA 2022, above the likes of even Fortnite.
3. MultiVersus
Despite Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and other formidable fighting games skipping 2022, the fighting genre has still been contentious. But MultiVersus by Player First Games has managed to smash through the competition, including DNF Duel and The King of Fighter 15.
It goes to show that larger publishers like Warner Bros. who have the rights to a lot of IPs can risk doing a Smash Bros.-like game and succeed. If that lets us bring all our crossover fighting fantasies to life, who are we to argue?
2. Call of Duty: Warzone 2
Trying to discount the latest Call of Duty games in a category like this is close to folly. Compared to its brethren Modern Warfare 2, Warzone 2 came out on top.
It helps that it’s a fully free-to-play battle royale of course, and despite the numerous technical issues at launch, it’s still a good step forward from the first Warzone. The Al Mazrah map is dangerous and firefights are intense, with the game currently at the top of both the UK and US sales charts in November.
And the winner is…
1. Overwatch 2
Despite some feeling like Overwatch 2 is really Overwatch 1.5, it currently stands as the most popular game on Twitch from among all the games on this list. Its fast-paced 5v5 gameplay, excellent hero reworks, and new heroes like Kiriko have garnered it a loyal fanbase. If Blizzard can fill in the roadmap for Overwatch 2 with solid content, it has the chance of winning our Best Multiplayer Award Game next year, too.
Do you agree with our winner for Best Multiplayer Game 2022? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
