Best Multiplayer Games Ever

[Daniel Thomas]

Howdy! I just wanted to add something that I'm working on for my website. What do you feel are the best multiplayer games ever made? Any platform: arcade, console, personal computer (C64, Atari), PC, doesn't matter. The important thing is that these are classics that stand the test of time (nostalgia alone doesn't cut it).

Please note that I'm leaving out First-Person Shooters, Sports, and Fighting games. The Quakes and Maddens and Street Fighters of this world are pretty much a given. Also, I'm highlighting the definitive versions of the games. That's why the NES and PSX versions of Ballblazer aren't mentioned. Anyway...

Ballblazer (atari 800, 5200, 7800)
Chu Chu Rocket! (dreamcast)
Daytona USA (arcade)
F-Zero X (n64)
Gauntlet -- series (arcade, nes, lynx, genesis)
Herzog Zwei (genesis)
Mario Kart (snes, gba)
Micro Machines -- series (nes, genesis, snes)
M.U.L.E. (atari 800)
Phantasy Star Online -- series (dreamcast, gamecube)
Rip-Off (arcade)
Sega Rally Championship (arcade, saturn)
Super Bomberman 2 (snes)
San Francisco Rush 2049 -- Battle Mode (dreamcast)
Super Puzzle Fighter 2 X (arcade, psx, saturn)
Tetris (practically everywhere)
Virtua Tennis (dreamcast)
Warlords (arcade, 2600)



I'm feeling verklempt...discuss!

[gmyers31]

No COMBAT for the 2600?

[WiseSalesman]

you say you're leaving out the first person shooters, but then you include Goldeneye?

[Daniel Thomas]

you say you're leaving out the first person shooters, but then you include Goldeneye?

When I put this list together, I think I regarded FPS as a PC thing, and Goldeneye as another. It always struck me that the Goldeneye fans I knew never touched any PC game, and vice versa. But now that I think about it, this game should be included with the other FPS games.

Also, let me clarify. The reason I chose to exclude certain genres was because they would dominate any list of greatest multiplayers. Of course, I love those kind of games as much as anyone, but who wants a list of every sports game EA, Sega, etc. put out? And how would we determine which Capcom fighter was better than SNK, Namco, Tecmo, or Sega? When you get down to it, these games are so similar, it's like picking your favorite version of Gauntlet or Tetris. So I thought it would be easier to just jumble together "sports," "fighter," and "first-person shooter."

gmyers31, I haven't really played Combat in ages. Is this still something you and your friends play a lot? And if Combat is a great multiplayer game, what about Armor Attack, or for that matter, Combat 2?

[BHvrd]

Twisted Metal 2 (PSX)
Rampart (SNES)
Tetris Attack (SNES)
River City Ransom (NES)
Gunstar Heroes (Genesis)
TMNT IV: Turtles In Time (SNES)
Contra 3 - The Alien Wars (SNES)
Contra (NES)
Streets Of Rage 2 (Genesis)

Hope this will do for now, i'm too tired to post anymore at the moment. Too...many...too...list.

Good topic though. I always have prefered the alternatives to fighters, fps, and sports myself.

[KnightNo17]

First of all I have to say
Scorched Earth for the PC, basically the mother of all games.

And since you said no Sports games but then listed Virtua Tennis, I'd have to say V-Rally 2 Expert Edition for the DC.
A Rally racing game with a very arcady touch, running into your opponent to throw him over without yourself falling is the most fun!
Steep learning curve though, no Mario Party thats for sure...

[digitalpress]

The four games that ALWAYS get requested here:

Warlords (Atari 2600)
Bomberman Party Edition (PlayStation)
Poy Poy (PlayStation)
Goldeneye 007 (N64)

And sometimes...

Beach Spikers Volleyball (GameCube)
Virtua Tennis (DC)

[Mayhem]

You can chuck in C64 for Ballblazer and MULE btw...

C64 front you've got IK+, Exploding Fist, Laser Squad, Lords of Chaos, Wizball, Bombmania, Brian Clough's Football Fortunes (an utter classic!), Tank Command and Space Crusade to name but a few...

[MankeyMan]

Super Monkey Ball is now a regular fixture at mine whenever friends come round. That's the only one missing from your list, and that other people haven't mentioned.

[gmyers31]

What do you feel are the best multiplayer games ever made?

gmyers31, I haven't really played Combat in ages. Is this still something you and your friends play a lot?

hrm... I'm not sure if I understand this correctly then. Do you just want games that we currently play?

Because, the definition of 'the best multiplayer games ever made' to me is not if we play it all the time. If that was the case then this wouldn't be 'best multiplayer games ever made' it would be 'best multiplayer games of 2002'

And if Combat is a great multiplayer game, what about Armor Attack, or for that matter, Combat 2?

Simple answer: A 'best multiplayer game ever' list would not be complete without putting COMBAT in there somewhere. It was a pioneer, one of the most popular atari games ever, still playable, yadda yadda yadda.

The reason I chose to exclude certain genres was because they would dominate any list of greatest multiplayers. Of course, I love those kind of games as much as anyone, but who wants a list of every sports game EA, Sega, etc. put out? And how would we determine which Capcom fighter was better than SNK, Namco, Tecmo, or Sega? When you get down to it, these games are so similar, it's like picking your favorite version of Gauntlet or Tetris.

I don't see how picking out the best in those types of games would be any more difficult then picking out the best real time strategy games or the best racing games.

FPS and Fighters wouldn't dominate a 'best multiplayer list' but they should be included. There are games from those genres that should be in the top 10. The list just wouldn't be complete.

Otherwise you are basically saying 'I want to make a list of the greatest multiplayer games ever, but I'm going to leave these genres alone because it would be too hard'.

Going that route is going to make your final list less useable and accurate.

You could break this into categories and then have one final list. Figgure out the top 10 Racing, Side-Scrolling, Fighting, FPS, RTS, and MISC.

Then the top 10 of those top 10s.

Some more
Dungeons and Dragons (the arcade)
Age of Empires (surprised no-one has listed a RTS)
Masters of Orion 2

[sealboy6]

Kirby's Avalanche

[VG_Maniac]

I've had more fun with Super Smash Bros. Melee and the original Super Smash Bros. then any other mutiplayer games. Only Mario Kart 64 comes close.

[Jumpman Jr.]

Goldeneye (N64) pops into mind as one of the best. I think it was really good because alot of people knew how to play it very well. So if you got a bunch of friends together to play, the games would be very good.
Anybody else ever play 4 player (2 team) Goldeneye and set the screens so that each team had their own side of the TV. And then take a piece of cardboard and tape it to the TV so the other team couldn't see where you were.
Now that, my friend, is hardcore gaming.

Super Smash Bros. on the N64 is a very good multiplayer game as well. Same goes for this, it seemed as though alot of people were good at it, which made multiplayer games very fun. Alot of poeple think they are the best at this game... but I assure you, I am the best (same goes for Goldeneye) :P