Hardest Online Multiplayer Games

Key Takeaways

• Some of the hardest multiplayer games, like Call of Duty: Warzone, offer complex environments and challenges.
• Overcooked 2 emphasizes teamwork with new levels, obstacles, and advanced difficulty.
• Club Penguin, though shut down in 2017, required dedication and purchases for a challenging MMO experience.

Playing with friends or even strangers should be a fun thing to do. What’s the point of video games if players don’t have fun? For some, the adrenaline rush of a challenging game is the best part of any video game despite the many offers to buy upgrades, level boosts, or loot boxes to make things easier.

Whether it is for its fast-paced environments like Call of Duty: Warzone, horrendous scripting issues like Madden Ultimate Team mode, or perplexing tactics like those used in Dota 2, mastering these games can be frustrating. These are some of the hardest multiplayer games when it’s time to break some controllers.

Updated September 25, 2024 by Kristy Ambrose: First-person shooters, adventure games, and RPGs are just some examples of the many forms that multiplayer games can take. Sharing a virtual space even when it comes to old-school online or local multiplayer activities opens up some interesting possibilities for video games, especially with recent trends in virtual reality and greater availability of satellite internet.

The difficulty level of a game is always a matter of opinion, with the controversy raging about “story mode” and other opportunities to turn down the difficulty level of certain games, but these are some of the hardest multiplayer games to learn and master.

21

Club Penguin

Requires Organization And Dedication

• Developer: New Horizon Interactive, RocketSnail Games, Disney Interactive Studios
• Platforms: Online
• Type of Multiplayer: Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
• Launch Date: October 24, 2005

It might sound laughable to include Disney’s Club Penguin, but it was a hard massive-multiplayer game to master for a beginner. Although it’s designed for children, Club Penguin required a certain amount of dedication to purchase more giant igloos, which served as players’ penguin bases.

Unfortunately, as of this writing, Club Penguin was already shut down in 2017. Many fans duplicate the game onto another website, but most of them have been taken down by the DMCA. However, there’s an updated version called New Club Penguin, a fan-made game that still appears to be standing.

20

Overcooked 2

Focused On Teamwork And Kitchen Design

• Developer: Team17, Ghost Town Games
• Platforms: Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Windows, Xbox One and Series X/S, Google Stadia
• Type of Multiplayer: Simulation
• Launch Date: August 7, 2018

The original Overcooked had both single-player and multiplayer modes, and its popularity inspired a sequel that takes the teamwork factor and design to the next level. The second game also added some impressive new settings and clever transitions between levels but still tends to overwhelm inexperienced players.

Overcooked 2 is one of the hardest multiplayer games at more advanced levels, with more obstacles and challenges that the players have to work together to surmount. Gamers can join their friends to make a group or use an online matching service to find teams.

19

Apex Legends

Battle Royale With Intense Teamwork and Planning

• Developer: Respawn Entertainment
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Android, iOS
• Type of Multiplayer: Battle Royale, First-person Hero Shooter
• Launch Date: February 4, 2019

Any FPS game is going to require some teamwork and planning, which add a layer of difficulty to a game that’s also multiplayer, online, and role-playing. When the game was first released, it focused on groups of three players, but since then single and two-player modes have also been added.

The main draw is the battle-royale environment and the inclusion of elements from fantasy, science fiction, and a variety of other genres. That’s part of the appeal of Apex Legends for groups that want to game, interact, and create unique characters. Other advantages include free-to-play status, although there are a variety of microtransactions from which to choose, and cross-platform play capabilities.

18

TemTem

A High Learning Curve In A Complex Setting

• Developer: Crema
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
• Type of Multiplayer: MMORPG
• Launch Date: September 6, 2022

It looks like Pokemon and was inspired by the game, but TemTem was designed and developed by a Spanish company named Crema for the PlayStation 5. What sets Temtem apart is the higher learning curve, making this game more for adults and those with some previous experience with the fighting pet genre.

The game is classified as an MMORPG, with players exploring an area, raising and training magical animals, and using them to battle against both NPS and their fellow players. Like any proper MMO, the setting is creative and complex, made up of a series of diverse islands known as the Airborne Archipelago.

17

Madden NFL 23

Regular And Competitive Versions

• Developer: EA Tiburon
• Platforms: PlayStation 4 and 5, Windows, Xbox One and Series X/S
• Type of Multiplayer: Sports Multiplayer
• Launch Date: August 19, 2022

Like many of the games in this franchise, Madden NFL 23 has both a single and multiplayer mode, but this installment is noted for several basic quality-of-life improvements, like better trading and free-agency abilities. There were other cosmetic changes related to details in stadiums and better animation for action scenes on the field.

All of this made the game easier to play but more difficult to master. The new Field Pass system was implemented with this installment that included a Competitive version for those more dedicated gamers who want to spend extra time in multiplayer mode.

16

Call Of Duty: Warzone

Complex Controls That Originated With A Console-Friendly Design

• Developer: Raven Software, Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
• Type of Multiplayer: Battle Royale, FPS
• Launch Date: March 10, 2020

Especially at the later stage of a difficult multiplayer game, playing Call of Duty: Warzone can be a burden for beginners. This complex game has already seen its fifth season and continues to impress players with its sophisticated controls and customization options.

Many top players have spent a considerable amount of real-life money to polish their in-game characters, so new characters have a hard time competing. On top of that, aiming and shooting using a DualShock 4 controller is harder than aiming with a gaming mouse. The only alternative to it is to connect a mouse to the console.

15

League Of Legends

An RTS Game With An Isometric Layout

• Developer: Riot Games
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS
• Type of Multiplayer: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
• Launch Date: October 27, 2009

League of Legends is a multiplayer online game, but not an MMO in the sense that the focus is on the gameplay as opposed to an explorable open world. This game can be difficult or easy depending on the player’s experience with real-time strategy games or an isometric layout.

The game will look familiar to those who played Warcraft 3 back in the day, and that’s not a coincidence. The layout was inspired by a custom map from the classic game, Defense of the Ancients, and players choose and build hero characters that are based on famous characters from Warcraft lore.

An RPG System With Virtually Limitless Build Options

• Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S
• Type of Multiplayer: MMORPG
• Launch Date: April 4, 2014

An online game based on the vast Elder Scrolls universe, ESO uses an RPG and leveling system based on TTGs like Harnmaster as opposed to Dungeons & Dragons. That means that anyone can use magic, use any weapon, or wear any armor. It doesn’t have to be a complicated multiplayer game but it has that potential, and that’s why most players are here.

The variety of builds available can accommodate any group, no matter how diverse when it comes to experience level or personal preference. Create characters and even a guild, form a party, and start a life of adventure in Tamriel.

13

Slither.io

Simple But Complex And Very Competitive

• Developer: Steve Howse
• Platforms: Browser, iOS, Android
• Type of Multiplayer: Casual Multiplayer
• Launch Date: March 25, 2016

Slither.io is a browser and smartphone-based game. It’s pretty simple to play because it’s highly similar to the classic ‘Snake’ arcade games, but don’t underestimate how much Slither fans take this game seriously. It takes a severe amount of time to eat all the pellets and get the best score possible if players are lucky enough not to encounter any snake twice their size.

Upon its release, Slither.io has seen a massive amount of popularity, mostly coming from let’s-play YouTubers like PewDiePie. It’s easy to learn, difficult to master, and very habit-forming.

12

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

A Savage Battle Royale With Little Or No Safe Space

• Developer: PUBG Studios
• Platforms: Windows, Android, iOS, Xbox One and Series X/S, Stadia, PlayStation 4 and 5
• Type of Multiplayer: Battle Royale
• Launch Date: December 20, 2017

Playing the game formerly known as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is fun on mobile, but its PlayStation 4 version is something else. PUBG is a nightmare for a newbie jumping off a plane with a bunch of strangers. Chance is that players either land in a well-known territory and meet twice or three times more skilled players or get overrun by the decreasing safe zone.

On top of that, microtransactions have somewhat ruined the game among the fans. In the case of FIFA and Madden NFL Ultimate Team mode, it’s almost impossible to get jobs done on the game without either dedicating a big amount of time or spending a big bank of money.

11

New World

A Survivalist MMO With Brutal PvP Combat

• Developer: Amazon Games Orange Count
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows
• Type of Multiplayer: MMORPG
• Launch Date: September 28, 2021

This MMO throws players in at the deep end with little in the way of introductions or tutorials, and that’s a deliberate part of New World‘s design. The survivalist nature of the game is part of the high learning curve in which players have to learn how to fight and survive or die in the wilderness. There are no classes in the game either, and it can be complicated building one from scratch, especially for those new to the genre.

The setting is the island continent of Aeternum, and like other MMORPGs, it has a variety of locations that players can explore alone or with a party. Group activities include PvP objectives, Expeditions, and world bosses.

10

Sea Of Thieves

Marine Combat, Tactical Planning, And A Steep Learning Curve

• Developer: Rare
• Platforms: Windows, Xbox One and Series X/S
• Type of Multiplayer: Action-adventure
• Launch Date: March 20, 2018

For those that want a change from tactical shooters, medieval fantasy, or sports games, there’s the high seas adventure game, Sea of Thieves. Not a lot of games feature ship combat and the ones that do lack the same details and features. This one, though, delivers on that front. There’s also the option of sharing with one other player or joining up with a whole group of salty sailors.

The game is similar to other MMOs with a reputation for a steep learning curve, such as EVE Online. There’s still a lot for players to do if they would prefer to emphasize ship and character customization as opposed to combat. However, most of the updates and improvements focus on the combat part of the game, which has been altered to be an on-demand feature.

9

Quake Champions

A Complicated FPS For Adults

• Developer: id Software, Saber Interactive St. Petersburg
• Platforms: Windows
• Type of Multiplayer: First-person shooter
• Launch Date: August 18, 2022

Quake: Champions was first announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo of 2016, and players responded positively when the first version of the game was released a year later but had to wait until 2022 for the full version’s release.

Quake was the type of game that was always designed with adults in mind, and the FPS version of the game reflects the same level of difficulty. It’s a fast, complex game that includes a large number of playable characters and optional abilities for several different build possibilities, which might be overwhelming for new or inexperienced players.

8

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

A Lot To Learn And Precision Teamwork

• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
• Platforms: PlayStation 4 and 5, Windows, Xbox One and Series X/S, Google Stadia
• Type of Multiplayer: Tactical Shooter
• Launch Date: December 1, 2015

It takes a lot to master Rainbow Six Siege online mode because players are required to learn a plethora of things at once. It’s a teamwork game, hence many players who aren’t the best at cooperating find this game hard. The multiplayer lobbies are also unpredictable but it’s highly rewarding once players master them.

Teams are typically made of four players but extra DLC allows for varying numbers. It’s also worth mentioning that players can even die at the hands of their allies, a twist that makes this multiplayer title even more difficult.

7

Counter-Strike

The Original Tactical FPS

• Developer: Valve
• Platforms: Windows, Xbox, OS X, Linux
• Type of Multiplayer: Tactical FPS
• Launch Date: November 9, 2000

Writing this list would never be complete without mentioning the legendary FPS game of them all, the original title in the Counter-Strike series. Several players even put more than hundreds of hours into mastering its maps and the wide variety of weapons before jumping into the real challenge against others.

Later titles are even more difficult because most CS: GO players are veterans of the game, making it harder for newbies to catch up. That makes the learning curve even steeper in what’s already a difficult multiplayer game.

6

Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes

A Virtual Escape Room Consisting Of Puzzles And Teamwork

• Developer: Steel Crate Games
• Platforms: Android, Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
• Type of Multiplayer: Puzzle Multiplayer
• Launch Date: October 8, 2015

Sometimes players and their friends aren’t into the FPS or RPG scene and want to indulge in puzzles or trivia instead. Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes is similar to a virtual escape room, but in this case, the puzzle is a bomb. Players have to work together to defuse this complex explosive device, but only one of them can see it.

The other players have to put on their thinking and listening caps and follow directions. That makes teamwork, communication, and observation skills crucial to succeed. An advantage of this game is that it works on several different platforms, including Andriod, and players don’t exactly need advanced software to play it.

5

Escape From Tarkov

An Unforgiving Old-School FPS

• Developer: Battlestate Games
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows
• Type of Multiplayer: FPS
• Launch Date: July 27, 2017

Escape From Tarkov is built like a classic, no-nonsense, gritty first-person shooter. It has rules that gamers from the old MMORPG world would understand, such as losing all loot and money when a character is killed.

The setting is the city of Tarkov, in a fictional region called Norvinsk that’s currently hosting a war between two private armies, and the goal is to escape from the city with the most loot, weapons, or other valuables. It’s already received a lot of positive attention even though a finalized version has yet to be released. Escape from Tarkov is still in development but a closed Beta has been open since 2017.

4

Dota 2

A Rewarding But Complicated RTS Game

• Developer: Valve
• Platforms: Windows, Linux, OS X
• Type of Multiplayer: MOBA
• Launch Date: July 9, 2013

Dota 2 is not exactly as hard as EVE Online or StarCraft 2, but putting this on the list has something to do with how long it takes for one to at least become an average player. It’s a strategy-based game with over 100 characters with different weaknesses, combos, play styles, and specialties, making it difficult to understand.

In addition to that, as mentioned above, Dota 2 is a teamwork game, so players need good chemistry within their group to dominate their opponents. Players can not single-handedly win the game for anyone.

3

StarCraft 2

Attention To Detail And High Micromanagement

• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS
• Type of Multiplayer: Real-time Strategy (RTS)
• Launch Date: July 27, 2010

StarCraft 2 is the kind of game in which players need excellent attention to fundamental details and high micromanagement skills. Its fast-paced nature requires the players to stay on top of their game, multitask swiftly from one objective to another, and gain the map’s control.

A quick summary is that StarCraft 2 is only for real gamers who have a competitive nature. Though it’s one of the hardest multiplayer games and difficult to master, the outcome of trying this difficult multiplayer game will be highly rewarding.

2

Hunt: Showdown

A Lightning-Paced Survivalist FPS

• Developer: Crytek
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S
• Type of Multiplayer: FPS
• Launch Date: August 27, 2019

The genre is a multiplayer first-person shooter and both the available modes have the multiplayer option. Choose “Bounty Hunt” to play through the main story of the game which consists of a few players working together to collect bounties on the bosses and use their survival skills to travel through a wild and dangerous area.

Players win Hunt: Showdown by surviving long enough to make it to the extraction point along with defeating enemies and collecting bounties The other option is the battle royale mode in the game, known as Quickplay, and just like the name implies it only has a 15-minute duration.