The 10 Best Competitive Multiplayer Games of 2024

by

As someone who’s been gaming since the days of Pong and Atari, I must say that this year has truly outdone itself with some fantastic releases! Let me tell you, back in my day, we didn’t have the luxury of cross-platform multiplayer or stunning graphics like we do now. But boy oh boy, have things changed!

Multiplayer competitive games have played a vital role in the world of gaming ever since it began. Gamers have been engaging in competition through games as far back as the ’70s with classics like “Pong”, progressing to multi-screen duels such as “GoldenEye 007”, and moving on to online conflicts within popular FPS series like “Halo” and “Call of Duty”. Today, competitive multiplayer continues to be a significant factor in game sales, with new PvP games emerging annually.

Absolutely, not all Player-versus-Player (PvP) games live up to their hype. While some competitive multiplayer games make a big impact and stay popular, others quickly lose attention. Some PvP games have an exciting start but eventually lose steam, while others remain a favorite for many years.

If you’re seeking fresh, competitive multiplayer games released in 2024, here are the top picks. Please note that only brand-new releases were considered, so games like Fortnite and Overwatch 2 were not included due to being live-service titles. Also, this list is arranged in alphabetical order.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Read Game Rant’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Review

Since its debut in 2003, the Call of Duty series has included Player versus Player (PvP) modes, but it wasn’t until the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare that the competitive aspect gained widespread popularity. Call of Duty 4 revolutionized competitive multiplayer and established a blueprint that the series continues to follow. Due to its annual releases and adherence to the established formula, many Call of Duty games can feel repetitive, but despite this, the latest game, Black Ops 6, introduces some fresh elements that add variety. The most notable change is the omnimovement feature in Black Ops 6, which adds an exciting twist to multiplayer interactions.

In essence, Black Ops 6 offers a lot of value for competitive multiplayer enthusiasts, with an abundance of fresh content on the horizon. Players can engage in the typical Call of Duty multiplayer options within Black Ops 6, as well as the much-loved 2v2 Gunfight mode’s comeback. Being a live-service game, fans should anticipate numerous additional modes, maps, weapons, and further content in the time leading up to the 2025 Call of Duty release, whatever it may encompass.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero

Read Game Rant’s Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Review

In contrast to most fighting games emphasizing fair competition, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero deviates from this norm. Despite its characters and design choices being overpowered, making it less suitable for competitive tournaments, the player-versus-player aspect remains exciting. For those seeking casual fun with friends, this game is a great choice. Featuring a vast array of characters from across the Dragon Ball universe, stunning over-the-top moves, and while it may lack variety, an offline split-screen mode for a nostalgic return to Budokai Tenkaichi days.

EA Sports College Football 25

Fans of college football have eagerly anticipated a fresh game for over a decade, and EA Sports has finally fulfilled that desire with 2024’s “EA Sports College Football 25”. This release has broken sales records and garnered generally favorable reviews, surpassing all expectations. A key factor behind its success is its multiplayer mode (Player vs Player), which allows players to engage in both local and online matches. Without a doubt, “College Football 25” stands out as the top football game currently available, making it an ideal choice for competitive-minded football enthusiasts. It’s safe to say that this game is a significant improvement over recent iterations of “Madden”.

EA Sports FC 25

EA’s soccer franchise consistently provides highly engaging multiplayer experiences that are hard to walk away from, and EA Sports FC 25 is no different. This critically acclaimed game offers both offline and online PvP options, much like other games in EA’s sports collection, and it also introduces a new competitive multiplayer mode. The brand-new 5v5 Rush Mode in EA Sports FC 25 adds an exciting twist to the game’s already extensive competitive multiplayer features, providing players with even more incentive to get their hands on the latest installment of this annual sports series.

Marvel Rivals

Read Game Rant’s Marvel Rivals Review

Despite having been released only a few weeks ago, Marvel Rivals has swiftly become one of my favorite competitive multiplayer games of the year to play. The concept behind Marvel Rivals is remarkably intelligent; it can be likened to Overwatch, but with Marvel characters taking the place of Blizzard’s original heroes. At launch, Marvel Rivals boasted 33 characters in its roster and eight multiplayer maps distributed across four unique game modes, with a host of additional content on the horizon. Given that Marvel Rivals is a live-service title, it will continue to receive frequent updates aimed at rectifying balance issues while introducing new playable characters and maps over time.

Indeed, Marvel Rivals has initiated its debut post-release event. The Marvel Rivals Winter Celebration presents a time-limited game mode featuring the popular newcomer Jeff the Land Shark, as well as allowing players to acquire holiday-themed cosmetics for their collection. Marvel Rivals enthusiasts can look forward to numerous additional special events in the days ahead.

Super Mario Party Jamboree

For many years now, the popular game series Mario Party has been a go-to choice for local multiplayer experiences. However, the newest addition to the series, Super Mario Party Jamboree, might just be the best one yet! Boasting an impressive array of new and returning game modes, an enormous collection of mini-games, and the largest roster in the series’ history, this game sets a new standard for what a Mario Party game can be. While the chaotic fun with friends in local multiplayer is certainly the main draw, the game also offers robust online multiplayer options. Not only is Super Mario Party Jamboree one of the standout competitive multiplayer games released in 2024, but it’s also one of the top games to come out on the Nintendo Switch this year.

Tekken 8

Read Game Rant’s Tekken 8 Review

This year, Tekken 8 reigned supreme on the fighting game circuit, and rightfully so. An overhauled combat system alongside a move to Unreal Engine 5 enabled Tekken 8 to deliver some of the most intense and visually spectacular action ever seen in the series, as evidenced by its high ratings among this year’s new releases. Tekken 8 marks substantial progress for the franchise while still honoring its established roots, providing a variety of offline and online multiplayer modes for fighting game enthusiasts to immerse themselves in. Tekken 8 elevates its online multiplayer functionality by incorporating crossplay support, making it more convenient than ever for players to face off against their friends.

Top Spin 2K25

As a passionate tennis enthusiast, I must say the scarcity of quality tennis games on today’s consoles has made the anticipation for 2K Sports’ Top Spin 2K25 absolutely electrifying. It’s been a long wait since the last installment, Top Spin from 2K in 2011, which was Top Spin 4. However, my patience was rewarded when 2K Sports delivered Top Spin 2K25, a game that surpassed all expectations. It garnered widespread acclaim with mostly positive reviews and even secured a nomination for Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards 2024.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Read Game Rant’s Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 Review

13 years since the debut of the original “Space Marine” game, there was a high level of anticipation for “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2”. While many thought it would be good, it surpassed expectations significantly. Unlike many modern games that concentrate on specific aspects, “Space Marine 2” delivers a comprehensive experience. It features an exhilarating co-op campaign, additional dedicated co-op modes for bonus play, and a PvP mode reminiscent of the classic Xbox 360 era in the best possible ways. While PvP may not be the primary draw for “Space Marine 2”, it is still a blast to play and offers a variety of customization options for cosmetics.

WWE 2K24

Read Game Rant’s WWE 2K24 Review

2K Sports didn’t just release TopSpin 2K25 as their standout sports game in 2024; WWE 2K24 also made a significant impact that year. Since the reboot of the series with WWE 2K22, many consider WWE 2K24 to be the best WWE video game. It builds upon its predecessors by introducing major new features and significantly enhancing existing game modes, like the General Manager mode.

Read More

2024-12-23 16:24