Multiplayer has been around since the dawn of gaming, with even 1972’s Pong revolving around two-player gameplay. Multiplayer has remained a staple of the gaming world ever since, though it’s evolved and taken a few different forms over the decades. Some of the biggest and best games around right now are multiplayer games, and The Game Awards 2024 is about to celebrate a handful.
Five games have been nominated for The Game Awards 2024‘s Best Multiplayer category. Each of the five have been critical hits, packed with content that offers a unique communal experience. But only one game can win this year’s Best Multiplayer award, and it’s going to be a hard-fought battle.
The Game Awards 2024 Best Multiplayer Nominees
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers 2
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Tekken 8
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
After a few disappointing back-to-back entries, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 finally feels like a major return to form for the franchise. On launch, Black Ops 6 came with 16 original 6v6 maps, two round-based Zombies maps, and a sizable selection of weapons, Perks, and equipment. But that was only the beginning for Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 1 is currently in full swing, and it’s already brought a wealth of new content to the game, a good portion of which is completely free. New multiplayer maps, new weapons, and new modes have all come to Black Ops 6 during Season 1, and on December 5 its Zombies mode is getting an entirely new round-based map, a handful of new Wonder Weapons, new Gobblegums, and a new Perk-a-Cola. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 feels like the complete package already, and things are only going to get better.
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.
The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
- Released
- October 25, 2024
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer , Online Co-Op
- Engine
- IW 9.0
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 216 GB (October 2024)
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical or Horizontal
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Cross Save
- Yes – PlayStation, Xbox, PC
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes – PlayStation, Xbox, PC
- PC Release Date
- October 25, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- October 25, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- October 25, 2024
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 had one of the most impactful launches of 2024. A sequel to a cult hit PS Vita game, Helldivers 2 managed to sell 12 million copies in just 12 weeks, becoming PlayStation’s fastest-selling first-party game ever. In its first few months, Helldivers 2 was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, grabbing newcomers with its challenging Sci-Fi shooter chaos. A major appeal of Helldivers 2‘s gameplay loop was its focus on 4-player co-op, with players needing to strategize and work closely to complete objectives within the match’s time limit.
Though Helldivers 2 fell from grace a little in the months following its launch, with many on PC review-bombing the game due to Sony’s decision to make a PS account login mandatory, the game is still decently popular, with a 24-hour peak player count of over 27,000 at the time of writing. Developer Arrowhead’s continued support for Helldivers 2 has kept the game engaging, and there’s no denying its monumental impact on launch.
Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.
Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.
Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy.
Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.
Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission and complete objectives together.1
Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Engine
- bitsquid
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC & PS5
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Much like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Super Mario Party Jamboree has been viewed as a bit of a return to form for the Mario Party series. 2018’s Super Mario Party was criticized for its lack of boards, and while Mario Party Superstars had much more content, it was all taken from previous entries in the series. Super Mario Party Jamboree, on the other hand, strikes a perfect balance between nostalgia and new.
With over 110 minigames, over 20 playable characters, and seven boards, Super Mario Party Jamboree is the most complete Mario Party entry to date, and it’s probably one of the most enjoyable multiplayer experiences of the year.
Join the latest Mario Party™, a jamboree of seven boards and over 110 minigames
From running through merry-go-rounds to motion-control minigolf, this jamboree is jam-packed with more minigames than any Mario Party game to date. With seven boards in all, you can go with the flow in Goomba Lagoon, search the mall for stars in Rainbow Galleria, or revisit the classics of Western Land and Mario’s Rainbow Castle.
Check out all kinds of additional modes, like the 20-player online* Koopathlon
Race across the party board in Koopathlon, a series-first 20-player online* competition to see who can rack up the highest scores in minigames like the fast-paced Lane Change. The higher your score in each round, the faster you’ll get to the goal.
Koopathlon is just one of a slew of additional modes**—there’s something for every kind of Mario Party enjoyer!
- Released
- October 17, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer , Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- NintendoWare Bezel
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
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Tekken 8
After the release of Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 last year, the fighting game genre has entered a new golden age, and Tekken 8 is the latest game to join it. Earning universal acclaim from critics, Tekken 8 is one of the most content-rich, mechanically-complex fighting games ever made, and fans are still loving it all these months after its initial release. Of course, multiplayer has always been a core part of the fighting game genre, and it’s there in full-force in Tekken 8.
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer , Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- ESRB
- t
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
The long-awaited sequel to the 2011 original, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 sees players suit up as a titular super soldier of the Imperium, who’s tasked with wiping out all Xenos threats on a handful of planets. While much of Space Marine 2 can be played in singleplayer, practically the entire game can be experienced via cooperative or competitive multiplayer.
Along with a 3-player co-op campaign, Space Marine 2 is home to Operations mode, an endlessly replayable set of PvE missions that see players choosing a class and progressing through the ranks, unlocking new weapons and abilities along the way. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 also has a solid PvP multiplayer mode called Eternal War, which sees two teams of six battling it out in classic arena shooter confines.
Your Craft is Death.
Embody the superhuman skill and brutality of a Space Marine, the greatest of the Emperor’s warriors. Hold at bay the horrors of the galaxy in epic battles on far-flung planets with your deadly abilities and devastating weaponry. Uncover dark secrets to drive back the everlasting night and prove your ultimate loyalty to humanity.
Crush the Tyranid swarms. Defend humanity.
Purge the relentless Tyranid swarms as legendary Space Marine Titus in a spectacular new campaign. Play solo or with up to 2 friends in 3 player co-op.
Enjoy intense, gory and fast-paced third-person action with hundreds of enemies on screen, from the creators of blockbuster co-op shooter World War Z.
Defend the Imperium as your own Space Marine in an endlessly brutal and replayable PvE missions up to 3 players featuring 6 classes, unlocking new skills and cosmetics.
Wage eternal war on your enemies in ferocious 6v6 PvP matches and bring glory to your faction!
Third-Person Shooter
Hack and Slash
- Released
- September 9, 2024
- Publisher(s)
- Focus Entertainment
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op , Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- Swarm Engine
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Number of Players
- 1-6
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Final Prediction
While every nominee for The Game Awards 2024’s Best Multiplayer category could feasibly take home the trophy, it seems most likely that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be this year’s victor. Coming out of the gate swinging with its bevy of multiplayer maps, Easter egg-filled Zombies mode, and return to classic Prestige and progression systems, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 really is the full multiplayer package, capturing some of the magic from the golden age of CoD that many fans thought was long gone.
