The 5 Best Multiplayer FPS Games Still Popular in 2022
The First Person Shooter genre is one of the most enduring genres in all of gaming. The first ever FPS game was actually a game called Maze War, a wireframe game that ran on the old PDS-1 computers. But the first accessible FPS game was released in 1992. Wolfenstein 3D. A series that is still going strong to this day. But the genre really came into its own with the release of Doom. To this day Doom is still one of the most popular FPS series in the gaming world. It was also one of the first FPS games to feature multiplayer. A game mode that would come to define the genre in later years.
Today multiplayer is a staple of the FPS genre. Where FPS games used to be focused on the single player experience, nowadays you will find that the campaign is often an afterthought, or does not exist at all. But this means the developers dedicate far more time to the multiplayer gameplay. Today we are going to look at the top 5 multiplayer FPS games that are still incredibly popular in 2022.
Overwatch
Kicking this list off is Blizzard’s powerhouse of an FPS shooter. Overwatch is a team-based shooter filled with colorful characters connected by an overarching narrative. Unlike other FPS games, Overwatch doesn’t let you customize your weapons. Instead each character has a unique weapon and set of abilities. The game takes inspiration from MOBAs and other shooters like Team Fortress 2.
Overwatch was released in 2016 and has remained one of the most popular multiplayer shooters to this day. In fact the game just had a massive update in the form of Overwatch 2. This update has switched the game to a free-to-play model and introduced a slew of new features and maps. Making now the ideal time to break into the world of Overwatch.
Halo Infinite
We don’t talk about first person shooters without mentioning Halo. The undisputed king of shooters. When Halo was first released it redefined the genre. Innovative gameplay. An immersive campaign with local co-op. And a fantastic online multiplayer system.
Halo Infinite is the latest in the series. It was released in 2021 and yet it still sees an average of around 6000 concurrent users at any given time. Halo Infinite’s multiplayer features a competitive ranked system and all the classic game modes people have come to expect from the Halo series such as Slayer, Oddball, and Stockpile. The game’s popularity can also be attributed to the fact that cheating in Halo Infinite is seen as a valid tactic for improving one’s competitive skills. If you are considering breaking into the Halo pro scene, we highly recommend watching some of the Twitch streams hosted by the current champions.
COD: Cold War
Call of Duty has been dominating the multiplayer FPS world for some time now. When Modern Warfare released in 2007 it boosted the series to new heights. And the series didn’t stop innovating there either. With the release of CoD 5 we saw the introduction of the zombies game mode which has now become a staple of the series.
Cold War, released back in 2020, introduced some huge changes to the zombies mode. Adding in some open-world elements and greater degrees of customization options for players to explore. This, paired with the fantastic standard multiplayer mode, is why Cold War is still one of the most popular multiplayer FPS games on the market.
Payday 2
Not all FPS games need to be competitive. Some of the most successful FPS games are all about cooperation. And Payday 2 is the ultimate testament to that. The Payday series has players step into the shoes of a gang of professional criminals pulling off elaborate heists. Robbing everything from banks and casinos to jewelry stores and super yachts. And players have the option to stealth through the maps or go loud and fight through waves of law enforcement officers.
The game is designed to be played multiplayer with up to four other players. The high levels of character and weapon customisation has ensured the games longevity and it still receives updates to this day, despite releasing all the way back in 2013. If you’re looking for a highly tactical, cooperative shooter. Payday 2 is the one for you.
Rainbow Six: Siege
The Rainbow Six series is a unique one. Based on the popular novels by Tom Clancey, the series has produced a wide range of shooters over the years. A lot of them are more than forgettable. While others, such as Rainbow Six: Vegas, have dominated classic game lists for years. But one of the most unique titles to ever come out of the Rainbow Six series is Siege.
Putting an emphasis on tactical, close-quarters combat, Siege strived to create a different multiplayer shooter experience than the one being offered by games like COD and Battlefield. And it succeeded. Despite releasing in 2015, the game still receives regular updates and sees an average concurrent player base of 30,000 each month. The game is ideal for any team of gamers looking for an intense tactical shooter that demands teamwork and innovative thinking.
