Summary
Gaming has become a titan of the entertainment industry over the past few decades and has been through several lifecycles. Many video games that are household names today have had a plethora of classic titles in their franchises, or have simply lasted so long that they’re still kicking today.
There are plenty of classic games that modern fans might not have gotten around to playing — or were missed by some gamers at the time. This isn’t an issue for single-player experiences, as players can always return to them at a later date, but for multiplayer, it’s a different issue. Games can shut down when enough players have stopped playing; even if the servers are still up, there is no guarantee there is anyone on them. But for these ten games, there’s still quite a bit of life in them.
Halois one of the most iconic FPS franchises ever. While the most recent installment,Halo: Infinite,is still popular and even availableon Xbox Game Pass, players shouldn’t overlook theMaster Chief Collection— a collection of all the classicHalogames, fromHalo: Combat EvolvedtoHalo 4.
This collection features a near infinite amount of content for players to enjoy. Want a grand space opera to play through with friends? All of the campaigns feature co-op modes. Want a hectic arcade multiplayer experience? There are both ranked and casual modes to choose from, with game modes ranging from 4v4 slayer to colossal Big Team Battle King Of The Hill. There’s even a custom game browser and Forge (a map creator tool). Players still make their own mini-games and maps to play.
Minecraftlikely needs no introduction given its status as one of the most successful games of all time. But it also came out all the way back in 2009. While the game today is a far cry from the creative, one-man project that released all the way back then, it still follows the same gameplay loop and formula.
Players can play several editions of the game, from the console and crossplay friendly Windows edition to the classic Javascript version, featuring extensivemod support for texture packs, new biomes, and even creatures. With servers that can host thousands of players at once, it’s still a great time to jump into Minecraft.
One of the most iconic co-op games ever made,Left 4 Dead 2is a blast for any player that wants a fun zombie shoot-‘em-up to play with friends.
The game is endlessly replayable thanks to the addictive gameplay loop and near-infinite amount of mods, both silly and serious, populating the workshop.Left For Dead 2released in 2009 and would later expand with four new campaigns for players to enjoy, even updating all the levels from its predecessor (Left 4 Dead), with new weapons, enemies, and items.
The ultimate zombie survival game,DayZpits players against each other, the undead, and the environment. Scavenging for food, weapons, and clothes to better suit the weather they’re up against, players can team up or live as a murderous bandit — even forming their own groups and buildingtheir own bases.
DayZhas been around for well over ten years now, having released in early access on Steam in 2013, with a console version arriving a few years later. The game had a tumultuous first few years but has since become a beloved staple of the Steam most played list.
Inspired by films such asHeat,Payday 2is the ultimate heist fantasy, with players able to take the reins of a host of different heisters, wield a huge array of weapons, and create an incredible number of builds to fit their playstyle. The game even lets players choose between a more cautious stealth approach or just going in guns blazing.
Released in 2013,Payday 2has since spawned several spin-offs and even another game in the franchise (with its own new ways to build and play through heists).Payday 2is stubborn, however, with the incredible amount of content released over its long life cycle continually bringing players back for more.
One of the original competitive shooters,Counter-Strike: Sourceis still extremely active over twenty years since its original release. EveryCounter-Strike 2player should definitely give this game a go.
The game took the formula created in the originalCounter-Strikemod and expanded upon it in Valve’s then new Source Engine, tweaking and refining the core gameplay without massive sweeping changes. The new engine even added the ability for improved physics and interactable environments, introducing new and more involved tactical situations for players to experience.
TheDawn Of WarSeries is among the greatestWarhammerStrategy games ever made, featuring three massive expansions before its sequel,Dawn Of War 2,which veered more into the RPG genre.
Each game has an extensive campaign for players to enjoy, with factions from all across theWarhammer 40,000universe. Players can take the reins of everything from the dreaded Dark Eldar to the Zealous and brutal Sisters Of Battle. With a colossal list of multiplayer maps and an extensive library of mods, such as the titanicUnification Modand Titanium Wars, there’s always plenty to do in this strategy game classic.
A co-op shooter marvel,Borderlands 2offers a unique blend of over the top, crazy gameplay anda story-driven rampageacross an alien world. Players play as one of six Vault Hunters, each with their own unique skills and subclasses that grow in power each playthrough of the game, eventually becoming extremely overpowered and requiring players to team up for god-like raidbosses.
Released in 2012,Borderlands 2is still a blast to play, with characters such as Krieg and Maya offering new and unique takes on the typical FPS gameplay loop.
The original sandbox game,Garry’s Modwas based offHalf-Life 2’sversion of theSource Engineand is still extremely popular today as a cheap, easy-to-run sandbox with infinite replayability. Players cando whatever they wantin the default sandbox — or venture online for tons of unique game modes created by fans.
Being released in 2004,Garry’s Modbecame an icon of internet culture through its use as an animation tool, the limitless creativity of the playerbase, and the incredible amount of fan-created content to download and enjoy.
Team Fortress 2is one of the most popular free-to-play games out there, despite being released in 2007. Players battle it out over dozens of maps and modes, playing as one of nine classes. From the duplicitous Spy to the psychotic Pyro, players have an uphill battle to master the mechanics of their chosen character, requiring incredible amounts of skill and time.
But that’s what makesTeam Fortress 2so long-lasting. Even the best Demoman player won’t hit their grenades all the time, and the most experienced Soldier will always enjoy learning a new rocket jump rollout. The time required for players to master these skills keeps them coming back for more as the game becomes endlessly satisfying.
