What games do you play? Who do you play with?
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve struggled to keep up with multiplayer games. I don’t really want to play unless I have someone to play with, and finding someone to play with is more trouble than it’s worth. I have friends and family who game, but we always run into one of two main problems: -1) Our schedules simply refuse to align, or -2) We can’t agree on what to play.
I’m always on the lookout for cool indie multiplayer games, whether that means large-scale like Battlebit or small-scale like Deep Rock Galactic. Some of my friends are either always chasing that absolute latest game (i don’t), or they’re real into MMOs (I’m not), or they have very particular preferences about which aesthetics they will take a chance on. It’s a struggle, but I’m always working to figure it out.
So what do you think? How have you fit multiplayer gaming into your life?
It doesn’t fit well into my life. With work, the kids and all the responsibilities that comes with it I can’t afford to sink a lot of time into it, so if I get a game I’ll focus on single-player games, or I’ll go with multiplayer games with a co-op to at least enjoy the game without it being a competition.
I hear you on the competitive games piece, but competitive games where i can play with friends gives me a similar feel. As long as you can all laugh at losing. lol
Did you ever have a time where competitive gaming was an interest or pastime for you?
I played CS a lot in the past and I was decent, but now I’d get absolutely destroyed.
Any game that requires regular playtime is a nope for me now. I switched to games that you can put off easily - games that are playable under a fixed amount of hours and that do not require dedication.
Typically right now i am playing Dark Souls on twitch - I can turn it on, play a bit (even just 30 minutes) then put it down easily.
I also switched to board games - my SO is not into video games but she is into board games so we can enjoy that together. We are playing Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion right now it’s a blast
I’ve given up on multiplayer. Too many kids that apparently had relations with my mom.
Cooperative games! Games where you work with many people. Games where you talk to people in the game. Great way to meet people, and also bring your friends along. Social aspects of gaming are more engaging than gaming by itself.
Could you recommend any?
The only multiplayer game I really play is Team Fortress 2. I learnt the mechanics over a decade ago and I understand it. My reflexes aren’t amazing, but I “get it”. I can’t be bothered to learn any new multiplayer game mechanics, so when I want to get online and play a shooter I go for TF2.
Coop games are another matter, but yeah, TF2. My desire to play it comes and goes, but it’s always there waiting for me.
i enjoy playing couch co-op with my partner. that’s all for me and multiplayer. 🙃
I’m baffled how people can constantly find new games to play. If I find myself enjoying a multiplayer game I’ll stick with it for years to come
Overwatch 2. The casual matches are fast enough (10~20min?), and I like the teamwork in game
The only game I’ll play with strangers is FFXIV.
I’m lucky to have a friend group who all get together semi-frequently on Discord to try out any new games we’ve found and enjoy. We all have pretty similar tastes in games, sometimes a few of us will be playing something others might not enjoy and vice versa, but in those instances we’ll still hang out and chat but just play our separate games instead.
I would agree that one roadblock is that we all have less time now as adults with careers (and other responsibilities) than we did when we were students, but we do our best to make time all the same.
In terms of public multiplayer with randoms - not for me, tbh.
I’m so jealous, i wish i had cultivated something like that back when i had more time/friends.
The only multiplayer game I play is Borderlands 2 with my girlfriend, and that is very once and then… So yeah, MP games are not the same for me anymore.
Well except for Jump Ultimate Stars, I always make time to play that shit whenever possible.
Tf is Jump Ultimate Stars? 😂
A DS fighting game like Super Smash Bros.
Shit that looks cool af. How are you playing that? Emulator, or?
Original hardware, but you can even play from emulator.
Take a look at the custom server, this is the discord server where we play each other and with this guide you’ll be able to set everything up.
And yes, it is cool af, here you can see some gameplays from some users from the discord server, it is not a competitive fighting game by any means, but it can get competitive 😅
idk if you’re gonna catch me on your servers, but i appreciate you sharing! maybe another adventurous soul here will follow your instructions ;)
Not my server by any means, but yeah, I was even thinking of making a post about this, I mean, the user base is so tiny on Lemmy yet and it would be like promoting a niche game to a niche community lol.
you never know when your new best friend might be hiding out in some corner of kbin. lol
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the pace of multiplayer games is something i hardly even consider, but it’s a good point. After a time it becomes exhausting if you’re trying to keep up with a “meta”.
It kind of doesn’t. Me and my brothers will play some Rocket League on a Monday night (assuming our kids are in bed) but aside from that my gaming is exclusively single-player.
Never been a big online gamer, but since having kids that’s basically become a non-starter.
Rocket League for me as well. Because:
- it has very simple rules, but can get really crazy creative if you know your way around it.
- player base is big enough so even if you are top 1% it’s still easy to find games.
- there is no balance change or new character the throws you off and relearn your game plan
- it’s average 7 minutes match for replay/kick off count down and queuing time.
- you can totally drop it and then come back again after finish a single player game and it’s still going to be there.
- it’s free to play but I did throw Psyonix about 60~100 per year to support their operation cost. Good pack/cosmetic didn’t come up often so I usually have at least 4000 credits sitting in my account.
I’ve always had some competitive multiplayer game. I’m competitive and it gives that energy an easy outlet. In order those games have been:
- TagPro - great browser-based game with a strong competitive community
- CS:GO - I got tired of the long games and potential for bad teammates to ruin the experience
- Smash Ultimate - love the game to death but the online experience eventually forced me to only play offline
- Street Fighter 5 - got into it during the pandemic
- Street Fighter 6 - my current everyday game. tons of fun.
I wrote a Matrix bot that can be used for my community to schedule gaming events. I just pick a time to play a particular game, and play with whoever shows up.