Competitive multiplayer games have been a key part of gaming since its inception. Gamers have been using games to compete since the days ofPongin the 70s through the era of split-screen withGoldenEye 007to the online battles of mega FPS franchises likeHaloandCall of Duty. Competitive multiplayer remains a key selling point for many games today, and a fresh batch of new PvP titles are released every year.
Of course, not everyPvP gamedelivers on its promises. There are some competitive multiplayer games that take the market by storm and become mainstays, but there are others that come and go without much fanfare. Some competitive multiplayer games start out hot but fizzle out, while others are played for years to come.
For anyone looking for a newer competitive multiplayer experience, these games are the best 2024 had to offer. Keep in mind that we only included brand-new releases, solive-service gameslikeFortniteandOverwatch 2weren’t eligible. It’s also worth keeping in mind that this list is presented inalphabetical order.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Call of Dutyhas featured PvP modes since the very first game released in 2003, but the franchise’s competitive offerings didn’t really take off in a massive way untilCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.Call of Duty 4completely changed the face of competitive multiplayer and drafted the blueprint that the franchise still follows to this day. Due to their annual release schedule and adherence to the established formula, manyCall of Dutygames feel a little “samey,” and while that’s true forBlack Ops 6, the latest game in the long-running franchise also features some significant new features that help shake things up quite a bit. The biggest example isBlack Ops 6’s omnimovement feature, which adds an exciting new dynamic to multiplayer encounters.
Black Ops 6gives competitive multiplayer fans significant bang for their buck, with plenty of new content on the way. Fans can enjoy the standardCall of Dutymultiplayer modesinBlack Ops 6, plus the return of the beloved 2v2 Gunfight mode. SinceBlack Ops 6is a live-service game, fans can expect plenty more new modes, maps, weapons, and more in the months leading up to the 2025Call of Dutygame, whatever it may be.
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
Many fighting games are built entirely around the concept of balanced competition, and while that can’t be said forDragon Ball: Sparking Zero, the game’s PvP is still a blast.Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s overpowered charactersand design choices have kept the game from being taken seriously on the tournament stage, but those looking to simply have fun with their friends can’t go wrong.Dragon Ball: Sparking Zerofeatures a massive roster of characters pulled from all corners of theDragon Ballfranchise, ridiculous over-the-top moves that are fun to pull off, and though it’s limited in its features, an offline split-screen mode for those that want to relive theBudokai Tenkaichidays.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO takes the legendary gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series and raises it to whole new levels. Become a super warrior and experience the earth-shaking, limit-breaking power of DRAGON BALL battles!Unleash the strength of over 180 fighters from DRAGON BALL Z, DRAGON BALL Super, DRAGON BALL GT, and selected DRAGON BALL movies, all in the base game! Each character comes with their own signature abilities, transformations, and techniques.Make the destructive power of the strongest fighters ever to appear in DRAGON BALL yours!Engage in heart-pounding, high-speed 3D battles that stay true to the anime and video game series, with breathtaking visuals and authentic combat moves like beam clashes, rush attacks, movements too quick for the eyes to see, and planet-razing ultimate attacks.Challenge other players online to test your skills, or sit down with friends offline to hone your skills exclusively in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber! Fight your way to become a champion across various tournament modes and victory conditions.Conquer the action-packed battles from the beloved original story, or discover and unlock new encounters for your favorite Z-Fighters and more. Relive your favorite moments from the series through cutscenes you may experience from the perspectives of eight characters!Recreate your favorite battles from throughout the DRAGON BALL story, or set up your dream story battle with your favorite characters! Share your creations with other fans and experience the battles brought to life by imaginations around the world.
EA Sports College Football 25
College football fans have been waiting over a decade for a new game, and EA Sports finally delivered with 2024’sEA Sports College Football 25. Withrecord-breaking salesand largely positive reviews, it’s safe to say thatEA Sports College Football 25has blown away all expectations. One reason for its success is its PvP multiplayer, which lets players compete in local or online games.College Football 25is quite easily the best football game on the market, and so football fans with a competitive itch really can’t go wrong with it. It’s certainly a step up from the recentMaddenofferings, if nothing else.
In EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 experience explosive gameplay variety across 134 FBS schools and immerse yourself in the iconic atmospheres of college football as you chase college greatness. CampusIQ™ Immerse yourself in authentic, fast-paced, college football gameplay with CampusIQ™. Test your strategic decision-making with an all-new composure system, player Wear & Tear, screen-shaking homefield advantages and dozens of diverse play styles across 134 FBS teams. Iconic Atmospheres From The Big House to The Swamp. From Tuscaloosa to College Station. Experience the decibel-shaking soundscape of college football putting you inside the stadium, alongside all the iconic rituals and traditions that make you feel right at home. Bring Glory Home Set a new standard for college football greatness in classic modes like Dynasty and Road To Glory. Recruit a winning roster, develop a coaching staff, and lead your program to the Championship as a created coach, or balance student-athlete life and take home the Heisman as a player.
EA Sports FC 25
EA’s soccer franchise has consistently delivered some of the most hard-to-put-down multiplayer experiences there are, andEA Sports FC 25is no exception to the rule. The award-winningEA Sports FC 25features both offline and online PvP options typical of EA’s sports games, and it even introduces a new competitive multiplayer mode to the mix.EA Sports FC 25’s new 5v5 Rush Mode makes for an exciting addition to the game’s already comprehensive competitive multiplayer options, giving players even more reason to pick up the latest entry in the annual sports series.
Team up with 5v5 Rush, a new way to play with friends in Football Ultimate Team™, Clubs, and Kick-Off with small-sided gameplay. In Football Ultimate Team Rush, build your dream 5-a-side squad with up to three friends, each controlling your favourite Player Item.Get your team playing like the world’s best with FC IQ. An overhaul of tactical foundations across the game delivers greater strategic control and more realistic collective movement at the team level, while a new AI model, powered by real-world data, influences player tactics through all-new Player Roles.New additions to Manager and Player Career let you live out the biggest storylines from the real-world with Live Start Points; rewrite the stories of past ICONs with today’s teams in Player Career; and for the first time, play an authentic Women’s Career experience, taking control of a club or player from the top five women’s leagues.EA SPORTS FC™ 25 has the best players from the biggest clubs and competitions around the globe, with match data from the world’s top leagues powering how 19,000+ players move, play, and win in every match.
Marvel Rivals
Even thoughMarvel Rivalsjust launched a couple of weeks ago, it’s already one of my most-played competitive multiplayer games of the year.Marvel Rivals' concept is simple, but genius. It’s essentially a third-personOverwatchwith Marvel characters instead of Blizzard’s original heroes.Marvel Rivalslaunched with 33 heroes on its rosterand eight multiplayer maps spread across four different game modes, with plenty more content in the pipeline. SinceMarvel Rivalsis a live-service game, it will receive regular updates that address balance issues as well as add new playable characters and maps.
In fact,Marvel Rivalshas launched its first post-launch event. TheMarvel RivalsWinter Celebrationintroduces a limited-time game mode starring breakout character Jeff the Land Shark, and it also gives players the chance to add some holiday-themed cosmetics to their collection.Marvel Rivalsfans can expect many more special events in the future.
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Mario Partyhas been a local multiplayer mainstay for decades now, butSuper Mario Party Jamboreemay be the best game in the series to date.Super Mario Party Jamboreeis easily the most fully-featuredMario Partygame ever made, with a nice selection of new and returning game modes, a huge number of mini-games, and the largest roster in series history.Super Mario Party Jamboree’s main draw is the chaotic fun that players can have with their friends in local multiplayer, but the game also offers extensive online multiplayer options as well. Not only isSuper Mario Party Jamboreeone of the best new competitive multiplayer games of 2024, but it’s also one of the best games that released on the Switch this year as well.
Join the latest Mario Party™, a jamboree of seven boards and over 110 minigamesFrom 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 may 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* KoopathlonRace 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!
Tekken 8
Tekken 8dominated the fighting game scene this year, and for good reason. A revamped fighting system combined with a shift to Unreal Engine 5 helpedTekken 8deliver some of the most hard-hitting and visually-stunning action in series history, reflected by the fact that the game is one of the highest-rated new releases of the year. WhileTekken 8represents significant leaps forward for the franchise, it also holds true to its long-running traditions, offering a suite of offline and online competitive multiplayer modes for fighting game fans to lose themselves in.Tekken 8takes its online multiplayer options to the next levelby introducing crossplay support, making it easier than ever before for players to battle their friends.
Top Spin 2K25
There aren’t many tennis game options on modern consoles, which helped makeTop Spin 2K25that much more exciting. BeforeTop Spin 2K25, the lastTop Spingame from 2K was 2011’sTop Spin 4, so tennis fans have been waiting ages for a new entry. Luckily,Top Spin 2K25managed to exceed expectations, releasing to mostly positive reviews and even securing itself a nomination for Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards 2024.Top Spin 2K25features multiple online multiplayer modesfor players to enjoy, and it also has offline multiplayer support as well, ensuring that it offers a truly well-rounded PvP experience.
AUTHENTIC GAMEPLAY: Advanced gameplay mechanics, realistic physics, and immersive visuals are at the heart of TopSpin 2K25. Several playable pros in TopSpin 2K25 have a custom forehand, backhand, and serve animation that’s been fine-tuned to replicate their real-life form. On clay, sliding across will kick up dust and leave scuff marks along the ground you’ve covered while on grass the court wear becomes more noticeable as you progress through a tournament. Deliver pinpoint precision on the court with the all-new Timing Meter, and hit the perfect serve with the new Serve Mechanic.LOCAL MULTIPLAYER: Gather your friends and family to compete in intense, head-to-head matches on the same screen. Offline Exhibition supports up to two players in singles and up to four players in doubles, offering endless fun and rivalry.EXPERIMENT WITH PLAYSTYLES: Do you gravitate toward a strong defensive strategy or will you lean more on dominating serves? TopSpin 2K25 features four different playstyles, each with their own upsides and unique Skills. Choose from All-Round, Offensive Baseline, Defensive Baseline, and Serve & Volley playstyles. Lean in to the playstyle of your favorite Pro or experiment and create hybrid MyPLAYERs based on these core playstyles.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Coming 13 years after the release of the firstSpace Marinegame, many expectedWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2to be good, but it’s safe to say it was even better than many anticipated. Whereas many games nowadays tend to focus on one thing or another,Space Marine 2offers a truly complete package. It boasts an action-packed co-op campaign, dedicated bonus co-op modes, and a PvP mode that feels like a throwback to the glory days of the Xbox 360 in the best ways.Space Marine 2’s PvP may not be the game’s main selling point, but it is still a ton of fun and offers fantastic cosmetic customization options to boot.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
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!
WWE 2K24
TopSpin 2K25wasn’t the only remarkable sports game that 2K published in 2024.WWE 2K24is arguably the best WWE video game since the series was “rebooted” withWWE 2K22, building on what came before with major new features and vast improvements to existing game modes, including theGeneral Manager mode.WWE 2K24retains all the online multiplayer and local multiplayer modes from the previous games in the series, ensuring countless hours of exciting in-ring action for WWE fans. In terms of pure fun factor, it’s still hard to beat the chaos ofWWE 2K24’s local multiplayer brawls.
FORTY YEARS OF WRESTLEMANIAWrestleMania is the biggest event in sports entertainment, where Superstars become WWE Legends. Experience a gripping retelling of WrestleMania’s greatest moments in 2K Showcase of the Immortals, where you can relive a collection of some of the most unforgettable, career-defining matches.AN ICONIC ROSTERWWE 2K24 boasts a star-studded roster featuring WWE Legends like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Undertaker, and Andre the Giant, alongside current WWE Superstars like “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Rhea Ripley, and Roman Reigns, whose larger-than-life entrances and signature moves are heightened by ultra-realistic graphics.NEW MATCH TYPESFrom Guest Referee to Casket, Gauntlet, and Ambulance matches, there are a bevy of new match types to experience in WWE 2K24, including support for multiple Superstars in Backstage Brawl.PROVE YOURSELF IN MyRISEUnleash your raw talent and become the undisputed champ in MyRISE, featuring two thrilling career arcs and original storylines chronicling your ascent to WWE stardom from the men’s and women’s divisions.BUILD YOUR FACTIONAssemble your favorite WWE Superstars and Legends in MyFACTION. Acquire cards, build a dominant faction, compete in online multiplayer and the all-new ranked quickplay. Plus, earn exciting promotional and final rank rewards as you climb the new seasonal leaderboard!
