Last Updated on September 19, 2023 by Bharat Saini
From action-packed battles to strategic multiplayer arenas, online games offer a variety of immersive experiences. These top 10 online games have captivated millions of players with their gameplay and community.
Splatoon’s fresh take on shooter genre and family-friendly atmosphere attract players of all ages. The game regularly updates with new weapons and features, keeping the experience fresh.
1. Fortnite Battle Royale
Fortnite has been a global sensation since its launch in 2017. The free-to-play game has swept the world, from consoles to computers and even mobile phones. Players spend more than 3.2 billion hours playing the game every month. And while the battle royale genre had all the markings of a fad when it first came into prominence, Fortnite’s success shows that it’s here to stay.
The game is a shooter that drops 100 players onto an island and forces them to fight against each other in player-versus-player combat. Players can play alone or in teams of up to four. The game features an ever-constricting circle that forces players to search for weapons and items to survive.
Developed by Epic Games, Fortnite Battle Royale is available for macOS, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S consoles as well as Android OS and iOS. The game is also among the top 10 most-watched games on Twitch.
2. Counter-Strike: GO
Launched in 2012, CS:GO is the fourth main entry in the Counter-Strike series and continues to dominate the multiplayer first-person shooter genre. It features two teams — terrorists and counter-terrorists — competing against each other in different game modes with objectives such as bomb defusing, hostage rescue and more. It’s one of Valve’s premier games, and its eSports scene has attracted millions of fans.
The game’s simple gameplay, high skill ceiling, community features and regular updates have helped to keep the devoted fanbase engaged. It’s also one of the few games that factor in CPU performance to prevent players from experiencing slowdown or lag on older computers.
While it does feature some graphic violence, CS:GO is generally considered safe for children to play. However, since it relies on online communication between players, it can expose kids to toxic behavior and offensive language. Parents should monitor their child’s gaming activities. It’s also important to note that CS:GO is a competitive game with a heavy focus on teamwork and strategy.
3. League of Legends
Riot Games’ League of Legends is one of the most popular online multiplayer video games. Its competitive gameplay encourages strategic thinking and requires a high level of skill to master. It also features a strong community that provides support and guides for players.
The game has a variety of champions with unique skills and play styles. Each champion has its own strengths and weaknesses, which players must consider to create the most effective team composition. Players can also customize their champions through a wide range of items.
League of Legends has a dedicated esports scene, with players competing in tournaments throughout the year for millions of dollars in prizes. The game’s ranked system uses Elo ratings to match players of similar skill levels.
The game’s regular content updates and mini-changes are likely another reason for its continued popularity. Riot Games also releases a lot of free updates and expansions. This keeps the game fresh and exciting for its millions of fans.
4. DOTA 2
Dota 2 is an action RTS game published by Valve Corporation. It is the sequel to Defense of the Ancients (DotA) and features a massive multiplayer online battle arena that has a very dedicated player base. It is the most played video game on Steam and reaches high concurrent player counts at its peak of over 1.3 million players online at the same time in March 2016.
Its popularity can be attributed to the fact that it is an old game but it keeps getting updated with new heroes, maps, and other features. The game also boasts a very complex gameplay where the players control powerful “heroes” that have different abilities and play styles.
This has allowed the game to attract a mature audience which is interested in attending offline championships and buying merchandise. It has been compared to League of Legends but still manages to stand out with its own identity.
5. Call of Duty Vanguard
Call of Duty Vanguard delivers a satisfying package for hardcore fans and casual players. Although the campaign misses the mark, the multiplayer and Zombies carry the game. With intriguing World War II scenes, it provides a solid FPS experience.
Developed by Treyarch and published by Activision, the latest entry in the Call of Duty franchise offers new mechanics that add to the experience. The mounting system returns from Modern Warfare, while maps feature destructible walls that give players new avenues of attack. It also features Gunsmith, a mode that allows players to customize weapons and attachments.
Featuring a gripping single-player story, 20 multiplayer maps on launch day, and deeper integration with Last Year’s Zombies and Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard is a worthy entry for the series. However, with a yearly release schedule for the franchise, some consumers may be suffering from CoD fatigue. The World War 2 setting may also not resonate with players who are used to the modern warfare aesthetics of recent titles.
6. Division 2
The sequel to 2016’s The Division, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 sees you battling to hold back the collapse of a city and a nation. Set in a modern near future after an engineered virus has destroyed civilization, you’ll explore and battle the chaos as agents of the Strategic Homeland Division.
While the gameplay is similar to the first game, Ubisoft has pumped in lots of new content since launch. New missions, loot and more have kept players coming back for more.
The game is a free-to-play title with microtransactions. It’s also a hugely popular esports title. The ranking is based on the average number of monthly active users across all platforms. It’s a different metric than the peak concurrent players used in the past, which Twinfinite thinks better indicates a game’s popularity. It’s worth noting that a player’s usage of the game may drop over time, especially as they move onto other titles and leave The Division behind.
7. Minecraft
The sandbox survival video game, developed and published by Mojang, offers players an open-ended gaming experience that is creative, social, and accessible. Its appeal to people of all ages has made it one of the most famous online games.
Developed by Markus Persson, the creator of PUBG, Minecraft is a game that allows its users to create their own world. It has a multiplayer mode that lets users interact with each other and a survival mode that gives them the satisfaction of ownership of a never-ending world.
Whether you are looking for a thrilling online game that will keep you on the edge of your seat or just want to relax and play something slow, these 10 online games have got you covered. They have all the elements that keep players hooked, from stunning graphics to gripping gameplay. So, grab your controllers and keyboards and enter these digital worlds that have captured the hearts of millions of players worldwide.
8. Lost Ark
The world of online games continues to captivate millions of players with immersive worlds and competitive gameplay. These titles have dominated the gaming industry and have established a large community of gamers. From battle royales to first-person shooter games, these online titles have captured the hearts and minds of millions of players around the world.
Lost Ark, an isometric action RPG like Blizzard’s Diablo games, has blown up with a fast-paced launch in Europe and America, announcing 1.3 million peak concurrent players within a day of its release. That’s a higher concurrent player count than Counter-Strike: GO and Dota 2 and it has already passed World of Warcraft, which dropped in popularity after the rate at which players could obtain rare gear was reduced and the story suffered from time gating.
Developed by Tripod Studio and Smilegate RPG, and published by Amazon Games, the game offers tons of content to keep players busy from start to finish. There are tons of main quests, dungeons, PvP modes and more to explore in the stunning world of Arkesia.
9. Roblox
In addition to having a massive library of games, Roblox users can also create their own worlds and play games created by other players. The influx of new content ensures that the game never feels stale and keeps users coming back for more.
For example, one popular game called Jailbreak allows players to take on the role of a police officer or a prisoner as they attempt to escape their cells and break out of the prison. The game has received over 5 billion visits and features an intriguing plot with genuinely thrilling gameplay.
Roblox games are designed to appeal to audiences of all ages. The games offer engaging primary loops and solid replayability to rival the best PC titles of 2023. Blox Fruits tailors in-game progress to the player’s speed, and Arsenal evokes familiar gameplay loops that are easy for players to understand. In addition, the games can be played on a variety of devices, including PCs, smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles like the Xbox One.