Best Multiplayer Games with Expansive Progression Systems, Ranked

Multiplayer games are among the most popular in the industry. Many players seek multiplayer gaming experiences so they can play with friends or compete on a grand scale. While multiplayer games come in various forms, those that offer expansive and compelling progression systems appear to have the most staying power.

Related

14 Best Multiplayer Games for Low-End PCs

You don’t need the latest, most expensive gaming setup to enjoy these titles with friends.

Progression systems, especially in multiplayer games, are the main element that keeps players returning. Be it through a simple desire to progress in various ways, or through the urge to compete with others, progression systems are incredibly important to engage players. These progression systems are especially compelling when expansive, be it through the depth of the system or the scope of things that can be progressed.

7

Deep Rock Galactic

Mine To Progress

Systems

Released

May 13, 2020

ESRB

T for Teen due to Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

Developer(s)

Ghost Ship Games

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Deep Rock Galactic is a co-op FPS wherein players take on the role of space dwarves who work for a mining company. Players pick from one of four classes and tackle mining operations that see them exploring procedurally generated cave networks in search of minerals, and in order to complete their objective.

Deep Rock Galactic features an array of progression methods, each of which focuses on a different aspect. Players have account levels and unlocks, as well as unlocks for each individual class, weapon modifications, and cosmetic unlocks. Most progression is done through the collection of minerals and money, which is then spent on upgrades. Deep Rock Galactic places where it does on the list due to the lack of depth of progression in comparison to other entries.

6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Plenty Of Things To Grind

Systems

Released

October 25, 2024

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

The Call of Duty franchise is one of the most tenured and popular first-person shooter franchises. Call of Duty games are known for fast-paced combat and a casual arcade-style approach to the first-person shooter genre that appeals to many types of gamers. The latest release, Black Ops 6, continues this formula and offers players brand-new maps, weapons, and cosmetics. It’s these weapons and cosmetics in Black Ops 6 that form the backbone of the progression system.

That being said, progression is far more extensive than just these elements. Players can progress their account level, weapon level, battle pass, mastery challenges, calling card challenges, and more. The most famous progression element is the mastery camos system, wherein players can unlock tiered mastery camos for each weapon and weapon category, working their way up to eventually unlocking the Dark Matter camo. Black Ops 6 places here on the list as there is a wealth of progression, although, most of it is fairly simplistic in nature, whilst also being optional.

5

War Thunder

Huge Vehicle Unlock Trees

Systems

Released

November 1, 2012

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Gaijin Entertainment

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

War Thunder is a realistic military vehicle simulator that allows players to take to land, sea, or air utilizing the military vehicles of various nations throughout the ages. It is a predominantly PvP title that features tier-based matchmaking in either an arcade or realism mode. War Thunder is an ideal game for military vehicle enthusiasts and includes a progression system that sees players unlock vehicles in historical chronology.

Related

8 Best Open-World Games For Slow Progression, Ranked

These open-world games make progressions, slow meaningful and measured for a better playing experience.

War Thunder features an incredibly expansive progression system in the form of various tech trees. Each nation has a fleshed-out tech tree for both tanks and aircraft, with some nations featuring a naval tech tree too. Players can slowly advance through vehicle tiers made up of a series of incredibly accurately modeled vehicles, with each tier roughly corresponding to a time period. The War Thunder progression is famously lengthy and incredibly detailed, offering a great way for military enthusiasts to spend many hours.

4

Warframe

Master Various Warframes And Weapons

Released

March 25, 2013

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

Warframe is a free-to-play multiplayer PvE title that sees players take on the role of various warframes, biomechanically engineered combatants that have an array of abilities and proficiencies. Players can choose to team up with friends or go alone in various missions that allow them to progress through the story and unlock various upgrades for their warframes. The game features a varied selection of warframes and weapons, each offering different abilities as well as strengths and weaknesses for each combat scenario.

The main bulk of progression in Warframe comes from the mastery system. This system incentivizes players to utilize an array of weapons and warframes in order to increase their mastery. This is a unique and vast progression system that sees players experience the game in a variety of ways. Warframe places where it does on the list due to the sheer amount of varied gameplay that comes from the mastery system.

3

Path of Exile

Extensive Character Build Opportunities

Systems

Released

October 23, 2013

ESRB

M for Mature: Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Nudity, Language

Path of Exile is likely the largest and most content-rich ARPG in the genre. It is known for its depth and complexity, with each new season adding more content that changes how the game is played. There is an almost infinite number of builds players can try out, be they inspired by a guide or meticulously hand-crafted by the players themselves. The skill tree in Path of Exile is a sight to behold and is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to progression.

These builds are what give Path of Exile such a vast and extensive progression system. Path of Exile features a lengthy campaign that, upon finished, marks the true start of the game. Players must farm currency or item drops in order to ensure their build has the right stats, as well as continue to gain experience to level up their character. This can be done through various endgame activities, more of which are added with each season, and each of which has its own progression. Path of Exile excels not just with the vast amount of tangible progression, but with the progression that comes with learning its various intricacies and mechanics.

2

Old School Runescape

A True Sense of Progression

Old School RuneScape

Free-to-Play

RPG

Adventure

Systems

Released

January 4, 2001

ESRB

t

Old School Runescape is a re-release and subsequent baseline for updates of the 2007 version of Runescape. It is not only nostalgic for many gamers but offers a faithful recreation and improvement upon the original game, with more content and a much higher quality of life. It is packed full of content and lengthy grinds, as expected for anything bearing the Runescape name.

Related

8 RPGs with Non-Linear Progression

Some of the best RPGs out there feature non-linear progression, meaning players can jump right in and forge their own path outside the main story.

Old School Runescape is known for its lengthy grinds and incredibly extensive progression. It offers 27 skills to level up to 99, each taking hundreds of hours and allowing for various methods of skilling. The game also has multiple bosses and many quests, as well as unique game modes that offer different challenges. For players who want incredibly deep and extensive progression, Old School Runescape is one of the best options. It makes it to second place on the list due to the sheer number of activities to do, from skilling and bossing all the way to collection log grinding and questing.

1

World of Warcraft

The Benchmark Of MMO Progression

Released

November 23, 2004

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence (online interactions not rated)

World of Warcraft is possibly one of the most famous MMORPGs, still remaining the largest MMO even after its over 20-year lifespan. World of Warcraft has an extensive history, with lore dating further back than the release of the MMO itself. Being a game with such an extensive backlog of history and content, it’s no surprise that World of Warcraft has a wealth of content and progression to partake in.

The latest expansion, The War Within, already has a wealth of content to progress through. Be it PvP, Raids, Dungeons, Pet Battles, Cosmetic Unlocking, or Achievement Hunting. This is then multiplied by the content of every prior expansion still being partially relevant, with the opportunity to unlock mounts and appearances from older content. This combination of new and old content makes the progression of World of Warcraft near unparalleled in how extensive it is, meaning it places at the top of this list.

More

Roguelite Games With The Best Progression Systems

A good progression system is part of a roguelite’s core. Here are some of the best games in the roguelite genre that know how to reward players.