The Best Games For Local Multiplayer

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home February 21, 2025 4 Views 30 Min Read
The Best Games For Local Multiplayer
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Online multiplayer games might be the norm nowadays, but nothing beats being able to yell at your friends sitting across the room from you during a heated team deathmatch. And for the longest time, LAN parties were the only way for friends to play games like Unreal Tournament and Quake with each other.

Several creatures from Palworld, Heihachi uppercutting in Tekken 8, and the banner artwork from Marvel Rivals featuring several heroes.

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If your friend group was gaming this year, you most likely had some intense play matches with some of the best multiplayer games of 2024.

But for many who don’t mind lugging their computers or game consoles over to their friend’s houses—or some who simply lack stable enough internet to make online play viable—LAN parties remain the best way to play certain games in a social setting. So whatever reason you might have for wanting to put one together, here are some of the best games to consider adding to the roster.

Updated January 27, 2025, by Jon Eakin: LAN gaming is a beloved tradition, and thanks to developers and community effort, it shows no sign of stopping. To help mark the start of 2025 as the beginning of another great year for LAN gaming, we’ve updated this list with new features and entries to help you find the best game to play with your friends side by side.

27

Age Of Mythology: Retold

LAN Magic

A battlefield in Age of Mythology Retold.

Age of Mythology was a departure from the mostly grounded Age of Empires formula, introducing god-given powers and mythological beasts. It would have been easy for it to spoil what made the series better, but instead it made the whole experience fresh again.

Age of Mythology: Retold, an updated remaster of that original game, was released in 2024 and reminded everyone just how good it was. It’s even better if you play it with friends, and more magical still if you do it all in the same place.

26

Diablo 2

Demonically Good Action

A paladin surrounded by lightning in Diablo 2 Resurrected.

Diablo 2 first released in 2020 and the genre has never been the same since. Even other genres have been impacted by the philosophy of kill more enemies and get more loot. The gameplay loop is still one of the most satisfying there is.

Grinding through hordes of demonic enemies alongside your friends is as good as it gets, and with the Diablo 2: Resurrected remaster that’s easier than ever to do. Just make sure to watch out for Duriel, that boss still hits like a truck.

25

Baldur’s Gate 3

Gather Your Party

Fighter Cleric in Sorcerous Sundries speaks with wizard as Lae'zel looks over in Baldur's Gate 3

We had every intent of just adding an addendum to our other Baldur’s Gate entry that you can play Baldur’s Gate 3 via LAN play. But it is impossible to deny the magnetic draw of this titanic title. And, truth be told, it would be a disservice to update this list and not include the undisputed GOTY.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is all the best parts of the first two Baldur’s Gate games mixed with the best parts of the Divinity Original Sin titles. This is a dream game that does so much right when it comes to allowing for creativity and expression. And better yet, it plays brilliantly in co-op. Seeing as it does everything right already, that, of course, includes LAN play. If you haven’t played it yet, grab a friend and prepare for an epic adventure!

24

Fae Farm

Fae Friends

The cover art for Fae Farm, depicting villagers gathered together in a town square.

This was one of those farming style games that sorta came out of nowhere. But this isn’t just a poor man’s version of Rune Factory. While Fae Farm wears its influences on its sleeve, it is a silky-smooth, refined take on the genre that is stunningly colorful. It is also packed with content.

If only you could get someone to help you with that voluminous amount of content. Oh wait, look at what list you are reading, you can recruit other players in a delightful lan play mode. No need to connect to the internet, just grab a buddy with a Switch, a copy of Fae Farm, and adventure through this delightfully colorful world.

23

Total War: Warhammer 3

March To War

The demonic hordes of Chaos marshal on the battlefield in Total War Warhammer 3, bathed in blue light.

The Total War series is, in general, a good place to go for people looking to get a LAN party started. And while the series has a number of quality titles, one of our favorites is the recently released Total War: Warhammer 3. With its attractive visuals and fun-to-play factions, Warhammer 3 is among the best games to have been released in the genre. But more than anything, this game deserves to be celebrated for being a recent title to launch with LAN support.

Moreover, Total War: Warhammer 3 has some excellent options for multiplayer play. You can play through the campaign with up to seven of your friends, or you can play with three friends in the Something Rotten in Kislev mode, which is a separate campaign designed around multiplayer. If you and your group of friends are looking for a sublime LAN party experience, you can’t go wrong with Warhammer 3.

22

Monster Hunter: Rise

The Friends Who Hunt Together

Monster Hunter Rise characters fighting a giant scaly monster.

Monster Hunter Rise is perfectly indicative of the sea-change in the world of LAN play: the game exists for both the Switch and the PC, yet, only the Switch version has the LAN feature. Oh, how the mighty have fallen! You used to be the place for LAN play, PC! However, while PC fans were deprived of this experience, one thing is undeniable: if you are looking for an incredible co-op LAN experience, few games provide a better experience than Monster Hunter: Rise.

The whole package is available to gamers here. Hunt titanic creatures with your friends. Set traps, split up to find the target creatures, and engage in frantic scrambles with these colossi. Co-op monster hunter is always a pleasure, but nothing beats playing it in the same room as others. We would say that the LAN experience is so good that it makes The Switch the best place to play it, despite the technical restraints of the hardware. If you have other Switch owning friends who love to hunt monsters, that is.

21

Divinity Original Sin 2

For Consistent Sessions

The main playable characters of Divinity Original Sin 2 posing dramatically.

Divinity Original Sin 2 is among the finest co-op RPG experiences ever created. And better yet, it is totally playable through LAN. It isn’t exactly a demanding game either, so you can probably throw it on whatever laptop you have kicking around.

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Vincent and Leo (A Way Out) standing next to an avatar character (Outward) and Cuphead and Mugman (Cuphead). In the background is Master Chief.

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As for the game itself, it is an isometric RPG that allows for a considerable amount of flexibility in how you approach the different encounters and quests. Four players can play through the campaign together. You will be able to split up or explore together. It isn’t a pickup-and-play type of experience, but it is the ideal game for people who want to set up regular sessions.

20

Stardew Valley

For Keeping It Casual

A farmer stands in her field as the sun sets.

When you think about LAN play, you probably think about twitchy arena-based shooters, or frenetic co-op, horde-based gameplay. But hey, what about growing carrots? How about courting the boy next door neighbor? Well, that is the experience associated with everyone’s favorite farming game: Stardew Valley. And you know what? It is an absolute pleasure to play!

Naturally, it wouldn’t be on this list if it didn’t have fantastic multiplayer. You can gather up to three friends and run the most efficient farm ever witnessed. There is a lot of flexibility here, as a number of tasks go considerably quicker when tackled by multiple people, but it is also a game with a lot of things to do, so you can divide and conquer as well. Or hey, you can also just chill. The Switch version naturally has LAN play, but it is also available on the PC version as well! Sure, Stardew Valley doesn’t provide the same thrills as Unreal Tournament, but for more laid-back groups, that’s probably a good thing.

19

Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition

Where It All Began

Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition, showing a player fighting creatures in the snow.

With the release of the third game in the Baldur’s Gate franchise having arrived, there has never been a better time to jump into this legendary franchise. Baldur’s Gate is a beloved entry for a reason; it has an enjoyable combat engine, that melds turn-based with real-time combat. Also, despite being well over two decades old, it is still extremely attractive. But better yet, you can play the entire game with your friends!

Your friends can choose to play their own created character, or they can use the party members you acquire throughout the game. Not only is the story enthralling but the world is densely packed with content. And sure, it is an amazing single-player experience, but it is also incredibly fun to play alongside your pals.

18

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Multiplayer Mayhem

Eight player chaos in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

So, obviously, if you are playing hyper-competitively, then LAN play isn’t necessarily adding a whole lot to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate experience. However, while competitive Smash play is most certainly a thing of beauty, the utter chaos that is eight-player Smash most certainly has its own charm.

Yes, you heard that right. The newest Smash Bros. game allows you to play with seven of your friends. And yes, you can do it over “local online”, so you don’t even need a TV hooked up. We sorta doubt that this is going to be the centerpiece of a LAN party, as Smash played on that scale truly is a heaping spoonful of nonsense. However, it is absolutely going to be good for a laugh.

17

Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

Never Beaten

Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition Slav buildings clustered together.

That’s right, for those who missed the news, the king is back. We now have the fully-featured remaster of Age Of Empires 2. Well, the king is back again, as Definitive Edition is the second remaster of this landmark series (replacing 2013’s Age Of Empires: HD). And yes, it does indeed have LAN play as an option. If you aren’t familiar with AoE2, it is still many stalwart fans of the series’ favorite entry (despite AoE4 being pretty well received).

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So what makes AoE2 so great? Well, it is an incredibly enjoyable RTS with a TON of variety. How you build your empire, and how you wage war, can shift dramatically based on your own play style. Moreover, the different civilizations come with their own strengths and weaknesses, which helps to encourage players to engage in different strategies.

Oh, and there are a TON of civilizations to choose from. Age Of Empires 4 has a respectable eight civilizations: not bad, right? Well, Age Of Empires 2 has damn near 40! It is just an incredible package, and it makes for a super engaging multiplayer experience. One that is perfect for LAN play.

16

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Worth The Time To Set Up

A screenshot showing a player taking aim in from of an exploding building in Counter-Strike:Global Offensive

Released on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in 2012, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (or CS:GO as it is more popularly known) is one of Valve’s most enduring first-person shooters. It is a follow-up to Counter-Strike: Source and features many of the same game modes and maps. Fans simply can’t get enough of the twitchy, skill-centric gameplay.

CS:GO became a free-to-play title in 2018, during which time it also received a battle-royale mode called Danger Zone. This only served to further boost its overall popularity. At the end of the day, Counter-Strike has long been considered the pinnacle of the competitive shooter genre. Its stunning longevity makes it a natural favorite for any LAN party roster (though, a word of warning, it isn’t the most intuitive thing in the world to set up).

15

Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection

For That Retro Feeling

A screenshot showing gameplay in Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection of a city with pylons by the river

As far as real-time strategy games go, Command & Conquer was one of the earliest titles to grace the genre. Released in 1995, it quickly grew into a series that includes more than 20 unique titles. The Remastered Collection is a bundle containing remasters of the first two games in the series. Which are, to this day, considered some of the best games in the franchise.

It was released on PC in 2020, so it is a pretty affordable collection at this point. Speaking of value, this package comes locked and loaded with all the expansions as well. It is home to quality content and lots of it. Oh, and it offers a LAN-based multiplayer option. Needless to say, this is an excellent choice for RTS-focused LAN parties.

14

Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005)

The First Second Game

Obi-Wan in Star Wars Battlefront 2, wielding his lightsaber.

The Battlefront series has, of course, been rebooted. And despite some unfortunate monetization, those games are a lot of fun. But they don’t have LAN play. Thankfully, the OG Battlefront 2 does, and you can still download it and play it to this day! It is just sitting there on Steam! Better yet, you can often find it on sale for a couple of bucks.

The PC version of Battlefront 2 was not considered to be the best version of the game upon release. But worry not, some excellent mods were created for it that help make it the superior version. This is still one of the most chaotic multiplayer experiences around. It allows for an incredible amount of variety. Play a gun-weidling Stormtrooper, hop in a ship and engage in dog fights, or be a mechanic and reinforce your base. There is a ton for you and your friends to engage with here! And to top it all off, it is cheap, and will run on damn near any computer. The Force is with this one!

A screenshot showing closing doors on enemy in Rainbow Six Extraction.

Rainbow Six Extraction is the long-awaited spin-off to Rainbow Six Siege, serving as a direct follow-up to the 2015 game with many of the operators from the older game making a return.

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The series has definitely come a long way since its late ’90s inception, as the new game replaces the present-day setting from the previous entries with one that seems ripped straight out of a science-fiction film. You and your friends will be going up against an extraterrestrial threat known as the Archaeans, so there’s plenty of tactical mayhem to go around.

12

Mario Party Superstars

Mini Games But Big Fun

A screenshot showing gameplay in Mario Party Superstars.

If there were any Mario games that seemed tailored-made for a party setting, then it is the ones in the Mario Party series. It’s right there in the title after all, with each game offering a good number of minigames for up to four players to take part in.

The latest entry is Mario Party Superstars on the Nintendo Switch. The game is effectively a remake of the original Mario Party game on N64, featuring a total of five boards from that title. It also features 100 mini-games pulled from previous games, and as such, should serve as a greatest hits collection of sorts while providing many hours of fun.

11

Halo Infinite

Infinite Good Times

A screenshot showing a team of Spartans running in Halo Infinite.

Halo Infinite launched following a one-year delay that saw the eagerly-anticipated title not released alongside the Xbox Series X as originally planned. Developed by 343 Studios, the game is considered a return to form for many fans, hearkening back to the fondly-remembered days of Halo 3 on the Xbox 360.

Not only does the game allow players to set up local multiplayer matches, but it also runs on a wide range of PCs and Xboxes, going all the way back to the original Xbox One. The best thing about it though is the fact that it is free-to-play (the multiplayer portion at least), ensuring that long-time fans and newbies alike can jump in with no barrier to entry.

10

League Of Legends

It’s A Riot

League of Legends: Wild Rift Akshan Attacking Minion With Auto Attack near Turret

Considered the most played game at esports arenas, League of Legends is a MOBA that was released in 2009. And its popularity extends to smaller-scale gatherings. Some of that is due to its use of the freemium model and regular updates, making the game easy to get into by those who might not necessarily be into MOBAs. But it is also a game with a vibrant world and a large roster of appealing characters.

We would have put this at the top of the list, as LOL is the perfect game to play alongside friends, but there is one minor problem… it doesn’t really feature LAN play. We know, we get it, why are we even including it on this list? Because it is such a damn good game for playing in person with other people! And hey, the tournaments are technically LAN-based. So it kinda counts, right?

9

Minecraft

For Building Memories

A screenshot showing scenery in Minecraft with RTX for Windows 10.

Minecraft is another game that has gotten a lot of love at LAN parties over the years. After all, not every type of gamer is into the first-person shooter fare that typically dominates such gatherings. There are those who’d rather take part in some first-person building and adventuring instead.

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For such people, having an alternative like Minecraft to fall back on is a must. Thankfully, it is relatively easy to host a LAN game and just as easy for all your friends to join you in your blocky sandbox paradise. Just make sure you are all on the same page before they set off undoing all of your hard work.

8

Rocket League

Start Your Engines

A screenshot showing gameplay in Rocket League.

When Rocket League was first released on Windows and PS4 in 2015, its cross between racing and soccer had taken the esports world by storm. It eventually found its way onto the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, as well as get versions for Linux and macOS.

It is one of those games where skill and luck collide to create something that is unmistakeably fun to play, which explains why it had grown to over 40 million players at the height of its popularity. And with the game having gone fully free-to-play, more people now have access to its frantic gameplay, so there is simply no reason why it shouldn’t be included in your list of available LAN gaming options.

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