Home Gaming The Lazygamer Awards 2016 – Best Multiplayer

The Lazygamer Awards 2016 – Best Multiplayer

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goty-mp-final

Some of my best friendships have been forged and tempered in the fire that is multiplayer gaming, and 2016 was one hell of a year for it. The reason my backlog exists in the first place is because I often find myself running away from it to partake in an infinite loop of online shenanigans with a few of my buddies (or other complete strangers).

One multiplayer game in particular this year stole away not only most of my time, but also, most of everybody else’s time here at Lazygamer HQ. In fact, many of us continue to play the following game regularly to this day, despite it having launched many months ago:

Overwatch

Overwatch WINNER

“Blizzard have set a new example for the FPS genre that others will need to follow. Overwatch reaches near perfection with its polish and charm. It’s fun, addictive, and will keep players hooked for a good, long time.”

Blizzard have taken the simple concept of a team-based shooter, and injected it full of colour, fun, and of course, actual heroes. The real star of Overwatch is undoubtedly its varied cast, all of which are packed to the brim with superb personality and abilities.

What makes Overwatch really stand out in my eyes though is the simple fact that everybody can have fun. Sure, raw skill will give you some sense of satisfaction, but even if you’ve never played a shooter before, Overwatch has a way of making you feel like a real team player, and like you’re contributing to the greater good.  That I think, is why the shooter has resonated with so many people, and why it was an easy choice for our best multiplayer game of 2016.

As the saying goes, “Overwatch is life”. Honestly, I haven’t been in love with a game this much since Dota 2. If that doesn’t tell you something, then I don’t know what will!

Runner-up

Rainbow Six Siege

Rainbow Six Siege

“Where the game really shines is in its competitive multiplayer. Though there are different objectives within the 5v5, they all really boil down to the same thing. Whether you’ve got a hostage rescue, a bomb defusal or location of some or other biohazard, just about every match ends up being a 5v5 team deathmatch. And honestly, that’s ok – because it’s such a smart, considered, and finely tuned multiplayer experience.”

Rainbow Six Siege may have lacked a proper campaign, but it more than made up for it with its excellent multiplayer, which is why it’s getting our runner-up award for best multiplayer. What’s more is that its only getting better with age. Ubisoft have reached the end of their first year of  additional content, but they’ve still got more planned.

Frequent updates including new operators, maps, and more? Yeah, you’ve got yourself a multiplayer game that’s here to stay.

Honourable mentions

Titanfall 2

Titanfall 2

“Aside from the lack of a single player campaign, the first game was criticised for a lack of things to do outside of its core multiplayer mode, Attrition. This time around, the package is bolstered by an onslaught of multiplayer modes. On top of that, the whole thing is deeper and more nuanced than in the first game.”

Titanfall 2 took everything that made the first game good, and made it even better. It features new modes, extra weapons, and of course, additional titans to play with. It may not be the best multiplayer package this year, but it definitely deserves an honourable mention for this award.

Alienation

alienation

“Of course, the game is made to be played co-operatively – and it positively comes alive when you team up with 3 others. When I got over myself, I spent a fair bit of time taking out the alien menace with new friends from all over the world, using our abilities in tandem as we made it across the map. A journey, I might add, that’s filled with the chaos of destructible environments and a wealth of explosions, bringing with them some of the best smoke and particle effects you’ll see on the PlayStation 4”

Sometimes, you don’t want to shoot other people. Sometimes, you just want to team up, and take out scores of enemies in some glorious couch or online co-op instead. Alienation made Geoff play with complete strangers. It’s that good.

World of Warcraft: Legion

World of Warcraft Legion

“World of Warcraft Legion makes up for Warlords of Draenor’s transgressions by fulfilling its promises; rewarding end game content and a compelling, inclusive story.”

If you’re looking for a multiplayer experience on a much grander scale (you know, outside of the traditional shooter guff), then look no further than the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Legion. One look at my Battle.net friend’s list tells me everything I need to know – people are loving it, and they’re hooked!

Last Updated: December 13, 2016

36 Comments

  1. Raptor Rants

    December 13, 2016 at 13:33

    “In fact, many of us continue to play the following game regularly to this day, despite it having launched many months ago”

    This is what bugs me. When did a game become good if it’s longevity is months instead of years?

    Reply

    • Original Heretic

      December 13, 2016 at 13:48

      People’s attention spans are so short these days. And there’s always a new title, one that’s been hyped up for years, coming out next month or the month thereafter. Got a new game today? Well in two months’ time, that game you’ve been waiting for since 2010 is coming out.

      Reply

      • Zoe Hawkins

        December 13, 2016 at 14:02

        agreed! also, i think it’s important to note that we are busy reviewing new games all the time, rarely getting time to go back and play earlier games. as such, to hear a reviewer is still playing an “older” game means that it really must have some staying power. not that i’d know with regard to overwatch – i still haven’t played it yet 😛

        Reply

        • Original Heretic

          December 13, 2016 at 14:10

          You’re busy with FF XV at the moment. All is forgiven!

          Reply

      • Raptor Rants

        December 13, 2016 at 14:12

        I clearly am not of the same cut here. As I prefer to keep games that keep me going for a little longer lol

        Reply

        • Original Heretic

          December 13, 2016 at 14:14

          Same. That’s why I prefer buying awesome RPG’s. In general, they have great staying power and you’re guaranteed a good 100 hours or so of SP awesomeness.

          Reply

          • Lu

            December 13, 2016 at 14:41

            On playthrough 5 of mass effect at the moment. Haven’t even started Witcher 3 yet because I stopped halfway through Witcher 2. And then there’s still Dark souls to consider…..

          • Original Heretic

            December 13, 2016 at 14:49

            Don’t blame you for not finishing Witcher 2. It’s the disappointing middle child. But you needn’t have finished Witcher 2 to play 3. Go to three, it’s REALLY worth it!
            Dark Souls, hells yeah!

          • Lu

            December 13, 2016 at 15:04

            I finished 2 a few years back, and really wanna see the effects pass over, though I only give it an hour at a time. It’s the same reason I’m playing ME1 (its incredibly boring the 5th time around but I’m a completionist). And Dark Souls is on hiatus because of Bullshit-Lord Nito making my noob life impossible.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 13, 2016 at 15:43

            Thanks to the magic of importing save games the Geralt that finished W3 was the exact same Geralt that finished W1 originally all those years ago. Something I’m actually rather pleased about.

          • Lu

            December 13, 2016 at 15:59

            Hence why I can not skip TW2 🙁

    • Bruce Bielie

      December 13, 2016 at 14:26

      Not all games are created equal to Skyrim. (And no, that is NOT a blessing!)

      Reply

    • Matthew Figueira

      December 13, 2016 at 15:04

      Longevity doesnt mean good. Just saying that at Lazy, we move through games quickly (reviews, personal tastes, etc), yet Overwatch has stuck around. We squeeze in time for it wherever we can 🙂

      Reply

      • Raptor Rants

        December 14, 2016 at 09:54

        Ok that makes more sense I guess. Different environment to a “Home User” so to speak.

        Reply

  2. VampyreSquirrel

    December 13, 2016 at 13:36

    Totally agree with the top 2 for a change 😛

    Siege is awesome.

    Reply

    • Guild

      December 13, 2016 at 13:40

      Haven’t played Siege. So I would have gone OverWatch and Titanfall 2

      Reply

      • Nikola

        December 13, 2016 at 13:57

        OverWatch is garbage!!…;)

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          December 13, 2016 at 14:02

          Now be fair, Blizzard make good clones.

          Reply

          • Nikola

            December 13, 2016 at 14:04

            Hahaha that is true! To be fair I actually like the game I am just trying to annoy Guild:)

          • RinceThis

            December 13, 2016 at 16:04

            lol

        • Guild

          December 13, 2016 at 14:04

          Should I remind you how much you were just saying on Whatsapp that you can’t wait for fiber connection so you can play again? 😛

          Reply

          • Nikola

            December 13, 2016 at 14:05

            Shhhhhhhhh!!!! Can’t just expose me like that wtf I thought our whatsapp conversation are private hahah

          • Guild

            December 13, 2016 at 14:22

            That just sounds creepy now

          • Nikola

            December 13, 2016 at 14:30

            True dammit…

          • Sageville

            December 13, 2016 at 16:14

            Yeah! Yeah!

            This guy…. tsk tsk

      • Captain JJ

        December 13, 2016 at 13:57

        Titanfall 2 does look excellent.

        Reply

  3. Captain JJ

    December 13, 2016 at 13:56

    I know Siege is really good and all, but it’s not Rainbow Six in my eyes, never will be.

    Reply

    • Viper_ZA

      December 13, 2016 at 14:20

      Still hopeful for a proper Ghost Recon sequel. Siege would’ve been even better if we had access to local multiplayer servers.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ

        December 13, 2016 at 16:00

        Yes.

        Reply

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 13, 2016 at 13:57

    But what about Battleborn?!

    Reply

    • Viper_ZA

      December 13, 2016 at 14:20

      Ah yes, another Evolve scenario in the making hahahaha

      Reply

    • Bruce Bielie

      December 13, 2016 at 14:22

      They are still feuding with the Greymane’s I am afraid…

      Reply

  5. Bruce Bielie

    December 13, 2016 at 14:22

    The one thing I fear in getting Overwatch is that my weekends ends up disappearing into a gaming blackhole. Also, I once played COD online. I got shot in the face so many times I considered changing my online handle to Jenna Jameson or some variant thereof.

    Reply

    • HvR

      December 13, 2016 at 14:30

      DarrynDoesPE_MoneyShotXxX

      Reply

  6. 40 Insane Frogs

    December 13, 2016 at 22:00

    Between Overwatch and Rainbow Siege, the latter takes the crown for me…

    Reply

  7. Murshid Raven

    December 15, 2016 at 07:22

    While I totally agree with Overwatch and most games on this list… How is Battlefield1 not on here?

    Reply

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