The 22 Best Multiplayer RPGs Of All Time (March 2023) - The first knowledge sharing application in Vietnam

These are the best multiplayer RPGs for those looking to gather up a few friends for some timeless co-op adventures.

Despite the huge number of role-playing games that are released each and every year, there aren’t too many options for those who are looking for a true RPG experience that can be shared with friends. Granted, players could go down the MMORPG route, though this is a path that not everybody is eager to tread.

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As well as the inherent costs and the sheer volume of people involved, MMORPGs can be a massive time sink. Thankfully, there do exist a handful of fantastic RPGs that cater to co-op enthusiasts without forcing them to stray too deeply into addictive MMO territory. That said, the best multiplayer RPGs of all time can be just as moreish.

Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows Of Amn

While the latest Baldur’s Gate game may have taken the leap into the world of MMORPGs, earlier titles in the series were a lot more single-player-oriented. In fact, several reviewers were incredibly critical of Baldur’s Gate II’s limited and poorly implemented online functionality; although that didn’t stop the game from achieving a 95% average rating on Metacritic.

The game allows up to six players to team up and explore the Forgotten Realms together, although only one of them is considered to be the protagonist. Everything functions more or less the same as it does while playing solo, but stability and poor communication options could often make playing the original release incredibly frustrating. Thankfully, the enhanced edition of Baldur’s Gate II is much better in these areas.

Borderlands 2

Although not considered a traditional RPG, Borderlands 2 lets players assume the role of a fictional character class of their choosing in a fictional setting, It may be a looter-shooter at its core, but it certainly fits the bill when it comes to a lot of the mechanics found throughout the game.

There is a significant multiplayer component in Borderlands 2. Set on the planet of Pandora, players must work together to finish quests. The writing, unique visuals, and online multiplayer rank Borderlands 2 among the greatest co-op games of all time.

Dark Souls

When it comes to influential RPGs, Dark Souls is a knockout title. It has revolutionized the gaming industry because of its unforgiving gameplay and masterclass RPG elements. Players create a character and choose to specialize in several template classes or do something completely different.

Dark Souls gives players the option of customizing their characters to fit their playstyle. The co-op element is a bit stilted, given that players must depend on the White Sign Soapstone and summoning signs to take part, but they can rest assured that helping their friends battle through the game’s immense boss fights makes this well worth the effort.

Diablo II: Lord of Destruction

Although the game is starting to show its age (leaving room for a remaster or remake), Diablo II is still an enjoyable action role-playing game. It’s a title that places a large focus on hack-and-slash combat, yet it has a robust multiplayer component too with active servers.

The experience of playing Diablo II: Lord of Destruction is vastly different now than it was at launch. Players can still play with their friends quite easily though and will quickly become invested in the story and relish the procedurally generated levels. Playing distinctly different Diable classes like the Barbarian, Paladin, Amazon, and Druid gives the game immense replayability.

Diablo III

Multiplayer RPGs are great when working together is conducive. Diablo III is a prime example of a game that incorporates multiplayer well, giving players both an incentive and a need to team up. Although Diablo II had a more substantial social component, Diablo III doesn’t fall far from the tree.

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Trading is a part of the game and it is most fun when players are helping others. Diablo III is considered to be one of the most influential RPGs ever made because of the numerous other games that tried to copy its successful formula. Though many have followed, it remains the one that truly put hack-and-slash RPGs on the map.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

The turn-based combat of Divinity: Original Sin 2 is masterful. This game earned widespread acclaim and praise from critics who cited it as one of the greatest turned-based RPGs of all time. It has seamlessly integrated single-player and multiplayer modes, the latter of which can be played online or via couch co-op.

Players will need to make important choices as they progress through the game’s arduous acts. Divinity: Original Sin 2 offers flexibility in regard to player customization too. If players only play one turn-based game this year, they should let it be Divinity: Original Sin 2.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

In a lot of co-op multiplayer RPGs, the co-op multiplayer part can often feel like a bit of an afterthought. That definitely wasn’t the case with Dragon Age: Inquisition though, with the game boasting plenty of great four-player quests that are completely separate from the main single-player campaign.

Having quests that were specifically designed for multiple players rather than simply allowing others to tag along on what would otherwise have been a single-player experience makes the world of difference. Of course, the fact that Dragon Age: Inquisition was already a fantastic game even without the multiplayer component certainly helps too.

Dying Light

There are plenty of multiplayer zombie games that are better than Dying Light, but those looking for one which also includes RPG elements could certainly do a lot worse. It features multiple skill trees and adaptive difficulty, while also allowing for up to four players. There’s a lot more to it than just that though.

One of the things that make the game so enjoyable is the freedom that it allows its players when it comes to exploration and dealing with the infected. Sharing this experience with three friends is an absolute joy and one of the reasons why so many people were left hungry for a second game.

For the King

For the King is an open-world RPG with turn-based combat and allows players to team up with up to two other people via online multiplayer. The visuals may be a little simple when compared to some of the genre’s heavy hitters, but there’s a certain charm to them that makes playing the game an incredibly enjoyable experience.

The dice-roll combat system will likely appeal to fans of D&D, while the game’s procedurally generated elements provide a degree of replayability that’s absent in a lot of other RPGs. Sadly, the Lost Civilization Adventure Pack DLC is a tad underwhelming, but the base version of the game is a lot of fun when played with a friend or two.

Gauntlet

The very first Gauntlet game first hit arcades all the way back in 1985 and would go on to spawn a string of successful sequels in the decades that followed. It was not until the franchise was rebooted in 2014, however, that light RPG elements really began to make their presence felt.

At its heart, Gauntlet remains a twin-stick dungeon crawler and is a very good one at that. Much like the Gauntlet games of yesteryear though, where it really comes into its own is through its chaotic multiplayer experience, which is infinitely more enjoyable than playing solo. It would be nice if the game featured more pronounced character progression, but the lack thereof is hardly a deal-breaker.

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact took the world by storm when it was released back in late 2020 and remains incredibly popular to this day. It’s easy to see why as well, with the free-to-play title still receiving updates on a regular basis as well as near-constant special events for both new and returning players.

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Though the game’s monetization is a little aggressive, the gameplay experience can be incredibly enjoyable; more so when shared with a friend. Players will need to reach a certain point in the story before they can play with others, but, for most players, it shouldn’t take too long to reach adventure rank 16.

Grim Dawn

Inspired by the Victorian era, Grim Dawn takes players on a dark fantasy adventure. The themes are along the lines of a game like Bloodborne, but the gameplay is closer to Diablo III. Diablo III is undoubtedly a juggernaut in the action role-playing game genre, but Grim Dawn brings enough to the table to be considered relevant.

The dark tones of the game make it a little ghastly at times, making this ideal for fans of horror games. It could perhaps have been a little bit more cheery, but Grim Dawn truly distinguishes itself with its immensely enjoyable and expertly executed hack-and-slash gameplay mechanics.

Magicka

It may be more than a decade old at this point, but there’s still a lot of fun to be had with Magicka. The game was developed by a team of eight university students and allows up to four players to team up to take on an evil sorcerer in a magical world that was heavily inspired by Norse mythology.

With numerous DLC packs and a fully-fledged sequel available, there’s more than enough content to keep players entertained for hours on end and enough challenge to keep them from ever growing tired. Fans of Diablo should love the environment, while the gameplay itself is a little reminiscent of games like Bastion.

Monster Hunter: World

The fifth game in the mainline Monster Hunter series marked a huge step forward in many ways. For one thing, it offers a more full-fledged co-op multiplayer experience, allowing players to quest and defeat monsters with their friends. The game also has a more robust loot system that allows players to upgrade their Hunter.

While past Monster Hunter games were certainly iconic, the world and lore of Monster Hunter World is far more immersive than series fans could’ve ever asked for. The game should appeal to newcomers and experienced Hunters alike and is one of the best multiplayer RPGs in recent memory.

Mount & Blade: Warband

First released for the PC all the way back in early 2010, Mount & Blade: Warband is, quite understandably, starting to show its age just a little. Despite this, though, the multiplayer mode is still just as enjoyable today as it was more than a decade ago, even if the majority of the game’s RPG components have been stripped away in favor of a more combat-heavy approach.

Each multiplayer matchup can cater to up to 200 players, making fights incredibly chaotic at times. However, the sheer volume of enemy combatants forces players to think tactically and work together with their teammates if they’re to have any hopes of being successful. There are numerous game modes available too as opposed to just one big team deathmatch, with most mirroring those found in more traditional FPS titles.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a microcosm of the most peaceful region on Earth. It has a simple premise that revolves around taking a dilapidated farm and turning it into whatever players like. Just like Harvest Moon, the game is open-ended, meaning that there is virtually no end. The seasons pass as players strive to collect income from farming activities.

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Stardew Valley has a multiplayer mode that can be played via LAN or over the internet. Multiplayer is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC, but not on mobile devices. The host creates the world, which they can save and play solo at any time they like.

Tales of Berseria

It’s very rare for JRPGs to include multiplayer functionality due to the way that their combat and exploration mechanics tend to be structured. Tales of Berseria is proof that it is possible though, albeit in a rather limited capacity. Limited or not, however, it’s still a lot of fun.

The game allows up to four players to take part in battles, with each one assuming control of a different party member. It actually works surprisingly well thanks to the game using real-time combat rather than turn-based. Exploration is all handled by a single player though, so things can get a little dull for additional players during story-heavy sections of the game.

Terraria

Like Stardew Valley, Terraria is one of the many games that benefited from the runaway success of Minecraft, despite the latter actually releasing eight months prior to Mojang’s masterpiece coming out of beta. It incorporates a lot of the same core mechanics and employs an equally simplistic art style. Terraria arguably targets a slightly older audience though, as evidenced by its darker themes and greater difficulty level.

Terraria is a solid pick for those looking to express themselves through crafting or anyone looking for a unique adventure to share with friends. Procedural generation ensures that no two games of Terraria are exactly alike, and it’s this sense of infinite possibility that can make the game so enthralling; at least for the first ten hours or so, anyway.

Tom Clancy’s The Division

The Division caught quite a lot of flack upon its initial release, yet, over time, it was able to prove itself as one of the best co-op multiplayer games ever made. With an interesting story and premise, solid combat mechanics, and a real incentive for players to work together rather than just shooting others on sight for their equipment, it did exactly what it had originally set out to do and then some.

The game’s 2019 sequel built upon everything that made the original game so great and continues to receive updates on a fairly regular basis. Given the ever-changing face of the video game industry and the many developments that came in the time between the two titles, whether or not The Division 2 is objectively better than its predecessor is perhaps a matter for debate, but it’s still a highly enjoyable title nonetheless.

Torchlight II

What distinguishes Torchlight II from other Diablo III-like games is its freedom for customization. It has a significant amount of mods that make the game stand out. Players can even add mods and use them in multiplayer if all other players have them installed.

Torchlight II has LAN and online co-op multiplayer, making it a great option for those looking to play with their friends. The game doesn’t have as much polish as Diablo III, but it proves relevant with awesome hack-and-slash gameplay and a co-op multiplayer experience that is unlike anything else.