What benefits do players gain from playing multiplayer games?
In 1952, first came "OXO" and then in 1973 followed Empire with Spasim in 1974. These were the first pioneers of video games, laying the foundations for future generations. After their humble beginnings, the multiplayer games scene of today has evolved to unimaginable heights. The thrill of playing against human opponents in racing, strategy, shooting, casino, role-playing, and many other genres has captivated audiences worldwide. The video gaming industry made over $26 billion in 2023, where multiplayer games contributed to the success.
Competing against other human players by aiming to top the leaderboards has drawn plenty of players to try their luck. Seeing your name high on the leaderboard began with arcade games, where some nicknames became legends. Today, the same type of gameplay and competition can be seen in online slot games, which offer players an option to compete for high scores against others. Scott Nicholson lists some online slot casinos in his guide on highest payout slots, where competing for the top spot may also prove lucrative for potential players.
Competing for the number one spot or being among the best is just the tip of the iceberg when explaining the draw of multiplayer games. For players who wish to compete against others, games like online crypto poker, fighting games, massive FPS (First Person Shooters), and multiplayer online battle arena video games are the ideal picks. League of Legends, Dota 2, Call of Duty, and Escape from Tarkov, offer players to battle versus others and test their skills. The thrill of competition and the knowledge that you've beaten a human player in fair play is one of the main draws of multiplayer games and their unique edge against single-player games.
Beating a challenging AI is still gratifying, but nothing can compete against dueling with live players. On the other hand, peace-loving players can choose to band up and play in co-op, and games that add such options as Medieval Dynasty, World of Warcraft, Lineage 2, New World, etc, are also capitalizing on one aspect of multiplayer games. Games that present obstacles too big for one player call on our instinctive need to group and play co-op, usually assigning roles and positions to players. Only then is it possible to beat an in-game boss or overcome a great challenge, where the experience and gratification derived from such an achievement drive players to keep playing cooperative games.
The social interaction that forms through in-game communication in multiplayer games benefits players, and there are many positive examples from World of Warcraft, where players who game together online get together offline. In online multiplayer games, communication is key, and reaction time can be less than a second, which can mean the difference between a win or a loss. In strategy games like Starcraft, a professional player is considered one who can make around 150 APM (actions per minute), and the cognitive benefits of being able to make so many decisions over a prolonged period, game after game, are tremendous.
These are just some benefits derived from multiplayer games, which will continue to thrive and dominate the gaming landscape. The thirst for competition, cooperation, and striving to prove to yourself and others that your gaming skills are the best will remain staples of multiplayer games for years to come.