Abhimannu Das
Even though the first three months of 2019 already saw a number of high-profile releases, we have some great multiplayer games scheduled for release throughout the rest of 2019, and 2020 is just as promising. With dozens of triple-A titles coming out each year, it is impossible to keep up with all of them, but we are here to help you out. Games like Call of Duty and FIFA define the multiplayer genre, and there are new kids on the block who surprise us from time to time as well. Without further ado, here is the list of most anticipated new multiplayer games coming out in 2019, 2020 — with their release dates — that you can play on PS4, Xbox, PC, Online, iPhone or Android. We can only hope that these latest multiplayer games are as good as some of the recent ones.
11. Mortal Kombat 11 (2019)
Mortal Kombat is one of the most popular fighting game franchises ever with its diverse cast of characters and gory combat. While Street Fighter and Tekken compete with Mortal Kombat for the title of best fighting game franchise, Mortal Kombat’s USP is its over the top “Fatality” moves. NetherRealm Studios is one of the most competent development studios, and the upcoming Mortal Kombat 11 looks absolutely stunning. You can customize the moves of your favorite characters, and there are a lot of custom gear items to collect as well.
Even though fighting games are notorious for being repetitive, Mortal Kombat 11 wants to break the mold by moving away from the shadow of its predecessors. There are no Final Destination-style X-Ray moves anymore, and the super meter is not going to be a part of the game. Long combos have been toned down to make things more competitive. MK11 is revolutionary in its combat style, and instead of being a fast-paced fighting game, the 2019’s Mortal Kombat is going to be slower and methodical in its approach. The franchise is making a move to Nintendo Switch for the first time and will be competing against Street Fighter’s 30th Anniversary Collection on the console for the number one spot.
10. Team Sonic Racing (2019)
Team Sonic Racing is a direct competitor to the likes of Mario Kart with its cartoonish graphics and fun gameplay. Unlike other racers that are very serious, SEGA’s latest racing game is meant to be a fun experience for you and your friends. While at first sight, the game may appeal to SEGA fans only, the arcade racer can be a fun experience for anyone who is into arcade racing games. Team Sonic Racing features split-screen gameplay for your couch co-op sessions with your friends, which is a feature that’s rarely seen these days in co-op games. The title also features a Career mode that allows you to explore a true-blue Sonic storyline featuring our favorite characters.
The team-based race mode is one of the best we have ever seen where players get to team up and compete for the most number of points instead of simply getting the top spot. The mid-air controls look fluid, and the gameplay is as fun as ever. If you have already tried Mario Kart 8 and want a similar game to get into, Team Sonic Racing is definitely worth checking on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
9. Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019)
Three Kingdoms is one of the most ambitious Total War games ever made, and it caters to veterans and newcomers alike. You get a solid start in-game with one of the most powerful starting armies seen in any Total War game. If you have not played any of the older titles in the franchise, things will take some time getting used to, but it is truly one of the most rewarding RTS games out there. Set in Ancient China in the year 190, you get to play as Liu Bei as he tries to bring the failing Han dynasty back to its former glory and unite all of China. On your way to success, you will be facing a number of other warlords, and the campaign looks beautifully crafted. If you are interested in ancient history, this might be the perfect game for you to play in 2019.
The graphics and sound design are absolutely stunning, and you will love exploring the rich lore that Three Kingdoms has to offer to fans. There is a lot of character building in all Total War games and you will how the developers put in the effort to not only craft historically accurate stories, but there are hidden lore tidbits to be discovered as well. Three Kingdoms will be seeing some major changes to the Total War formula, but if you are not a fan of what the developers are offering, you can always switch back to Classic mode to get the authentic experience from previous titles.
8. Dreams (TBA)
Dreams is a PS4 exclusive title by LittleBigPlanet, and it is one of the high-profile indie releases of 2019. The upcoming title has a limited ‘Creator Early Access’ in 2019, and a full release is expected by 2020 once the testing phase is over. Sony is known for its intense story-driven exclusives like The Last of Us, Uncharted and more and while the company does support indie developers, there are not too many exclusives for PS4 or PS Vita. Dream is one of the biggest projects under Sony, and it is one of the most beautiful sandbox games ever made. You can create an entire dream world in-game and share it with other players. You can also explore other players’ creations as a ‘visitor.’ This one also has the replayability factor, and if you enjoy games like Minecraft or Garry’s Mod, this is a more visually appealing experience that you should check out.
7. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (2019)
Crash Team Racing first released in 1999 and fans often argue that it is much better than the more popular Mario Kart series. Nitro-Fueled is a recreation of the original with updated graphics, power-ups and so much more. The graphical upgrade is quite impressive, and it looks better than more modern-day arcade racers out there. Developed by Beenox, Crash Team Racing is shaping up to be one of the best racing games of 2019. The assets have been completely redone to modernize the game, and the controls are very fluid. The title features all of the iconic racetracks, and the original soundtrack is back as well. If you are a fan of the original Crash Team Racing title or happen to be looking for a solid party racer, Crash Team Racing is a must have.
6. Astral Chain (2019)
Astral Chain is a Nintendo Switch exclusive title that allows you to team up with players and take on the rich PVE content that the title has to offer. The visual design looks a lot like Nier: Automata but instead of the dark and gloomy world Nier had, Astral Chain is much livelier with its neon colors. Platinum Games is known for its expertise in RPGs, and Astral Chain looks like it is going to be a blast. The gameplay requires a lot of synergy between you and your teammate, and it looks like you may even have to betray your co-op partner at one point as you progress through the story. The futuristic setting is just beautiful, and with Takahisa Taura and Hideki Kamiya being at the helm of the game, Astral Chain has one of the most well-designed combat experiences you will ever get to play on Nintendo Switch.
5. Jedi: Fallen Order (TBA)
Respawn Entertainment is already part of one of the biggest redemption stories of 2019, after the development studio failed with Titanfall 2, a game that was poorly marketed due to corporate decision-making. Earlier this year, Apex Legends was released with zero marketing, and it instantly became one of the most popular battle royale games out right now. Respawn’s new project Jedi: Fallen Order is set in the Star Wars universe between Episodes 3 and 4. With a large number of Jedi being killed off by the Empire, it is up to the player to lead the resistance and fight back. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the game, but we expect it to include multiplayer content similar to Star Wars: Battlefront II which is EA’s previous game in the Star Wars franchise.
4. Skull and Bones (TBA)
Skull and Bones was initially slated for release in 2018, but the release date was pushed to 2019/2020. We do not have a finalized release date yet but the gameplay shown off by Ubisoft Singapore has fans all over the world hyped for its release. The game is similar to Sea of Thieves, but it is a far more fleshed out experience with complex mechanics and solid gameplay. The title offers both single player and multiplayer content. Ubisoft has done a great job with naval combat since the release of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag.
There are some really fun mechanics like camouflaging your ship to look like the enemy’s and taking your foes by surprise. You can also avoid engaging with powerful foes and sneak past patrols in similar fashion. The multiplayer game-mode can be extremely unforgiving as all of your loot can be plundered by other players if you fail to protect your crew. Unlike some games where ship fights end in a matter of minutes, the gameplay demo at E3 displayed much more nuanced combat with fights taking up to 20 minutes or more. Micromanaging your resources, weaponry, and crewmen are very important and it adds to the depth of the frantic gameplay.
3. Dying Light 2 (2019)
Zombie games went out of fashion in recent years because of repetitive gameplay, but they are making a comeback with developers finally getting the genre right. We have had some great games like Resident Evil 2 and State of Decay 2 recently, and there is more to come in 2019. Techland’s Dying Light is one of the most well-received zombie games ever made. Dying Light 2 is slated for release in Q3 2019. One of the biggest drawbacks of Dying Light 1 is the story, and despite its great combat and mechanics, fans don’t quite like how the story ends abruptly.
Dying Light 2 is using a “living world” formula that constantly changes depending on your actions. Depending on the choices you make throughout the campaign, or during side quests, you can get gameplay advantages or end up making things worse. These changes are not limited to gameplay alone as you may end up worsening your relationships with NPCs and may not be able to access certain side quests or items. While you can play the campaign solo, co-op multiplayer is where the fun is at. It makes things tougher and there’s more fun for players as you have to keep your teammates alive while going through tough side missions.
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2. Gears 5 (2019)
Gears of War 4 set the story for Gears 5 in 2016 and fans are excited about what the upcoming title has to offer. The Gears franchise offers some of the best gunplay you’ll ever see in games with some heavy duty SMGs, shotguns and more. We were thrilled to play with giant mechs in the final act of Gears 4, and we hope they make a return in the 5th installment of the franchise. The multiplayer game modes will get a lot more love this time around, and there are rumors surrounding a battle royale mode similar to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Fortnite. The spotlight is on fan-favorite, Kate Diaz in the upcoming title and we can’t wait to see how the story develops after the shocking ending of Gears 4.
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1. Halo Infinite (TBA)
343 Industries took the world of gaming by storm with the announcement of Halo Master Chief Collection coming to PC. But there was more to the recently concluded Halo event, with the developers announcing the release of Halo Infinite which is likely to be a follow up to the original trilogy. It has been 9 years since the release of Halo Reach, and fans are excited to see what the upcoming title has to offer. Halo is known for its amazing single-player content and fast-paced multiplayer action. We can expect more information at E3 2019 in June with Microsoft set to make an appearance to talk about their upcoming games including Halo Infinite.
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