Best Multiplayer Video Games of 2017

For Honor

Best Multiplayer Video Games of 2017

For Honor is not only one of the best multiplayer video games of 2017, but one of the most unique action titles to release in quite a while. This new IP from Ubisoft tosses Vikings, Samurai, and Knights onto gorgeous battlefields, letting players take the reigns of history’s greatest warriors.

The action revolves around one-on-one melee duels. Even though the multiplayer game modes themselves will vary in objectives and maps, the real fun comes in the moments when you lock eyes with another player, and enter the duel stance. Here, you’ll watch each other carefully, analyzing each other’s patterns and slight tells in hopes of pulling off a successful attack or counter. Both of you will have chosen a unique class and faction, equipped yourself with a custom set of feats and gear, and (hopefully) learned the weaknesses and strengths of the various enemies you’ll find on the field.

It’s these tense moments and opportunities for strategy that make For Honor a standout multiplayer title. While there is a rather enjoyable single player campaign, filled with campy war action, all you’ll really want to do is take to the PvP warzone again and again, hoping you’re the one pulling off brutal executions this time around.

Halo Wars 2

Best Multiplayer Video Games of 2017

Halo Wars 2 is a bit of a different game from what Halo fans are used to, but despite this, it still features a host of engaging multiplayer modes. It’s an RTS title focused on speed, requiring you to constantly keep on your toes while playing against other players and the AI.

The base multiplayer of Halo Wars 2 has three modes that can be played with up to six players; Deathmatch, Strongholds, and Domination. Deathmatch is exactly what you’d expect it to be, making you destroy your opponent’s bases completely, while Domination tasks you and your team with controlling structures on the map in order to accrue points. Strongholds is where things really get hectic, giving all players unlimited resources to work with, and victory going to the team that controls the most Strongholds by the end of the match. Although there are only two army types to choose from, each one has three leaders that all have different strengths and abilities, allowing for a lot of variation.

Blitz mode is the exciting new addition to multiplayer, combining elements of an RTS with card collecting. Here you once again fight over control points, but the only way you can build units is with cards that you summon with Energy, which slowly builds for each player and can be collected across the map.

Each mode in Halo Wars 2 feels varied, and can be played with friends, random players, and the AI. It’s a robust multiplayer package for any fan of Halo or the RTS genre.