UPDATE: Splatoon 3 won Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2022!
A lot of discussion aroundThe Game Awards 2022has been centered around two titles:Elden RingandGod of War: Ragnarok. There are plenty of debates around which is going to take home Game of the Year or sweepThe Game Awards 2022. However, with these games being mostly single-player, this leaves a lot of space in the Best Multiplayer category for some other titles to shine, celebrating the achievements of all titles that include online multiplayer, whether it be a co-op experience or an MMO.
2022 has been a strong game for multiplayer titles, with many of the games nominated for theBest Multiplayer awardthis time around garnering millions of players in the days after they first launched. This year, the nominees list for Best Multiplayer includes:Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,MultiVersus, Overwatch 2, Splatoon 3, andTMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. With a lot of these games being so successful, it is difficult to pick a clear winner, but only one can take home the trophy at the end of the night.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Dutyis one of the most recognizable multiplayer franchises in gaming today, and it hasn’t achieved those heights by accident. With consistent, fast-paced gameplay in its multiplayer,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2managed to meet the high expectations fans already had for the game considering it is a remake of one of the series' most popular entries. While thecampaign forCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2might not have been as popularas expected, fans have enjoyed the multiplayer a lot.
Combining some classic maps from the originalModern Warfare 2with some new ideas, such as the Grand Prix map which has a Formula 1 race going on in the background, the 2022Modern Warfare 2seems a great blend of nostalgia and refreshing content. Also, there are reportedly plans for more maps and game modes to be added infuture updates toCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, showing that the game could have a long life ahead of it.
MultiVersus
The first gameplay ofMultiVersusleaked earlier on this year, and from that alpha build the game has grown significantly in a fairly short span of time. Now,MultiVersushas recently launched its second season, bringing new maps, characters, and modes to the popular platform fighter. Combining the fun gameplay ofSuper Smash Bros.andBrawlhallawith a roster of wacky characters from various Warner Bros. IPs,MultiVersushas proven to be a big hit.
In the first weeks following the game’s launch,millions of players hopped onMultiVersusto see what all the hype was about, and while not all of those gamers are still playing the fighter, there is still a community full of those enjoying it. With new characters like Marvin the Martian keeping the roster fresh and varied,MultiVersuscontinues to make its mark on the fighting game genre.
Overwatch 2
WhileOverwatch 2only has its PvP mode available for players at the time of writing, the second installment of Blizzard’s first-person shooter has still proven to be a major success.Overwatch 2reached 25 million playersin the first ten days following its launch. As a free-to-play title, the number of people hopping on to tryOverwatch 2was bound to be high, but the numbers that have been reported since launch are still staggering.
It seemed that Blizzard was also attempting to bring some quality-of-life changes inOverwatch 2as well, doing away with controversial loot boxes and bringing in a battle pass, something that is fairly standard in modern multiplayer gaming. However, some fans have found themonetization ofOverwatch 2as a worse alternative to the old system, with some even wanting loot boxes to return. Also, there have been multiple issues with heroes becoming overpowered through glitches, but Blizzard has worked to fix as many of these as possible.
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Splatoon 3
Nintendo’s return to its brilliantly strange paint shooter has also proven to be an incredibly well-received multiplayer game in 2022. Currently sitting at an 83 on Metacritic,Splatoon 3combines elements of the older games while introducing enough new weapons and content to make it feel more than an add-on toSplatoon 2. TheZipcaster Special Weapon inSplatoon 3,for example, adds a new way to play as an Inkling can now use their tentacles to stretch and stick to any surface or wall.
Splatoon 3proved to be an immediate hit, especially in Japan, where the shooter quickly became the best-selling game of 2022 in the country. As a Switch exclusive,Splatoon 3’splayer numbers might not reach the heights ofOverwatch 2, but the game has still proven to be popular, standing out among the other hits of Nintendo’s console this year.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Moving away from the PvP multiplayer titles to one that focuses on engaging, co-op gameplay,TMNT: Shredder’s Revengeis a classic brawlerinspired by the side-scrolling beat-em-up titles of the 1990s. Giving players access to Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michaelangelo as well as April O’Neil, Master Splinter, and Casey Jones, they must fight throughout the sewers of New York City and even into Dimension X.
For fans of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesand those who enjoy nostalgic brawlers,TMNT: Shredder’s Revengeproves to be a great experience, allowing for six players to team up either locally or online. Beyond just being a nostalgia trip, the title also has some great combat mechanics, which are especially shown off in theboss fights forTMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, which feature some classic antagonists.
Final Prediction
Considering its rampant popularity and gameplay that matched the successes of the first game, it might have once seemed thatOverwatch 2would’ve won the Best Multiplayer award. However, with the building controversies aroundOverwatch 2’sbugsand rampant monetization that has even players requesting the return of loot boxes, it seems that Blizzard’s shooter has too much heat on it right now to truly say it’s the best of 2022.
Instead then, the award could be given toSplatoon 3, a game that has had minimal controversies apart from the usual requests from players asking to nerf or buff certain weapons. Given how successfulSplatoon 3is as a paid, Switch exclusive game as well, it makes sense that it would stand out among the other nominees, bringing a lot of colorful fun to the usually competitive PvP shooter sphere.
