Multiplayer games are a ton of fun to play for obvious reasons. Friends and strangers alike can band together or fight against each other in everything from light-hearted game shows to full-blown competitive titles that will test a player's skills to the very limit. It's easy to see why multiplayer gaming has become such a major focus in the industry, with several studios exclusively making titles that allow for both offline and online multiplayer.
A new thing that recent games have adopted is free-to-play mechanics that encourage more people to try out games without having to pay a penny. While this comes with its own share of caveats — with the extreme level of grinding being one major complaint — most games have succeeded as a result of these changes. So, here are some other multiplayer titles that would benefit from a free-to-play approach.
10 Among Us
Among Us has become a worldwide sensation, with the advent of COVID lockdowns leading to a surge of popularity for this game. The sheer level of hilarity that ensues in this whodunnit title is quite addictive.
That being said, Among Us could definitely benefit from a free-to-play model. A lot of work can be put into cosmetics and the like so that players who really love the game support it through its in-game purchases instead.
9 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
Rainbow Six Siege is one of the most tactical and engaging games around. The game has a steep learning curve, but it's worth it to stick around until players finally manage to get a hang of how to play this amazing title.
A lot of games in the same vein as Rainbow Six Siege have already gone free-to-play with admirable results. While it's a long shot, there's no denying that a free-to-play model would benefit this game massively in many ways.
8 Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
The idea of playing what is essentially a video game version of Takeshi's Castle, Fall Guys is a brilliant game that needs no introduction. Both children and adults alike can enjoy this masterpiece with ease.
Given the sheer level of accessibility of this game, there's no denying that a free-to-play model will massively increase the game's audience. While it's not ideal, limiting playtime and adding a bunch of cosmetics could ensure a steadier and stronger stream of revenue for the player.
7 Phasmophobia
The idea of a ghost-hunting co-op multiplayer game is something that should've become a reality a long time ago. While this idea took a while to be executed properly, props should be given to Phasmophobia for being such a riveting and scary experience.
A free-to-play model for this game might convince other people to give this title a shot. Other levels and ghosts can be locked behind reasonable paywalls after players get a taste of what's to come with the free level or levels in the base package.
6 Sea Of Thieves
Sea of Thieves has already become a massive success, with the seafaring life being a ton of fun for many players. Engaging in alliances and naval combat with friends and strangers is a blast.
With a free-to-play model, even more people can check this amazing game out. It might require a few tweaks to the existing formula, but Sea of Thieves can prove to be a blast if executed properly.
5 Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2 is a worthy sequel to the original game that evolves its formula even more. Going through numerous levels and taking care of the zombies that lie in the player's path is a blast in every sense of the word.
Unfortunately, there's no word on a sequel to now, and Back 4 Blood has failed to capture the magic of this duology. Since this game has aged a bit, a free-to-play approach with a slow creep of content could definitely bring more eyes to this amazing game.
4 The Elder Scrolls Online
There are a lot of MMORPGs that have experimented with the free-to-play model with great success. So, it's still surprising that The Elder Scrolls Online is yet to experiment around with this system.
After all, players love the world of The Elder Scrolls but are a bit iffy about playing an MMO in the universe. By removing the initial barrier to entry and locking additional content behind a paywall, this ambitions MMORPG can definitely become relevant once again.
3 Fallout 76
Fallout 76 was nothing short of a disaster upon launch. The lack of NPCs and a dearth of meaningful content ultimately led to many people declaring this game to be dead in the water from the get-go.
Later content updates definitely turned around the quality of this game... but the damage had already been done by them. Perhaps a monumental shift to a free-to-play model might compel more players to give Fallout 76 a second chance.
2 Payday 2
The idea of conducting heists with other human players is a highly engaging concept indeed, and something that Overkill Software identified from the get-go. The first Payday was a pretty decent title in its own right, but it was the second game that really turned some heads.
Payday 2 is an absolutely masterpiece that is still a ton of fun to play even now. However, the game has aged quite a bit, so a free-to-play model can be a great way to let more new-time players try out this formula for themselves.
1 Chivalry: Medieval Warfare
The release of Chivalry 2 is right around the corner, and it's only a given that fans of the original title will pick this title up at launch immediately. However, there's another way that Torn Banner Studios can improve upon this concept.
By making the first game free-to-play, new players can get into this title and experience the combat for themselves. It's a great way to convince a larger portion of the fanbase to check out the sequel, which is bound to be great in its own right.