Game of the year 2023: best multiplayer game -.

For the most part, 2023 excelled in regards to its wonderful and critically acclaimed single-player video games, but that doesn’t mean this year was lacking in multiplayer projects. Some of the year’s biggest titles also act as fantastic multiplayer experiences, and to add to that, a few other strictly multiplayer projects made their debut to boot. In our opinion, these are the best multiplayer games of 2023.

5. Sonic superstars

Sonic the Hedgehog has really struggled over the past few years to keep up with Mario’s efforts…. well… decades frankly, and while Sonic Team’s latest title hasn’t been able to compete in many categories with the myriad new Mario games of 2023, in a multiplayer sense it’s right up there with the best of them. Sonic Superstars is a wonderful return to 2.5D form for the series and is built to be ideal for younger people and veterans alike. With a great and vibrant art style and a host of exciting new mechanics, Sonic Superstars is truly one of the best multiplayer games of 2023.

4. Party animals

There may be no more fun multiplayer party game to make its debut in 2023 except Party Animals. In this hilarious and beautiful game, players dressed up as animal characters and then went into battle and competed against each other in a variety of fighting and sports activities. With a silly heavy physics style, Party Animals is one of the easiest and more fun titles we’ve had the pleasure of watching this year, and it is without a doubt one of our favorite multiplayer games of this year.

3. Baldur’s Gate III

One of the three great games of the year, and perhaps the Game of the Year, Baldur’s Gate III stands out for a host of reasons. But aside from its massive and fast-paced format, wide customizability, fantastic story and amazing attention to detail, Larian’s RPG is also one of the best multiplayer titles of the year. There are few better ways to spend your free time than getting together with a friend and taking on the continent of Faerun in this remarkable and timeless game for all ages.

2. Diablo IV

Blizzard’s latest installment in the Diablo series doesn’t have the same attention to detail and finesse as Baldur’s Gate III, but there is no doubt that Diablo IV has beaten Baldur’s Gate III when it comes to specifically being a multiplayer title. It feels like although Diablo IV is playable alone, this title is best when with friends, as the more demanding encounters that reward better loot, and the ability for team-wide synergy all allow this game to stand out in a very crowded category. With plenty of support planned along the line, Diablo IV looks to become a contender in the multiplayer space in the coming years.

1. Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Nintendo did a lot of things right with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but aside from the game’s great sound design, the one other area that made this title stand head and shoulders above so many others was its fantastic multiplayer offerings. Longtime online Nintendo experiences have fallen short in various ways, but thanks to ingenious solutions that allow players to better compete when online and local, Wonder solves many of these problems.

With wider interaction options, larger player lobbies, better ways to compete and show off your skills, perhaps the best way to experience Wonder is to do it with friends locally or other players of the world online, and to us that says a lot about the steps Nintendo has taken to make Wonder a must-play multiplayer title. There have been some great multiplayer games this year, but Wonder takes the crown for us, as no doubt it does for many of you.