The Best Multiplayer PvP Games On Steam

Steam is the perfect place for players yearning to get their hands on some fantastic multiplayer titles. Not only does Steam offer an abundance of great Triple-A releases, but it also showcases some of the best up-and-coming Indie games around. Many of these stellar titles come complete with a multiplayer aspect, whether it be PvE, PvP, or both.

Anyone looking to get their hands on the best multiplayer PvP Steam games has a veritable treasure trove of titles to pick from. With so many choices, it can be pretty daunting to find the cream of the crop, especially since the options offer a ton of variety. Still, that means there should be something for everyone.

Updated February 26, 2024 by Mark Sammut: February 2024 has not produced too many notable PvP Steam games, but Valve’s platform is already stacked with options in this area.

The Finals

Steam User Rating: 74%

After a successful pre-launch test period, The Finals made its official debut toward the end of 2023, ending the year on a high note. While not garnering a universally positive reception, the multiplayer shooter has been largely well-received, and its potential for future expansion has led to quite a bit of excitement. The game seems to be maintaining a healthy playerbase without bleeding too many users, and while the number of active people will likely decline as the months roll by, the current data suggests The Finals will not be fading into the void that consumes so many failed online shooters.

What makes The Finals special? Well, two major things set the title apart from the crowd. Firstly, the action is framed around an in-universe virtual game show, including commentators that add flavor to matches. Secondly and more importantly, destruction is a central mechanic. As teams compete to earn cash, they can destroy the map’s buildings to craft new escape or infiltration routes, adding an element of flexibility and progression that keeps things feeling fresh. The gunplay is generally solid, and the three classes are unique enough from each other to cater to a wide range of players.

Rocket League

Steam User Rating: 89%

There are a lot of multiplayer sports games floating around Steam but few of them are as high-octane as Rocket League. Those looking for something unique and competitive should immediately fall in love with Rocket League‘s brand of high-speed soccer-based action.

Players will team up and hop into rocket-laden vehicles in an attempt to score goals against other players, using special items and a fun control system to fling their vehicles into a massive ball. Rocket League is a great alternative for players craving something sporty without sacrificing wild over-the-top action. As far as free multiplayer Steam games go, few games have been as successful as Rocket League​​​​​​.

Elden Ring

Steam User Rating: 92%

From Software’s Dark Souls series has been so popular with gamers over the years that it has managed to spawn its very own sub-genre, dubbed Souls-like. Players looking for some tough-as-nails experiences can hop into Dark Souls or any of the Souls-like games floating around Steam. Many of From Software’s releases featured some type of multiplayer mechanic, with players able to join (or invade) others in certain areas.

Elden Ring took this formula and amplified it, thanks to its vast open world. With so many bosses and areas to explore, it’s easy for players to find rival players to invade or cooperate with others who may be struggling in a specific area. Elden Ring offers one of the better multiplayer experiences found in a From Software game.

Tekken 8

Steam User Rating: 89%

Bandai Namco’s iconic 3D fighting franchise has produced one of its best entries ever in Tekken 8, and it is among the genre’s most complete representatives as well. As is the case with these types of games nowadays, Tekken 8‘s legacy will live and die on the longevity of its multiplayer, even if the single-player story is a lot of fun in its own right.

Featuring addictive and deep combat along with a stacked roster, Tekken 8 should keep both competitive and casual players entertained, and the online options do a decent job of accommodating both sides of the equation. Now, the game is not perfectly balanced, which is to be expected for a fairly new sequel in this series. As such, the local and online multiplayer can produce the occasional frustrating moment, although the core action is strong enough to justify pushing through these issues.

Destiny 2

Steam User Rating: 81%

Bungie crafted a fascinating and entertaining world with Destiny, bringing thousands of players together thanks to its addictive gunplay and looter-shooter gameplay elements. Unfortunately, Destiny 2 wasn’t as well received after its initial launch. However, it’s still maintained an impressive cult following and currently stands as one of the best free-to-play offerings on the Steam platform. Although some are turned off by the grind of it all, Destiny 2 offers the same amazing gunplay as its predecessor. With so many weapon types to choose from, as well as three distinct classes to pick between, there is a lot of variety found throughout the Sci-Fi FPS release.

Developers continue to improve and add to the long-standing release, with Seasonal content and DLC content dropping often. Those who enjoy both PvE and PvP elements will find a lot to enjoy with Destiny 2.

Rust

Steam User Rating: 87%

At this point, Rust has been around in some form for more than a decade, although its full debut happened in 2018. Despite its age, the survival game is still wildly popular, with the Steam version typically having over 60,000 active players. Consequently, new players interested in giving Facepunch’s project a try will not struggle to find people to interact with; however, they might wish to avoid that scenario at first. Even though it has become more accessible in recent years, Rust is still cutthroat, with the game punishing inexperience and little mistakes.

As a single-player option, the open-world title regularly challenges players’ capacity for survival through its crafting, exploration, and base-building. New Rust players should consider creating a solo server so they can get used to the mechanics and gameplay without the threat introduced by other users. However, for the proper Rust experience, PvP is a must since it injects a constant sense of danger and insecurity.

Dead By Daylight

Steam User Rating: 80%

Horror fanatics should find themselves drawn to Dead by Daylight thanks to its lineup of recognizable monsters and survivors. The release draws heavily from pre-established Horror tropes but also features some “branded” killers and survivors thanks to its crossover events. Those who want to play with a group will find themselves fighting for survival against a player-controlled killer, forced to repair generators and sneak around terrifying locations to avoid capture. On the flip side, players looking to “hunt” can take on the role of the killer and try to slay all the survivors before they complete their tasks and escape.

The free-to-play cat-and-mouse game is seeing constant updates, with new killers and survivors (each with their own abilities and skills) added often.

Team Fortress 2

Steam User Rating: 93%

Before there was Overwatch, there was Team Fortress 2, one of the most iconic multiplayer games ever created. Valve’s “class-based shooter” sees two teams of players choose from an array of classes like Soldier, Heavy, Scout, Pyro, Spy, Engineer, Medic, Sniper, and Demoman as they battle against one another in a variety of game modes, like Capture the Flag, Team Deathmatch, Payload, and more.

The title is still as popular today as when it was released, and it has quite a bit of user-created content, with custom game modes and maps. When it comes to the bestPvP Steam games, Team Fortress 2 has longevity and quality on its side.

War Thunder

Steam User Rating: 75%

There are a handful of great vehicular combat titles out there but few feel as visceral, exciting, and engaging as War Thunder. This free-to-play release has players hoping into tanks, planes, and more to combat one another across a series of expansive maps.

Players will cap points in the main game modes but can also engage in things like air battles and deathmatch. With tons of vehicles to unlock and customization options, War Thunder offers a ton of replayability and will keep vehicular combat fans on the edge of their seats as they thrash through destructible environments.

Hunt: Showdown

Steam User Rating: 82%

One of the most popular extraction shooters, Hunt: Showdown has managed to maintain decent momentum over its lifespan, and it is still fairly active more than four years after its full debut. The game serves as a prime example of a PvPvE multiplayer package, and it executes the concept pretty well. While it varies somehow depending on the mode, the general loop involves players entering a fairly open sandbox where they have to take down enemies to claim bounties, all the while dealing with other hunters who are looking to do the same thing.

Hunt: Showdown‘s brilliance lies in the way PvE feeds the PvP aspect, creating a relationship that largely highlights the latter. Thanks to the game’s fantastic sound design, players need to always keep their ears open for the sound of engagement to track down the movements of their competitors. Hunts are constantly intense.

BattleBit Remastered

Steam User Rating: 89%

Although its reputation has declined somewhat since its 2023 debut, BattleBit Remastered is still among the most enjoyable multiplayer shooters on Steam. Taking a page from old-school Battlefield games, the early access title focuses on large-scale warfare, delivering a robust selection of guns, classes, and maps along the way.

All-out war is the main focus here, and players can look forward to vehicle combat along with destructible environments. While the Minecraft-esque visual style might not be to everyone’s fancy, the graphics work well here, and they make the game fairly accessible since it does not need an extremely powerful PC to run properly. BattleBit Remastered is still gradually developing, and a full release is not yet on the horizon. However, the current version has a lot to offer, and it is relatively affordable compared to premium AAA shooters.

DOTA 2

Steam User Rating: 82%

Many players are likely familiar with the League of Legends series, specifically its flagship MOBA release. Although it’s immensely popular DOTA 2 stands as one of the original MOBA pioneers and is directly responsible for helping to elevate the genre into what it is today. Players will pick from a multitude of different characters, each with their own unique abilities, playstyles, and skills.

From there, they will battle against other players, taking out AI-controlled minions and towers, to purchase new items and grow stronger. Players battle against one another until a team is able to break another team’s defense. DOTA 2 has grown exponentially over the years and now features tons of characters to choose from.

Street Fighter 6

Steam User Rating: 89%

Due to the fifth entry’s mixed reception, Capcom needed to hit a home run with Street Fighter 6, or at least rectify most of the previous game’s criticisms. While obviously not perfect, SF6 is comfortably one of the most complete fighting games on Steam, offering both single-player and online content. The former comes in the shape of World Tour, which allows players to create a custom character as they fight against a myriad of established fighters, gaining experience and moves along the way. The story is nothing special, but this mode is still fun, and it works well as a preparation for the actual meat of the game: multiplayer.

Fighting Ground contains a few classic modes, including the option to play local multiplayer or set up custom online matches. In most games, this section would serve as the multiplayer scene’s heart, but that is not the case with SF6. Instead, players should head to the Battle Hub, a feature that emphasizes socializing and promoting a community feel. Allowing players to walk around and immerse themselves in everything Street Fighter, Battle Hub includes quite a few different match types, all of which focus on online battles. Finding opponents is very simple and quick, and players can even use their World Tour characters to fight other people’s creations. There are even a few classic Capcom games if someone wants to take a break from fighting.

PUBG: Battlegrounds

Steam User Rating: 57%

At this point, PUBG: Battlegrounds is pretty much a fixture of the multiplayer scene. While not the first of its type, the game played a significant role in popularizing the Battle Royale genre, leading to an avalanche of releases that sought to follow in PUBG‘s lucrative footsteps. Nowadays, Battle Royales come in various shapes and specializations, so players are generally free to pick the title that complements their needs. Consequently, PUBG can sometimes get lost in the shuffle since it is not quite as polished as some other popular games.

Still, there is a lot to enjoy here. PUBG remains a great option for anyone who just wants to kill an hour, and while the gameplay is not amazing, it is generally decent. In 2022, PUBG went free-to-play, making it a no-risk option.

SMITE

Steam User Rating: 79%

Another MOBA, SMITE differentiates itself from the pack by ditching the top-down aesthetic and instead allowing players the freedom to move around and attack from a third-person perspective. SMITE feels much more like a third-person shooter infused with a MOBA, and offers the same team-versus-team structure that has made the medium so popular.

With tons of God and Mythology-based heroes to choose from, there is sure to be a character that will appeal to almost everyone. SMITE is a free-to-play release, meaning players have nothing to lose by logging in and giving it a try.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Steam User Rating: 86%

Rainbow Six Siege‘s longevity has been incredible, especially since its launch was not without issues. Now, nearly a decade later, Ubisoft’s tactical shooter is firmly established as a staple of the multiplayer scene, one that has a huge and dedicated fanbase that will likely keep it alive for years to come. Now, newcomers might be hesitant to take the plunge since they will be essentially thrown into the deep end. While not devoid of beginner-friendly features, Siege is simply one of those games that rewards long-term commitment since direct experience is the only way to really become familiar with the maps, which is an important part of the overall package.

Siege is good enough to make that effort worth it, especially if someone has a few friends to play alongside. For the uninitiated, the game revolves around 5v5 encounters that pit one team on the defensive and the other on the attack. It is a simple formula that works well, and the gameplay and progression have quite a lot of depth.

Apex Legends

Steam User Rating: 79%

Respawn’s Apex Legends launched out of nowhere and was an instant hit, cementing itself as a must-play entry in the Battle Royale sphere. A few years later, the game’s relevance is largely still intact, even if it is no longer the most exciting property on the market. Respawn knows a thing or two about satisfying first-person gunplay, and that expertise is evident in Apex Legends. The gameplay is tight and satisfying, arguably placing it among the best in the Battle Royale genre.

Focusing on squads and incorporating hero shooter elements, Apex Legends is fairly strategic and comes with a bit more of a learning curve than its contemporaries. Importantly, the effort is worth it.

Naraka: Bladepoint

Steam User Rating: 75%

Battle Royale releases have taken the gaming world by storm thanks to their addictive gameplay and structure. Players will hop into matches with tons of other competitors in a bid to become the last player or team standing. Many of these releases feature similar mechanics but few of them focus so heavily on melee elements. Naraka: Bladepoint sees players hopping into a war-torn world, inspired by Asian culture. Each match has players rushing to find weapons, gear, and other items to help them battle against other opponents.

As the match wears on, the arena will grow smaller, similar to other Battle Royale titles. Players who enjoy melee combat will find a solid array of weapons and abilities in Naraka: Bladepoint.

Counter-Strike 2

Steam User Rating: 87%

Counter-Strike has dominated the Steam charts for the last decade, and that is not going to change anytime soon. In 2023, Valve rolled out Counter-Strike 2, replacing CS:GO as the default option. Naturally, such a big change will always come with some growing pains, and the sequel’s initial reception was not especially glowing. That said, it is still – by far – the most popular multiplayer game on Steam, and Valve will likely iron out most of the rough edges given time.

Offering a few different modes that cater to both casual and professional players, Counter-Strike is very flexible, allowing players to play the game as they want to. The gunplay is generally rewarding and nuanced, while the maps are largely fantastic. The new version’s visuals are a sight better than its predecessor’s, although CS2 is still not a graphical powerhouse. This is by design since accessibility has played such a big part in defining the franchise’s legacy.