Competitive multiplayer games have been a key part of gaming since its inception. Gamers have been using games to compete since the days of Pong in the 70s through the era of split-screen with GoldenEye 007 to the online battles of mega FPS franchises like Halo and Call of Duty. Competitive multiplayer remains a key selling point for many games today, and a fresh batch of new PvP titles are released every year.

Of course, not every PvP game delivers on its promises. There are some competitive multiplayer games that take the market by storm and become mainstays, but there are others that come and go without much fanfare. Some competitive multiplayer games start out hot but fizzle out, while others are played for years to come.

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The 10 Best Co-Op Games of 2024

All kinds of great co-op games were released in 2024, with these 10 standing out as the absolute best the year had to offer.

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For anyone looking for a newer competitive multiplayer experience, these games are the best 2024 had to offer. Keep in mind that we only included brand-new releases, so live-service games like Fortnite and Overwatch 2 weren't eligible. It's also worth keeping in mind that this list is presented in alphabetical order.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Read Game Rant's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Review

Call of Duty has featured PvP modes since the very first game released in 2003, but the franchise's competitive offerings didn't really take off in a massive way until Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Call of Duty 4 completely changed the face of competitive multiplayer and drafted the blueprint that the franchise still follows to this day. Due to their annual release schedule and adherence to the established formula, many Call of Duty games feel a little "samey," and while that's true for Black Ops 6, the latest game in the long-running franchise also features some significant new features that help shake things up quite a bit. The biggest example is Black Ops 6's omnimovement feature, which adds an exciting new dynamic to multiplayer encounters.

Black Ops 6 gives competitive multiplayer fans significant bang for their buck, with plenty of new content on the way. Fans can enjoy the standard Call of Duty multiplayer modes in Black Ops 6, plus the return of the beloved 2v2 Gunfight mode. Since Black Ops 6 is a live-service game, fans can expect plenty more new modes, maps, weapons, and more in the months leading up to the 2025 Call of Duty game, whatever it may be.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero

Read Game Rant's Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Review

Many fighting games are built entirely around the concept of balanced competition, and while that can't be said for Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, the game's PvP is still a blast. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero's overpowered characters and design choices have kept the game from being taken seriously on the tournament stage, but those looking to simply have fun with their friends can't go wrong. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero features a massive roster of characters pulled from all corners of the Dragon Ball franchise, ridiculous over-the-top moves that are fun to pull off, and though it's limited in its features, an offline split-screen mode for those that want to relive the Budokai Tenkaichi days.

EA Sports College Football 25

College football fans have been waiting over a decade for a new game, and EA Sports finally delivered with 2024's EA Sports College Football 25. With record-breaking sales and largely positive reviews, it's safe to say that EA Sports College Football 25 has blown away all expectations. One reason for its success is its PvP multiplayer, which lets players compete in local or online games. College Football 25 is quite easily the best football game on the market, and so football fans with a competitive itch really can't go wrong with it. It's certainly a step up from the recent Madden offerings, if nothing else.

EA Sports FC 25

EA's soccer franchise has consistently delivered some of the most hard-to-put-down multiplayer experiences there are, and EA Sports FC 25 is no exception to the rule. The award-winning EA Sports FC 25 features both offline and online PvP options typical of EA's sports games, and it even introduces a new competitive multiplayer mode to the mix. EA Sports FC 25's new 5v5 Rush Mode makes for an exciting addition to the game's already comprehensive competitive multiplayer options, giving players even more reason to pick up the latest entry in the annual sports series.