Every once in a while, a multiplayer game comes along that completely shakes up the gaming scene. Earlier this year,Fall Guysdid just this, racking up around 35 million downloads within its first few months. This isn’t the first time that a game has blown up like this though, nor will it be the last. If history has taught us anything, it’s that there’s always another ‘next big thing’.
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Sometimes though, games that were originally released without much fanfare suddenly become hugely popular.Among Us, for example, has gone from relative obscurity to one of the most downloaded games on Steam in just the last two months. It’s stories like this that provide hope to developers. IfAmong Uscan do it, then perhaps so too could some of their older andoverlooked titles.
Updated July 02, 2025, by Tom Bowen:Some games explode onto the scene in a blaze of hype only to fizzle out in the months and years that follow. Others aren’t quite able to build up a head of steam in the first place, despite their obvious quality. As a result, there’s a long list of fantastic online multiplayer games that hardly anybody is playing, some of which deserve a lot more attention than they’ve so far been given. For those looking for a new online multiplayer game to enjoy with friends or loved ones, these underrated gems may be just what the doctor ordered and are definitely worth checking out.
12Shipped
Shippedis a relatively simple game that allows for up to eight players. As the title might suggest, each one of them is placed in control of their own ship and will need to do all that they can to keep their vessels afloat and on the screen. Masses of land and other players can make that difficult, however, as players will soon discover. At least they would if they could find a lobby, anyway.
Despite the game having sold more than 20,000 copies and garnering very positive reviews on Steam, the number of people playing it has dwindled in the three years following its release. According to data from SteamSpy, the number of daily concurrent players typically hovers between one and four. As such, the chances of finding a full lobby can be incredibly difficult.
11For The King
For the Kingblends together elements of multiple genres to create a really enjoyable multiplayer experience. At its heart, it’s a tabletop game although the RPG mechanics help to provide an additional layer of depth. There are plenty of unique and interesting enemies and a compelling story binds everything together.
Visually, it might not be up to the standards that some have come to expect frommodern RPGs, but that doesn’t mean thatFor the Kinglooks bad. Far from it, in fact. Its art style is incredibly endearing and nothing seems too out of place. There’s a ridiculous amount of content available in the game and its numerous expansions too, so players should be kept busy for quite some time.
10Ultimate Chicken Horse
Therise in popularity of party gamesover the past few years has been quite remarkable, but there are plenty of great titles that never got the attention they deserved. When it comes to overlooked party games,Ultimate Chicken Horseis probably the biggest one out there.
The game allows players to build levels as they play, which has the potential to be both enjoyable and infuriating. There are plenty of different obstacles allowing for someSuper Meat Boylevels of difficulty for those who are in the mood for it. The four-player limit perhaps holds it back a little, but for those who prefer a more intimate gaming session,Ultimate Chicken Horseis a great shout.
9Project Winter
At first glance,Project Wintermay seemfairly similar to Among Us. While both games focus quite heavily on the imposter mechanic though, Project Winter provides an entirely different experience. Its charming art style and crafting mechanics really help to set it apart from some of the other social deception games.
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Players must work together to survive in (and eventually escape from) an icy tundra. As well as the weather, the local wildlife also poses a huge threat to players. The biggest threat, however, comes in the form of traitors whose only goal is to prevent the others from escaping to safety. It really is a wonderful game and one that deserves more attention.
8Screeps
Screepsis a fairly technical game that will require a basic understanding of JavaScript to get started. It might sound intimidating, but it’s actually a great way for players to learn and improve their coding skills. More importantly, it’s a lot of fun after coming to grips with the way that everything works.
It’s an MMO real-time strategy game in which players must code the AI for their units. It’s demanding, but allows for quite a bit of trial and error as there are often multiple ways to approach a stage. Although the game’s visuals aren’t great, the challenge it provides and the potential for personal growth makes it a really intriguing title.
7We Were Here
We Were Hereis afree-to-play gamein which the player’s hopes of survival are very much in the hands of others. Armed only with walkie-talkies, players much work together in order to escape from an abandoned castle. It eventually becomes a race against time with the completion ofchallenging puzzles and cryptic cluesstanding between players and success.
The game is inspired by real-life escape rooms and, much like escape rooms, it’sbetter tackled with a friend. That said, the ability to play with strangers allows for some unique experiences and can really put players' faith in humanity to the test. Throughout the original game and its two sequels, there’s a lot of fun (and frustration) to be had.
6Secrets of Grindea
Released back in 2015,Secrets of Grindeais an action RPG with support for online co-op. With as many as half a million sales under its belt, it’sone of the most successful indie RPGs of all timeand has garnered thousands of positive reviews from satisfied players on Steam. Sadly, as time has passed, fewer and fewer people seem to be discovering this beautifully-presented and thoroughly enjoyable title, as evidenced by the dwindling number of daily concurrent players on Steam.
Whilemultiplayer RPGs do still exist outside of the MMO world, few offer support for up to four players, nor are there many with as much promise. It’s a little reminiscent ofEarthboundin some ways, and should also feel familiar for fans of Square’s hugely-successfulManaseries. It’s much more than just a well-packaged imitation though and continues to improve with each new update that the developers put out.
5Unrailed!
Unrailed!is a fairly recent title that requires players to work together in order to prevent a train from derailing. They must clear obstacles and enemies in order to extend the tracks and do so at a faster pace than the train is moving. It’s a fairly simple game in terms of its mechanics, but the developers got the execution spot on.
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Things can get incredibly hectic if the team doesn’t remain on top of everything and deciding who will handle each tool can sometimes lead to arguments. Individualism often breeds catastrophe, but strong cooperation and coordination usually lead to a successful journey. As withother co-op games, there’s a strong feeling of satisfaction when everything just clicks together.
4Transformice
Transformicehas been around for a while now, but thanks to the simplicity of its gameplay, it’s still just as enjoyable today as it was when it first released. It’s a game where players must race to collect cheese whilst avoiding pitfalls and other obstacles. Despite the competitive nature of the game though, there are times when players must work together in order to progress. It’s these moments that make the game so enjoyable.
The Shaman mechanic also helps to keep things fresh and provides an incentive to keep playing. Those selected for the role will be able to either help other players by creating platforms or hinder them by doing nothing. The fast pacing makes each stage incredibly exciting, as does the potential for chaos to break out at any moment.
3SpyParty
SpyPartywas released in the same year as Among Us and is arguably the better looking of the two games. It’s perhaps been in Early Access for longer than it should have though and it can become a little repetitive after a while. Despite this, the experience it provides is one of the best available when it comes to social deception titles.
It’s a 1v1 game with one player taking the role of a spy and the other controlling a sniper who is watching over the playable area. The spy must complete a series of objectives whilst blending in with the game’s NPCs and the sniper must use their instincts to pick them out from the crowd. There isn’t much more to it than that, but it works surprisingly well.
