8 Dead Multiplayer Games That Deserve A Comeback

Key Takeaways

• Some multiplayer games like
  Batman: Arkham Origins
  ,
  Battleborn
  , and
  Mass Effect 3
  had unique modes but failed to compete.
• Split/Second
  and
  Bulletstorm
  offered distinctive gameplay, but struggled to maintain a strong multiplayer presence.
• Aliens Versus Predator
  and
  Gotham City Imposters
  showcased innovative multiplayer concepts but lost their player base with time.

Multiplayer games such as Call Of Duty have been a staple in the gaming community for over twenty years now, with some remaining successful with packed servers. Meanwhile, some games lost their player base or were even shut down over the years, despite being of strong quality themselves.

While it makes sense for some games to fade away, others deserve to remain just as populated as Team Fortress 2 or League Of Legends, which have been active for over a decade. Whether it is a shooter or a racing game, certain multiplayer games deserve the chance to shine again via a resurgence in popularity, a remake, or even a sequel.

8 Batman: Arkham Origins

Multiplayer Felt Like A True War For Gotham City

Due to the unfair stigma that Batman: Arkham Origins suffered from, not enough gamers got to experience the truly unique multiplayer mode it featured. It had three teams fighting against each other: Joker’s gang, Bane’s gang, and vigilantes, all going head to head in an attempt to come out on top.

Playing as a criminal on Bane or Joker’s teams was a fun third-person shooter experience, but the addition of Batman and Robin stalking from above or below, able to take anyone out with ease, added more tension to matches. Arkham Origins on its own remains a great prequel to the Arkham series, but the multiplayer mode was a highlight and should have been brought back in Batman: Arkham Knight, or as a standalone experience.

7 Battleborn

A First-Person MOBA Stomped Out By Overwatch

While many Hero Shooters are trying to capture the same niche style that Overwatch revolutionized, Battleborn was one of the first to try it and was sadly taken down far too soon. Rather than the typical Hero Shooter multiplayer game, Battleborn took on a lane-based MOBA style of gameplay akin to League of Legends but with a first-person perspective.

Sadly, Battleborn was in direct competition with Overwatch on its release, and not even a year after launch, it was deemed a flop. Gearbox Software and 2K Games, who also made Borderlands games, deserved better since they put a lot of effort into the visually stunning style of the game, unique characters, and thrilling gameplay.

6 Mass Effect 3

The Multiplayer Mode Was Put In The Wrong Game

When Mass Effect 3 came out, there was a legitimate complaint that a story-driven RPG like Mass Effect did not need a multiplayer mode. However, that didn’t make the third-person shooter gameplay of the multiplayer mode any less enjoyable, and it did have a strong fanbase for some time.

BioWare and EA could take the overall concept of the Mass Effect 3 multiplayer mode and create a solely multiplayer spin-off of the series. The worlds, weaponry, abilities, and different galactic races of Mass Effect resulted in a visually and audibly stunning third-person shooter that could have rivaled Gears Of War in terms of multiplayer.

5 Split/Second

One Of The Most Distinctive Racing Games Ever Made

Racing games often do little to stand out from the crowd, but Split/Second managed to do just that. On top of high-octane races that can wipe out a player with ease, Split/Second featured a mechanic that allowed racers to trigger environmental events that were capable of taking out any player, including themselves.

With Split/Second, the outcome of a race is rarely certain, which keeps it an absolute blast to play. Even today, the servers are still up for people to play the game, and in a world of remasters and remakes, it is surprising that Disney has not tried bringing it back.

4 Bulletstorm

The Skillshot System Made The Multiplayer Stand Out

When Bulletstorm came out, every first-person shooter multiplayer game tried its hardest to copy Call Of Duty, while Bulletstorm was set on being something different. Like in its sweet but short campaign, Bulletstorm utilizes a lot of sliding, kicking, freezing, and whipping, all combined with environmental hazards to create flashy yet gory kills for more points.

The gameplay style of Bulletstorm helped keep the online matches feeling frenetic and unlike any other multiplayer FPS at the time. Sadly, even with the remaster of Bulletstorm, the servers remain mostly empty with a small dedicated fanbase holding them down, when it deserves to be on the same level as Battlefield or Halo.

3 Aliens Versus Predator

The Franchise That Helped Reinvent The Online FPS

Whether it is the two original games from the early 2000s or the 2010 reboot, Aliens Versus Predator is a pioneer in the multiplayer realm since it accomplished what many FPS games still struggle to do today. Fast-paced action and three different teams fighting for dominance, very few games have matched the ferocity and intensity brought on by playing as the Xenomorphs, Predators, and Colonial Marines.

With both the Alien and Predator franchises making a resurgence with Prey and Alien: Romulus, it’s shocking that fans haven’t been given a new Aliens Versus Predator game. Thankfully, there is a small cell of dedicated fans keeping the servers of all three games alive through fanmade mods and patches.

2 Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist

Before XDefiant, Blacklist Brought The Splinter Cell Universe Online

While UbiSoft seems more concerned with copying Call Of Duty with XDefiant, there was another game set in the same universe, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, that showcased a quality multiplayer mode. It featured familiar and new multiplayer modes, using the familiar Splinter Cellstealth and action gameplay that the series is known for.

The multiplayer in Splinter Cell: Blacklist fits the secret agents versus mercenaries concept of the game, mixing third-person action with brutal stealth takedowns. Sadly, the online functionality of Splinter Cell: Blacklist was disabled and some fans are hoping for UbiSoft to see the multiplayer return in the Splinter Cell remake.

1 Gotham City Imposters

An FPS Set In The DC Universe Once Dominated The Free-To-Play Market

The concept of Gotham City Imposters was novel enough to sell the game: two teams of wild worshipers of Batman and Joker competing in first-person shooter matches online. It’s bizarre, wacky, and feels straight out of a zanier comic book, which combined with simple yet effective gameplay that helped it stand out, especially since it was free-to-play.

Monolith Productions were already noted masters of multiplayer with games such as Aliens Versus Predator 2 under their belt, so their style helped in turning Gotham City Imposters into a beloved title that featured a dedicated player base. However, in recent years, the player count has been barren. Certain players hoped Monolith would update the game or release a sequel of some kind to bring back its popularity, but so far, no luck.