Summary
Video games are always much more enjoyable with friends; whether it be working together or competing head-to-head. Thetypical multiplayer gamesthat some may first think of are ones that give every player an even playing ground, essentially mirroring each other’s screens, giving them the exact same controls, abilities, and roles; to maintain a fair and even playing field.
However, anasymmetrical multiplayer gameis one in which players have unique abilities, roles, or powers that will give them different overall experiences. Sometimes, players will be working side-by-side, taking care of distinct jobs. Others, they will be in different areas of the map and working independently of each other entirely. Thebest asymmetrical multiplayer gamesmanage to find balance, despite some of these differences.
Updated Jul 12, 2025, by Christine Mendoza:There’s never a bad time to take a break from life and spend some time bonding with a few friends over a good game online or in person. Whether it be cooperative or competitive, asymmetrical multiplayer games offer lots of variety and allow players to have some friendly competition as well as build their teamworking skills. For any gamers looking for a fun gaming session with friends, the best asymmetric multiplayer games should help to scratch that itch.
Evolvetakes place in a distant future in which humans have created the tools and technology to explore the outer reaches of space, colonizing different planets to spawn new communities for the rest of the population as well as land for further industrialization. However, as they continue to explore thedistant planet of Shear, they find themselves being threatened by alien life forms that thrive off of eating local wildlife to gain power.
The game features co-op, competitive, and multiplayer gameplay; having a four-versus-one structure in which four players take control of the human team (the Hunters) while the fifth player then takes the role of the Monster. The four Hunters must track down and eliminate the Monster before it has the chance to evolve.
18Dustnet
Steam User Rating: Positive (88%)
Despite its vastly different aesthetic,Dustnetis heavily based on 2001’s famousCounter-Strike.Dustnetis asandbox FPS gamethat takes place in a copy of the “Dust II” multiplayer map fromCounter-Strike.Dustnet’s aesthetic aims for minimalism as both the guns and the environment (as well as other players) all have a geometrical wireframe, “unfinished but on purpose” visual style.
Dustnethas a typical FPS style of asymmetrical gameplay where players are separated into two teams: Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists. Terrorists are the team to try to plant the bomb, while the Counter-Terrorists are to fight them off and diffuse it.
17Identity V
Steam User Rating: N/A
Identity Vis afree-to-play multiplayersurvival horror game in which players are put into a four-versus-one situation, pitting four Survivor characters against one Hunter. The four Survivors are tasked with decoding five Cipher Machines around the map and entering the correct password in order to escape safely. Meanwhile, the Hunter player must eliminate all the Survivors using Rocket Chairs.
The Hunter wins if at least three Survivors are successfully eliminated (not rescued by fellow Survivors), while the Survivors win the match if at least three of them escape to safety. In the case where two Survivors are eliminated but two have escaped, neither party will win, and the match will go down as a draw.
Evil Dead: The Gameis based on the famous American comedy-horror movie franchise of the same name. It embraces its roots and includes locations and weapons based on ones seen in the movies. Players either take control of a Survivor or a Demon. However, not all characters are equal and instead belong to unique classes dedicated to a specific specialty. Survivors can pick fromfour different classes: Leaders, Warriors, Hunters, and Supports.
Meanwhile, the player that takes control of the Demon is also given some variety, choosing which antagonist fits their personal gameplay style. They’re able to choose from playing the Warlord, the Puppeteer, the Necromancer, the Plaguebringer, and the Schemer.
Based on the long-standingAlien vs. Predatormovie franchise,Predator: Hunting Groundsis an FPS game that features theextraterrestrial species known as Predatorsthat sci-fi fans all know and love. One lucky player gets to control the notorious Predator and hunt down the other players.
Meanwhile, the other four players take on the role of special operations operators who are dispatched to a remote jungle to take down a drug lord, all while avoiding (or capturing/killing) the deadly Predator. The special operations members not only have to worry about the Predator, but must deal with various NPCs that try to sabotage their mission.
14First Class Trouble
Steam User Rating: Mostly Positive (79%)
First Class Troubleis a party game that takes place on a luxury cruise in a futuristic setting where A.I. has advanced to the point of putting humanity in danger. Players are all stuck onboard as they attempt to shut down the dangerousrogue A.I. systemthat is trying to kill off all human beings onboard.
However, among the regular human passengers (the Residents) are impostors (the Humanoids) who look exactly like the other human passengers. They’re tasked with flying under the radar and sabotaging the others in their endeavor to survive, a littlelikeAmong Us, or some of the many other imposter games like it.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2is an episodic survival horror game that allows two players to fight against zombies and other mutated enemies in the co-op mode. The players switch between two different scenarios; one featuringClaire Redfield and Moira Burtonand another featuring Barry Burton and a small girl named Natalia.
Each player will have a different role in the game, requiring the pair to work together to make it through each level; whether that be when navigating through different parts of the map, using their unique abilities to solve a puzzle, or taking down a dangerous enemy.
Imposter games have made a huge comeback in recent years, all thanks to the craze aroundAmong Us. Among Uspits a player up against their friends by assigning them all different roles. The players that are given the role of impostor are to sabotage the ship andkill the innocent crewmatesbefore having their true identities found out.
Meanwhile, the crewmates are to finish their tasks and report any dead bodies found, discussing who among the group is most suspicious and thus, voting them out. If all impostors are voted out correctly, the crewmates win. If the impostors are still alive with an equal number of living crewmates, the crewmates lose. Since the game’s initial release and rise in popularity, new cosmetics, maps, and roles have been added to keep the game fresh and feeling new.
11Who’s Your Daddy
Steam User Rating: Very Positive (80%)
Who’s Your Daddyis ahilarious parody-simulation gamein which two players are put head to head in a heated battle; one playing the role of the daddy and one playing the baby. The player that takes the role of the baby is tasked with finding dangerous objects around the house to off themselves as fast as they can while the opposite player does their best to prevent them from doing such.
As the dad, the player is responsible for the health of their baby, sabotaging any insane, dangerous shenanigans the baby gets up to. The dad character can place locks on doors or cabinets, place safety plugs in electrical sockets, and even give the baby medicine to heal them. Discovering new, hilarious ways to sabotage one another,Who’s Your Daddymakes for a hilarious asymmetrical one-on-one game for friends that is surprisingly more strategic than it first appears!
10Secret Neighbor
Steam User Rating: Very Positive (88%)
TheSecret Neighborhorror-adventure game is a spin-off of theHello Neighborhorror-puzzle game and takes place in the same universe. The game takes place between Act 1 and Act 2 of the original game and revolves around six children all trying to work together to break into the Neighbor’s basement. The catch is that one of the six children is secretly the Neighbor in disguise.
The disguised Neighbor is to catch all the children before they finish their task of looking for a total of six keys to open the basement door. There aresix different roles that the children can choosefrom that grant them unique abilities. The Neighbor also has many abilities as well as power-ups that can be obtained to even the playing ground.
