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The 11 best asymmetrical multiplayer games of 2022

Jon Bitner
By

Asymmetrical multiplayer games have come into their own over the past few years, with titles like Among Us, Dead by Daylight, and Back 4 Blood pulling in legions of players. Instead of giving two teams a similar set of abilities, asymmetrical games are purposefully lopsided — one team might be larger but have less firepower, while the other team might be comprised of a single, powerful player.

It’s a unique concept and one that’s seen plenty of variation as new developers make their mark on the genre. There are plenty of titles to choose from nowadays, but not all of them are winners. If you need some help deciding what to install next, here are 11 of the best asymmetrical multiplayer games to play in 2022.

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Further reading

Back 4 Blood

Back 4 Blood
79 %
4/5
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Shooter
Developer Turtle Rock Studios
Publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Release October 12, 2021
Back 4 Blood takes a page out of the Left 4 Dead handbook, offering asymmetrical competitive multiplayer. One team will be playing as survivors, fending off waves of undead for as long as possible. The other will play as special Ridden, using their unique abilities to take down the survivors. The chance to play as both makes for a surprisingly fun experience, as the survivors and Ridden offer remarkably different gameplay experiences. So, if you ever get tired of wielding a gun and mowing down hordes of zombies, jumping into the shoes of the Ridden makes for a nice change of pace.
Read our full Back 4 Blood review
Back 4 Blood - Reveal Trailer
Related

Among Us

Among Us
73 %
E10
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Strategy, Indie
Developer InnerSloth
Publisher InnerSloth
Release June 15, 2018
Although the frenzy has started to die down, Among Us is still a great multiplayer game. It sees a crew of players setting out to accomplish a list of mundane tasks, such as cleaning oxygen filters or stabilizing steering controls for their spaceship. However, one player among the crew is an Imposter — and their goal is to sabotage the mission. Players will have to figure out which one of their fellow crewmates is the Imposter and vote them out before it’s too late.
Among Us Steam Release Trailer

Dead by Daylight

Dead by Daylight
72 %
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre Simulator, Strategy, Adventure
Developer Behaviour Interactive
Publisher Behaviour Interactive
Release June 14, 2016
Arguably the most iconic asymmetrical multiplayer game on the market, Dead by Daylight tasks one killer with hunting down four survivors. The survivors don’t have any powerful attacks in their repertoire, meaning they’ll need to rely on stealth tactics and careful communication to make it through each level unscathed. The Killer, however, comes to the fight armed to the teeth. Exact abilities vary from one Killer to the next, but with characters such as Freddy Krueger and Pyramid Head up for grabs, there’s no shortage of ways for you to hunt your prey.
Dead by Daylight - Dev Diary #1 (Official)

Secret Neighbor

Secret Neighbor
67 %
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
Genre Adventure, Indie
Developer DYNAMIC PIXELS
Publisher tinyBuild
Release October 24, 2019
Hello Neighbor is a creepy game on its own, but the addition of competitive multiplayer made it even more nightmarish. It’s a bit like Among Us, as you’ll be working with a group of friends to free one of your neighbors — only one of your “friends” is actually your evil neighbor in disguise. They’ll be able to set up traps to delay your efforts, and it’ll be up to you to see past their tricks and free the captive before it’s too late.
Secret Neighbor E3 Announcement Trailer - Hello Neighbor Multiplayer

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
87 %
E10
Platforms Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, Daydream, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Gear VR
Genre Puzzle, Simulator, Indie, Card & Board Game
Developer Steel Crate Games
Publisher Steel Crate Games
Release July 16, 2015
You’re trapped in a room with a bomb, and the only way to make it out alive is by listening to instructions from your teammate. They’ve gained access to the manual and can talk you through defusing it. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is playable in VR — which adds another layer of excitement to the game — and is without a doubt the best way to experience the quirky action.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes PC/Mac Launch Trailer

Friday the 13th: The Game

Friday the 13th: The Game
66 %
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Developer Illfonic
Publisher Gun Media
Release May 26, 2017
Step into the shoes of Jason Voorhees to torment the counselors of Camp Crystal Lake. The third-person action game has one player controlling Jason as they try to eliminate every counselor on the map — and he only grows stronger as the night goes on. The counselors, meanwhile, will need to band together to figure out if they want to confront Jason or simply hide in the shadows and sneak to safety.
XIII PAX West Trailer 2016 -- Friday the 13th: The Game

Predator: Hunting Grounds

Predator: Hunting Grounds
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4
Genre Shooter
Developer Illfonic
Release April 24, 2020
Stalk your prey as Predator, using thermal vision, deadly alien firearms, and incredible agility that lets you zip around your environment with ease. If you’re not playing as Predator, you’ll be on the Fireteam and given an arsenal of deadly weapons to keep the threat at bay and slowly make your way to the escape helicopter. It’s a fun game on its own, but fans of the long-running Predator franchise will find plenty of Easter eggs to make the adrenaline-pumping action even more exciting.
Predator: Hunting Grounds - Reveal Trailer | PS4

It Takes Two

It Takes Two
90 %
4.5/5
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Platform, Adventure
Developer Hazelight Studios
Publisher Electronic Arts
Release March 25, 2021
Unlike most of the entries on this list, It Takes Two isn’t a competitive survival game. Instead, you and a partner will team up to tackle a variety of platforming challenges. Each character is given a specific set of abilities for each level, meaning you’ll have a different experience whether you’re playing as Cody or May. For example, one player might have access to a nail gun that can open new access points, while another can use a hammer to turn wheels or activate heavy levers. This unique, asymmetrical gameplay means you’ll need careful communication with your teammate to complete each level.
Read our full It Takes Two review
The Return of a Visionary – Josef Fares and Hazelight

SpyParty

SpyParty
80 %
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre Simulator, Strategy, Tactical, Indie
Developer Chris Hecker, John Cimino
Publisher Chris Hecker
Release April 12, 2018
Spy Party is a tense 1v1 competitive multiplayer game. One player will be attending a formal get-together as a spy, blending in with their fellow guests as they try to accomplish a variety of tasks. The other player steps into the shoes of a sniper observing the party. They’re tasked with identifying the spy and taking them out before they complete their mission. It’s a unique concept and one that’s absolutely exhilarating regardless of which side you’re playing.
This is SpyParty, old v2

Identity V

Identity V
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS
Developer NetEase
Publisher NetEase
Release April 02, 2018
Identity V takes heavy inspiration from Dead by Daylight. This mobile multiplayer game has four players trying to outlast one Hunter that’s out to eliminate them before they decode five Cipher Machines and escape from the level. Each character brings their own skill to the playing field, although Hunters are always overpowered compared to the group of survivors. Hunters will need to keep their eyes peeled to determine where the survivors are lurking, while survivors must do everything they can to remain undetected and make it out alive.
Identity V - Official Trailer

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
85 %
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 3DS, N-Gage, Legacy Cellphone
Genre Shooter, Tactical
Developer Ubisoft Montreal
Release March 21, 2005
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is one of the best stealth games of all time, offering a deep single-player mode that sees you trekking across the world to stop a global threat. Its multiplayer mode is just as exciting, as a small band of spies will go up against a small team of mercenaries. The spies team plays out in typical Splinter Cell fashion, with third-person action coupled with a fast movement speed and the ability to climb just about anything in your environment. Mercenaries, meanwhile, are played from a first-person perspective and are given an arsenal of overpowered weapons. Finding a group of players to join your match isn’t as easy as it used to be, but no doubt it’s worth a bit of effort.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory Trailer

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Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
Red Dead Redemption is coming to Nintendo Switch and PS4 this month
red dead redemption switch ps4 release date key art

The original Red Dead Redemption is coming to two new platforms, PS4 and Nintendo Switch, later this month. It'll retail for $50 on both platforms.
Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare Coming to Switch and PS4
Rockstar Games' open-world western game first launched in 2010 for Xbox 360 and PS3. It was critically acclaimed and a smash sales hit, creating a new franchise for Rockstar that could stand alongside the likes of Grand Theft Auto. It received a sequel, Red Dead Redemption 2, in 2019, but the original Red Dead Redemption remained stuck on older platforms outside of backward compatibility support on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
That's why fans got excited when a rating for the game from the Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea popped up. We've now learned that this rating is for new Nintendo Switch and PS4 ports of Red Dead Redemption by Double Eleven Studios. Red Dead Redemption will release across both of those platforms digitally on August 17, with a physical launch to follow on October 13.

It will cost $50 and includes the base campaign as well as the zombie-infested Undead Nightmare expansion; the Red Dead Online multiplayer is not included. This is the first time Red Dead Redemption will ever be on a Nintendo system, although it doesn't look like the port will have much in the way of Switch-exclusive features. That said, a press release does reveal that this will be the first version of the game to include Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Latin American Spanish, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese localizations.
Red Dead Redemption comes out on PS4 and Nintendo Switch on August 17. 

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The best split-screen games for PC
Four players with guns on a japanese style map.

We all love playing games together. In the early days, that meant passing off the controller back and forth to each get a turn with the game, but now we've reached a point where most games offer true simultaneous multiplayer modes, if not fully cooperative campaigns. For the most part, the concept of playing split-screen games has been firmly a console-only feature. This made sense since they were designed for multiple controllers, and to be played in more communal spaces like living rooms and on couches. PCs, on the other hand, are typically played, well, solo at a desk.

That assumption is not as cut and dry as it used to be. PCs are no longer isolated to corners of the house and are easier than ever to hook up to normal TVs and be played in the same environment as consoles. It would make no sense for PC players to miss out on being able to play a game in split-screen with a friend just because they're playing on that specific platform, so it's great to see more and more games supporting this option. Not all games have come around yet, though, and split-screen is even becoming less common on consoles as well, so hunting down some quality two-player computer games can be a chore. Instead, feel free to screen peak at our list of the best split-screen games for PC.

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The best places to find Purple, Ice, Pink and Rock Pikmin in Pikmin 4
The player stands with Oatchi and some Red Pikmin in Pikmin 4.

While there were only the base Pikmin types of Red, Blue, and Yellow in the original game, there are now nine different types in Pikmin 4. All the originals return, as you would expect, but plenty of new and exciting ones are introduced. Each one still has a unique advantage that allows you to do new things and get to new areas of the massive zones, meaning you will need to utilize each and every one to complete all your tasks. That said, there are some types that are more difficult to find than others. Yes, you could make each type yourself by finding their corresponding onion, however, some onions aren't unlocked until very late into your playtime, or even after you've beaten the game. If you want to know the best places to track down the Purple, Pink, Ice, and Rock Pikmin in Pikmin 4, follow our lead.
Where to find Purple Pikmin

The Purple Pikmin are the first type that is somewhat tricky to find. This type is useful because each one has both the carrying capacity and weight of 10 Pikmin, creating shockwaves when you throw them, but is the slowest of all the types. The first level you can encounter them on is Seren Shores. On this map, head into the Engulfed Castle cave. This is a very dangerous cave, but if you're just looking to bolster your numbers, you can rush in, collect them, and run away.
Where to find Ice Pikmin

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