Skip to main content

The best asymmetrical multiplayer games

Asymmetrical multiplayer games have come into their own over the past few years, with titles like Among Us, Dead by Daylight, and Left 4 Dead 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 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 are winners. If you need help deciding what to install next, here are 10 of the best asymmetrical multiplayer games to play in 2024.

Recommended Videos

Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2
82%
M
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360, Mac
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Valve, Turtle Rock Studios
Publisher
Valve
Release
November 17, 2009
Despite imitators, even one made by the original team in Back 4 Blood, attempting to outdo the original, no game has captured the magic of Left 4 Dead 2. The single-player component is simply four identical survivors making their way through various maps while countless zombies and special infected descend upon them. Where things get interesting is in the multiplayer, where one team controls said special infected to try and stop the survivors from completing objectives or reaching the end. It’s simple but endlessly replayable fun on both sides despite each team playing completely differently.
Left 4 Dead 2 Trailer Cinematic Video

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 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

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
78%
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Indie
Developer
Sumo Nottingham
Publisher
Gun Interactive
Release
August 18, 2023
Something about classic slasher movies just tend to make great asymmetrical games. This time, it’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Instead of just one killer, however, the teams are split between the Slaughter family and the young victims trying to escape. It plays a lot like Dead by Daylight in concept, but with three “killers” and four victims, things are a bit more complex. Victims are only concerned with unlocking an escape route from the map, while killers want to stop them but also feed blood to Grandpa, who will occasionally reveal the location of all the victims. It’s tense, brutal, and a blast with friends.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - Unrated Gameplay Trailer [4K]

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 requires careful communication with your teammate to complete each level.
The Return of a Visionary – Josef Fares and Hazelight

Nintendo Land

Nintendo Land
76%
E10
Platforms
Wii U
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Puzzle, Racing, Adventure, Arcade
Developer
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2, Nintendo, Nintendo
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
November 17, 2012
Listen, we know the WiiU failed but it wasn’t because of Nintendo Land. If anything, this was one of the best games on the system. Featuring six multiplayer minigames based on some of Nintendo’s biggest franchises, it fully shows off all the unique ways the gamepad could be used for amazing asymmetrical games. This was, unfortunately, also the last best example, as very few games took advantage of the controller to flesh out these concepts, but they’re still a great time in their own right.
Wii U - Nintendo Land Trailer

We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip

We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip
73%
E
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Total Mayhem Games
Publisher
Total Mayhem Games
Release
September 14, 2023
There is an entire We Were Here series that has had yearly releases since 2017 so you can take your pick on which to go with, but we’ll recommend the newest one called We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip. This is a two-player cooperative puzzler where each player needs to work together to solve puzzles via a walkie-talkie. You’re seldom with your partner or able to see what they’re doing, so communication is key. Each game sets you in a new location with new puzzles, this last one being in an abandoned amusement park, but the latest one includes the option to replay puzzles to earn medals. You can play each one individually, and they have cross-platform support, so grab a friend and see how clever you are.
Surprise Launch! We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip out now on Steam, Epic, PlayStation & Xbox
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox has been a writer at Digital Trends for over five years and has no plans of stopping. He covers all things…
Take aim at the best games like Call of Duty
Rainbow Six Siege X Dualtfront artwork.

When it comes to the best FPS games of all time, Call of Duty ranks among the best of the best. Yes, the quality between games fluctuates, but the sheer staying power and popularity of each release has made it a franchise that all other shooters aspire to be. Between the short but sweet campaigns, finely tuned multiplayer, and expanded offerings like Zombies and Warzone, it is hard to find another game that can give you that same thrill. Once you've mastered the maps, hit your prestige, and need something fresh, there are actually a ton of worthy alternatives to COD to test your aim in. Don't miss your shot at these awesome games like Call of Duty.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege

Read more
The best games like The Sims
inzoi early access first impressions gaming

There was nothing quite like The Sims when the series first appeared and quickly became one of the best PC games of all time. This series has evolved into one of the most robust life simulator games ever made, with the latest iteration still being played over 10 years since it initially came out, partly thanks to it going free-to-play. For a long time, The Sims owned its genre completely, with no other game able to offer anything close to the depth and addictiveness it offered. However, we now have plenty of games that will hook you just as hard as The Sims did when it was new. These are the best games like The Sims you can play right now.

As the Sims-like genre becomes more popular, keep an eye on the list of upcoming video games for more releasing in the coming months and years.

Read more
The best mystery games for PC
LA Noire VR Case Files

Who doesn't love a good mystery? As cool as watching a detective do their thing in a movie or TV show, it is even better to step into the role of a gumshoe yourself to unravel a clever plot. Unlike the best FPS games on PC, mystery games are more similar to the best puzzle games on PC, though with a heavier focus on plot and character. These games have to walk a fine line of giving the player enough clues to reasonably solve a mystery without it feeling too obtuse, but make it not so obvious that it becomes boring. Mystery games are far more creative than just solving murders, though that is still a common theme, and the PC is home to some of the most creative games in the niche genre. If you're stumped trying to find the next best mystery game to play on PC, we'll give you the clues you need.

Don't forget to investigate the list of upcoming PC games to see if more mystery games are on the way.

Read more