My Favorite Multiplayer Jems

For players newer to gaming and trying to find common ground with their friends, finding the best options can prove to be difficult. Multiplayer gaming choices is a vast sea of possibilities; how can someone choose what to play?

No need to fear, though. Here are some of my favorite suggestions for newer or indecisive players. If you have suggestions of your own to add, I’d love if you shared them for our friends in the comments!

My Favorite Cozy Option: “Stardew Valley”

We kick off the post with a relaxed option for those newer to the gaming sphere or those looking for a reprieve from PVP. It’s a game that is all about the journey and not the destination. (Note: this game is not cross-platform or cross-play, so all players must be on the same platform.)

“Stardew Valley” is an affordable option in a sea of $70.00 USD AAA titles with availability on PC/Mac and mobile and consoles for non-PC players. The premise of the game is perfectly simple: build a successful farm on your grandfather’s Pelican Town property, improve Pelican Town, and foster relationships with the townsfolk in the process. It avoids urgency aside from small factors like shop hours, your energy bar, and special deliveries, preventing grinding burnout.

The gameplay is simple and flexible (especially in multiplayer) because there is a role for everyone. Challenge seekers can primarily progress through the mines with easy and smooth combat. More casual players may stick to fishing, watering crops, or tending to the animals. It is up to you, and the freedom is wonderful.

My Favorite Narrative Option: “Baldur’s Gate 3”

Okay, I won’t lie to you; “Baldur’s Gate 3” became my hyper-fixation in September that’s never left. (It is now my favorite game of all time.) I assure you my praise for this game lacks bias, though. Even gamers new to turn-based games and D&D rave about the gameplay and the expansive, yet well-fleshed out story Larian created for the game.

“Baldur Gate 3’s” multiplayer touts fantastic performance for both local and online multiplayer. Two party members may each control a companion, three party members may have one more companion in the party, or a group of four can play together without using the game’s companions at all.

A technical heads-up, too – local multiplayer sports a classic split-screen display. It’s nothing to really worry about, however. It doesn’t diminish the experience or the gameplay, but it may have you turned around when navigating for a while.

My Favorite PvP Options: “League of Legends” and “Overwatch 2”

I tried to whittle this section one or the other, but I can’t. Both games are my favorites to play with friends.

Both of these games are free with additions like skins you can pay for, so they are easy accessible. While “League of Legends is PC only, “Overwatch 2” (PC and console) is cross-platform, meaning friends on different systems can still play together! Both games also include voice and text chat functions (which you can disable if you don’t like shit talking).

“League of Legends” suits those more willing to grind toward extra hard-hitting damage or fast-paced combat. Traditional three-lane games take up to 45 minutes while single-lane ARAM (all random champ) games take up to 20 minutes. Players accumulate gold by farming minions and killing opponents, with which they build items to push toward the other team’s base and victory.

“Overwatch 2” games are shorter and faster-paced right out of the gate with zero moments of down time other than load screens or waiting to attack or defend your objective. I also find it more self-explanatory and easier to pick up successfully than “League”. (All old-school players will agree with me, however, when I say I wish they’d bring back the two-tank meta because 6v6 > 5v5.)

My Favorite PvE Option: “Sea of Thieves”

It’s gotten a little sweatier in combat over the years, but “Sea of Thieves” is ridiculous fun for any group of friends. The premise of this one is also fairly simple: live like a pirate completing missions, get drunk and play music on ships with your friends, and battle rival pirate crews out in the open seas.

The only possible downside about “Sea of Thieves” is its exclusivity to Windows and XBox consoles. (Sorry, PlayStation and Switch crowd.) Despite this limitation, the game is cross-platform. So PC and console players can link up and take on the ocean blue together perfectly fine!