There are always major trends in gaming that seem to gather everyone's focus. Currently, Battle Royale games have risen to huge popularity over the years and have become a staple in modern trending titles. Games with no history of Battle Royale type gameplay are now expected to deliver such modes to appease the current trend. Games like Halo Infinite and Battlefield 2042 launched without a Battle Royale mode and the gaming community is eagerly awaiting the possible announcement. Well, If you’re like me, none of this sounds appealing. Battle Royale games are overdone and getting stale, which is why you should try other amazingly fun and creative multiplayer games that are out right now!

Asymmetrical multiplayer games are unique experiences and offer fun and refreshing gameplay. An asymmetrical multiplayer game typically consists of two or more teams that play against each other in the same game but with different gameplay mechanics. This twist in gameplay can really shake up the multiplayer flow and offer some of the best fun you can have in a video game. Here are a few asymmetrical multiplayer titles that are guaranteed to give you a good time.

Depth

If you played the recent Maneater shark video game and wished you could tear your friends to bits with your massive great white jaws, then look no further than Depth. This asymmetrical multiplayer title pits sharks and scuba divers against each other. The fight for survival is at stake and only one team will triumph. Shark players play in classic third-person view, very similar to Maneater gameplay. They must hunt down the scuba divers until all have been devoured. Scuba divers play in first-person view and are equipped with guns and tools to help them survive the onslaught of man-eating beasts. If you have a fear of sharks or the deep ocean, this will be one of the scariest multiplayer games you will ever play.

Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2 is truly one of the greatest games ever made. It is a perfect zombie all-in-one package. Not only does it give players hordes of zombies to mow down throughout a replayable co-op campaign, but it also brings with it a much-loved multiplayer mode. Unlike the recent Back 4 Blood spiritual successor, Left 4 Dead 2’s multiplayer allows other players to invade your campaign and play as a mutated infected. This completely amps up the replayability of the same set of maps, even if they are not randomly generated. You do not need to rely on the map to give you a unique experience every time you play, instead, you can rely on other players to challenge you in new ways. Hopefully, Turtle Rock Studios listens to the diehard fans and brings back campaign invasions for Back 4 Blood.

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Blacklist

Ubisoft announced a few months ago that they are actively developing a remake for their beloved stealth franchise, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell. Following the hugely popular Metal Gear Solid series, Splinter Cell aimed at delivering a hyper-realistic and tactical stealth experience and completely reinvented the way stealth games can be played. When Splinter Cell Chaos Theory was released in 2005. It became the benchmark of graphic prowess and lighting effects. However, the real star of the show was the Spies Vs Mercs multiplayer mode. 

The 2v2 multiplayer game tasked the mercenaries with defending data from being stolen by the spies. The merc team played in first-person view and were equipped with full auto weapons and lethal equipment. Spies played in third-person view, identically to the main campaign but they are equipped with non-lethal weapons and gadgets. They must rely on their wits and stick to the shadows to outsmart the brute mercenaries. Sneaking up behind a mercenary and taunting him before snapping his neck were some of the most intense and satisfying gaming moments I’ve ever had playing multiplayer. Here is to hoping the new Splinter Cell Remake brings back that amazing cat and mouse gameplay to modern tech. Currently, there is a version of this multiplayer mode available to play in Splinter Cell: Blacklist, but unfortunately, Ubisoft does not update it anymore and the game has server issues very often so good luck getting into a game.

Dead By Daylight

You can't talk about asymmetrical multiplayer games without bringing up Dead By Daylight. This 4v1 multiplayer trope has helped spawn others like it, including Friday The 13th The Game and the newly announced Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed. Four survivors play in third-person view and try to escape the treacherous killer whose only objective is to slaughter all the survivors. The killer plays in first-person view and acts as a constant threat throughout gameplay. This cat and mouse type gameplay delivers some of the most intense you will find in any game. With the multiple perk and skill options for both survivors and killers alike, the amount of replayability this game offers is bonkers. But this one is definitely not for the faint of heart.

SCP: Secret Laboratory

This free-to-play SCP title is a horrific mess that brings about all kinds of fun and frustrations alike. I suggest playing this one with some friends and just enjoying what the game has to offer. There are multiple roles and teams that have their own unique gameplay mechanics and objectives in SCP: Secret Laboratory. Whether it’s prisoners or scientists, maybe nine-tailed fox or chaos insurgency, or even playing as an SCP; this game will keep you on your toes and is guaranteed to give you a unique experience every time you play it. It is by no means a masterpiece, but it deserves a mention because it pulls off what many other multiplayer games can't. The ability to offer multiple gameplay mechanics, unique to each individual team, that no match ever plays the same.

Asymmetrical multiplayer games are the best kind of fun you can ask for in a game. The fact that multiple teams offer different gameplay mechanics further raises the replayability of the game and can offer some of the most unique gaming experiences you won't find anywhere else. With new titles like Midnight Ghost Hunt, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, and the recently announced Splinter Cell Remake, there is clearly a demand for something new and exciting for the multiplayer scene.

So, when you’re fed up with getting shot by a camper in your favorite Battle Royale game, make sure you give some of these games a try. You’ll thank me later.