Summary
- PvP games like Nidhogg 2 offer quick, intense matches perfect for short gaming sessions or game nights with friends.
- Street Fighter 6 provides classic PvP fighting action with fast matches that don't drag on, ideal for players with limited time.
- Stick Fight: The Game delivers snappy PvP gameplay where rounds only last a few minutes, making it a great choice for casual gaming.
Player vs. Player games are among the most popular and commonly played in the world. MOBAs like League of Legends have millions of players, and other titles like Apex Legends and Fortnite boast consistent player bases. It's hard to deny that PvP is a massive draw for many gamers, whether it's team-based or a free-for-all.
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Although many PvP games are hugely popular, a lot of them have matches that can take a long time. League games usually run upwards of thirty minutes, and Apex Legends rounds last around twenty minutes. For those who lose interest quickly, it may seem like the most popular PvP games all take way too long to play. Luckily, there's a wide selection of games with quick matches for gamers who want snappy and fun sessions, where they can take on their friends without investing a large amount of time.
1 Nidhogg 2
Frustratingly Addictive
Nidhogg 2
- Released
- August 15, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Messhof Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Action
For those who have never encountered it, Nidhogg 2 is the much-improved sequel to the classic fighting game Nidhogg. But it's likely this two-player side-scroller is nothing like any game most players have encountered before. A mix of limited abilities and one-hit deaths makes this game incredibly fun but very intense.
The premise of Nidhogg 2 is to duel one's opponent, defeat them, and run as far as possible into their territory. The enemy player will respawn with a new weapon and needs to be defeated again to continue progress. The ultimate goal is to reach the end of the opposite side, which is three screens away. Nidhogg 2 is simple in theory, and usually, games don't last much more than a few minutes - but the best of the best might spend upwards of ten minutes trying to take each other out and win the game.
2 Street Fighter 6
Classic Fighting PvP
Street Fighter 6
- Released
- June 2, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Arcade
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Street Fighter 6 is the most recent installment in the classic fighting game series. It features three different modes, two of which center around PvP combat. Fighting Ground and Battle Hub encourage both local and online multiplayer, where gamers can fight until one person is victorious - much like the arcade style of the franchise's roots.
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Most Street Fighter 6 PvP matches only take a few minutes, and are very unlikely to run for a long time. It's the definitive fighting game, packaged with brilliant graphics and updated gameplay. Street Fight 6 is the perfect title for players who don't like long-winded games, and it's ideal to hop in with friends and go a few rounds during a spare hour.
3 Stick Fight: The Game
Snappy PvP
Stick Fight: The Game
- Released
- September 28, 2017
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Side-scroller, Fighting, Action
Stick Fight: The Game is exactly what it sounds like. Players assume the role of a stick figure and battle other players in a fast-paced fight to the death. It's for 2 to 4 players and can be played locally or online - making it the perfect, snappy PvP choice for a game night.
The whole point of this game is that the rounds are quick, often taking a few seconds and never usually more than a few minutes. Players can continue to go up against each other and obtain various weapons for new take-downs, racking up kills until one person remains victorious. The player who won the previous round will get a neat little crown, which makes it all the more fun to take them down.
4 Dead By Daylight
Escape Camp ASAP
Dead by Daylight
- Released
- June 14, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Behaviour Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia, Switch, Mobile
- Genre(s)
- Horror, Survival
Dead by Daylight is a multiplayer survival game where one player takes on the role of a killer, and the others become victims desperately trying to escape. It's a unique style of PvP that requires players to use specific perks and environmental aspects to win. Typically played as a 1v4, it's a fresh take on PvP games with a lot more focus on atmosphere and wits rather than brute force.
Most Dead by Daylight games take around twenty minutes, potentially longer if players are either very good or very bad. It's more complex than a lot of other PvP games, but it doesn't lose the intensity of player-on-player conflict, which makes it a nice in-between. While it is on the lengthier end of quick-to-play PvP titles, it provides a different enjoyment to dual/fighting-based games.
5 Rocket League
Fast-Paced Rounds
Rocket League
For those who have never played Rocket League, the game might look bizarre - probably because it kind of is. Rocket League is, at its core, a sports simulator where players go head-to-head in soccer. The catch: everyone is in a car.
This fast-paced, team-based PvP game has become massively popular since its release in 2015, quickly becoming a big name in esports. The best part is that Rocket League matches last around five minutes, so players can get a quick match in whenever they have some spare time. After five minutes, the game goes into sudden death where the next person to score wins the whole game - meaning there's very little chance of the game accidentally running over.
6 Brawlhalla
Speedy Fighting
Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is a Super Smash Bros. Style fighting game where players battle it out to see who's the best. A selection of different maps and game modes keep it interesting, and the controls are incredibly easy to learn. Whether it's 1v1 or a free-for-all, Brawlhalla is a brilliantly fun game that will have players cheering, raging, and celebrating victories. It's also another game that picked up a lot of traction in competitive esports, proving how popular it is.
For those who don't want to invest hours of their life, Brawlhalla matches typically only last a few minutes - even if players go multiple rounds in a row. As the characters take damage, they become progressively more likely to be knocked off-screen, and eventually, one person will be the sole survivor. A combination of the easy-to-learn mechanics and short matches make Brawlhalla an easy go-to during a few free minutes.
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