Single-player, non-online games aren't the norm when it comes to how people play games now. In fact, even some solo-campaign games require online connections for specific features. But before World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV dominated the MMORPG scene, and before Call of Duty dominated hard drive space, there were games like Starcraft. And even before that, there were ARPAnet games. In fact, there were even multiplayer games dating back to the 1940s.
Obviously, no one was logging on for a quick Battle Royale match in 1987. But video games that adopted or adapted to the internet each made their marks on the future of online gaming as an industry. From starting subscription services to hosting their own servers, these games pioneered online multiplayer games.
Updated on December 21, 2022, by Levana Chester-Londt: Back in the day, gaming used to be a fairly solitary venture (besides the occasional LAN, which often required carting oversized equipment around). Nowadays, there is a strong social aspect to video games, mostly thanks to online multiplayer features helping people connect from across the globe.
While playing against AI bots has its own stress-free charm, nothing quite beats competing against real people, as that predictable, systematic approach is usually thrown right out the window. The first generation of gamers had to tough it out before being able to appreciate the ultimate online multiplayer escapades.
20 Duke Nukem (1991)
- Released: 1991
- Developer: Apogee Software
- Platform: PC
Originally distributed to the masses via a Floppy Disc format, Duke Nukem is set in a dystopian future (of 1997) and was arguably the closest old-school players got to a first-person shooter experience. Trying to rid the world of a formidable Techbot army run by a radioactive mad scientist, Duke Nukem adds a strong story element to its side-scrolling gameplay, intriguing fans immensely, who just kept coming back for more.
Several editions of this epic game have been released over the years, with Duke Nukem Forever as the most recent installment (2011); however, it was the revolutionary Duke Nukem 3D that won the popularity poles overall. Humour is a fundamental element of Duke's adventures through Shrapnel City and beyond, and spin-off games have also been created for the likes of PlayStation and Nintendo 64 to appease even more Duke enthusiasts.
19 Worms (1995)
- Released: 1995
- Developer: Team17
- Platform: PC, Playstation, Saturn, Game Boy
Tank games may not be the most popular genre around, as they may seem relatively simple at face value; however, players require a strategic mind to enjoy the full potential of Worms. With icons like Artillery and Lemmings in their rearview mirror, these creepy crawlies set themselves apart from the rest with their wacky comedic content and unique animation style.
The fun intensifies further when more contenders enter the battlefield, as fighting a friend with an absurd and ridiculous army of worms is a rib-tickling experience indeed! These wiggly creatures have since dominated the turn-based artillery game industry, with Worms Rumble (2000) as the most recent addition to the online multiplayer realm.
18 Heroes of Might and Magic (1995)
- Released: 1995
- Developer: New World Computing
- Platform: PC
Paving the way for popular RPGs such as Fire Emblem and Dragon Quest, this classic turn-based fantasy adventure has been going strong since the very beginning, debuting with Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest. With more than twenty additions made to the franchise (expansions included), it is safe to say the concept was a huge success!
Heroes' entire energy is perfect for the online world; however, in the beginning, fans were content to play against the PC as they attempted to dominate the realm with their mythological army. The subtle RPG element also shines through, as players must find artifacts, increase their experience and learn magical abilities while conquering enemy villages and fighting foes along the way.
17 Diablo (1996)
- Released: 1996
- Developer: Blizzard North
- Platform: PC and PlayStation
As the top-selling RPG's of its time, Diablo dazzled players by allowing them to get the full hack-and-slash experience while dungeon-crawling through Khanduras in search of the diabolical Big Boss. Players could venture on a solo quest or form a party of up to four members, fulfilling the roles of Warrior, Rogue, or Sorceror.
While most players only jumped onto the bandwagon in 2012 with Diablo III with its updated online multiplayer features; however, many die-hard fans feel the new installment lacks that magical essence that the first two games perfectly encapsulated. Diablo has made a distinctive impression on the gaming world, regardless.
16 Half-Life (1998)
- Released: 1998
- Developer: Valve
- Platform: PC and Playstation
This revolutionary sci-fi/horror first-person shooter game begins mid-journey, traveling towards Black Mesa Research Facility (a trope that Skyrim fans are very familiar with.) Unlike other storytelling methods, Half-Life players aren't forced into following a certain path, giving the game a more realistic, almost open-world feel to it.
The survival mode set-up emphasizes the horror aspect that has overwhelmed Dr. Gordon Freeman's entire existence, as the world has become overrun with grotesque, Giger-styled alien creatures who appear to have developed a taste for human flesh.
15 Sega Rally Championship (1996)
- Released: 1994
- Developer: Sega AM3
- Platform: Arcade, Game Boy Advance, N-Gage, PC, Sega Saturn
Released in 1994, Sega Rally was one of the first games to take advantage of the Sega Saturn's Netlink Modem add-on for online play in 1996. The Netlink hardware ran at 28.8kps and ran Sega Rally on the Planetweb browser and allowed players to compete online.
Sega Rally was already a groundbreaking title at the time of its release with its performance, terrain variety, and speed. The game performed beautifully at the time of its release and would serve as Sega's first successful dip into online console gaming before Dreamcast.
14 ChuChu Rocket (1999)
- Released: 1999
- Developer: Sonic Team
- Platform: Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance, iOS, and Android
Originally developed as a means to test the stability and online capabilities of the Sega Dreamcast, ChuChu Rocket was a groundbreaking little game that proved to be one of Dreamcast's most popular titles.
The game adopted a classically retro style but the chaotic action featured several characters on the screen at once. ChuChu Rocket proved that even though it was in its infancy, online console gaming was more than just a pipe dream.
13 Phantasy Star Online (2000)
- Released: 2000
- Developer: Sonic Team
- Platform: Dreamcast, GameCube, PC, and Xbox
Released in 2000, Sonic Team took the long-running Phantasy Star JRPG series online and launched the first online console RPG. A huge leap in terms of visuals when compared to ChuChu Rocket, Phantasy Star Online broke new ground influencing the likes of Final Fantasy 11 and even the Monster Hunter series.
Phantasy Star Online is still played today on private servers and is still looked upon as a landmark title for console gaming with its glimpse into the future; its legacy lives on with Phantasy Star Online 2, which was released in the West in 2020 on the Xbox One.
12 Neverwinter Nights (1991)
- Released: 1991
- Developer: Beyond Software
- Platform: MS-DOS
Long before Bioware broke hearts with an egg who called himself the Dread Wolf, they created the world's first game capable of online multiplayer. The internet officially launched in 1983, so online gaming was still in its infancy in the early 90s. Neverwinter Nights combined several key facets: third-person, RPG elements, a Dungeons & Dragons framework, and game hosting.
Each server is allotted for up to ninety-six players, as well as a Dungeon Master. Neverwinter Nights also included combat arena modules and persistent world modules. It lacked a global chat but had individual chat rooms and truly set the tone for all online multiplayer games moving forward. Fun fact: the game also launched alongside America Online (AOL).
11 Doom (1994 - 1995)
- Released: 1993
- Developer: id Software
- Platform: 3DO, Acorn Risc, Amiga OS, Linux, Game Boy Advance, iOS, MS-DOS, Sega 32X, Atari Jaguar, Mac OS, SNES, Sega Saturn, Switch, and Xbox 360
Though cheat codes aren't so popular anymore, they became a thing thanks, in part, to Doom's multiplayer. The original game launched in 1994 with LAN co-op and deathmatch modes. But the game released an online multiplayer update in 1996 using the DWANGO service. The "Dial-up Wide-Area Network Game Operation" worked as a matchmaking service as developed by a company in Houston, Texas. The service went on to fuel Doom II, Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior, and more.
Doom players eventually developed cheat codes for invulnerability, instant kills, weapon unlocks, and more. Not only was this game a pioneer of online multiplayer, but it also sparked what would become a robust hacking movement within video games.