Summary
In the modern video game era, multiplayer titles reign supreme. Whether it be a first-person shooter, a battle royale, or a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena), there are not many gamers that brand themselves as exclusive to single-player titles.
With so many massively popular multiplayer titles in the industry right now, developers are beginning to flesh out their gameswith rich lorethat can hopefully maintain the interest of their player base. Gamers are now able to fully immerse themselves in their favorite gameworlds through beautifully crafted universes that keep providing new and interesting pieces of lore that keep players engaged with these games outside their screen time,
An extremely popular battle royale,Apex Legendshas captivated gaming audiences with its high-octane gameplay and its gratifying movement. The game’s popularity is heightened by itswide array of playable charactersthat players can choose from before dropping into the various maps.
Each champion has their own unique abilities that can contribute to a team’s playstyle, as well as their own biographies that give some interesting backstories to some of the players' favorite “champions”. There are long-lost siblings, ex-best friends, an egotistical party animal, and an immortal, robot-mercenary obsessed with revenge… chaotic, right?
Arrowhead Studios delivered acooperative third-person shooterthat shook the internet. People became obsessed with the chaotic shooter that satiated the destructive needs of millions across the globe, allowing them to mow down and obliterate hundreds upon hundreds of bugs and robots with their friends.
The satirical, tongue-in-cheek nature ofHelldivers’lore massively helped in the game’s booming popularity. With the farfetched propaganda and the heroic music that soundtracks the players' stroll around their ship, it feels as if Arrowhead have transported players into the game’s intergalactic war, fighting under the “managed democracy” of Super Earth and battling against the infectious invaders of the planet’s supposed territories.
With over 150 million registered players, it is safe to say thatLoLis one of the most famous games of all time. Amultiplayer online battle arena(MOBA) game that utilizes over 150 different characters to create unique gameplay scenarios for each side of the battle.
Much likeApex Legends,LoLuses “champions” that each have their own unique backstory that helps endear these characters to the players. Riot Games has attempted to further extend the depth of this lore with the release of the Netflix series"Arcane"in 2021. The show is an exploration into the origins of two of the game’s champions: Sisters Jinx and Vi.
Following in the same vein,Among Usis also venturing into the world of television in an attempt to expand on its lore. The hugely successful social deduction game will see its iconic “crewmates” in ananimated television seriesvoiced by some very big names, including Elijah Wood, Patton Oswalt, and Liv Hewson.
Whilst there is very little known about the direction of the TV show at this point, creators InnerSloth will be hoping to provide some essential backstories to the mysterious, non-verbal yet loveable crewmates ofAmong Us.
The best-selling computer game of 1998,Starcraftis a giant in thereal-time strategy genre. Whilst the single-player is still very strong, its immense popularity came through its multiplayer game mode that was conducted through Blizzard’s Battle.net system.
Due to its huge player base throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, the series has gone on to expand into other forms of media, with various novels being published that expand on the complex lore of the Terran, Zerg, and Protoss races. These three playable factions all have dedicated wiki pages that explain their history, physiology, and their culture.
Another iconic title of the early 2000s,this MMORPG stillhas a massive fanbase to this day. With recurring updates every week, developers Jagex have kept players engaged with the world of Gielinor and the accompanying lore.
With inspiration from a collection of different mythologies and certain nods to the works of HP Lovecraft, the game world is sprawling with interesting tidbits and quirky characters that make it a truly immersive experience.
From one iconic MMORPG to the next, WoW’s open world is brimming with intricate lore. The history and storylines of the game are so complex that players have laboriously crafted an encyclopedic wiki, Wowpedia, that is dedicated to explaining every single different facet of the game world.
There are major religions, a class system, rivaling clans, different languages, and a plethora of expanded media that delves even further into the rich and fruitful lore of the hugely popular game.
TheFalloutserieshave all been single-player titles up until the release ofFallout 76but this multiplayer role-playing game incorporates all the charisma and charm of the previous iterations into a new setting that leans on the series' rich lore.
Whilst76is the newest game in the series, the setting of the game sits first in the chronological timeline, meaning that the events withinFallout 76give explanations and meaning behind some important pieces of lore in the later games, such as the origins of the Brotherhood of Steel or further exploration into the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV).
The emergence ofFortnitesaw players flocking to play aninnovative battle royalethat provided fast, fun gameplay with interesting building mechanics. Years later, this multiplayer phenomenon has been coined as one of the most popular games of all time with an ambitious, evolving storyline that onlyMarvelcould match.
Fortnite’slive in-game events have immersed players into the chaotic sci-fi storyline, incorporating some outlandish characters, such as Ariana Grande, Batman, and even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
LikeFallout 76, this entry comes on the technicality that it shares the same universe as the previous single-player iterations in theStar Warsvideo game franchise. Whilst still a hugely popular game in its own right,The Old Republicis a vessel for the manyStar Warsfanaticsto live their Jedi dream through their own personalized characters in theStar Warsuniverse.
One of the biggest IPs in entertainment history, this MMORPG is full of nods to the classic film franchise, which is a good enough reason for many to play and enjoy the game.
