3 blood-pumping free multiplayer games on Steam for sure-fire LAN fun
1. BlasterBeat is a surprisingly deep PvP-shooter rhythm game
Released on June 9, 2023, BlasterBeat is a new PvP arena-rhythm-shooter that is set to fast-paced electronic music and offers a little more depth than just clicking on the beat.
Players face off in head-to-head battles while beat-matching to custom-made beats that not only dictate when you should attack but also modify the attack depending on the weapon used. The game is also quite pleasing on the eyes, resembling something akin to a shinier, more polished Fortnite.
BlasterBeat's matches are small, accommodating up to eight players, and the arenas they take place in are quite varied, allowing for a range of different tactical approaches across each match. BlasterBeat's music is also all custom-made for the game, so there's no concern about copyright nonsense when streaming the game.
2. Eternal Return is a chaotic battle-royale-hero-shooter-MOBA-survivalcraft mishmash
Eternal Return is not as new as the other games on this list, having launched in 2020, but it's worth having a look at if you're after something different. Eternal Return is a bit of a genre-melding experience, with elements taken from battle royale and MOBA games and mixed in with melee fighter and survival mechanics. It is topped off with a healthy dose of anime visuals to make something quite unique.
This oddball game puts players in control of one of up to 24 extraordinary humans — of a roster of 65 champions with special abilities — that battle it out in an arena to be the last man standing. Not only must players duke it out to come out on top, but they must also hunt and search for all manner of crafting materials to make new armour, weapons, consumables, and tactical gear.
Eternal Return features a 2.5D perspective for a bit of a retro feel, while the game's combat features everything from guns to chainsaws, shuriken, Japanese longbows, and war hammers. There's bound to be something that appeals to you in Eternal Return's combat.
3. Formula Bwoah: Online Multiplayer Racing is an arcade-like F1 racing game
Formula Bwoah is a free multiplayer Formula 1 racing game with the added challenge of a third-person isometric perspective. This particular racing game focusses on skilful driving and multiplayer mayhem more than anything else — especially thanks to the recent update that added a ten-player party mode to play with friends.
Don't let the simple graphics fool you; there is some depth to Formula Bwoah, including pit stops, engine modes, and unpredictable weather conditions — with matching tyre-change mechanics, to boot.
The top-down isometric view and vibrant colours do wonders to give this little racer a proper retro feel, while the no-frills gameplay draws out the competitive rage in anyone that loves a good fast-paced multiplayer racing game.
Formula Bwoah is one of those rare mobile game ports that actually makes some sense on PC, and the fact that it's a mobile port also means there's a much wider audience to play and practice against.
