Single-player experiences in games are wonderful and, dare I say, critical to the medium. We need diversity, and some stories are better when you can go through them alone. But, that doesn’t mean those have to only offer a single-player option. There are plenty of amazing, story-heavy games out there that offer a balance. You can go alone, or you can participate in a separate, multiplayer experience that doesn’t detract from the campaign you came there for.
Resident Evil 6
Capcom has often tried to offer multiplayer options with its Resident Evil games. With Resident Evil 6 , people got some of the most advanced versions of these experiences. The campaign allowed you to go through two player and, in some instances four player, co-op. You could also have up to six people going through Mercenaries maps in Predator, Siege, and Survivor modes that had you working with and against one another. It was not only competent, but also fun.
Uncharted 4
The Uncharted 4 multiplayer was fairly basic. You might capture Command Sites for your team, Plunder an idol, fight in Team Deathmatches, and take part in Trials. Think of it as applying what you did in single-player to a multiplayer environment. What was especially nice about the Uncharted 4 multiplayer is that all of its maps and mode add-ons were free and every customization option could be unlocked by playing.
BioShock 2
BioShock 2’ s multiplayer player campaign is rather unique, as it provides people with more lore about Rapture. It is actually a full prequel campaign showing what happened before BioShock during the Rapture Civil War. You can side with Atlas or Andrew Ryan’s factions, fighting through the war and earning new Plasmids as you rise through the ranks. It’s a learning experience with plenty of logs and seven different modes. Plus, if you find a suit, you can even become a Big Daddy
Mass Effect 3
From Mass Effect 2 onward, the series had some rather solid gameplay. Mass Effect 3 capitalized on that by letting you collect characters that had different movesets and represented different classes, then head out with a group of three other people to fight in the war against the Reapers and Cerberus. In fact, your participation in these matches initially even worked toward your preparedness skill in the campaign. If people liked the main game’s gunplay, then the online multiplayer gave them more of it with a squad of (hopefully) competent allies.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is one of the finest farming simulations out there. It’s on every platform and gives people hours of activities. These are all solo affairs, of course. But, thanks to an update, there is a really fun way to play in the dirt with other people. You can have up to four people at once on a farm, with the others acting as farmhands and doing their own thing on your property. You can even marry each other in-game!
The Last of Us
While people were upset about The Last of Us: Part II not having multiplayer , there is something of a consolation prize. The original The Last of Us has a pretty great experience! You could choose to be one of the Fireflies or Hunters and go through 12 weeks attempting to help your clan survive. Your goal is to go through Interrogation, Supply Raid, and Survivors activities to keep your group healthy and going for another week.
Grand Theft Auto V
With Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games did something that might have seemed impossible. It created a GTA title that will last forever. Not with the base game and its solo campaign, though. No, I’m referring to Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer counterpart included in it. This has been receiving continuous updates since its 2013 launch, with the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows versions getting all sorts of new mechanics, modes, and things to spend in-game and real money on. A casino even opened in the game in 2019!