5 Best Asymmetrical Multiplayer Games in 2023

Asymmetrical multiplayer games are among some of the most sought-after experiences on the current market, and rightfully so, what with their worlds forever receiving new material and seasonal patches. In 2023 alone, the division itself is home to a network of engrossing horrors and flourishing indies—a world that only continues to thrive for all the while creators pursue new avenues to either forge or expand.

So, what is it that makes the asymmetrical blueprint sparkle, and why are so many developers looking to cash in on the concept in 2023? Perhaps it’s due to the roaring success of Dead by Daylight, or the simple fact that such games have the flexibility to survive way beyond their sell-by dates? Whatever the recipe for success is, one thing is becoming abundantly clear: certain asymmetrical multiplayer games have managed to master the concoction, tenfold. Speaking of which, these are the five that are still going strong in 2023.

5. Dead by Daylight

Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical survival horror game that’s still crunching all the same numbers as it was back in 2016. With Nicolas Cage joining the roster in 2023, the ever-popular all-star of episodic tales will now have in its possession, what, dozens of chapters? From Halloween to Friday the 13th, Stranger Things to Scream, Dead by Daylight holds the right to be considered one of the best all-in-one multiplayer games ever created—a legacy that will double in size as 2023 draws to a close, no doubt.

For those who don’t know or have yet to immerse in the highly praised asymmetrical horror, Dead by Daylight is a four-versus-one multiplayer game. As either one of four survivors or a prolific killer, you must work to either flee the clutches of your pursuer as a team, or activate traps and stealth takedowns to eliminate the opposition until all but one remains. Simple enough, right? On paper, yes. When in the thick of it and up to your neck in paranoia, however — not quite as much. Entertaining all the same, of course.

4. Secret Neighbor

It’s best not to be fooled by the Disney-Pixar visuals; Secret Neighbor isn’t your family-friendly adventure game. Visually, it’s on par with a wide selection of happy-go-lucky point-and-click titles, sure. But mechanically, it’s a little more sinister, as it depicts a series of local kidnappings that relate to one individual and one individual only — Mr. Peterson, the all-seeing neighbor who just so happens to be behind a string of unnerving suburban mysteries.

Secret Neighbor is the follow-up chapter to the highly acclaimed single-player series Hello Neighbor. Billed with an asymmetrical twist, players are invited to embark on a new teeth-shattering journey as either a local kid trying to rescue their friend from the kidnappers eerie basement, or Mr. Peterson himself, who’s disguised as one of the misfits trying to trespass for the greater good. Your goal? Divide your friends from the suspected kidnapper, and do all in your power to crack the puzzles between the front door and the ever-elusive basement. Time’s a wastin’, folks.

3. Evil Dead: The Game

For those who found solace in the confines of Dead by Daylight and its network of asymmetrical nightmares, Evil Dead: The Game is an ideal stepping stone that’ll take you to a whole other level of multiplayer madness. Furthermore, if Ash Williams, the boomstick-wielding demon slayer of the cult classic Evil Dead saga, is your go-to Friday night figurehead, then you’re in for a real treat with Saber Interactive’s recent video game adaptation.

Its idea, much like the one featured in Dead by Daylight, revolves around two warring factions — the survivors, and the demons. As one of the two, players must work together to eliminate the opposing team in a timely manner, either through the use of traps, stealth, or dumb luck and nothing more. With all the iconic locations, characters, and weapons from the horror anthology in tow, Evil Dead enthusiasts can finally live out their wildest fantasies of being front and center in the thick of the award-winning horror. Need we say more? “Hail to the King, baby.”

2. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes may look like it’s somewhat lacking in graphical innovations, but it certainly makes up for it with its nerve-wracking gameplay style and replayability. Why? Well, because the whole point of it is to not only defuse a bomb while also blindfolded, but to take informal instructions from a bunch of strangers who just so happen to hold each of your lives in the palms of their hands. Oh, and the instruction manual on how to defuse it, also.

The idea is simple: defuse a bomb before it goes boom. How do you go about doing that, exactly? Why, through the power of communication, of course. Thanks to two of the players on your team having the leaflet on Explosives 101, your chances of surviving the five-minute death ordeal is, well, somewhat slim. Whatever the case, bring a strong team to the table and you’ll no doubt have the timer sweating bullets.

1. Back 4 Blood

If you’re old enough to remember the heigh of Left 4 Dead’s popularity, then you’ll no doubt have already heard of Turtle Rock Studios love letter, Back 4 Blood. If not, then one can only really describe it as a spiritual remake for modern hardware, and one that just so happens to be a pretty darn good asymmetrical online game, too, as it goes. And while its standard campaign mode is a treat in itself, it’s really the versus mode that draws the lion’s share of the attention these days.

The game’s versus mode, which serves as just one of the options on an entire docket of cards, has four survivors fight against four Ridden, or zombies, if you’d prefer. It’s without a campaign like the ones featured in the beloved Left 4 Dead series, but it does boast a healthy selection of maps, characters, and abilities nonetheless. One of the best asymmetrical multiplayer games of the year? Not by a long shot. For what it’s worth, though, it’s still a pretty solid alternative to a few other watered-down replicas out there.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up any of the above five asymmetrical multiplayer games? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.