10 Best Games for LAN Parties (2026)

A LAN party is a popular gaming tradition that, while over the years, has begun fading into obscurity, remains the best way to enjoy games for LAN parties with friends. Nothing beats experiencing the thrills and high-stakes scenarios of an action-intensive game together.

Whether a co-op or competitive multiplayer LAN-supported game, you can always call out to your friends in the same room with you to double down on gunfire or help you solve a puzzle. LAN parties are a gaming hobby that brings friends and strangers together, sharing the same physical space and playing the same game via individual PCs and consoles. 

Besides bonding, LAN parties also enable low-latency connections that ensure faster load times, better live streaming, and smoother gaming experiences. So, if you’re planning to host a LAN party or attend one, we highly recommend adding the following best games for LAN parties this year to your list of considerations.

10. Unreal Tournament

Unreal Tournament’s first-person shooter LAN gameplay dates back to 1999. It’s the OG that sets the pace for unleashing gunfire on opponents with precise movement and skill. 

Building on the “kill or be killed” slogan, the game’s gladiatorial combat has gone on to inspire and influence many FPS games of today. That alone makes it deserving among the best games for LAN parties this year.

9. Terraria

Minecraft has remained a popular multiplayer sandbox game. However, a new kid in town called Terraria is giving Minecraft a run for its money. This action-packed adventure game offers immense depth into the world of digging. You never know what you might find in the depths of the Earth, whether ferocious bosses, bountiful treasure, or potential safe havens for your growing community.

8. Marvel Rivals

Next up among the best games for LAN parties this year is Marvel Rivals. It’s a superhero team-based PvP shooter that’s pretty easy to catch on. Simply build your strongest superhero and villain team, combining their powers and strengths, and take out all Marvel rivals who stand in your way. 

7. Warcraft III

If the gamers attending your LAN party are die-hard RTS fans, then Warcraft III would be a spectacular option to consider. It’s a classic whose gameplay has stood the test of time. By blending RTS and RPG mechanics, you enjoy a rich playthrough. Every mission is packed with fun and unique in-depth missions. 

Given the original Warcraft III launched in 2002, though, you might want to consider playing the remastered Warcraft III: Reforged version. Though granted, Blizzard could have done a lot more than simply revamping the graphics. It’s a remaster that stays true to the original and suffers for it, resulting in an overall underwhelming package.

6. Overcooked

But choosing Warcraft III is only if you’re dedicated to time past. If you’d rather have a more modern LAN party, try Overcooked. This absolute mayhem of a game has gamers hooked with its hilarious cooking simulation. Rather than respect the adage about too many cooks spoiling the broth, Overcooked has you and your friends all chiming in the preparation of various meals. 

It’s beautiful chaos to panic over the right ingredients to stir into the pot and whether your customers will be happy with the end result. Yet doing it together with friends makes it all the more worthwhile. 

At first, it’ll be easy to satisfy customers. However, the restaurant will become more packed and in the rush of meeting every demand, you’re bound to make mistakes. And that’s when friendships, marriages even, will be pushed to the limits –all in good fun, though.

5. Age of Empires II

Another popular RTS you can spend days and weeks on end with is Age of Empires II. It’s the very definition of it taking a village to build an empire. Yet the players in the LAN party can easily turn on each other. After all, there can only be one reigning civilization; there can only be one ruler setting a legacy for the years to come.

4. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

The definitive way to play Halo multiplayer modes is via Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It has six Halo mainline games, that’s 67 campaign missions, all of which have nostalgic memories you might want to revisit with your LAN party. 

3. Chained Together

It’s good to, once in a while, throw in a game that isn’t as popular as the other best games for LAN parties on this list, just to keep things interesting. One game you can consider, with still “very positive” reviews, is Chained Together.  

This parkour game chains all the players together and then charges them with escaping scorching heat by climbing as high as possible, all the way to the summit. You can make the climb up to the top as easy or as difficult as you like. Either way, there can be no player left behind. 

2. Left 4 Dead 2

As much as zombie survival games can be fun when competing online, they become way more intense locally, within the same room. Games like Left 4 Dead 2 are often a depiction of a different world where survival is for the fittest. And when push comes to shove, you can be forced to betray your friends. 

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

LAN parties don’t always have to be so serious. You can host a LAN party themed around kart racing. And what better game to add to your roster than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? It’s the best kart racer in the gaming world, giving you a whopping ton of racing tracks, the biggest Mario roster ever, lots of game modes, and more.  

Kart racers aren’t your typical racing games. Sure, you want to be the first to cross the finish line. However, the fun lies on the tracks where you’re allowed to break the rules. You can derail opponents by firing shots at them or get a leg up on the competition using speed boosters. Meanwhile, you have to watch out for obstacles that can slow you down.