Multiplayer Games With Matches That Can Last Hours

Most one-on-one fighting games like Mortal Kombat tend to host multiplayer matches that typically last a bare few minutes before needing to switch characters (or the game entirely). If you’re lucky, these types of games can hype a crowd enough to keep the party going all night. But even so, you’d likely have to switch between players, competing to see who’s the best of the best. 

Did you know, though, that there are multiplayer games that can take hours to complete? Some games, often of the strategy genre, demand that players start with nothing and gradually collect and craft useful items to build an empire after their own heart. They would then manage resources and protect their people with their lives. Some adventure games will curate a story, perhaps a path to save the world from destruction. Still, you can have tactical shooters that take hours to acquire new territory. 

It can become a ritual to meet up with friends every Wednesday or so to pick up where you left off. Some hangouts may even take days, months, or more to finish the game completely, thanks to periodic updates every now and then. Sounds exciting? Well, we’ve searched for multiplayer games that will keep you and your pals entertained for longer periods of time. Here are the best multiplayer games with matches that can last hours that we could find.

5. Civilization 6

To kick things off in multiplayer games with matches that can last hours, we have Civilization 6, a turn-based strategy 4X game that is the latest in the critically acclaimed Civilization franchise. Its premise is simple. Build an empire, expand your territory, and defend it against history’s greatest adversaries. Perhaps the coolest selling point of Civilization 6 is the opportunity to witness an alternate version of history. Furthermore, no two empires will be the same. So, each time you build, a different turn of events could ensue.

It’s a fantastic game that gives you the freedom to make difficult choices for the good of society. You may find yourself taking routes you normally wouldn’t take. All along, influencing the course of events down history lane. It’s best to have a strategy that can take hours to perfect. When teaming up with friends, it can take days to realize action plans, especially if you invest plenty of resources into your civilization, building strong armies, mines, lumber mills, and whatever else it takes to win. 

4. Rust

Alternatively, consider playing Rust, a multiplayer-only survival game that literally wants you to fight for your life. Slack for a minute, and Rust devours you whole. Players get sent down to a harsh open world where everything, from wildlife to other survivors to the environment itself, wants them dead. The only way to survive is to honor the “every man for himself” adage. Because of limited resources, players scramble, taking as much as they can while also securing a formidable base to keep their belongings safe.

True, Rust isn’t like most multiplayer games on this list. Still, it has commendable potential to last for hours, especially since a new match starts afresh every last Thursday of the month, at which point all cards are thrust on the table and a whole new “survival for the fittest” ordeal begins.

3. Super Mario Party

Super Mario Party is an entertaining party game that is ideal for hosting a memorable game night with friends. It offers an enjoyable and engaging experience that can keep everyone entertained for extended periods without the risk of boredom.

The game offers 80 new minigames to play with friends. You’re free to host the party online or offline. Either way, the games offer hours’ worth of supercharged fun thanks to the dynamic puzzles of Toad’s Rec Room and overall more strategic board games.

That said, playing Super Mario Party can get a little stale after crowning a few winners. After all, one can only play so many boards and minigames before craving something different. Still, it doesn’t negate the potential for a truly fun time, especially when you choose longer matches.

2. Stellaris

Among all the games on this list of multiplayer games with matches that can last hours, Stellaris is perhaps the longest. It’s a 4X sci-fi grand strategy game where space lovers can pour hours into exploring the galaxy and all its wonders. From time to time, you’ll run into alien races, some friendly, others not so friendly. Some matches may prove challenging enough to take as much as thirty hours to complete. 

To protect your people, you’ll need to send out science ships into deep space to search for new technology you can use. There’s plenty of space to cover, with the game featuring vast procedurally generated galaxies. In fact, there are over a thousand planets you can explore, all offering something different. 

By forging a galactic empire, you can protect your people from harm as well as have the means to investigate anomalies. Yet keep in mind that without a good strategy, you could lose it all. 

1. Arma 3

Arma 3 is a massive open-world military tactical shooter for players who like to take on combat missions. It has over 20 vehicles, including armored vehicles, helicopters, and jets. Plus, there are over 40 weapons to switch between on the fly. It’s nearly like modern warfare, except Arma 3, like its series, has managed to curate unparalleled war stories and take the king of military simulation crown home.

Some matches may take 30 minutes to complete. Still, other privately organized missions may need a little more strategic thinking and planning before going into battle. Perhaps you’ll need tanks to roll across dusty plains or a helicopter to rain hellfire over dense forests. The missions vary, too, with some posing a greater challenge than others. When combined, Arma 3 makes for an engaging war game with over 290 km² of Mediterranean island terrain packed to the brim with plenty of tactical opportunities. 

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our multiplayer games with matches that can last hours? Are there more games we should know about? Let us know over on our socials here.