Whether it’s puzzling strategy games or hilarious battle royales, the amount of free online games you can play with friends is growing quickly.
As an international student, these fun online games can be an excellent way to stay connected to family and friends back home. Or, they can offer a cheap and entertaining night-in with local friends (or, a way to meet new people!).
With a huge variety of games to choose from, such as free online card games or team-focused strategy games, there is a game to suit all tastes. Let’s take you through some of the best free online multiplayer games to try.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Genre: Battle royale/party game
Number of players: Up to 60
Best feature: Fun, chaotic obstacle courses
For some light-hearted fun, try Fall Guys. This free-to-play battle royale game pits you against 59 other players in a series of wacky and unpredictable obstacle courses. It’s like a game show where you’re one of the contestants! Perfect for a game night with friends, Fall Guys will have you laughing as you dodge, dive, and dash to victory.
Valorant
Genre: First-person shooter
Number of players: 5v5
Best feature: Tactical gameplay and teamwork
Looking for some tactical action? Valorant is a fantastic choice. This free-to-play first-person shooter lets you and your friends form a squad and outsmart the competition. With a variety of agents to choose from, each with unique abilities, every match brings something new and exciting. Whether you’re planting the spike or defending it, Valorant keeps the adrenaline pumping!
League of Legends
Genre: Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)
Number of players: 1-5
Best feature: The enormous variety of characters (there are 161 to choose from!)
If you’re looking for online games to play with friends that require some practice and skill, League of Legends (LoL) is the perfect option. This extremely popular game relies on teamwork to defend your own ‘Nexus’ and destroy opposing teams. There are more than 140 unique ‘champions’ to play as, which allows you to find your favourite playstyle and master it. For example, if you’d prefer a character that can fight from a distance, there’s an option for that. Maybe you’d rather have a sneaky character with powers of invisibility – there are champions that do that, too!
League of Legends will guarantee that you and your friends stay in contact, no matter the distance, through in-game communication. You can make new friends this way, too.
Among Us
Genre: Survival
Number of players: 4-15
Best feature: Hilarious discussions
Do you think you can trust your friends? Among Us might be the best online game to put that trust to the test…
Among Us is an atmospheric survival game where you are joined by up to 15 players. Use your deception and detective skills to work out who among your group of players is a killer. Players meet for discussion throughout the game, which leads to some hilarious accusations. Among Us is free on iOS and Android.
Rocket League
Genre: Sports
Number of players: 1-4 per team
Best feature: Cross-platform play
Ever wondered what happens when you combine soccer with rocket-powered cars? Rocket League is the answer! This high-octane game lets you and your friends compete in thrilling matches where you zoom, flip, and boost your way to scoring goals. The best part? Rocket League supports cross-platform play, so you can team up with friends no matter what device they’re on. It’s fast, fun, and free-to-play!
Brawl Stars
Genre: MOBA
Number of players: 1-3
Best feature: Portability
Brawl Stars is a fun game to play with your friends online while you’re on the move (like when you’re stuck on public transport) as it’s available for free on iOS and Android phones. One of the best things about Brawl Stars is that each match takes up to five minutes, so you can sneak in a quick game before a lecture starts or during a study break.
Fortnite
Genre: Battle royale
Number of players: Up to 4 per team
Best feature: Celebrity ‘skins’ you can dress your character in (see if you can spot any Ariana Grande or Keanu Reeves as John Wick lookalikes in-game)
Famous for the viral dance trends it has spawned, Fortnite is one of the world’s most popular battle-style games, with thousands of concurrent players every day. There are three game modes, but only Battle Royale and Creative are free to play. Battle Royale is a player-versus-player battle, where you fight to survive against 99 other contestants. In Creative, you can create and publish your own custom islands, or explore the islands of others in the online community.
It’s easy to play with friends, and you can even join the same game regardless of the console you’re using.
Apex Legends
Genre: Battle royale
Number of players: Up to 3 per squad
Best feature: Unique character abilities
Looking for a game that’s all about fast-paced action and teamwork? Apex Legends is where it’s at. Jump into this free-to-play battle royale with your squad of up to three players and experience intense matches that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Pick from a lineup of cool characters, each with unique abilities that can totally change the game.
Genshin Impact
Genre: Action role-playing
Number of players: Up to 4 in co-op mode
Best feature: Expansive open world and engaging story
Ready for an adventure? Genshin Impact immerses you in the beautiful world of Teyvat, filled with quests, puzzles, and epic battles. Team up with friends in co-op mode to explore stunning landscapes and uncover the secrets of this magical realm. Best of all, it’s free! With regular updates bringing new characters and events, there’s always something new to discover.
Board Game Arena
Genre: Everything from multiplayer board games to card games
Number of players: It depends!
Best feature: The variety of games available
Board Game Arena is a free online multiplayer game that gives you access to hundreds of board games, allowing you to enjoy your favourite board games with your buddies, even if you’re not in the same room (or country!). You can pick from classic games like CATAN and Yahtzee, or discover something new.
