VGChartz’s Lee Mehr: “Whether looking back at Tennis for Two as the first competitive video game, Spacewar! as the first documented case of an e-Sport tournament, or the first pure cooperative experience in Fire Truck, multiplayer has been a cornerstone of gaming. Today, it’s now the driving force in both multi-million-dollar competitions and social interactions – for better or worse. Publishing executives have collectively sacrificed fat stacks and reputable game studios for the faint hope of discovering a new Fortnite. From Sony to Microsoft to Ubisoft, this frenzied chase for the next diamond mine has fundamentally altered publishers’ output trajectory – both in quantity and style.
Even with such unfortunate business realities, there’s still a bright side: the successes that capture the spirit of competition, comradery, or both simultaneously. As evidenced below, 2025 was a commendable year for multiplayer of any stripe. Each of our finalists captured special stories that we won’t soon forget, from last-second goals to valiant comebacks against all odds.”
