Playing with friends or even strangers should be a fun thing to do, but unfortunately, these games will give players nothing but headaches, at least for rookies. Because at the end of the day, what's the point of playing games if you don't have fun? For some players, the adrenalin rush of a challenge is the fun part.
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No matter what reason, whether it is for its fast-paced environment like Call of Duty: Warzone or its horrendous scripting issue like FIFA/Madden Ultimate Team mode, or its perplexing tactics like Dota 2, mastering these games can be frustrating. These are the ten hardest online multiplayer games, ranked.
Updated by Kristy Ambrose on March 20th, 2021: Just because you and your friends have to stay at home doesn't mean that you can't be together. Online video games are one way to have fun in a group without actually being in one, and today we have modern technology that allows people to share a virtual space. The new entries on the list are less about a serious challenge and more about having fun with your friends when you have to stay at home. That's doesn't mean these are easysauce, though, so you've been warned.
13 Club Penguin
It might sound laughable to include Disney's Club Penguin on this list, but it was a hard massive-multiplayer game to master for a beginner. Although it's designed for children, Club Penguin required a certain amount of dedication to purchase more giant igloos, which served as players' penguin base.
Unfortunately, as of this writing, Club Penguin was already shut down in 2017. Many fans duplicate the game onto another website, but most of them have been taken down by the DMCA.
12 Apex Legends
Any FPS game is going to require some teamwork and planning, which add a layer of difficulty to a game that's also multiplayer, online, and role-playing. When the game was first released, it focused on groups of three players, but since then single and two-player modes have also been added.
The main draw is the battle-royale environment and the inclusion of elements from fantasy, science fiction, and a variety of other genres. That's part of the appeal of Apex Legends for groups that want to game, interact, and create unique characters. Other advantages include free-to-play status, although there are a variety of microtransactions from which to choose, and cross-platform play capabilities.
11 FIFA/Madden Ultimate Team Mode
There is no secret that both FIFA and Madden NFL games have been on a lethal downgrade for years, but the pinnacle of them all is their Ultimate Team. Sure, having a good, star-studded team with Team of the Season players is doable, but only when players dedicate plenty of their time.
Aside from that, many players also experience scripting where their defensive line becomes sluggish and clumsy against a better-rated opponent. This terrible defending will eventually frustrate the newbies and lead them to purchase packs with a slim-to-none chance of getting decent players using real-life money.
10 Call Of Duty: Warzone
Especially at the later stage of the game like this, playing Call of Duty: Warzone can be a burden for beginners. As of this writing, the game has already seen its fifth season. Many top-players have spent a considerable amount of real-life money to polish their in-game characters, so good luck competing against them if you're new to the game.
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On top of that, aiming and shooting using a DualShock 4 controller is harder than aiming with a gaming mouse. The only alternative to it is to connect your mouse to your console.
9 Elder Scrolls Online
An online game based on the vast Elder Scrolls universe, ESO Online uses an RPG and leveling system based on TTGs like Harnmaster as opposed to Dungeons & Dragons. That means that anyone can use magic, use any weapon, or wear any armor. It doesn't have to be complicated but it has that potential, and that's why most players are here.
The variety of builds available can accommodate any group, no matter how diverse when it comes to experience level or personal preference. Create characters and even a guild, form a party, and start a life of adventure in Tamriel.
8 Slither.io
Slither.io is a browser and smartphone-based game. It's pretty simple to play because it's highly similar to the classic 'Snake' arcade games, but don't let it makes you underestimate how Slither fans take this game seriously. It takes a severe amount of time to eat all the pellets and get the best score possible, that is, if you're lucky enough not to encounter any snake twice your size.
Upon its release, Slither.io has seen a massive amount of popularity, mostly came from let's-play YouTubers like PewDiePie.
7 PlayerUnknown's Battleground
Playing PlayerUnknown's Battleground (PUBG) is a fun game to play on mobile, but its PlayStation 4 version is something else. PUBG is a nightmare if you're a newbie jumping off a plane with a bunch of strangers. Chance is, either you land in a well-known territory and meet twice or three-times more skilled players than you, or get overrun by the decreasing safe zone.
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On top of that, microtransactions have somewhat ruined the game among the fans. Like the case of FIFA and Madden NFL Ultimate Team mode, it's almost impossible to get jobs done on the game without either dedicating a big amount of time or spending a big bank of money.
6 Rainbow Six Siege
It takes a lot to master Rainbow Six Siege online mode because you're required to learn a plethora of things at once. It's a teamwork game, hence many players who aren't the best at cooperating find this game hard. The multiplayer lobbies are also unpredictable at best, but it's highly rewarding once you master it. Teams are typically made of four players but extra DLC allows for varying numbers. It's also worth mentioning that you can even die at the hands of your teammates.
5 Counter-Strike Series
Writing this list would never be complete without mentioning the legendary FPS game of them all, the Counter-Strike series, especially the Global Offensive title. Several players even put more than hundreds of hours to master its maps and its wide variety of weapons before jumping into the real challenge against others.
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On top of that, it's also worth mentioning that most CS:GO players are veterans of the game, making it harder for newbies to catch up.
4 Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes
Sometimes you and your friends aren't into the FPS or RPG scene and want to indulge in puzzles or trivia instead. Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes is similar to a virtual escape room, but in this case, the puzzle is a bomb. Players have to work together to defuse this complex explosive device, but only one of them can see it.
The other players have to put on their thinking and listening caps and follow directions. That makes teamwork, communication, and observation skills crucial to succeed. An advantage of this game is that it works on several different platforms, including Andriod, and you don't exactly need advanced software in order to play it.
3 Dota 2
Dota 2 is not exactly as hard as EVE Online or StarCraft II, but putting this on the list has something to do with how long it takes for one to at least become an average player. It's a strategy-based game with over 100 characters with different weaknesses, best combo, play style, and specialty, making it difficult to understand.
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In addition to that, as mentioned above, Dota 2 is a teamwork game, so you need good chemistry with your teammates to dominate against your opponents. You can not single-handedly win the game for anyone.
2 StarCraft II
StarCraft II is the kind of game that needs excellent attention towards little fundamental details and micro-management. Its fast-paced nature requires the players to stay on top of their game, multitask swiftly from one objective to another, and gain the map's control.
At the end of the day, StarCraft II is only for real gamers who have a competitive nature. Though it's hard to master, the outcome will be highly rewarding.
1 EVE Online
Still from the same environment, EVE Online is a perplexing, complicated, and sometimes confusing MMO (massively multiplayer online) game to ever play. Its complex nature is always frustrating and unapologetic for new players because, at the start of the game, you're thrown into a massive galaxy without knowing what to do with all the skill trees, modules, and objectives.
Especially if you don't play with a Corp, being a lone wolf in EVE Online is almost impossible for newbies.