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Multiplayer games - local network PC

Playing multiplayer games over local area network (LAN) is a somewhat forgotten form of multiplayer, which had its heyday in the 1990s when Internet cafes were extremely popular. In LAN, players don't need to connect via the Internet, because their computers or consoles are directly connected to each other (wirelessly or with the use of network cables). This form of multiplayer is usually chosen by people who get together in one place (called LAN parties).

Total War: Warhammer III
Total War: Warhammer III

Strategy 17 February 2022

The third and final part of the Total War series sub-cycle based on the Warhammer license. Total War: Warhammer III introduces, among others, the Kislev and Cathay factions, which take part in even greater battles than before.

PC

Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)

Racing 16 November 2005

The ninth installment in a legendary racing game franchise created by Electronic Arts company. After two Underground games, featuring illegal night street races, the franchise went back to its roots, combining ideas from the two most recent titles with classic elements. The player’s goal is to climb to the top of a black list of the most wanted drivers. Again you get to explore a huge virtual city, taking on different racing challenges. These include circuit, sprint, drag, elimination, time trial, speed challenge, and police pursuit. After completing enough of these you can challenge subsequent drivers from the black list. Apart from elements typical for the series, such as licensed cars and diverse soundtrack, the game features complex car customization, both in terms of appearance and performance.

PC

Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure
Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure

Action 09 November 2021

A standalone version of the fourth DLC for Borderlands 2. Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure takes you to a fantasy land and embarks on a crazy adventure, eliminating hordes of enemies and acquiring increasingly better equipment.

PC

Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV

Action 02 December 2008

The fourth installment in a best-selling action game franchise. The title was developed by Rockstar North Studios under the supervision of Chris Sawyer. The protagonist of Grand Theft Auto IV is Niko Bellic, an immigrant from Eastern Europe who recently came to America, where he starts a career in the criminal underground. The sandbox gameplay model gives the player much freedom in exploration of Liberty City, a virtual metropolis, where you can move around using various vehicles (cars, motorbikes, and helicopters, among others). How the story unfolds depends on the player’s choices regarding order in which the missions are completed. Apart from single player gameplay, Grand Theft Auto IV offers online or LAN multiplayer for up to 32 people.

PC

Need for Speed: Underground 2
Need for Speed: Underground 2

Racing 12 November 2004

A sequel to Need for Speed: Underground, a best-selling 2003 game from Electronic Arts, which changed the shape of one of the most popular car racing franchises. The game takes you to a virtual metropolis that thrives after dark. For the first time in the history of the franchise, the city is completely open for exploration. As you ride around its streets you can challenge the drivers you meet on the way or learn more about the favorite locations of the street racing community. The gameplay mechanics did not change much; rather, the developers focused on an even more detailed recreations of licensed cars and car parts used for tuning. The game’s graphics were noticeably improved, featuring all sorts of new visual effects. The soundtrack keeps equally high level, as usually featuring songs by famous artists across a wide spectrum of genres.

PC

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

Action 02 October 2009

The third installment in a series of action games developed by GSC Game World. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic reality of the Zone - an area contaminated as a result of the explosion that destroyed the sarcophagus protecting the damaged reactor in Chernobyl. The story focuses on discovering the reasons behind the failure of the Fairway Operation, which was organized by the government in order to thoroughly search the dangerous areas. The player assumes the role of a State Security Service agent by the name of Alexander Degtyarev, whose task is to find out why the aforementioned secret operation yielded no results. The player visits three extensive new areas located around the titular Pripyat, all of them representing real-life locations. When it comes to the changes brought with this installment, these concern mainly the side missions, which are no longer randomly generated. Instead, they are more extensive and non-linear now. Among other changes, it is worth noticing further AI improvements, a new UI, and the new ability to sleep, which regenerates the protagonist's health.

PC

Divinity: Original Sin II
Divinity: Original Sin II

RPG 14 September 2017

A direct sequel to Divinity: Original Sin and another installment in the popular RPG series launched in 2002 by the Belgian developer, Larian Studios. The story takes place once more in the fantasy land of Rivellon and presents events that occur between the first and second game in the franchise. This time around, we assume the role of a sorcerer, who uses the forbidden powers of the Source and is constantly pursued by the Order. We can determine the race and origin of our character, both of which influence the attitude of the encountered NPCs towards him or her to a large extent. The gameplay mechanics do not deviate significantly from the previous game in the series, although the developers did introduce a few novelties, such as a modified combat system, new element combinations as well as Source Powers. Contrary to its predecessor and other titles of the franchise, the production has a clearly darker atmosphere.

PC

Dying Light
Dying Light

Action 27 January 2015

An first-person perspective survival horror game, created by the Polish developer Techland, known for Dead Island and the Call of Juarez series, among others. The player assumes the role of a character who is trying to survive in a zombie-infested metropolis. The sandbox gameplay of Dying Light is divided into two phases. During the day, the game puts main focus on exploration and acquisition of raw materials and weapons, while at night players must face hordes of the living dead. The creators wanted to put the accent on two gameplay elements: thrilling combat with a variety of weapons (including crafted ones), and dynamic movement throughout the city, enabling the players to overcome terrain obstacles using parkour. In addition to a single-player campaign, Dying Light also offers a four-person cooperation mode via the Internet.

PC

Hearts of Iron IV
Hearts of Iron IV

Strategy 06 June 2016

The fourth major installment in a series of larg-scale strategy games, which originated in 2002 as a spin-off to the popular Europa Universalis series. Both franchises are consistently developed by Paradox Interactive. The game lets you take the lead of a country from the World War II period and beyond, specifically the years 1936-1948. Your responsibilities involve taking care of international relations and building alliances, but also developing the army, choosing the right strategy, and conducting the military operations. As it was in the previous editions of the series, the game combines faithfully recreated historical events (including authentic leaders, as well as military forces and technologies used by particular countries, along with the possibility of putting the history on a different course. As compared with the previous games, micromanagement was slightly reduced, and the focus shifted to larg-scale strategy. Other additions include the day and night cycle and changing seasons, as well as an option of grouping provinces into regions to facilitate management.

PC

Half-Life
Half-Life

Action 19 November 1998

An FPS set in a science-fiction world, created by the debuting American studio Valve Software. The story takes place in secret research facility of Black Mesa and begins the main character of the game – Gordon Freeman - arrives at the facility. As a result of failed experiment that opened an inter-dimensional portal, the laboratory is invaded by aliens from planet Xen, and our protagonist has to fight for survival, facing not only alien creatures, but also soldiers of a special forces unit, sent in to cover up the disaster. The goal of the game is to escape from the destroyed facility with the assistance of its other workers. Half-Life has been acknowledged as a cornerstone of the FPS genre, skillfully combining FPP with horror elements and complex plot.

PC

Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5

Action 15 September 2009

A TPP action game, another entry in the popular horror game series. Resident Evil 5 takes place 10 years after the destruction of Racoon City. Main hero – Chris Redfield – travels to Africa to investigate origins of the mysterious T Virus that changes humans into zombies. Gameplay combines dynamic shooting sequences with gory horror, as the player has to deal with hordes of enemies using various weapons: from pistols, shotguns and machine rifles, to knives and grenades. Resident Evil 5 offers several modes, including multiplayer cooperation for two players.

PC

Grim Dawn
Grim Dawn

RPG 25 February 2016

A dark fantasy action RPG. Grim Dawn was developed by Crate Entertainment, a studio established by the former employees of Iron Lore, the creators of Titan Quest. The action takes place in the dark world of Cairn where a war fought between two mighty powers has driven the mankind to almost total extinction. The few remaining survivors inhabit small enclaves. We assume the role of a hero who possesses supernatural abilities and uses them to save the remains of the old Cairn. As befits a classical hack ‘n’ slash game, the essence of the gameplay is spectacular combat with hordes of enemies. The single player campaign is complemented by the multiplayer that puts emphasis on player cooperation.

PC

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Action 20 March 2007

A post-apocalyptic action game inspired by the science-fiction books by the Strugatsky brothers. It was developed by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World, known for Codename: Outbreak as well as Cossacks and the American Conquest game series. As a result of blowing up of the sarcophagus protecting the damaged nuclear reactor in Chernobyl, radioactive dust covered a vast portion of the surrounding areas. This led not only to the death of a large part of plants and animals living there, but also the emergence of hideous mutations and a variety of deadly anomalies. The player takes on the role of one of the stalkers, a group of men who venture into the contaminated zone years after the catastrophe, in search of valuable items, plants, and artifacts. The game combines elements of tactical first-person shooters, adventure games, and RPGs. Players are given a vast terrain completely open for exploration, a wide arsenal of customizable weapons, and a full spectrum of unique enemies with different abilities. The game’s non-linear story offers 7 alternative endings.

PC

Heroes of Might and Magic V
Heroes of Might and Magic V

Strategy 16 May 2006

The fifth installment of the popular fantasy turn-based strategy game series. To freshen up the franchise, the production of the game was entrusted to Nival Interactive, an experienced Russian developer, whose portfolio includes such games as Rages of Mages, Etherlords, Silent Storm, and Blitzkrieg. The game takes place in the land of Ashan and focuses on the war with hosts of demons, who, having killed the king, are ravaging the country. The fate of Ashan lies in the hands of heroes, who confront the forces of evil in order to defend their home factions. The new developer decided not to revolutionize the gameplay and instead focused on the strategic aspects and minor modifications of the game's mechanics; for example, the heroes no longer participate in battles, there are no separate town screens, time limits during combat have been added, and new diplomacy options are available. It is the first game in the series to feature a fully 3D environment.

PC

Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour
Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour

Strategy 22 September 2003

An official expansion for the strategy game Command & Conquer: Generals developed by EA Los Angeles (previously known as EA Pacific). The expansion continues the story from the base game and features 3 new campaigns, each consisting of 5 missions for each side of the conflict. There are new varied tasks to complete, from naval combat to enemy base infiltration. The expansion introduces new buildings (e.g. the internet center), units (such as helicopters and battle motorcycles, and upgrades (Hellfire rockets and chemical suits). The graphics engine SaGE has been improved, which resulted in better weather effects and explosion animations. Apart from the single player mode and the multiplayer mode known from the base game, Zero Hour introduces the challenge mode, in which you fight against 9 armies controlled by 9 AI-controlled generals.

PC

Far Cry
Far Cry

Action 23 March 2004

A FPS set in tropical environment. Far Cry is the first commercial production in the history of the German Crytek studio. Jack Carver, the game's main character, is a retired commando, who currently runs a small haulage company. He is contracted to ferry young miss reporter to Micronesia. Unfortunately, the job is suddenly hindered when Carver’s ship is sunk by an unknown military unit, his client vanishes, and Carver himself ends up shipwrecked on a tropical island filled with soldiers. The protagonist has to make use of his extraordinary skills retained from military service to come out unscratched of this situation. The sandbox gameplay of Far Cry doesn’t force any order, giving players a freedom in exploring the tropical setting and completing tasks. The game's impressive visuals are powered by the CryEngine.

PC

Might & Magic: Heroes VII
Might & Magic: Heroes VII

Strategy 29 September 2015

The seventh installment of one of the most popular turn-based fantasy strategy series dating back to 1995. It was created by the German studio Limbic Entertainment, whose portfolio includes the previous installment in the Heroes of Might & Magic series and Might & Magic X: Legacy. The story takes us to an empire torn by a civil war, in which young Prince Ivan created the Shadow Council composed of representatives from six different factions. The mechanics of the game are reminiscent of the earliest installments of the series and use a variety of solutions which were not implemented in the sixth part. The previously simplified economic model was improved, and the town screen was restored, together with all the characteristic features of individual factions. The maps are much larger and put greater emphasis on exploration; furthermore, the typical turn-based combat system has been slightly modified. During the battle we can use numerous machines and support units, including catapults, ballistas, and medical tents, and the battle arenas are filled with a larger number of various objects and obstacles.

PC

Diablo
Diablo

RPG 31 December 1996

An incredibly popular action RPG developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The story of Diablo is set in a fantasy world called Sanctuary, a realm facing a great danger. The Lord of Terror, imprisoned in a magical soul stone, tries to break free. The demon managed to dominate the minds of bishop Lazarus and king Leoric as well as raise an army of creatures that threatens the citizens of Tristram. The brave prince Aidan steps up to fight the forces of evil. The gameplay of Diablo combines action game with an RPG. Its essence is exciting real-time combat against hordes of enemies. Apart from a single player campaign, Diablo also offers a multiplayer mode via the Internet for a maximum of 4 players.

PC

Need for Speed: Underground
Need for Speed: Underground

Racing 18 November 2003

The seventh installment in the legendary racing series developed since 1995. Created once again by EA Black Box, the game brings revolutionary changes to the series, focusing on illegal street racing, popularized mainly by The Fast and the Furious movie. This time, apart from usual races, the player can take part in several racing events, such as drifting competitions or drag races. The game offers a wide set of licensed cars popular among the illegal racing aficionados. The game stands out with a wide array of car customization options it delivers - the player can buy licensed car parts produced by the most popular real-life manufacturers. Money is an important aspect of the game, because the player spends the cash they earned in races to buy new cars and parts. Need for Speed: Underground features a diverse soundtrack as well. The player can listen to a variety of genres, such as rap, techno, or metal.

PC

Empire: Total War
Empire: Total War

Strategy 03 March 2009

The fifth installment in the popular strategy game series created by Creative Assembly in 2000. This new game is set in the 18th century, focusing on key events of the period, such as the American Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the rivalry over the Eastern trade routes. Although the core concept of the gameplay remains the same, the mechanics went through some major alterations, mainly due to the introduction of sea warfare. The game lets you command entire fleets as well as individual ships. Moreover, external factors, e.g. weather conditions, can affect sea battles. Additionally, the game offers improved advisers, as well as new options of trade, diplomacy, and espionage. Due to the widespread use of firearms in the period, new combat tactics have to be used. However, the key elements of the series, the turn-based strategic layer and large-scale battles, remained unchanged.

PC

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 - Yuri's Revenge
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 - Yuri's Revenge

Strategy 17 October 2001

The official expansion to Command & Conquer 2: Red Alert 2, the renowned RTS released in 2000 by the Westwood Studios company. The expansion pack, titled Yuri’s Revenge, expands the storyline of the vanilla version by adding an additional plot thread, in which Yuri – the advisor of the main antagonist of Red Alert 2 – is the lead character. Similarly to the previous installment of the production, the single player campaign has been divided into two separate parts (seven missions for each of the factions), allowing us to declare ourselves either for the Allied or the Soviet side of the conflict. The multiplayer mode has also been further developed with the addition of ten new scenarios and also an entirely new faction – the forces of Yuri. Furthermore, the title also features previously unavailable regions, such as Hollywood, London, Cairo or Transylvania; several unique buildings and units have also been added to the expansion, including the Virus sniper, the genetically modified Brute, the Boomer submarine, as well as the Slave Miner excavation vehicle. The developers have also prepared over an hour of HD cutscenes to further enhance our gameplay experience.

PC

Diablo II
Diablo II

RPG 29 June 2000

A sequel to one of the biggest hits by Blizzard Entertainment. The plot of Diablo II follows the events of the first installment. The victory over Diablo turned out to be merely an illusion. Having possessed the body of his conqueror, Aidan, Diablo plans to unleash his brothers – Mefisto and Baal – with the purpose of enslaving the human kind once and for all. The player’s objective is to thwart the demon’s dreadful plans. The mechanics are very similar to those featured in the first part of Diablo – the game still emphasizes dynamic hack-n-slash combat as well as skill and psycho-physical attribute development by gaining experience points. The visuals in Diablo II combine 2D and 3D elements and the soundtrack was composed by Matt Uelmen.

PC

Stronghold: Crusader
Stronghold: Crusader

Strategy 24 September 2002

A sequel to Stronghold, an economic strategy game set in the Middle Ages and developed by FireFly Studios in 2001. This time we travel to the Middle East of the crusades period in the late 11th and the early 12th century. The game mechanics are not much different from what fans of the series know and love. The game's biggest innovation is the setting, albeit it features also some minor gameplay adjustment, such as dealing with limited water supplies. The developers offered four campaigns, in which you can lead the crusader army as Richard the Lionheart or command the Arabic soldiers as Saladin. The already wide spectrum of military units was expanded even further, featuring several units unique for each side of the conflict. In addition, the game offers a wider selection of clever siege weapons and defensive measures to be used in battle, a functional scenario editor, and a new Skirmish Mode.

PC

Divinity: Original Sin
Divinity: Original Sin

RPG 30 June 2014

Divinity: Original Sin is a sequel to the cRPG series developed by Larian Studios. The game is set before the events presented in Divine Divinity (2002). The story focuses on the adventures of young Source Hunters, who have to delve into the arcanes of forbidden magic and prevent its effects. Gameplay is based on classic RPG mechanics. You lead a team of up to four heroes and together you complete quests, explore locations, and fight enemies. As they gain experience, the characters' stats will increase and they can master new skills. Apart from single player mode, Divinity: Original Sin offers a co-op mode with a second player via LAN or Internet.

PC