5 free multiplayer PC games to enjoy with your college gang

The new academic year is here and with it come new semesters, lessons, tests and projects, not to forget the stress that comes with deadlines. However, a break from the fast-paced college life is also a need for many students, and gaming provides just the perfect blend of fun, relaxation, competitiveness and stress-busting that students could really use some more of. 

But not all games have to be played alone, and neither do all of them have to cost enough money to burn a hole in your wallet. If you and your like-minded, game-loving friends have laptops or desktops, there are multiplayer games out there that you could really enjoy, without costing any extra money. Here are the top free multiplayer PC games you can enjoy with your college gang. 

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Call of Duty: Warzone

Shooting games continue to be popular from the early Counter Strike days to modern times, where battle royale shooting titles are found in abundance. While you have plenty to choose from amidst titles like Rainbow Six Siege, Destiny 2 and PUBG: Battlegrounds, many players flock to Call of Duty: Warzone for its mix of weaponry, maps, graphics and focus on tactical combat. Warzone is also free-to-play and can be grabbed from Steam. 

Valorant

For those who want the shooting experience with a twist, there are games like Apex Legends and Valorant which bring inhuman abilities and powers to the mix, allowing players to engage in combat using weapons while strategically leveraging their unique abilities to best the opponent team. Among such titles, Riot Games’ Valorant remains a popular choice among many. It is also not very resource-demanding and can be downloaded for free from the Epic Games store.

Rocket League

Had enough of shooting? Or perhaps the whole bullets-and-explosions genre doesn’t really appeal to you or your college buds. Rocket League is one of the first titles you need to consider if you’re looking for an epic multiplayer game that is 50 per cent cars, 50 per cent football and 100 per cent fun! Rocket League is non-violent, and perhaps the most innovative sports-inspired multiplayer game you’ll ever play. Grab it for free from Epic Games. 

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Fall Guys

If you enjoyed watching Takeshi’s Castle as a kid, you must give Fall Guys a shot. The game pits you and many other random players in a world full of chaos, puzzles and challenges where you must race against everyone else for a battle of survival. Throw in animated graphics and super-cute player avatars and you have yourselves hours of entertainment. Fall Guys is also free to play and can be downloaded from Epic Games. 

DOTA 2

While there are many strategy multiplayer games out there, none come close to the popularity of DOTA 2 (Defense of the Ancients 2). An online battle arena-style game, DOTA 2 requires both skill and strategy. Played in teams of five players, DOTA 2 gives players unique heroes to control, each with their own special ability, with the goal being to destroy the other team’s ‘Ancient’, a structure hidden in their base. DOTA 2 is free and available on Steam.