DayZ is a multiplayer survival game that can get really intense. The premise of this PVP game is that humanity is on its last leg thanks to a zombie virus. Now you and the players who are inputted into a 225km squared landscape, of the post-Soviet Republic of Chernarus, are basically vying to be the last human standing. So not only do you have to worry about zombies, but the other humans and their possible traps. The true glory of this game lies in how expansive the maps are and how careful you need to be in order to survive both other humans and the environment in general. Managing water, food, clothes, and shelter are really only just the beginning of your worries in this game.

Star Wars: The Old Republic takes place, 3,600 years before the movies, where a strained peace has been established between the Sith Empire and Galactic Republic, while the Jedi have lost respect. Long story short, the Sith Empire is gaining power and the Galactic Republic and the Jedi are doing everything they can to prevent the Sith Empire from expanding any further.

The story is actually one of the strongest aspects of this PVP game, and it’s one of the few massive online worlds that rely as heavily on its narrative as it does the gameplay. But most of you are probably here for the specs on gameplay, so let’s talk fights in this game. First off, the most glorious aspect of this game is that you can actually choose to fight for the Sith Empire, aka the dark side, which was huge when it first came out. Besides that, you can also choose from a wide range of species to customize your looks and really specialize your play style between tank/support/healer/ranged combat and so on.

Splatoon is one of the most unique multiplayer battleground games that have come out in recent years. The premise for each game is simple. You have two teams and you try to ink/tag as much territory as possible. The battles can get messy, to say the least.

It is one of those games that, not only gave credit to Nintendo’s ability to make a multiplayer-focused game, but also kept the Wii U as a console worth buying. Not only did it give us interesting character designs with a lot of customization options, but a really innovative gameplay style. To move about the map you can run, jump, and even swim through the ink. This enhances the battle features in both immediate combat and overall strategy.

Overwatch came out in 2016 and took the online community by storm with one the most ingenious marketing methods in recent history. Overwatch brings us into a universe where a band of heroes, a group called Overwatch, take on the villainous escapades of the group Talon.

In this game, we have 25 unique players with each having a ton of personality and flair. Despite not really having a story behind the game, the uniqueness of each character’s design and ability set has brought in numerous players. The aforementioned marketing strategy also helps relieve some of the stress of not having an in-game story, as the marketing videos set up back stories and different character relationships. Overall, it is of one of the most gorgeously designed FPS out there with a lot of heart and some really interesting characters.

Since the first Super Smash Bros. in 1999 for the N64, fans of Nintendo have flocked to this 2D fighter. Why? This game brought together the most famous characters of the Nintendo franchise into one game and pitted them against one another. It was definitely one of the ways that many friends settled the Mario vs. LoZ debate.

Overall, the cast of characters was definitely one of the strongest points of the video game and all of its iterations. Getting to play as characters like Pikachu, Link, Zelda, DK, Mr. Game and Watch, Peach, Luigi, Mario, Samus, and so many more was fantastic. The little touches of each character’s movements and attacks was another defining factor and always made gameplay immensely enjoyable. Add to that an amazing array of levels that actually moved and changed and you have one of the most addicting fighters ever.

World of Warcraft is one of greatest and most successful MMORPGs ever created. The reasons why it was so popular are many. First off, it gave access to a world that had already gathered a lot of love over the years thanks to Blizzard’s earlier installments of Warcraft. Then there was the fact that the world and customization options were vast. Then there was the simple fact that the gameplay, whether it was raiding or crafting, was tremendously fun.

Let’s focus a bit on the ‘raiding’ aspect as well as the whole PVP factor of this game. This was one of the first games where people literally built communities with one another that would proceed to go on raids against people that belonged to the opposing faction. This led to massive battles that were fun and exhilarating, which always kept the game feeling fresh and new. Then there was the simple aspect of exploring the world and competing with people from the other faction to complete a mission or fully explore the world. Though not as intense as a raid, these moments were fun and surprising, because they could happen at any time, even if you were trying to be stealthy.

If you have ever enjoyed EVO or any such fighting game PVP tournaments, then you should be giving a nod of appreciation towards Street Fighter II Turbo. To many fans of the series, Street Fighter II Turbo is the Street Fighter game that cemented the series’ potential and future legacy. Anyone between the ages of 20 and 40 has most likely played it, as it was one of those arcade games during the 90s that you just had to mash buttons on once. For many, it was their first taste of a 2D Fighter, and for many, it was a taste that they would chase for years to come.

In terms of gameplay, this was the first of the series to implement the ‘super-combo’ system, which could let you turn the tide of a match with a single, powerful move. This mechanic has played an important role in not only the series as a whole but in other fighting games as well. Finally, this game really pushed the Street Fighter cast into popular culture and is one of the main reasons why the competitive 2D Fighting scene is so big today.

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, is a collectible card video game that pits two players against each other in turn-based combat. It is a pretty standard card game premise, with each player getting to use his/her own customized deck that is captained by a hero with a unique power.

Hearthstone is simply one of the most played and beloved games out there. In terms of games that rely purely on chance and strategy, Hearthstone is number one by a longshot. The game does two things incredibly well. The first is that it was able to bring a franchise that heavily depended on battles that revolved around maneuvering your characters and forces on the field into card game format. To be able to get away with such a change of pace in such a beloved franchise took a lot of skill. The second is that this PVP game infuses Warcraft lore into each of its cards, making it really hard for fans of the franchise to pass up the game.

League of Legends made its debut 2009, and it is one of the most internationally renowned PVP games ever made. In this game, you are basically a summoner who takes the form of a mystical hero. The goal of each game is for your team to destroy the enemy’s central nexus. It is a pretty standard layout for a MOBA to be honest, so if you’re not familiar with the game you might be wondering why it is #2 on this list.

However, such a question would enrage the millions upon millions of players who enjoy the game on a daily basis. League of Legends has earned its spot as one of the best PVP games out there because it provides players with one of the most diverse lineups of characters in any game. The current roster is at 137 champions, with each having a unique design and combat style. For many people, the hardest part of the game is simply picking a character to stay with. From the supporting role of Ashe to the ranged role of Jinx, there are a ton of options. This massive pool of characters not only brings a lot of people in, but keeps each game unique as you never know what type of style you will encounter (that is until you get to the really competitive leagues).

Now Counter Strike: Global Offensive might be the game listed, but we’re really talking about the entire series because the CS series is one of the most infamous first-person shooter PVP games out there. It has been around since 2000 (it was, in fact, one of the first PVP shooters out there), and each installment of the game has brought about a large pool of gamers. If you ever went to an internet café in the early 2000s, then chances are you played CS or at least witnessed people playing.

With the latest addition of CS:GO in 2012, players were basically given some new maps, new weapons, and some new characters. Overall though, not a whole lot has changed since the first game. Valve understood that the original was one of the most beloved games among the internet community and decided that it was better not to mess around with a winning formula. The people of the internet clearly agree because CS:GO still has one of the strongest player pools out there with some of the most intense competitive leagues.