In June 2018, some interesting multiplayer titles are released for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Three of the upcoming releases look particularly promising and are worth a closer look.
In May 2018, several new online titles were released that managed to attract multiplayer enthusiasts even in the nice weather – such as Bless Online, Conan Exiles, and State of Decay 2.
June 2018 can also offer multiplayer fans plenty with exciting new titles.
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset by ZeniMax Online Studios on June 5, 2018 (PS4, Xbox One, PC),
- Mario Tennis Aces by Camelot on June 22 (Nintendo Switch),
- and The Crew 2 by Ivory Tower on June 29 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
What kind of games are these? And who might find them worthwhile?
The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset
What is The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset? The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) receives another chapter with Summerset. This is how Zenimax refers to the major paid expansions that are released alongside DLCs.
What’s it about? In the new expansion, you travel to the Summerset Isles, the homeland of the High Elves, also known as Altmer, after your queen has opened the borders to outsiders. However, upon arrival, you quickly realize that something is amiss and become embroiled in an exciting story. The plot line around the Daedric Triad continues here.
Release: June 5, 2018
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Business Model: Free to Play
Genre: MMORPG
Comparable to: Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR), Final Fantasy XIV
What’s inside? Summerset features a plethora of new quests that lead players across the Summerset Isles and offer a lot of challenges. In this context, you will explore the new picturesque game area – the Summerset Isles. There is also plenty of lore to discover. You will learn more about the Altmer people. The High Elves had isolated themselves from the rest of Tamriel for a long time.
Additionally, new world events such as the Rift Geysers, including boss fights, await fans. Gameplay changes also come with Summerset. In particular, the tweaking of two-handed weapons that now allow players to receive a five-piece set bonus brings some alterations to the game. Moreover, there is new jewelry crafting.
What makes The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset special
- A beautifully designed game area
- Deep Lore
- Gameplay changes
- New crafting – jewelry crafting
- Many new quests
The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset offers the following multiplayer elements
The Elder Scrolls Online essentially provides everything one would expect from an MMORPG in terms of multiplayer: various PvE group activities such as world events, raids, or dungeons, as well as battlegrounds, alliance war, or duels for PvP fans.
However, even the main game of ESO is designed in such a way that it appeals to not only MMORPG fans but also single-player enthusiasts. The level scaling, allowing players to complete any content of the game, regardless of their level, also motivates solo players to experience ESO as a single-player RPG. Thus, ESO feels at times like a single-player role-playing game dressed as an MMO.
This hasn’t changed much with Summerset. Only a few pieces of content, such as the new 12-player raid Cloudrest or the geysers, require a group. So if you preferred to play solo before, you can still do so in Summerset.
However, it is also possible to find a good group and complete quests together as a team, visiting dungeons. Players have the freedom to decide how they want to experience Summerset.
The mood surrounding The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset
Overall, the mood around the new expansion Summerset is quite positive. The majority of fans love the new elven islands. After the volcanic island of Morrowind, Summerset now represents a classic fantasy setting on a picturesque island. This “high-fantasy” setting appears to resonate very well with players of The Elder Scrolls Online. Especially the atmosphere and the beautiful aesthetics of the new area receive a lot of praise.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset is ideal for…
Players for whom PvE content, quests, and lore take precedence in an MMORPG and for whom innovations are not an absolute must in a new expansion. Because Summerset primarily offers a lot more of what players already know and love from the main game and Morrowind: vast areas filled with secrets, an exciting story, and several gameplay innovations. Veterans will feel right at home, while newcomers will be well introduced to the game. If you’re looking for an MMO with a fantasy setting, you should definitely check out ESO Summerset.
More about it: ESO: Summerset – Everything you need to know about the new chapter
Mario Tennis Aces
What is Mario Tennis Aces? With Aces, the popular Mario Tennis series comes to Nintendo Switch for the first time. The game gives the sport a Nintendo-style look and enriches it with some humorous elements.
What’s it about? In short – it’s about tennis. The gameplay consists of playing tennis matches with numerous characters from various games in the Super Mario series – either within the story or in multiplayer. As simple as it sounds on one level, there’s a lot of unexpected depth to be found on the other. There are numerous tricks and mechanics to master if you want to emerge victorious from a match.
Release: June 22 2018
Publisher: Nintendo
Business Model: Buy2Play
Genre: Sports Simulation
Comparable to: Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash
What’s inside? Players have access to many well-known characters such as Mario, Luigi, Wario, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Toad, Boo, and Spike, all of whom have specific strengths, weaknesses, and trick shots. As progress is made, more characters and outfits will be unlocked.
Matches can be played both individually and in doubles. There are single matches, tournaments, and even an adventure mode with various missions and boss battles.
To outplay your opponent, you must master and combine various basic techniques such as topspins, slices, or lobs, using them skillfully as well as countering. Success largely depends on timing and the correct use of special abilities, which can even destroy the opponent’s racket but can also be blocked.
What makes Mario Tennis Aces special
- Single-player adventure mode with various missions
- Multiplayer mode for up to four players
- Real mode: Swinging the controller enables precise and intuitive motion control of a variety of different shots
- Many beloved game characters from the Super Mario series
- Many tactical options and techniques to outplay opponents
Mario Tennis Aces offers the following multiplayer elements
While there is a story mode for single players, its true potential is said to unfold in multiplayer, according to the first testers.
Aces can be played in both local and online multiplayer with up to four players. In addition to individual matches, tournaments can also be held or contested. Here, players can compete in singles or doubles.
The mood surrounding Mario Tennis Aces
The mood among fans is very optimistic. The Mario Tennis series is very popular within the Nintendo community, and players are eagerly awaiting the first Switch implementation. Reports from a recently held multiplayer test weekend have also been largely positive. Negative aspects have been heard infrequently.
Mario Tennis Aces is ideal for …
Players who either love Mario, enjoy tennis as a sport, or ideally like both together. If you also enjoy competing in quick fun titles like Mario Kart with others, you should have a great time. However, those who really don’t care for sports games will likely not find happiness with Mario Tennis Aces.
The Crew 2
What is The Crew 2? In The Crew 2, you take on the role of a relatively unknown aspiring racer trying to make a name for yourself in various racing disciplines. In an open world, you will participate in various racing events with different cars, airplanes, motorcycles, or boats and advance your career.
What’s it about? In The Crew 2, you assume the role of a relatively unknown aspiring racer trying to establish himself across various racing disciplines. In an open world, you will participate in various racing events with different cars, airplanes, motorcycles, or boats and advance your career.
Release: June 29 2018
Publisher: Ubisoft
Business Model: Buy2Play
Genre: Open World Racing Game
Comparable to: The Crew
What’s inside? Once again, the setting of The Crew’s second part is the USA – from the West Coast to the East Coast – with a headquarters in Miami. The numerous cities and locations – from Los Angeles to Detroit to Miami and the Everglades – look truly impressive, and in this second game of the series, they shine with many additional details.
Both the races and the vehicle selection are impressive. In the open game world, players can now control many cars, airplanes, motorcycles, and boats across various disciplines and switch their vehicle at the push of a button. This includes off-road excursions, street races, professional racing events, and freestyle.
Players earn cash for racing successes, which can be invested in tuning or customizing vehicles and characters. Even more important are the followers gained during races thanks to spectacular stunts. With increasing follower counts, players can participate in increasingly lucrative events.
What defines The Crew 2
- A large fleet with various vehicles, airplanes, and boats
- Tuning and customization of vehicles
- A vast, open, and freely explorable game world
- Diverse and varied racing disciplines on land, water, and air
- RPG-style progression system for vehicles
The Crew 2 offers the following multiplayer elements
The Crew primarily focuses on multiplayer. The predecessor was often marketed as a racing MMO. However, the game did not really live up to that designation. The Crew 2 aims to improve on everything according to Ivory Tower.
In the multiplayer mode of The Crew 2, up to eight players can compete against each other in various competitions and races. The story can also be played cooperatively with your crew.
However, there isn’t a lot of information available yet. It will be exciting to see how the developers shape the online component and what everything will ultimately be offered at and post-launch.
The mood surrounding The Crew 2
The mood is currently mixed – especially after the recently held beta. There are numerous fans looking forward to the game, considering it a consistent evolution from the first part. Particularly the game world, the varied disciplines, and the fleet receive a lot of praise.
However, there are also critical voices within the community. In addition to frequent criticism of the still very rigid collision physics, the multiplayer aspect is particularly criticized. Many wished for more than just eight players in the multiplayer component. It is also not yet clear what the actual scope and possibilities of the online features will be. The partly very vague controls are also frequently criticized.
The Crew 2 is ideal for …
Racing fans who may not recognize terms like camber, downforce, or limited-slip differential but still enjoy fast cars and other vehicles and are keen on competing against other players. If you can overlook realism and prefer an open-world experience with numerous varied modes, then The Crew 2 is just right for you.
More about it: The Crew 2 Beta Test – Is it the Destiny for Racers?
What do you think of our selection? Is there something for you?
