In 2021, many games were postponed and set for the next year. But not only postponed titles are coming in 2022. We at MeinMMO have looked at what the most desired multiplayer titles on Steam are for you.
What kind of list is this? Anyone who actively uses Steam knows that there is a wish list feature. You can add all the games that interest you in any way to your wish list. These wish lists are publicly visible as long as the profile is not set to private.
You will get here 10 games that serve and present a co-op or multiplayer aspect. And not just any 10, but exactly those that are most frequently on the wish lists of Steam players. Sorted from most desired to less desired.
How was the list created? The Steam Database website provides the necessary data for this list. However, we cannot guarantee one hundred percent accuracy, as private wish lists are not publicly accessible and therefore cannot be recorded.
10. Company of Heroes 3
What kind of game is this? Company of Heroes 3 once again revolves around World War II. The strategy game from Relic Entertainment thus uses the same setting as its predecessor.
This time, it is set on the Mediterranean front of World War II, where you must fight alongside different factions for the victory of your soldiers.
In the single-player campaign, a world map view comes into play, where you can choose where your next mission should take place. The battles themselves are on unique maps and in real-time.
How does it play? Less about base building and more about skillfully maneuvering your units and outplaying your opponent, that’s what Company of Heroes 3 is about.
To train units, you must capture and hold resource points on the map. To succeed, you can employ numerous strategic tactics. Not only the terrain and environment play a role, but also weather and elevation differences are relevant for your troops.
You need to assemble your units in a way that fits your tactics and then move them skillfully to counter the enemy armies. Thus, you will fight battle after battle for victory.
How does multiplayer work? Once you have finished the campaign, a large part of your playtime will accumulate in multiplayer matches. Here you can choose a faction of your choice and play against and with your friends.
Similar to Total War: Warhammer, the world map view is eliminated and it revolves around the battles on individual maps. This results in diverse and new strategy skirmishes that can be enjoyable in the long term.
When can you play? Although Company of Heroes 3 is already in 19th place on the most-wished games on Steam overall and holds 10th place on our multiplayer list, there is currently no release date for the game.
We estimate that Company of Heroes 3 could be released in 2022. However, there is no confirmation for this yet.
9. Monster Hunter Rise
What kind of game is this? Rise is the next title in the long-standing Monster Hunter series. Here you once again set off with oversized weapons to hunt and kill monsters.
However, you do this not just for fun but mainly for the loot from the gigantic foes. With this, you can build better gear and then hunt even bigger and more dangerous monsters.
This concept has brought the Monster Hunter series success for many years, and Rise has also made it to our list of the most awaited multiplayer titles of 2022.
How does it play? Alone or together with up to four other players, you can dive into the world of Monster Hunter Rise, which this time appears very Asian-influenced and colorful.
You then choose a monster you want to hunt. You need to find it and bring it down in a breathtaking battle. Each monster employs different mechanics and strengths.
To take down the creatures, you can rely on 14 different weapon types and thus find one that suits your playstyle best.
How does multiplayer work? In this title, there is also no separate multiplayer mode. Whether you set off alone or team up with friends is irrelevant to the actual gameplay.
Of course, it is more enjoyable to hunt down the next monster together with your friends and find out how to defeat it.
When can you play? Theoretically, right now, as you can currently play a demo of Monster Hunter Rise on Steam. But even if the demo is not enough for you, you won’t have to wait long. Monster Hunter Rise is set to release on January 12, 2022.
In the global multi-genre list, the title reaches 17th place.
8. Lost Ark
What kind of game is this? Lost Ark is the first and only MMORPG on this list. After several delays, the game, which has been running in Korea since 2018, will be released in 2022 as well.
In the MMORPG from an isometric perspective, you take on the role of a hero who must find the lost Ark to free the world from demons. You choose from one of 15 different character classes and fight your way through the open world in a hack and slash style.
Lost Ark relies on flashy skill effects, fluid animations, and a fantastic combat feel, as well as a grandiose story.
How does it play? What looks like Diablo at first glance actually plays completely differently at its core. The only overlap here is the fighting and the constant hunt for better gear.
Otherwise, you move through the open world in Lost Ark, complete quests, learn new skills, and level up to take on the challenges in the endgame. These consist of PvP, dungeons, raids, and more.
You are also allowed to have your own island, as well as a large sailboat to sail the seas. You can also always engage in resource gathering and improve your life skills. There is always something to do in Lost Ark.
How does multiplayer work? As Lost Ark is a true MMORPG, even if you play alone, you are not alone on the go. You always play the game online, and other players will meet you at every corner.
If you want to play with your friends, you can do so in large guilds or in small groups of up to four players. The later raids can then sometimes also be played with multiple groups, allowing you to team up with up to 16 people.
When can you play? Lost Ark is set to be released on February 11 as a free-to-play title. If you purchased one of the pre-order packages, you can dive into the world of Arkesia starting from February 8.
On the multi-genre list, Lost Ark reaches 15th place.
7. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
What kind of game is this? In Darktide, you will face a 4-player loot shooter where you must shoot your way through the dark mega city of Tertium. You can rely on different classes or heroes – similar to Warhammer Vermintide 2.
The setting this time is significantly darker and more futuristic and relies more on heavy weapons than magic and crossbows.
How does it play? Together with up to three other players, you will face monstrous waves and blast them to pieces. For this to work, you must play together and act as a team. The choice of character is also supposed to have a big impact.
The game aims to create a healthy mix between melee and ranged combat while scoring with various enemies. It doesn’t matter whether you want to reach for a laser pistol or a chainsaw sword.
In the matches, you will find increasingly better equipment to further optimize your character and adapt it to your playstyle. You can not only change your hero’s weapons and armor but also give them a visual makeover.
How does multiplayer work? While you can generally play the game solo, it is designed for four players and should be treated as such. Therefore, the multiplayer works the same as the base game itself.
By the way, there is no PvP mode. You always play together with four against the NPCs.
When can you play? Darktide has not yet revealed a specific date. The game is supposed to be released in Spring 2022 and draw you and your friends into the loot shooter.
On the general top list, Warhammer Darktide achieves 12th place among the most-wanted games.
6. Kerbal Space Program 2
What kind of game is this? Kerbal Space Program 2 was announced two years ago and is the successor to the popular Kerbal Space Program. The space tinkering game with the green aliens quickly gained notoriety back then.
The second part aims to take all the virtues of the first part and improve them further. The focus is on multiplayer, mod support, and the latest findings in space research.
As the name suggests, in Kerbal Space Program 2, you need to manage your own space program, construct spacecraft, and establish colonies.
How does it play? As the head of a space program, you need to master the dangers and challenges of space. But first, the question arises as to how you even take off. Therefore, you construct spacecraft and rockets, while your creativity knows no bounds.
But the game doesn’t end in space. Now you need to establish colonies, collect resources, and keep tinkering to eventually explore every remote corner of the universe.
How does multiplayer work? Exactly like the main game, except that you can also experience it together with friends. However, further details about the multiplayer are not yet known at this time.
The developers of Intercept Games announced they would thoroughly revise the multiplayer and give it a larger place than in the first part. More details are expected to follow soon.
When can you play? An exact release date for Kerbal Space Program 2 has not yet been announced, even though it was announced two years ago. It is only clear that the game is to be released in 2022.
In the global multi-genre list, Kerbal Space Program 2 secures 11th place.
5. Total War: Warhammer 3
What kind of game is this? This is the third part of the Warhammer spin-off of the Total War series.
While Total War is known for its realistic battles and scenarios, it meets with Warhammer on a complex fantasy setting that has already provided great success and lots of fun twice before.
In the third part of the series, you will once again plunge into strategic battles with the fantasy races of the Warhammer universe and chase tons of demons or even command them yourself.
How does it play? Total War relies, as usual, on strategy battles that take place both in real time on the battlefields and on the world map.
While you plan on the world map how to proceed best and where to fight, you conduct the actual war between the various nations on the battlefields.
There, you might have to attack and defend fortresses and meet other strategic challenges.
How does multiplayer work? As with most strategy games, the campaign is only a small part of the overall package. In this Total War, however, you can even play it with up to 8 players and play your turns simultaneously.
On various maps, you can also compete with and against other players and play the nation of your choice.
These multiplayer matches take place exclusively on the battlefields and promise exciting strategy battles against your friends and online against other players.
When can you play? Total War: Warhammer 3 is set to be released on February 17, 2022, which adds to what is already a pretty full February. On the multi-genre list, the strategy game claims 8th place among the most desired titles.
4. The Day Before
What kind of game is this? At first glance, The Day Before appears as if someone took Division 2 and thought a bit further. In the multiplayer survival game, you land in an America after a zombie apocalypse.
So far, so experienced a hundred times. Your task is to survive and set yourself up better. Unlike the spiritual predecessor Division 2, you are not only on foot.
For you are also going out of the city, and especially then, vehicles in The Day Before become an important utensil for survival in the game’s world.
How does it play? As is typical for an open-world survival MMO, you live in constant danger. Not only the AI-controlled zombies want to take you down, but other players can kill you as well.
Everyone wants to survive in the world of The Day Before and somehow get their hands on better items. So if you have a car and your fellow players do not, they can quickly become not-so-lovable playmates.
It’s only friendly in the colonies, where you can interact with other players and trade with NPCs. That’s where you want to get to if you have valuable items.
Everything else you need to know has colleague Anna Alberg summarized for you in a two-minute video.
How does multiplayer work? Together, you can team up with up to 4 companions and explore the zombie-infested America. However, how many players can interfere with you is currently unknown.
The game does not have a single-player mode, except for the option to also fight through the same hostile world alone. Therefore, the multiplayer works much like the rest of the game.
When can you play? The Day Before is announced for June 21, 2022, and could be perfect for filling a summer gap. However, relatively little is currently known about the game.
While it lands in 4th place among multiplayer games, it has to settle for 6th place on the multi-genre list.
3. Party Animals
What kind of game is this? Party Animals is a charming brawler where you fight each other as cute little animals. The fun doesn’t stop at the fighting; it also takes on more brutal dimensions.
The contrast between the fluffy animals, the cute visuals, and the clumsy physics of the title with the raw violence with which the animals go at each other is striking and appealing.
In the craziest arenas, like on a plane, a flying rocket, or a stage, you battle each other.
How does it play? Gameplay-wise, the title can be compared to games like Super Smash Bros., while the physics engine and the graphic style remind of games like Fall Guys. The most accurate comparison is likely to the party game Gang Beasts.
In separated rounds, you go after each other and try to be the last one standing. In the process, you can use not just your paws but also numerous gadgets and environmental objects.
How does multiplayer work? Party Animals focuses on the multiplayer aspect and therefore offers limited content for solo players. Together with up to 8 players, you can then fight in online lobbies or even offline in split-screen.
It’s then all about winning the round and proudly staggering onto the podium on your four paws.
When can you play? There is currently no exact date for Party Animals. The game is expected to be released in 2022, but when exactly has not been defined yet.
Not only on this list but also on the global wish lists of all genres, Party Animals secures 3rd place.
2. Elden Ring
What kind of game is this? Elden Ring is the new title from the Dark Souls makers at From Software and is eagerly awaited not only on Steam. At the Game Awards, the game was already crowned the most anticipated title of 2022.
It drew particular attention because the world’s story was partly written by “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin. As you are used to from From Software, Elden Ring is not a walk in the park but offers extremely challenging battles in a medieval fantasy world.
How does it play? Unlike in Dark Souls or Bloodborne, From Software is introducing an open world for the first time with Elden Ring that you can explore freely. There will be encounters with powerful boss monsters and other enemies.
A highlight is the combat system where every step counts, and both attacks and blocks deplete your stamina. How you approach your battles is up to you.
You can customize your playstyle and roam the world of Elden Ring as a rogue, mage, or warrior. But you don’t have to do it alone, as for the first time, a mount is at your side, which you can also fight on.
How does multiplayer work? Here, From Software doesn’t introduce much new to the familiar concept from Dark Souls. You can let other players into your world and then choose to play together or against each other.
Additionally, as typical in the series, you can leave hints for other players, which do not always have to be truthful. The co-op aspect of Elden Ring partly lives from not always being entirely honest with your fellow players.
New in Elden Ring are groups, which are meant to function as a kind of guild feature. Those who want to know more can read MeinMMO editor Irina Moritz’s article: What does Elden Ring offer for multiplayer fans? Groups and PvP explained.
When can you play? Elden Ring is set to release on February 24, 2022, allowing you to dive into the harsh world. The game is ranked not only in our list but also globally at 2nd place among the most awaited games on Steam.
1. Dying Light 2
What kind of game is this? Dying Light 2 is the direct sequel to Dying Light and continues the same story. This time, however, more than just the city of Harran is affected by the virus, and your character is different.
The game focuses on RPG content and story, where you have to make decisions that will permanently change both the characters and the world they live in. In addition to the various human factions in the world of Dying Light 2, numerous new zombies await you.
How does it play? In terms of gameplay, Dying Light 2 focuses on fast action and parkour elements. You are mostly engaged in melee combat as firearms and ammunition are rather rare. To be precise: There is only one gun in the game.
Moreover, gunshots are so loud and can be heard from far away that they usually cause you more problems than they solve. So you leap from rooftop to rooftop and slash zombies with homemade deodorant spray flamethrower machetes.
How does multiplayer work? You can play through the entire story in 4-player co-op, just like in the first part. However, it should be noted that only the hosting player makes actual story progress.
All other players can only keep their experience and loot when they return to their own save game.
Whether there will also be a separate multiplayer part of the game that is detached from the story is still unclear. However, since this was already the case in the first part and was well received by the players, it is assumed that something similar will return.
When can you play? After several delays, Dying Light 2 is scheduled for release on February 4, 2022, bringing you back into the dangerous nights of the game world.
Dying Light 2 is currently not only the multiplayer game with the most wishlist entries, but also globally number 1 among the most awaited games of 2022 on Steam.
That was it, the 10 most-wished multiplayer and co-op games for the year 2022. Is there a personal favorite missing from the list? Which titles surprised you? And do you also find it a pity that this list is so dominated by follow-up titles?
Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO and let us know what your personal most awaited games of 2022 are.
