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The difference was that everyone was in the same location, so it made the whole experience even more fun. Looking after an old fashioned LAN party? Here are some of the best classic LAN party games to invite your friends to.
Act of War: Direct Action took the gaming industry to another level. The game is still widely popular today and gathers people together for amazing missions that require deep tactics and strategies. The game is an outstanding mix of action and real time strategy.
The action takes place somewhere in the future, yet you won’t have aliens and spaceships. Instead, you’re thrown into today’s world, but in a scenario where global conflict is part of the norm. Political tensions, economic crises and lots of armed conflicts, that’s what you’ll get here.
All these things turn the game play into an intense experience. Furthermore, apart from playing against each other, players can also cooperate against the computer. The dynamic mission structures and complex scenario designs ensure that no two gaming sessions feel exactly the same.
Age of Empires is a classic in terms of LAN parties. It’s not the type of game that lasts an hour or two. In fact, a gigantic map and a few players can keep things going for up to 12 hours easily. The real time strategy game allows growing from the Stone Age and pushing from one civilization to another.
There are countless maps out there, not to mention the numerous civilizations to choose from. Each map presents unique geographical challenges and strategic opportunities. Therefore, no matter what you choose, each game will be different.
The game isn’t all about warfare. Instead, the economy also plays an extremely important role. Resource management is a serious challenge that requires careful planning, strategic thinking and balanced decision-making.
Apart from Age of Empires, the second part of the game is just as attractive, coming with improved graphics, new buildings and some extra civilizations.
Looking for some good old fashioned first person shooting in a LAN party? Search no more. The Battlefield series comes with more games, each of them able to offer an intense experience in multiplayer battles, whether you compete against your friends or you team up with them.
There are quite a few modes to choose from, as well as numerous maps. No matter what you’re into, chances are you’ll find it there. Scenarios vary widely too. You could be struggling in the jungle in Vietnam, but you could also work your way around the beaches in Normandy.
The LAN experience makes the game even better when you have your best friends around, so it’s totally worth a shot. The real-time communication, excitement, and spirit of playing together in the same location make a mere video game into a social event.
The Command and Conquer series is not to be overlooked either. Sure, you don’t have the thrilling graphics you see in today’s game. You don’t have the same complexity either. But at the end of the day, you have an extraordinary real time adventure that brings back good old fashioned memories of classic strategic gameplay.
Like Age of Empires, the series isn’t all about warfare, yet eventually everything gets there in the end. But before that, you need to build a base, protect it, manage resources responsibly and adapt your tactics based on other players’ strategies.
There are more games in the series, with Red Alert 2 being one of the most popular ones. For most players out there, this is a staple in the strategy genre.
Company of Heroes takes your strategy skills to World War 2. The action puts you right in the middle of conflict, offering a real time approach to it. Again, this isn’t all about tactics and combat strategy, but also about resources. It requires players to carefully manage their units, supplies and positioning with tactical insight.
In the end, whether you play with or against your friends, you need to lead your heroes to victory.
Compared to other similar games, Company of Heroes stands out with its beautiful graphics. It’s quite realistic and can easily compete against today’s games. The game play is immersive and the multiplayer battles won’t let you down.
The Counter Strike series is still big today. Despite being around for about two decades, it’s still a massive hit, with championships and tournaments organized all over the world. The first person shooter puts you in two different positions, terrorists or counter-terrorists.
There are different missions, bomb missions or just the idea of killing everyone on the opposite team. The 1.6 version is the classic, but the newer CSS is even better. Either way, the multiplayer experience goes to another level during a LAN party.
Back in the day, Counter Strike was the primary choice for players gathering in Internet cafes. The game's impact on the esports and gaming community continues to be profound and far-reaching.
Half Life goes in the same category with games like Quake or Counter Strike. It's somewhere in the middle. It came as a hit since it brought in better graphics than Quake, as well as nicer graphics and a revolutionary storytelling mode. The game's protagonist, Gordon Freeman, became an iconic character in gaming history.
The single player campaign was simply outstanding. However, the multiplayer mode is what made the difference and turned Half Life into a classic for LAN parties. There are all kinds of modes to try out. You could fight terrorists, cooperate with your mates or even go through some of the worst horrors you can imagine in They Hunger.
No matter what you’re into, chances are Half Life will sort you out in no time with its wide range of gameplay styles and innovative design.
Not into strategy and shooters? How about some racing then? There are quite a few names out there and Live for Speed is one of the most overlooked options. However, the racing simulator does have a dedicated base of fans.
There are all kinds of cars to try out, including some of your favorites since you were a kid. Tracks are just as varied. If you haven’t tried it before, you may struggle a bit with the physics, but that’s just part of how realistic this game is.
The multiplayer mode is mainly about competing against your friends. Gather a few of them, jump behind the wheel and have fun. What sets Live for Speed apart is its commitment to delivering an authentic driving experience that goes beyond typical arcade-style racing games.
It’s hard to tell what was better, Quake 2 or Quake 3. Quake 2 was a staple in first person shooters, but Quake 3 came with amazing graphics and a different environment. New dynamics, excellent maps and lots of options for those who like a competitive mode.
The best part about it? There aren’t too many hiding places, so every LAN party based on Quake 3 is likely to become a bloodbath. You can compete against bots or you can just fight your own friends. Apart from the classic deathmatch, there’s also a tournament mode.
Even if you don’t want to compete against your friends, you’ll realize that some of the AI bots out there are quite tough to fight against.
Re-Volt looks like a childish experience for a LAN party, but you can never go wrong with it. The racing game is immersive and offers a unique experience. The movement is smooth and quick, there’s literally no time to take your eyes off the screen. Blink and you could end up stuck behind a toy.
Now, Re-Volt comes with a twist and that’s what makes it different. Apart from all the radio-controlled cars and tracks, there are all kinds of tricks to become a nuisance for others. However, these tricks can often make the difference between finishing first and finishing fourth.
Once again, this isn’t necessarily about racing, but about some sort of a battle mode on the racetrack. Re-Volt is easy and doesn’t require much strategy. Some say it’s the father of modern Mario games, where every player gets to pick up different weapons from the track.
As a final conclusion, LAN parties aren't just gaming sessions but they're epic social experiences that bring friends together. If you're looking for an incredible way to spend quality time with friends without leaving the comfort of your home, a LAN party is your ultimate solution. Go for it.
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