Easiest Ways to Enjoy Digital Multiplayer Gaming with Friends

While we stand by this list, we also have to give a helping hand to our readers who aren't already heavily into the gaming world, or who might be interested in returning. Even if it's just casual with mocktails, we thought we'd break down some of the easiest ways you can get involved with a boatload of people, for all the competitive and cooperative fun electronic gaming provides.

The Mobile Route

Before jumping into the more complex, we have to start with the most convenient route possible. Since smartphones are ubiquitous, they're the easiest to set up in gaming, and they offer a huge range of titles to choose from. The best of these have players in the same world at the same time, so everyone can enjoy the collective success and failure of others. With so many choices, it is best to look through top game lists  to find those that everyone can agree on, so nobody is left out.

Source: Pixabay

Alternatively, players could take a more classic route with eternal favorites like online poker. Apps for poker  from websites like bet365 and Party Poker offer special features like deposit matches to welcome players in, and they’re compatible across a huge range of devices. Accepting multiple online payment methods and offering many tables makes this a popular choice, plus you don’t have to worry about the eight of spades that Steve lost behind the couch last time he came over.

Let’s Get Emulating

For more traditional video games, emulation can be a solid choice, which can also be very easy to set up. RetroArch is a strong starting position  here, as an app that runs on many different systems while featuring support for almost every console from before the PS3/Xbox 360 era. This flexibility is important because older consoles can be easily emulated on even low-powered laptops, so nobody needs a beefy gaming computer as a host machine.

To set this up, all you'll really need is an HDMI cable to connect a laptop to a TV screen and a controller for each player. Basic Bluetooth controllers are cheap, so it won't break the bank to buy a few units until players buy their own more premium input devices — if they choose to at all. These can be easily configured in the RetroArch menus, after being associated with the host laptop.

The only remaining step is to find the games you want to play from ROM sites. Just remember to download games that are no longer for sale, which means you won't be costing developers any money or causing any harm. Unzip and store the ROM files in an easy-to-find directory, load the games from RetroArch, and you're ready to go.

Source: Pixbay

Once you have a few favorite games, nothing is stopping you from creating your own rules for rewards or punishments for winners or losers. With the right equipment, a group of friends, and healthy competition, you're set for a great evening with your pals.