Multiplayer gaming is typically dominated by combat-heavy games. Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Halo, for instance, all revolve around you shooting and killing people. This is a lot of wild fun, but murder isn’t a prerequisite to a chaotic game. Anarchy can appear in games with no combat at all.
Things that require delicate teamwork or time management often lead to real-world arguments, at least when the right (or wrong) group of friends gets together. Here are some chaotic multiplayer games that don’t include any form of combat.
Chained Together
Chained Together is a very appropriate title for this cooperative game, as in it, every player is attached by a chain. Together, you must climb up through the depths of hell to reach the summit or at least get as high as you possibly can. Progression mostly consists of running and jumping onto different platforms.
In these moments, you need to be in sync with the people you’re chained to; otherwise, you’re all going to fall. So, you’re reliant on your partners, which means sabotage and blame often occur while playing this game. And things regularly devolve into shouting at each other.
Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes
In Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, you are trying to defuse bombs with a buddy. One of you has a bomb with multiple modules, each serving as a little puzzle. The way to solve each one is included in the manual that the other player has in real life.
The player with the bomb has to clearly explain the modules they’re looking at, while the manual person needs to clearly explain how to solve the module. This often starts calmly enough, but once the timer starts ticking down, panic can set in, and things can get a little chaotic.
Moving Out 2
Moving Out 2 puts you in the boots of a group of movers. As in real life, movers take items out of houses and load them onto trucks, ready to be taken to their new homes. Unlike in real life, the physics of this game are really odd, and there are surprising hazards that can stop your progress.
Also, there is a very strict time limit. This means you have to work efficiently and demonstrate strong cohesion. Alternatively, you can panic and start throwing stuff around, hoping to get them to the truck faster. If you opt for this method, things can quickly get out of control.
Content Warning
In a world filled with content creators and influencers, views are everything, and that is what you seek in Content Warning. This is a multiplayer game in which you must descend into a dark underground area with your camera. Once down there, you need to film as many of the scary monsters as possible without dying.
Take that footage back up to the surface, upload it, and rake in the views. That is easier said than done. Running around and trying to film monsters as they attempt to kill you and your friends can be tough. This is why chaos often ensues.
Fall Guys
Fall Guys is like an online game show where you compete in all sorts of events, hoping not to be one of the people eliminated. These contests vary; some have you running assault-like courses, trying to reach the end quickly enough to qualify, while others have you dodging incoming obstacles as you try to stay on the platform.
Those are just a couple of the many different types of events in the game. Most of them revolve around a large group of people trying to survive, so things can get out of hand.
Ultimate Chicken Horse
Ultimate Chicken Horse is a competitive multiplayer platformer where the goal of each round is to reach the exit. If all players reach the end, you can rejoice… but it will mean nothing. At least one person has to fail for anyone to get points.
This is where the various blocks and traps you can all place come into play, as you’re actually trying to make it hard enough for all your opponents to fail, but easy enough that you can succeed. The chance to place new things comes at the end of each round, so the screen gets covered in more and more stuff as you play. Also, first place gets more points, meaning moving quickly is a recommended strategy, and that only adds to the level of chaos.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch
In Octodad, you control an octopus that is pretending to be a human man. Since he’s not used to walking around on two legs, his body is hard to control. But you have to keep it together enough to complete the various objectives you’re given without exposing the fact that you’re a sea creature with eight tentacles.
In single-player, it’s pretty chaotic, but things get even wilder when you play the game cooperatively, as you all control different groups of tentacles. Working in a coordinated fashion is a tough task.
WarioWare: Move It!
WarioWare: Move It! is a party game in which all players play fast-paced minigames. Each minigame only lasts a few seconds, meaning you get very little time to think. Therefore, you must act quickly even if that could lead to failure.
Adding to the chaos is the fact that each minigame is played using the Nintendo Switch’s motion controls. This means you have to move your body around as you desperately try to complete the minigame in the required time.
Phasmaphobia
Nothing gets your stress level up and makes you panic quite like a very scary game. A multiplayer one that fits the bill is Phasmaphobia. This is a horror title where you enter a haunted area, trying to figure out which ghost is there while also trying not to get killed by it.
There is no fighting back. You just need to do your investigation and avoid the paranormal creature. When the ghost finds you, or you feel like it’s nearby, panic can set in. At least you have some buddies on your side that you can communicate with, but they’re in danger, too. Hearing their screams through the walkie-talkie can make you panic more… or laugh, depending on what sort of bond you share.
Overcooked
You and your buddies run a kitchen in Overcooked. This means you need to prepare the food, cook it, plate everything, and take it to the counter. It all sounds very peaceful and cozy. There is nothing peaceful about it, though.
You only have a certain time to make each order, and the more orders you do in the overall time frame, the better score you get. This time pressure can lead people to run around, trying to prepare things as quickly as possible. In the pandemonium, mistakes can be made, and people can get angry. It’s the most stressful fun you can ever have.
