Multiplayer is a mode of play for a video game or computer game in which multiple people can play the same game at the same time.
When referring to a computer game, the term "multiplayer" today usually implies "multiplayer by means of connecting multiple machines via the Internet", whereas when referring to a video game console game, the term "multiplayer" usually implies "multiplayer by means of several controllers plugged into the same game console, with that console hooked up to a single television set", oftenly via split-screen. However, online adapters now exist for the Gamecube, PlayStation 2 and XBox consoles, and some multiplayer Internet games on consoles have become popular.
In most multiplayer games, players compete against each other in a test of skill. There are some games in which players ally to achieve a common goal, and in others, groups of players form teams which fight as a group.
There have been countless multiplayer games played on a single display, starting with the seminal Pong and continuing up to the present day.
Notable multiplayer games in which each player uses a different display include:
- MUD games
- MMORPG videogames (like Ultima Online, Everquest, etc...)
- Neverwinter Nights (1992-1998 on America Online)
- DOOM, DOOM II, Quake, Quake II, and Quake III by id Software
- WarCraft, WarCraft II, WarCraft III, and StarCraft by Blizzard
- Counter-Strike
- Any number of card games played on gaming web sites
