10 Classic Multiplayer Video Games You Must Play Before You Die

3. Street Fighter II (SNES)

Mario Kart 64
Capcom

One-on-one fighters are the most primal of multiplayer video games. There's no way out of it, it's just you versus your friend in a fight until the death (or a knockout, this isn't Mortal Kombat). Probably more than any other game of the genre, Street Fighter II is the one we'll always come back to time and time again.

Fantastic character design, and luring arcade graphics, were the initial reason you loved the game. But dig deeper, and it was the play-ability of SFII that made it such a classic. It's incredibly easy to pick up and play, but actually tough to master. Although nowhere as complex as modern fighters, SFII still has enough nuance and tricks to be a challenging experience.

And not least when you play with a friend, which is the only real way to play the game anyway.

There's you; the expert who's learned every one of Ryu's moves, and then there's your friend; who's never played the game before.

Sure enough, they've picked Blanka. Ha, what a novic... oh god, they've beaten me again.

Contributor

Writer. Proud owner of a 1950-2000 Grays Sports Almanac. Has never created a dystopian alternate timeline (yet).