A random little thing- The best local multiplayer games out there

With the creation of video games came a social revolution. We got a new art form and one through which we could create our own stories and interact with. They are a form of entertainment that we can experience with our friends in a way that movies or tv just don't allow. Which is what I'm celebrating here. Basically, if you're hanging out with your friends or having some kind of get together, stick these on and the good times will just roll.

Cards against humanity

Okay, this one is kind of cheating because it's not a video game. However, anyone who has played this game will attest that it is one of the funniest, most disturbing and surprisingly revealing games you can play. The basic concept goes a bit like this: there is a black card in the middle of the table and using the white cards you have on your hand, you must create the funniest answer possible. Sure, it may not sound so great but with a good group of people, there will be tears of laughter. Just make sure that whoever you play with is not easily offended and you are either close or don't mind never being able to look them in the eye again.

Castle Crashers

2D beat 'em ups are always a popular genre for multiplayer games but this game took it to a new level. This downloadable game brought together great mechanics, chaotic and awesome multiplayer as well as one of the best senses of humour a game has ever had. It's a game I will often play all over again with my friends, just because it's so damn fun. While some moan that it's difficult to keep track of your character, that's not the point. It isn't a game for perfectionists or people who care about deep, interesting story. What it is, is fun. And with friends, it can truly not be beaten.

Trials Evolution

Trials HD was a really great game that had great physics, silly ragdoll phsics and didn't take itself too seriously that I absolutely loved. So imagine my sheer exctiement when this was announced and was going to have multiplayer. It was going to be great. And it was. The included multiplayer tracks were all great but the experince was extended by the track central maps. It was a system where tracks that other players had made could be downloaded and enjoyed by the rest of the world.

Super Smash Bros

Since the original came out, the Smash Bros series has been revolutionising local mulitiplayer. There's just something very satisfying about playing as your favourite Nintendo character and beating up other Nintendo characters with your friends at the other end. It shows true quality that, years after their release, Brawl and Melee are still being played, even with a new one around the corner. And if the demo for the 3DS version is any benchmark of quality for it, it'll be just as incredible as ever, with tons of new characters, stages and modes from the finest and most obscure corners of the Nintendo-verse. With two new versions, there'll also be even more ways to play, be you on the move or on the sofa. But with any Smash Bros, there will be fun. That much I can guarantee. 

Mario Kart

Another Nintendo classic that's been strong on every single Nintendo console since the SNES. With this year being the release of the eighth and prettiest game the franchise has ever seen, there's never been a better time to play Mario Kart. You don't even need to own one of the newest consoles to play it, a DS or Wii will do fine. And just like Smash Bros, it's one you can play anywhere. Each game offers different characters, maps and modes and each game has it's hardcore fans. Whether you're a fan of Double Dash and it's bob-omb blast battle mode or if you love the 3DS version that you can play with up to seven of your 3DS owning friends, there's an edition for everyone. But the best for local multiplayer? Having not played 8, it's got to be Mario Kart Wii.

The Yawhg

Chances are, you'll have never heard of this game. And it's a shame because it truly is a great multiplayer experience. You are an inhabitant of this medieval village. You have six weeks to prepare for the Yawhg. You don't know what it is, you don't know what will happen, all you know is that in six weeks, it'll arrive. Each week, you go to a different part of town and make choices that affect your stats and can often affect the other players as well. It's basically a "choose your own adventure" game with beautiful drawings, haunting music and a wonderfully dark and silly sense of humour. It's only available in steam but if you see it on sale, I heartily recommend it. Be prepared for anything and everything. But will you ever be prepared for... The Yawhg?

Any Worms game

Another multiplayer classic, worms has been a multiplayer main stay since 1995 for good reason. It has crazy weapons, funny voices and you can name your team whatever you want (within the bounds of good taste). It also has the added bonus of being a game where you can use one controller for the whole team so you don't have to get together a load of controllers like with most of the other games here. It's also hilarious to see people using weapons so wrong that they kill themselves and do no damage to enemies. It's a game that you will no doubt have played and it's always great fun in any incarnations, 3D OR 2D, new or old..

Nidhogg

When this game came out in January, it was met with "this is pretty good" reactions and has pretty much been forgotten since, but it deserves more. It's basically a jousting game but with cartoonish blood and perfectly sharp controls. The story is forgettable and unless you and your friend have perfect internet connection, it will suck but when played in local, it's great fun. There's a tournament mode where you can have up to eight players, all kinds of variables and a hell of a lot of fun. Horrible to pitch, great to play. Is it worth the full price? Not really but get it at 50% and it's 100% worth it.

Any FPS with splitscreen

Finally, an obvious choice. If you're having a local multiplayer get together type thing, you need to play a first person shooter. If it's a classic like Goldeneye or a new favourite like Halo, you'll need to play it. The requirements for your FPS of choice: multiple game modes, good maps and split screen. My personal choice would be Halo due to my love for it, the great maps and slew of varying game modes, from co-operative Firefight to all versus all deathmatch. Like I say, an FPS is important for a big multiplayer session and however you choose the games, make sure you have an FPS to keep the party rockin' round the clock. God, I hate myself for that phrase.