Online gaming has been growing rapidly over the past few years, with its growth attributed to faster internet speeds, technological advancements and an increase in interest among players. There is also a huge selection of titles, genres and games for players to choose from, meaning that those who choose to go the online route will always have something to play. Even with so many choices, there are still some gaming franchises that come out on top. In this article, we will look at some of the biggest and best online gaming franchises.
Minecraft
Minecraft is perhaps the biggest gaming franchise in the world right now, especially for younger gamers. It allows players to create full worlds or anything they would like using a variety of 3D blocks. The game is simple enough and had over 91 million players playing it in 2018.
Minecraft also stands out for being the best-selling game of all time, with over 175 million units sold across all the platforms the game is available on.
NBA Live
NBA Live is a massive NBA game developed and published by EA sports. The game development company has been releasing NBA Live games annually since 1994 and with over 35 million current players, NBA Live remains one of the largest online sports franchises. NBA Live is often dwarfed by NBA 2k, a massively popular game from EA sports that has been topping the charts list since it was released in 1999.
Since the game was not released in 2020, players who would like some NBA action can enjoy the ongoing NBA season, play NBA 2K or choose to put some money behind their favorite sports teams. Many sportsbooks, including WynnBet, let you place bets on your favorite NBA teams. All new players receive a Wynnbet sportsbook bonus when they sign up, so their first bet is essentially on the house.
The good news is that NBA Live is rumored to be coming back in 2021, with the game thought to embrace a free-to-play model.
Call of Duty
Call of Duty was already a massive gaming franchise before it went online. It is one of the most prominent games in the current gaming culture and has garnered an adoring fan base after it went online. Its online version has been played by millions of gamers, with uncountable hours spent on the game by players trying to be the best or get the best kill.
The game franchise has 17 main games released under the Call of Duty banner. With new game maps, game elements, weapons and more regularly added with new updates, the online version of this gaming franchise is poised to continue being a gaming behemoth well into the future.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
PUBG is one of the older games on this list but it has remained a favorite since its release. It is also one of the most realistic battle-royale games in the world. The game involves having 100 players in the battleground trying to kill each other stealthily, wisely and creatively without getting killed themselves. The player who is left last is the winner of the round. Players can get into the game alone, as a team or a duo. The game is always adding new gameplay elements to keep players interested.
World of Tanks
World of Tanks remains one of the biggest online multiplayer games. It lets players battle each other using various vehicles sourced from the middle of the 20th century. Although World of Tanks is free to play, players can always pay for the premium models where they get access to premium features and weapons so they have an advantage over other players.
World of Tanks is iconic because it is one of the first games to be played at an esports event in the 2012 World Cyber Games.
Fortnite Battle Royale
Known simply as Fortnite, this game is very similar to PUBG. It is also a free battle-royale style game where 100 players compete against each other to be the last players standing. Players have to build walls to protect themselves, collect resources to help them in-game and do all this while trying not to be killed.
Players can enter the game solo or as part of a team.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO)
CS:GO is a multiplayer, first-person shooter game where players compete against other players or bots in the game. This means the game can be played online and offline. The two teams playing against each other have different objectives. The teams have to save the hostages or stop the bombs the other team plants while trying not to get killed. Players can download and play the game on Steam and it is actually said to be one of the best games on this platform. The team with the best outcome and performance is termed the winner.
While there are lots of online gaming franchises players can get into, the ones discussed above are the most iconic. Their popularity is mainly due to recognition and enjoyability with online streaming services also playing a part in helping their popularity grow.
