The first multiplayer game was generally considered to be Tennis for Two, created in 1958.
Have you ever wondered about the origins of playing games with others? It’s fascinating to think about where it all began. Thinking about what was the first multiplayer game takes us back surprisingly far. The roots of shared gaming experiences reach further than you might expect.
Before online worlds and console battles, one specific invention set the stage. This early example paved the way for countless multiplayer adventures.
What Was The First Multiplayer Game?
Figuring out the very first multiplayer game is like trying to find the start of a really long, winding road. It’s not quite as simple as pointing to one single moment. Gaming has evolved so much over time, that different generations have experienced ‘multiplayer’ in very different ways. When we talk about multiplayer games today, we often think of online worlds with lots of other players, but that wasn’t always the case. The story of the first multiplayer game is a fascinating trip through the history of gaming, revealing how developers first started experimenting with the idea of connecting people through games.
Early Forays into Shared Gaming
Before the amazing graphics and complex online systems we see today, there was a period of experimentation with shared gameplay. These weren’t the kind of multiplayer games we know now, where you hop online with friends, but they were crucial building blocks. These early games focused on getting multiple players interacting, often using a single screen or system. Think of them as the starting point in a long history. These initial efforts helped establish core concepts like turn-based play and local multiplayer. We need to consider these when searching for that first multiplayer experience.
Two-Player Mechanical Games
While not digital, it is important to note that many of the very first multiplayer type experiences involved physical and mechanical games. These used physical components and were designed for two people. Think of games like board games, card games, or even early tabletop games where two players competed against each other. For instance, very basic mechanical toys involving two players trying to “score” by hitting a ball, would technically be considered a kind of multiplayer experience. This concept of competition between two players is foundational to what followed. They may not be computer games, but these mechanical games were the starting point for the concept of multiplayer.
Early Arcade Cabinet Multiplayer
As computer technology became available, the arcade was the first place we began seeing multiplayer experiences emerge. These early cabinets provided a space for players to compete against each other, while standing side by side. These first arcade games are a key stop on our search for the ‘first multiplayer game’. The introduction of these cabinets allowed games to leave the space of a single player experience, and bring in competition and cooperation between players.
- Pong (1972): One of the earliest examples of a video game that could be played by two people. While it is often described as a single player game, there were early cabinets that allowed two players to compete head to head. These two player versions of Pong are important, as they began the era of competitive gameplay.
- Computer Space (1971): This was an early arcade game, though not often remembered for its multiplayer capabilities. But some cabinet versions allowed two players, marking an early attempt to have two people use a game at the same time, even if not simultaneously. This indicates an early interest in more than one player, even before games such as Pong became popular.
These early arcade titles show a clear shift from single-player experiences toward the beginning of cooperative and competitive play. It wasn’t enough to simply beat the game yourself, now you wanted to beat someone else at the game. While often simple, these early arcade games established the foundations for multiplayer gaming.
The Dawn of Computer-Based Multiplayer
The real turning point in multiplayer gaming happened when computers became more powerful and networks started to connect them. It was during this period that games moved from a single screen experience to games spread out across multiple devices. This is where we see the move from local competitive play to more complex multi-player systems.
Early Text-Based Multiplayer Games
Before the graphical games we know today, many multiplayer experiences were done through text. These games often used university computers and early network systems. They’re important because they show that people were already trying to play together, even without the graphics we think of today. These early text-based multiplayer games required players to imagine the game world. These early network systems paved the way for the multi-player online systems of the future.
- MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons): MUDs were very popular in the 1970s and 1980s. They were text-based virtual worlds where many players could interact, fight monsters, and go on adventures together. They helped lay the foundation for online role-playing games, even if there were no visual representations. They did it all through just words and player imagination. Many consider these to be among the earliest forms of online multiplayer gaming.
- PLATO System Games: The PLATO system was an early computer education system, but it also had many games built on to it. Many of these games allowed multiple players to interact at the same time, or compete against each other. The system allowed multiple users to access games at the same time, and even interact through simple communication tools.
These early text-based games highlight that the core desire to play together with others is something people wanted long before the existence of graphical gaming systems. These MUDs and PLATO system games show the drive to create and share an experience. They set the stage for the multiplayer experiences that were to come later.
Early LAN-Based Multiplayer Gaming
With the rise of personal computers, local area networks (LANs) became more common. This meant players could connect their computers in one location, and play games together. These LAN parties became popular with gaming communities. It was an early step towards more easily available multiplayer gaming. These LAN based games started to show what was possible when computers could communicate directly with each other.
- Doom (1993): Doom is often considered one of the key examples of early LAN multiplayer. Players could connect with each other over a local network and blast through demon hordes, either cooperatively or in deathmatch mode. Its fast-paced gameplay and relatively simple setup made it popular, and it was one of the first games that allowed a group of friends to compete together at home on their personal computers.
- Quake (1996): Building on what Doom had started, Quake further improved the multiplayer experience with its fast-paced combat and focus on internet connectivity. It helped popularize internet-based multiplayer as well as continuing the trend of LAN-based play. It became a mainstay of early online gaming communities.
- Warcraft II (1995): Though not first person shooter, Warcraft II also made a huge impact with its multiplayer options. It helped bring real time strategy to the forefront of the LAN-based multiplayer arena. Games such as Warcraft II showed players that it was possible to play strategic games with your friends in real time.
The popularity of LAN multiplayer showed the growing appeal of gaming with others. These games really emphasized competitive play, and built on the concepts introduced in the arcade. It also created a new space for gaming, moving past the limited possibilities of the arcade, and bringing it into homes and offices.
The Arrival of Online Multiplayer
The arrival of the internet really was the game-changer for multiplayer gaming. For the first time, people across the world could play with each other, without being physically in the same room. This revolution changed the landscape of gaming and created many of the forms of multiplayer we have today. The internet shifted the focus from local multiplayer to online communities.
Early Online Multiplayer Games
The beginning of the internet allowed developers to expand on the concept of multiplayer gaming. These initial online games were often simple, but they demonstrated the ability for players to connect across long distances. They helped prove the feasibility of large scale online multiplayer.
- Ultima Online (1997): Ultima Online is one of the first graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). It allowed thousands of players to inhabit and interact in the same world. The game demonstrated that a huge number of players could participate in the same game at once. The game was a technical marvel for its time.
- EverQuest (1999): Building on the concepts introduced by Ultima Online, EverQuest was another huge step forward for online gaming. It offered a rich fantasy world with deep gameplay and player communities. These games became a popular alternative to single player experiences and local multiplayer.
These early online games showed that it was possible to create large, persistent virtual worlds with many people playing in them at once. These early games were incredibly influential for all modern MMOs. They changed the world of gaming in an enormous way.
The Rise of Modern Multiplayer
As internet connections got faster and more stable, multiplayer gaming evolved rapidly. Modern multiplayer games have become far more complex, more immersive, and more social than any of the games that came before them. This evolution led to the rise of many of the modern game genres that we see today. These games built on the foundation that had been set in the past.
- Online Shooters: Games like Counter-Strike, Call of Duty and Battlefield have changed the world of online multiplayer. These popular shooters have redefined what it means to play with friends online. These games continue to dominate the online world.
- Battle Royale Games: The Battle Royale genre has become one of the largest and most influential genres in modern gaming. Titles like Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) allow huge numbers of players to compete in matches online. This has opened up the door to entire new forms of esports and competitions.
- Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBAs): Games like League of Legends and Dota 2 have created enormous player communities and very complex competitive scenarios. These games have become extremely popular and have led to huge esports events and large player bases.
Modern multiplayer games are much more complex than the games of the past. They also feature far more social interactions. They can connect us to people all over the world, and continue to develop the world of online gaming. The idea of shared play that started with those early arcade cabinets has grown to become the large, connected online spaces that we all know today.
The Ever-Evolving Landscape of Multiplayer Games
The landscape of multiplayer games is always changing. New technologies and game design ideas are always shaping the future of what is possible. From local couch co-op to huge online battles, multiplayer games have changed dramatically over the years. These changes continue to make gaming a huge part of modern culture. As technology continues to advance, we will only see new and innovative ideas developed within the world of multiplayer gaming.
Understanding the history of multiplayer games helps us appreciate how far we’ve come, and allows us to wonder what the future may bring. From the basic two-player experiences of mechanical games, to the massive online worlds of today, the desire to play together with others has continued to push the world of game design. The history of multiplayer is truly a journey through the development of gaming itself.
Early History of Online Multiplayer – DOOM and DWANGO
Final Thoughts
The debate surrounding what was the first multiplayer game often points to ‘Tennis for Two’ (1958), a simple oscilloscope game. Two people could play, each controlling a line to simulate a tennis match. However, it wasn’t widely available and lacked the commercial impact of later games.
‘OXO’, a 1952 computer game, technically supported two players to compete in Tic-Tac-Toe. Despite its early innovation, many don’t consider it a true multiplayer game. This brings us to a key element in defining what constitutes proper multiplayer gameplay.
Ultimately, many argue about what was the first multiplayer game. ‘Spacewar!’ (1962) stands out as an early, accessible option and influential example. This spaceship combat game gave clear precedent for many multiplayer games that followed.
