Two can play at this game. Well, two can play at any game, but especially online games. 

43 percent of American adults play video games. One reason why gaming has become so popular is its versatility. There are many different types of online gaming, each with its own distinctions and quirks. 

Yet it can be hard to tell which one is which, even when you are an experienced gamer. When a bunch of people can play a game at once, what exactly is a (PVP) player vs player game? What about MOBAs or MMORPGs? 

Get the facts you need so you can game the right way. Here is your authoritative guide. 

Esports

Esports is competitive gaming. Some esports events are informal, allowing players from anywhere in the world to participate. They may sign up online, or they may jump into a competition without prior notice. 

But many esports are highly organized. They have leagues akin to those found in professional sports. Players receive rankings depending on how they do at events throughout the year.

Popular esports include Fortnite, Madden NFL, and Super Smash Brothers. But virtually every video game has some sort of sporting arrangement. Even cabinet games like Donkey Kong have tournaments with official regulations. 

Esports tournaments can be found throughout the year. They are popular during the holiday season, when Cyber Monday laptops and other software are widely available. Spectators can watch the events live or through streaming services like Twitch. 

Not all competitive games that operate online are considered esports. Online poker and gambling are considered separate, even though many people gamble on esports. 

PvP

A player versus player (PvP) game involves two players facing off against each other at the same time. The most common PvP games are fight and sports games. They include Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. 

Most PvP events are organized as tournaments. Whoever wins moves onto the next round. Semifinals and finals are usually decided in “best of three” or “best of five” arrangements. 

Some events feature a “loser’s bracket.” Players who lose a round can compete in the bracket and win a prize. 

PvP games may have functions allowing more than two players to face off at once. Nearly all tournaments focus on one-on-one engagements. 

You can play a PvP game outside of an esports context. You just need to buy one and you can start. 

RTS

A real-time strategy (RTS) game is similar to a PvP game. However, the two have some distinctions. 

A PvP game is more about physical skill. A good player must have knowledge of what combination of buttons does what. They must have good hand-eye coordination and quick decision-making abilities. 

RTS games involve the same skills, but with more of an emphasis on strategic thinking. Madden NFL is an example of one.

Players must devise plays to run, then they must decide who will be involved in the play. They then must run the play and outmanoeuvre their opponent. 

FPS

A first-person shooter (FPS) game involves a first-person perspective. A player plays as one character, seeing through their eyes. As the name suggests, they operate a weapon and try to kill other players. 

The game operates on a “map,” which is a layout for the action to unfold. Most maps contain buildings and natural features, allowing players to hide. 

Weapons are scattered throughout the map. Premium weapons are placed in hard-to-reach or wide-open areas, encouraging players to walk to them. 

Maps are not restricted to one group of players. You can play a map alongside amateurs and very experienced players. You can also play with players from all over the world. 

FPS is perhaps the most popular type of video game for spectator sports and streaming. Since the audience has a limited perspective, there is a natural sense of suspense that draws people in. 

Many PvP players play FPS games. The skills are mostly interchangeable, though every game is different. 

Popular FPS games include Call of Duty and BioShock. Each of these games has sequels, each with its own features. You will need to buy the later games in order to have the best experience. 

MOBA

A multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game combines elements of RTS and FPS. The main distinction is that MOBA is based on teams. While there may be team functions in an FPS game, MOBA prioritizes cooperation and teamwork. 

Most MOBA games give players clear objectives. They must defend their territory from being seized, or they must kill off their opponent. A few games have functions like capture-the-flag, where players must enter their opponent’s area to grab a flag and then take it back to their area. 

Individual players may receive rewards for killing the most people or stealing the flag the most time. But the winning team is the true winner. 

Popular MOBA games include League of Legends. League of Legends is considered one of the best online games, and it has one of the most popular esports leagues. Almost 100 million spectators tuned in to watch the world championship in 2018.

MMORPG

A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) involves many people playing against each other at once. Most MMORPGs do not have objectives like winning rounds or scoring points. They involve gathering skills over time and exploring massive worlds. 

The most famous MMORPG is World of Warcraft. It is still in operation, with millions of players playing it every day. In most aspects of the game, the players do not face off against each other, focusing instead on fulfilling individual missions. 

Warcraft does have an arena where players can fight each other. Arena fights are a popular esport, with tournaments offering thousands of dollars in prizes. 

MMORPG tournaments function similarly to MOBA. Teams of players face off against each other. Whoever defeats the other side moves onto the next round. 

Browser Games

Browser games are video games that use an Internet browser. They were popular on the Internet when it first started. Though few developers make them today, you can still play some of them. 

Popular games include Slither.io, Line Rider, and Words with Friends. Several sites like Addicting Games host thousands of different games in a number of categories. 

Some games may operate specifically for one browser, like Google Chrome. The best gaming computers let you download several different browsers. Use each one and try to find some games specific to it. 

Google itself has some games you can play within the search engine. You can Google “tic-tac-toe” or “snake” to play those respective games. 

Flash Games

Flash games are games you can play through the Adobe Flash Player. They come from a number of developers and they cover a wide variety of genres. They are played within browsers, though you must have an updated version of Adobe Flash to play them. 

Adobe Flash ceased updates on December 31, 2020. If you still have Adobe Flash, you may be able to play some games. As time goes on, sites that host these games will have to remove or update them. 

If you are looking to play Flash games, you may need to buy cheap gaming computers. These computers are often older, containing software like Adobe Flash Player. You may also be able to find a bootlegged version of Flash on a file-sharing site. 

Common Jargon 

You may have heard of some other abbreviations. These are not types of games, but they are common jargon. 

“AFK” stands for “away from keyboard.” A player types this in when they step away from the game for a moment. They usually return within a few minutes. 

“GG” means “good game.” This is done for sportsmanship at the end of a road. “GG no re” means “good game, no rematch,” indicating the player does not want to face off against the same opponent. 

“KDA” relates to the performance of a player. K stands for kills scored, D for deaths taken, and A for assists given. It often refers to a ratio of kills to deaths taken; a player who scores six kills and dies twice has a KDA of three. 

“NPC” refers to a non-playable character. This is someone you interact with within the game who is not yourself or another player. They may remind you of the rules or teach you a skill you can use. 

The Many Different Types of Online Gaming

It can be hard to wrap your head around the different types of online gaming. Start with some general categories. 

Esports is organized and competitive gaming. PvP sees players face off against each other, while RTS incorporates real-time strategy. 

FPS, MOBA, and MMORPG games involve big groups of players facing off at once. Browser and Flash games are non-competitive and rely on Internet connections. “AFK” and “GG” are not games, but terms that players use with each other. 

Video games are advancing faster than ever. Follow our coverage for more online gaming tips. 

@TechmashUK #TechmashUK