Gaming is now one of the most popular hobbies and forms of entertainment in the world, and there is a game for practically everyone available on almost every platform. There are great games available on whatever device you read this on! Yet some games are better than others, and some gaming experiences are better than others. Often, it’s the game and whether it’s a right fit for you.
However, there are other factors at play, including your internet connection. If you enjoy multiplayer games, then you need a good connection. And some games require a good connection more than others, or a good connection will make the experience much more enjoyable.
Here are some of the best games that can benefit from an improved internet connection, as well as some helpful additional information about improving that connection:
1. Halo Infinite
To start with, let’s talk about one of the most famous shooter series of all time: Halo. And the latest entry in the series is Halo Infinite, which is a big push to bring the game and the series. It features an ambitious single-player campaign and has the multiplayer modes for which the series became incredibly well-known. It is the game of choice for what feels like a generation.
And as with most shooters, having a great connection is essential to top play and getting the most enjoyment out of the game. You want the gameplay to feel fluid and your opponents to feel consistent. A solid connection can ensure this and make sure you stay connected to all of your matches.
The benefits also apply to “The Master Chief Collection,” a collection of previous Halo games. Whatever Halo multiplayer you prefer, you want to be able to enjoy it in the perfect state of flow all gamers look forward to.
2. Apex Legends
There will be a few battle royale games with a large player base (perhaps due to being free to play), and Apex Legends is currently one of the most popular (with far more than 130 million total players). According to many gamers, it is the most fun with many different ways to approach a situation. The hero-based battle royale has players select a pre-made character with defined abilities, drop into a large map to find supplies, weapons, and more, and then fight with other squads as they encounter them in the shrinking playable area on the map.
Apex Legends, being a multiplayer shooter and (usually) a team-based battle royale, requires knowing what the field looks like and what your teammates and opponents are doing at any given time. Lag is not helpful, nor do spikes of it. The game gets intense in the final stages, and being even a quarter of a second behind can keep your aim off. While the game will do its best to keep you in it, a good connection and ping rate are required. Your teammates will thank you for it.
3. Fortnite
Few games in history have taken the world by storm, and Fortnite is undoubtedly one of them, perhaps the one that is still the most relevant today. It is a multiplayer online battle royale game, but it has also become much more. There are more tie-ins than most people can keep track of, and there are often new ways to play the game or goals inside the classic matches that players can work on. There are even some small storylines to discover over time. Not everything hits, but there are reasons to keep playing and trying out the game.
And with all of the above mechanics and structure in mind, it’s easy to see why having a good internet connection matters. You do not want to be disconnected in the middle of a match where you might be winning. You do not want to spend 20 minutes on a match only to have it feel wasted at the last minute due to a lag spike. Fortnite has great servers and excellent technology (Epic Games has a lot of money to throw into Fortnite, and they are happy to do so), yet your end of the connection matters as well.
4. Call of Duty (Any of Them)
While we first thought about selecting a specific Call of Duty game to mention in this article, in truth, a better internet connection will help with any of them. Perhaps by the time you read this article, a new one will be out already.
Regarding Call of Duty: Warzone, the franchise battle royale mode, the need for a solid connection only increases if you are serious about winning matches. Even in the more yearly releases that have the usual modes, you want to be able to make those split-second shots that make you feel both skilled and amazing. They’re why many people play the game, and you need a good connection to truly appreciate them.
There is also the matter of the size of the games. Plan on having a massive hard drive and a good connection if you want to play these games anytime soon, given that you might need more than 100GB of free space for them.
5. World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft could be doing better for itself as of this writing. Recently, it has gotten much criticism for its design choices, lack of updates, and eventually replaced systems. On top of this, the developer Blizzard (a part of Activision Blizzard) has recently been in more controversies and hot water than most people can reasonably keep track of.
Yet while these things all hurt the game, there are still many players in the World of Warcraft and expansions being planned, and the game does need a good internet connection to work correctly. You don’t want to miss your rotation or disconnect while in the middle of a raid encounter. At high-level play, every half-second matters, and feel like you’re in the moment is half the fun.
6. Final Fantasy XIV Online
While World of Warcraft was king of online gaming for a very long time, its throne has seemingly been supplanted by Final Fantasy XIV online, a now long-running game in the series that first found its identity by reinventing itself. And since its rerelease as A Realm Reborn, it has only gotten better. While taking a lot from the rest of the Final Fantasy lore over the many games, FFXIV is still fundamentally an MMORPG, with all that entails.
And to enjoy it, you need a great internet connection. On top of the needs of an MMO, as we talked about in World of Warcraft, there’s another thing. While the game has gotten excellent reviews and publicity as of late, it has perhaps gotten a little too much all at once. In the time before the latest expansion for the game came out, it got an influx of players (many of them refugees from a struggling World of Warcraft). This can mean long wait times to get into a popular server. It’s much better than it was at the launch of the most recent expansion, but there are still peak times. You don’t want to get kicked out from a connection issue, as it could ruin your evening.
7. Pokémon Go
Pokémon Go is a bit odd because it is a mobile game. However, just because it is a mobile game doesn’t mean you can’t improve your connection with it, nor do you want to have a bad connection while playing. You will want to have as stable a connection as possible, as there are multiplayer elements. This can mean a good data plan or a WiFi connection.
What will be different is what you can do to address the problem if you have a bad connection. Certainly, connecting to WiFi if it is available in the area can help (assuming the WiFi is any good, of course), as it can ensure your settings and location aren’t messing with the signal. However, there is a strong chance you want to ensure your data plan is in working order if you are having issues with Pokemon Go. A mobile game should be a constant companion and seamless experience. It kind of ruins the point if you are worried about whether you’ll be able to play or not in your area. Think of the game as a test of coverage and an incredible creature collector.
8. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Now we are getting more into competitive gaming territory, and few games have a longer competitive history that’s still relevant than Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO). If you’ve played it, you know just how vital a solid connection is and how even your monitor’s refresh rate can make a world of difference. You cannot and must not have a high ping rate or choppy connection if you want to play at the highest level or enjoy the best moments the game can offer.
In short, you want a connection that can keep up with your reflexes. Similarly, you want to feel as though your wins are yours and your mistakes are yours as well. For a game to feel fair, you want a fair court.
The need might not feel great if you’re playing casually, but you will miss out on the most exhilarating moments and the closest plays you might have made otherwise. We encourage you to test your connection if you’re interested in CS: GO.
9. Rocket League
Moving away from shooters for a moment, let’s talk about what is effectively rocket-powered cars playing extreme soccer. The game has been out for a while, but it is just as fun, if not more fun, than when it first came out. And whether you want to play with friends casually or go at it a little more competitively (the game still has a nice e-sports scene), Rocket League is a game you can spend a lot of time on.
Yet what isn’t fun? A game where you barely know what’s happening because of your unstable internet connection. Or a game where you feel like your car is in a traffic jam because it speeds up and slows down unnaturally all the time.
To keep yourself in sync with your team, where the ball is, and the state of the playing field, you will want to make sure you have a good connection. Imagine playing real soccer or another sport and being half a second behind the rest of your team. Imagine the ball not being where you think it is or the world speeding up a little at random times to make up for the difference in times. It is disorienting and makes for a less than ideal gaming experience. With a solid connection, you’ll be able to enjoy this virtual sport to the fullest.
10. League of Legends
Now for a different kind of league, one that often frustrates many players. One of the biggest competitive games in the world is League of Legends, a top-down MOBA with teams of five players, each taking different roles, playing hero characters as they try to win a long battle for control of the map.
League of Legends might not look like it requires a great deal of skill or a solid connection at first glance, but you would be terribly wrong. The game often requires split-second reactions to what your opponent is doing, and being behind due to lag will ruin you. This is also an extremely competitive game with a highly competitive community, often to the point of toxicity and abuse. If you play the game or are even familiar with it, you will likely know exactly what we are talking about. A good connection can help you avoid the worst parts of the game.
11. DOTA 2
Another MOBA like League of Legends, albeit one with perhaps a longer history, DOTA 2 is incredibly complex, rewarding for those who put the time in, and something we think most people should try at least once.
Yet, given that it is another MOBA, much of the same applies regarding the need for a good connection. Quick decisions on both a micro and macro level are necessary, and if you are behind for any reason due to your connection, you are at a disadvantage. You want to learn the game while acting normally and not adjust for a poor ping rate. The player base is dedicated, and you don’t want any disadvantages.
12. EVE Online
EVE Online is generally, by design, a slow game where not a lot of fast-paced action happens unless you seek it out until it does. It is a game that is something of a lifestyle, taking up the free time of anyone who seriously plays it until it becomes both a full-time job and a second life. And some people absolutely love it, preparing spreadsheets and running their game accounts like a business. Some of the crazier events in the game have spawned blog posts and news stories, and they’re primarily player-driven.
It has changed a bit since the game went free-to-play some time ago, but the core of the game has stayed the same, with most anything allowed and how you interact with other players being a lot of how much you succeed in the game.
Essentially, not only is this game an MMO with its own needs but part of an online community and ecosystem. The game is not afraid to erase most forms of progress if you are not paying attention, and a quick cutout can lead to enough frustration to make you want to quit the game. Before you get too invested, make sure you can keep up a solid connection.
13. Among Us
Among Us isn’t an intensive game regarding graphics or processing power. Still, it requires a strong internet connection, especially if you plan on using the voice comms and keeping up with everything happening in the game.
The game has a few small mini-game-like tasks, but ultimately it is a social deduction game where one larger team of players has to determine who the imposter is. It can lead to a lot of fun, paranoia, and more fun to be had with friends worldwide. It’s a great way to spend an evening with the family if there are enough of you.
There’s a reason Among Us has become one of the most popular games of the last few years and something of a meme in its own right. It’s cheap, if not free, with some platforms and subscriptions, so we recommend giving it a try and making sure you have a good connection for it.
14. Fall Guys
One of the most fun, silly, and perhaps odd games to come out in the past few years, Fall Guys is a multiplayer game that isn’t like the rest. Instead of trying to shoot your opponents or fight them, you are usually trying to outlast or outspeed them in a game show-style format with obstacle courses and multiplayer games. And while it might not need split-second shooting mechanics, to enjoy the game, you need a smooth platforming experience (as much as the controls will allow). You will find that a lot of skill is involved in the platforming at high levels, and you don’t want to trip up.
Fall Guys is on multiple platforms, so make sure you have a good connection on whatever system you get it on.
15. Guilty Gear: Strive (and All Fighting Games)
Out of any type of game in existence, the genre that absolutely, positively requires good net code and a good connection are fighting games. The entire genre is based on split-second decisions and reactions and being able to read your opponent. If a fighting game doesn’t have a good net code, it will not have a great audience online (or as good as it could have). If someone doesn’t have a good internet connection, they might as well not bother playing fighting games online. A hundredth of a second can matter, and anything but the best ping will put you at a disadvantage.
This leads us to Guilty Gear: Strive, one of the more recent fighting games to come out for multiple platforms and one of the best received. It uses rollback net code to achieve a lot of the charm of a local connection, yet it will still require a consistent connection.
And in truth, Guilty Gear: Strive is just one of the latest and most popular fighting games to come out. There will be others that require a good connection just as much, and any that you see currently active will not be much different from Guilty Gear in its requirements. Developers are working on making the best experience possible for people playing online, but you’ll likely have to meet them halfway.
Ways Your Connection Could Be Better For Gaming
It should be noted that when it comes to your internet connection, there are several ways it can get “better.” These include:
Speed: You need a fast upload and download speed to maintain a strong connection. It doesn’t need to be as fast as you might think, given that you mostly send and receive commands, but things such as voice communications and user content require a minimum. You will want to consider more than speed, but in terms of an overall improvement to your life, it can do a lot more than provide a better gaming experience.
How much speed do you need for gaming? It can depend on the game. However, you should probably be fine if you have about 25 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed. However, if other processes or devices use the internet in your home, you will want faster speeds to make up for it. And the faster your speed, the more quickly you can download games and updates.
Consistency: A high-speed connection won’t be beneficial if you get booted from the server every hour due to a connection that cuts out occasionally. Most online games require a constant connection or near-constant connection. If you don’t have one, you might as well not bother playing. If you have issues with this that happen more than every once in a rare while (accidents and glitches happen), then fixing it should be your top priority.
Ping Rate/Latency: Your ping rate is how long your device takes to communicate with a server and get a response. Essentially, it affects a delay in commands in online games. Many things can cause a poor ping rate, but if your ping rate is low, those split-second commands don’t matter all that much, and you’ll be at a huge disadvantage. With the worst ping rates, an online game becomes unplayable, no matter how good your system is.
How to Get that Better Internet Connection
So, you want a better internet connection. However, just wishing for it isn’t going to do much, so here are some steps you can take and some tips you can consider:
- Regarding ping rate, it can come down to a few factors. However, check the server or data center you are playing on first. Distance plays a factor in ping rate, and playing on a server far away from you can increase your ping rate.
- Similarly, if you use a VPN or similar tool to change your IP address and protect yourself, it might not be the best thing for your connection or ping rate. A solid VPN won’t be a huge drain on your connection, but it will slow things down. You might want to turn it off while gaming to ensure a more consistent connection and ping rate.
- While it might seem a bit obvious and yet drastic a solution, you can try to switch internet service providers or switch your service plan. It might take a little bit of time, but if you have gaming problems, you’re probably having issues with other parts of your online life, which can have a real impact.
- If you are getting interruptions in service or problems that seem to arise from hardware or infrastructure, it might behoove you to start by seeing if you can contact your ISP and see what the issue might be. In any case, we hope that you can get the problem solved
- A wired connection will always be better than a wireless connection. If possible, use an ethernet cable that isn’t liable to get damaged, perhaps running it along the wall if you have to make it travel. WiFi can be limited, and the weakest link in your setup will dictate your connection. An ethernet cable will ensure you get the most from your internet service.
- If an ethernet cable isn’t a realistic option, there are still some things you can do. You can try to ensure that you are putting both your router and your internet receiver (or whatever device is receiving the internet) so there is no interference. Also, ensure that the router is close enough to your gaming device of choice.
- Sometimes, the internet speed and connection quality will be up to factors outside your control. Some times are busier than others when it comes to internet speed. Certain areas might be last in line, so to speak.
There are, of course, other things you can do to improve your internet connection. However, we generally recommend consulting a guide specifically on this topic and considering whether your device or not your ISP is the problem. Online gaming is more complicated than most people realize, but thankfully some resources make it easy to keep going.
Conclusion
Gaming is an important hobby for many people and probably brings you great joy. For those reasons having a poor internet connection can be a huge problem and ruin your gaming session and even your day. We hope you can improve your connection and enjoy one of the games above to the fullest! Try out a bunch and make a day of it!
