4 Best Multiplayer Games For The Xbox 360

Gears of War 2 - The second title in the Gears of War series isn't always better than the original, especially in its single player campaign.  However, it's a vast improvement over the original in terms of multiplayer.  Friends can gang up online or locally to take on the new Horde mode, where endless streams of aliens pour into the maps.

This is one of the most violent games on the Xbox 360 and it's an absolute blast.  Whether you’re playing Horde, an online mode, or the cooperative campaign, Gears of War 2 is one of those no-brainer titles that every Xbox 360 owner should have a copy of.  It’s available through Shopping.com for about $20, so there’s really no reason not to buy this spectacular entry in the Gears of War series.  Here’s hoping that the third game lives up to Gears of War 2.

Halo 3 - Here’s another no brainer.  Halo 3 is less violent than Gears of War 2—well, there’s less blood, anyways—but it sports an arguably better cooperative campaign.  Plus, 4 players can play on a single console, which greatly enhances the game’s reputation as a party starter.  Halo 3 is as fun as any game in the series and has much better graphics.  The multiplayer can be frustrating for inexperienced gamers online, but wherever you’re playing it’s undeniably fun to stick a grenade to someone’s back and watch them flail around like an idiot.

Halo 3 is also cheap, as it’s on Shopping.com for only about thirty bucks.  If you don’t own this game, there’s probably something wrong with you.

Left 4 Dead 2 - Sometimes, a multiplayer game can be a whole lot more fun if you're playing with someone rather than against them.  Left 4 Dead 2 gives you both options, but the pick up and play cooperative mode is incredibly fun.  This is especially the case if you play the game online; there's a great community forming for Left 4 Dead 2.  Really, if you like killing zombies, there's no better game out there, and that's saying something.

Two players can play locally in Left 4 Dead 2, but I wouldn't recommend buying this game if you're not going to fork a few bucks up for Xbox Live.  It really takes the experience to the next level.  Also, this is another violent game for the Xbox 360, so keep that in mind (it seems like all of the best Xbox 360 games have a bit of violence to them).

Borderlands - Hardcore gamers will love the multiplayer of Borderlands 2, an action RPG shooter that brings together great humor and almost endless customization.  Weapons in the game are randomly generated, and after you pick a class, you can scour the wastelands for the best possible tool of destruction.  It has a distinctly Diablo-like feel to it, but it’s even better when you’re playing it with a friend.  You can play it with a friend locally or online, and yes, if you tire easily of cooperative campaigns, you can head into a special arena to fight friends and foes.  This is one of the deepest and most fun multiplayer games available on the Xbox 360 and an absolute joy if you like first person shooters or RPG games.