As the Covid-19 outbreak has gripped the world this year, we’ve seen many live events canceled due to the health threat of the virus. From the postponement of the Euro 2020 football tournament to the cancellation of music festivals, mass public gatherings are going to be very rare indeed until a solution is found.
However, that’s not to say that we can’t still have fun with our friends online. Chat platforms such as Houseparty, allows us to talk in virtual groups and video games give us the chance to play our favorite games together.
If we’re feeling competitive then there’s also the option to set up virtual tournaments, with many platforms giving you the chance to compete with, or against, your friends for hours on end.
Here are some of the best ways to do it.
ESports
If you’re missing the thrill of live sports, then there are exciting alternatives that bring competitive action to your screen.
Sports games lead the way, offering multiplayer options to keep a group entertained for several hours. Perhaps the most exhilarating one being the chance to create mini-leagues with friends – NBA 2k20, for example, allows up to 35 players to participate in a full basketball season, while a group of four friends can participate in the same online league through FIFA 20 franchise, Co-op Seasons. Here, 2v2 matches decide who gets to advance through the league, and who looks over their shoulder towards the bottom.
For the more professional among us, there’s a thriving eSports industry that pits some of the best players in the world against each other. The competition is fierce, and a lot of money is invested in it by game companies and top football clubs, leading to lucrative tournaments and prizes.
While you might not be ready for the highest level just yet, joining an eSports course could be a good way to hone your skills, and then who knows? You could be competing in the finest tournaments in the world.
Battle Royales
The modern phenomenon of Battle Royale-style games has made competing in online contests easier.
Fortnite is a prime example of this, having the capacity to host up to 100 players in a chaotic battleground who then fight until there’s only one player left standing.
There are plenty of guides as to how to create such a tournament – with the general idea being for players to pick the setting, the match format, and the number of participants they’d like to include. Players then have to register for the tournament and be validated by the organizer(s).
Apart from Fortnite, you can choose from an array of alternatives: PUBG, for example, offers a more intense experience, but also the 100-player limit for a tournament. While Call of Duty is a classic that also offers a superb Battle Royale-style showdown.
iGaming
If you’re a fan of card games, then you don’t need to find a wooden table to sit around anymore. Online poker is a hugely popular game that offers many great apps for you and your friends to play. Many of them give you the option to form private contests so you can form an exclusive group, although these require a group password to enter.
Poker isn’t the only game that enjoys this perk. Blackjack enthusiasts can invite friends to take part in virtual tournaments which are a great way to learn a new strategy and engage in friendly competition.
Like in real life, there should always be the option to play for fun rather than staking money. Although there’s nothing stopping you from setting up private wagers between friends if that’s what you want to do.
Racing Games
Racers have always been one of a gamer’s favorite ways to compete with a friend, stretching back to the very first arcade titles in the 1970s. The reason is clear, there’s nothing like hurtling over the finishing line in the first position.
This tradition has been extended to the internet age, and racing fans are spoilt for choice when it comes to friendly contests.
Like with sports games, eSports offers some exciting competitions, but if you want to just take on a few mates at home then you can do that, too. F1 2019 lets several players race each other over a host of world-famous tracks, a feature that was used to pit professional drivers against each other after live events were canceled.
Gran Turismo also lets you try out some of the best cars in the world in an online setting, featuring a tournament mode for groups. They too have an online Championship which takes place in blocks of ten races between March and September.
If you’ve got a competitive nature then this list should help you find an outlet to battle against your friends. Whether money is involved or not, it’s always nice to get one over your friends – just make sure it doesn’t affect your relationship afterwards!
