Nidhogg
Few multiplayer games keep you on the edge of your seat like Nidhogg, a side-scrolling reverse tug-of-war. You and an opponent start out facing against each other on a platform. Your goal is to run to the other side of the screen. But you both have swords, which are one-hit kills. Also, you respawn almost instantly, but not so instantly that your adversary doesn’t have time to run toward their exit. It’s the type of formula that could be an elegant dance, but more often than not, matches turn into mad dashes. Yes, Nidhogg has a sequel, and yes, it has “better” graphics—think more Amiga in comparison to the original game’s deliberately chunky, Commodore 64-style look—but the simpler visuals are a more suitable fit for the gameplay. If you’re gonna play one, go with the original.
Rough Average Playtime: 2 hours for the campaign, but many more for multiplayer
