Your Guide to Modern LAN Compatible Games

Since the advent of online multiplayer, the age-old LAN Party has become less popular. However, that's not to say they are non-existent, as we firmly believe LAN Parties aren't dead yet. LAN Parties are still incredibly fun. I mean, what's better than to laugh at your friends' faces as they witness their characters' deaths, granted by your vicious hands?

Unfortunately, for every year that passes, there are less LAN-compatible games out there, but there are still a few modern LAN-capable games that have been released for your LAN needs. Here, you can find a list of several LAN-compatible games, in no particular order and dating back as far as five years ago, so you can always refer to them when planning your LAN bash. Expect to see the name of the game, a small description, the max amount of players that can play, and the system requirements. Note that I will only be referring to PC versions of games.


Parkour and grenades, 100 percent of the time, 100 percent with buddies.

1) Dying Light

This is one of the more recent releases that actually supports LAN play. Honestly, I have not expected this game to carry LAN support, so I find this a pretty neat feature. But what is Dying Light, you ask? Well, if you're a gamer living under a rock, Dying Light is a survival title that features a combination of zombies and parkour, all in first-person perspective. The game is all about survival, where players utilize items and wits to last. To activate the LAN, just simply set the multiplayer mode to LAN, which can support up to four players. If you also want to gain the upper hand during survival, developers have released YouTube series of tips.

System Requirements (Windows):

Minimum:
OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1 64-Bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500 @ 3.3 GHz, AMD FX-8320 @ 3.5 GHz
Memory: 4 GB RAM DDR3
Hard Drive: 40 GB HDD
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560, AMD Radeon HD 6870 (1 GB VRAM)
DirectX: Version 11
Additional Notes: Laptop versions of graphics cards may work but are NOT officially supported.

Recommended:
OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1 64-Bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-4670K @ 3.4 GHz, AMD FX-8350 @ 4.0 GHz
Memory: 8 GB RAM DDR3
Hard Drive: 40 GB HDD
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780/AMD Radeon R9 290 (2 GB VRAM)
DirectX: Version 11

LAN Player Amount: 4

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2) Age of Wonders III

Age of Wonders III is similar to the previous games in terms of delivering a unique mix of empire building, role-playing and warfare genres. If you're into turn-based games, this may be a great game for a LAN party. You can choose between six classes - sorcerer, theocrat, rogue, warlord, archdruid, or dreadnought - and six main races - Humans, High Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Goblins, and Draconians, to create an Empire how you see fit. The world is vast, as you can explore over fifty location types and raid for treasure, build settlements, forge pacts, and harness magic. For additional fun, you can even create new maps using a map generator.

System Requirements (Windows Only):

Minimum:
OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 2.4 GHz, AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ @ 2.6 GHz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA 8800, ATI Radeon HD 3870 512 MB VRAM, Laptop integrated Intel HD 3000 with 3 GB System RAM
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 10 GB HDD

Recommended:
OS: Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4 GHz or AMD Phenom X4 9900 @ 2.6 GHz
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 460 1 GB or AMD Radeon HD 6850 1 GB
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 10 GB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 4 (Technically)

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3) Contagion

Contagion is another zombie-related game, that is team-based like Left 4 Dead 2. It is a first person shooter that wields a randomization system, so each game is different than the last. There is also an arsenal of over 28 pieces of gear and weapons, with plenty of zombies to blast.

System Requirements (Windows Only):

Minimum:
OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7 32/64-Bit
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Dual Core Processor
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: 256 MB VRAM, ATI X800, NVIDIA 6600 or better
DirectX: 9.0c
Hard Drive: 7 GB HDD

Recommended:
OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7 32/64-Bit
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Dual Core Processor
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: 512 MB VRAM, ATI X1600, NVIDIA 7600 or better
DirectX: 9.0c
Hard Drive: 7 GB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 8

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This is the idea of teamwork. This is also potentially nonexistent at a LAN party.

4) Arma III

Arma III is a military sandbox game that fits snuggly into the genres of action, simulation, and strategy. There is plenty of multiplayer content, with over 20 vehicles and 40 weapons to choose from. Additionally, you can play with the content creator to create unique maps and content to play during LAN parties. In mulitplayer, you can either form a cooperative squad and defeat the enemy or play in game modes developed by the community. The best part is that this game is amazing for large LAN parties.

System Requirements (Windows Only):

Minimum:
OS: Windows Vista SP2 or Windows
Processor: Intel Dual-Core 2.4 GHz or AMD DUal-Core Athlon 2.5 GHz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT, AMD Raden HD 3830, Intel HD Graphics 4000 with 512 MB VRAM
DirectX: Version 10
Hard Drive: 15 GB HDD

Recommended:
OS: Windows 7/8 (64-Bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-2300 or AMD Phenom II X4 940 or better
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 or AMD Radeon HD 7750 with 1 GB VRAM or better
DirectX: 11
Hard Drive: 25 GB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 16

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5) Saints Row IV

Saints Row IV is perfect for a good laugh. Unfortunately, this is not the game for a good party, as only two players can play in LAN mode. The goal is to save the world from an alien invasion, except that you have been captured by the aliens and transported into a virtual world. You have an all-access pass to run around, shoot down aliens and harm innocents. Nothing can beat that! Well, actually there are other games that can beat that fun.

System Requirements (Windows Only):

Minimum:
OS: Windows Vista
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, AMD Athlon II x3
Memory: 4 GB
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 260, AMD Radeon HD 5800
DirectX: Version 10

Recommended:
OS: Windows 7
Processor: Intel i3 2100T, AMD Phenom II x4
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 560, AMD Radeon HD 6800
DirectX: Version 11
Hard Drive: 10 GB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 2

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6) Dead Island: Riptide

Yet, ANOTHER zombie game is Dead Island Riptide. LAN games tend to be zombirrific, but that's okay if they're fun. You can go with three other friends and scour the island, smacking zombies upside the head with oars or riddling them with bullets. The most fun lies in killing each other. So many laughs can be had if someone is holding an oil barrel and another player just happens to shoot that barrel...

In the sequel to the original, you have access to a new playable character and boats and face new zombies, all while exploring fresh locations.

System Requirements (Windows):

Minimum:
OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 7 GB HDD
Graphics: ATI 2600XT 512 MB VRAM, GeForce 8600GT
DirectX: 9.0c

Recommended:
OS: Windows 7
Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 7 GB HDD
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 1 GB VRAM
DirectX: 9.0c

LAN Player Amount: 4

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Consider this a test whenever you think of owning a farm with friends.

7) Farming Simulator 15

Another installment in the Farming Simulator series, you can... build a farm community with friends. Sounds fun! I really am unsure as to whether or not I indicated sarcasm there. A lot of people have given this positive reviews, after all.

You can manage your own farm and be busy with a wide array of activities, including but not limited to: harvesting, animal husbandry, selling products, woodcutting, and purchasing tools and vehicles. There are lots of of vehicles to choose from that are over 40 of the most famous manufacturers. You can have up to 15--yes, 15--friends join you. This doesn't seem so bad for a LAN party.

System Requirements (Windows/Mac OS X):

Minimum:
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista, 7, 8/Mac OS X 10.7.1, 10.8.1, 10.9.1, 10.10.1
Processor: 2.0 GHz Intel/2.0 GHz Intel or AMD
Memory: 2 GB RAM/2 GB RAM
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 2600 512 VRAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8600/ATI Radeon HD 2600 512 VRAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8600
Hard Drive: 3 GB HDD/3 GB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 16

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8) A Valley Without Wind 2

A Valley Without Wind 2 offers a 16-bit spin with modern mechanics, blending in a variety of genres such as platform-shooters and turn-based strategy games. Players can explore via the world map and develop characters. The game offers 50 mage classes in 5 tiers, 200 spells, 125 enemies, 14 biomes, 100+ types of world map tiles, and 64 character customization perks. Up to 16 players can play this game on a LAN connection, making this suitable for a big LAN party.

System Requirements (Windows/Mac OS X):

Minimum:
OS: Windows XP SP2 or later/Leopard 10.5 or later
Processor: 1.6 Ghz CPU
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: 1024x768 or greater
Hard Drive: 1 GB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 16

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9) Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter

This is the HD remake of the classic hit, with tons of different modes, including several different Versus and Team multiplayer modes. With special weapons and power-ups, you and your friends can wreak havoc on each other. There are multiplayer modes such as survival mode, classic co-op, coin-op, beast hunt, team beast hunt, versus mode with new deathmatch maps, team deathmatch, capture the flag, and last team standing. You can expect this game to pour fun over 16 players for the entire day.

System Requirements (Windows):

Minimum:
OS: Windows XP w/SP1 or newer
Processor: Intel Pentium 4.3+ Ghz or AMD Athlon 64 3500+
Memory: 1 GB for Windows XP or 2 GB for Windows Vista
Hard Drive: 2.2 GB
Graphics: nVidia GeForce 7600, ATI Radeon X1600 (Shader Model 3.0 Required)
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c August 2009 Edition or newer

LAN Player Amount: 16

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10) Road Redemption

Though this game is still not out of Early Access on Steam, it supports LAN. This game aims to be the spiritual success of Road Rash, but it is far from it in terms of gameplay and physics. However, the game is still very fun and the end product may be more similar to the old, beloved series. In terms of gameplay, there actually isn't a deep campaign so much as an arcade style campaign. You're on a motorcyle, avoiding (or beating with bats) cops while coming out ahead of other gangs. For every trial you complete, you move eastward across the US. Supposedly you can play with others and race while duking it out with a variety of weapons, including paddles, pipes and Uzis.

System Requirements (Windows/Mac OS X):

Minimum:
OS: Windows XP, Vista/Mac OS X 10.7
Processor: 1.4 GHz processor/Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 4 GB RAM/2 GB RAM
Graphics: DirectX 9-compatible graphics card with at least 512MB of video memory/NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Drive: 1000 MB HDD/1000 MB HDD

Recommended:
OS: Windows 7, Windows 8/Mac OS X 10.8
Processor: 2 GHz or faster/Intel Core i3 or better
Memory: 4 GB RAM/4 GB RAM
Graphics: DirectX 9-compatible graphics card with at least 1 GB of video memory/NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M or ATI Radeon HD 5670 or better
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Drive: 2500 MB HDD/2500 MB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 4

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Not perfect for a LAN party, lest you split players into twos.

11) Total War: ATTILA

Brought to you by Creative Assembly (which hosted a Game Jam last year) and SEGA, this historical RTS may not be the best for a big LAN party, but instead can be a nice way for two people to spend time together. The game throws the players back to 395 AD, at the birth of the Dark Ages and during the Roman Empire's reign. Players begin with plenty of territories under their control, but strife is brewing internally and externally. The goal? To survive the battles and come out on top. For a little more info, you can check out this page.

System Requirements (Windows/Mac OS X):

Minimum:
OS: Windows Vista/OS X 10.9.4
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 3 GHz/Intel Core i5 1.7 GHz
Memory: 3 GB RAM/4 GB RAM
Graphics: 512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, AMD Radeon HD 2900 XT or Intel HD 4000/512 MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, AMD Mobility Radeon HD 5670 or Intel HD 4000
DirectX: Version 10
Hard Drive: 35 GB HDD/35 GB HDD
Additional Notes: PC integrated graphics chipsets require 64-bit Windows, e.g. Intel HD series/Unsupported graphics chipsets for Mac: NVIDIA GeForce 9 series, GeForce 300 series, GeForce Quatro series; AMD Radeon HD 4000 series, Radeon HD 3000 series, Radeon HD 2000 series.

Recommended:
OS: Windows 7/OS X 10.9.4
Processor: 2nd Generation Intel Core i5/2nd Generation Intel Core i5
Memory: 4 GB RAM/8 GB RAM
Graphics: 2 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti or AMD Radeon HD 5870/2 GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
DirectX: Version 11
Hard Drive: 35 GB HDD/35 GB HDD
Additional Notes: PC integrated graphics chipsets require 64-bit Windows, e.g. Intel HD series/Unsupported graphics chipsets for Mac: NVIDIA GeForce 9 series, GeForce 300 series, GeForce Quatro series; AMD Radeon HD 4000 series, Radeon HD 3000 series, Radeon HD 2000 series.

LAN Player Amount: 2

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12) Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

The Call of Duty series have been known for LAN, so I will just make mention of the most recent entry of the series. Updated with Kevin Spacey technology, the game promised an interesting and entertaining campaign, but everyone knows, especially for LAN parties, that multiplayer is where it's at. You and your LAN mates can always take part in the Havoc DLC, released for Xbox 360 and Xbox One on January 27th and February 26th, 2015 for the remaining platforms. Though the game apparently carries a lot of multiplayer complaints (lack of dedicated servers, bad community, etc.), it shouldn't affect a LAN party in the slightest.

So want to take on some friends in a futuristic setting? This would be your game.

System Requirements (Windows Only):

Minimum:
OS: Windows 7/8/8.1 64-Bit
Processor: Intel Core i3-530 @ 2.93 GHz/AMD Phenom II X4 810 @ 2.60 GHz
Memory: 6 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 @ 1 GB/ATI Radeon HD 5870 @ 1 GB
DirectX: Version 11
Hard Drive: 55 GB HDD

Recommended:
OS: Windows 7/8/8.1 64-Bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K @ 3.30 GHz
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 @ 4 GB
DirectX: Version 11
Hard Drive: 55 GB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 4

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13) Civilization: Beyond Earth

The most recent entry in Sid Meier's Civilization series, Beyond Earth presents a science-fiction theme, where global events have collapsed modern society, and the human race must set out into space to find a new home. Players must lead the human race to a new home and build a new civilization. Up to 8 players can join and compete for dominance in the new worlds, leading to a LAN blast of shocked and betrayed faces.

System Requirements (Windows/Mac OS X):

Minimum:
OS: Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7/Mac OS X 10.9.5, 10.10
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 64 2.0 GHz/Intel Core i3 (2.2 GHz)
Memory: 2 GB RAM/4 GB RAM
Graphics: 256 MB ATI HD 3650 or better, 256 MB NVIDIA 8800 GT or better, or Intel HD 3000 or better/ATI Radeon 4850, NVIDIA 640M, or Intel HD 4000
DirectX: Version 11
Hard Drive: 8 GB HDD/ 8 GB HDD

Recommended:
OS: Windows Vista SP2/Windows 7
Processor: 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD HD 5000 series or better, ATI R9 series, NVIDIA GT400 series, or better, or Intel IvyBridge or better
DirectX: Version 11
Hard Drive: 8 GB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 8

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14) Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

This is the latest entry of the Borderlands series, but it takes place between the events of Borderlands 1 and 2. You can join a group of friends and challenge the Borderlands universe, learning about Handsome Jack and his rise to power. Unlike the first two games, you fight on the moon and slip into the shoes of four new character classes, including Wilhelm the Enforcer, Nisha the Lawbringer, and Athena the Gladiator. This game can support up to 4-player LAN co-op, suitable for a small party.

System Requirements (Windows/Mac OS X):

Minimum:
OS: Windows XP SP3/Mac OS X 10.9.5
Processor: 2.4 GHz Dual Core Processor/2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (Dual-Core)
Memory: 2048 MB RAM/4 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8500, ATI Radeon HD 2600/ATI Radeon HD 2600, NVIDIA GeForce 8800, Intel HD 4000
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Drive: 13 GB HDD/13 GB HDD

Recommended:
OS: Windows XP SP3, Vista, 7, or 8
Processor: 2.3 GHz Quad Core Processor
Memory: 2048 MB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560, ATI Radeon HD 5850
DirectX: Version 10
Hard Drive: 20 GB HDD

LAN Player Amount: 4

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Exciting? Yes! Overhyped? No! Awesome? Let's hope!

15) Homefront: The Revolution

There is one game to look out for, though it has not been released yet. This upcoming sequel to Homefront takes place not too long after the original, and is expected to boast an open world that is very much alive with plenty of NPC actions. As a rebel, you decide who to help or what to do, though it does require heavy risk. The game is presumed to support LAN, though not 100% sure as of now. So let's hope it would. If you're curious about what the game has to offer, you can check out the GZU preview of Homefront: The Revolution.

LAN Player Amount: 4 (Supposedly)

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Of course, these are not all the modern LAN games, but just a few well-known ones. Unsurprisingly, the genres that have the most LAN-compatible games are shooters and RTS. Though LAN Parties aren't as popular as as they used to be, plenty of LAN games exist, and you can host a party in your own home, granted you have the proper equipment and power to host one. If you haven't attended or hosted a LAN party, it is highly recommended to at least attend one. Let's just hope there will be games that will continue to support LANs in the future.