A multiplayer game is a game which is played by several players. The players might be independent opponents, formed into teams or be just a single team pitted against the game. Games with many independent players are difficult to analyse formally in a game-theoretical way as the players may form coalitions.

Game Theory

John Nash proved that games with several players have a stable solution provided that coalitions between players are not allowed. He won the Nobel prize for economics for this important result which extended von Neumann's theory of zero-sum games. Such a stable strategy is called a Nash equilibrium.

If cooperation between players is allowed, then the game is more complex. Many concepts have been developed to analyse such games. While these have had some partial success in the fields of economics, politics and conflict, no good general theory has yet been developed.

In quantum game theory, it has been found that the introduction of quantum information into multiplayer games allows a new type of equilibrium strategy which is not found in traditional games. The entanglement of players's choices can have the effect of a contract by preventing players from profiting from betrayal.

Types

Examples of the types of such games include:

• Charades - a party game in which the players mime and guess titles.

• Contract Bridge - a card game played by two teams of two players.

• Counter-strike - a video game played by individuals or teams.

• Diplomacy - up to seven players negotiate the fate of Europe.

• Lord of the Rings - a board game in which players cooperate and even sacrifice themselves to destroy the Ring.

• Monopoly - a board game about property trading and rental.

• Poker - a gambling game usually played with about seven players.

• Risk - a wargame of global conflict.

• Scrabble - a word game in which the players build a crossword.

• Shadowfist - a collectible card game which is especially good with four players.

• World of Warcraft - a massively multiplayer online role-playing game.

See also

• Large group games

• Multiplayer browser games

• Multiplayer computer games

• Multiplayer mobile games

• Multiplayer video games

• N-player game

• PC Multiplayer