PvP games are more popular than ever. It doesn't matter if players prefer intense shooter battles or more tactical MOBA gameplay; there is bound to be a great game out there for them to prove their skills and outplay their opponents. 2025 gave the world so many great PvP games, from Battlefield 6 to ARC Raiders, each putting a unique spin on existing genre norms, with a few new names entering the space and delivering an experience unlike anything else. But the wave of games never seems to stop, and there are many more insanely cool and exciting PvP titles just waiting to be released, each bringing a unique art style, gameplay loop, and world for players to get invested in and explore for countless hours.
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Recently, the world of PvP games has been taken over by extraction shooters, and despite there being many great ones already, it seems like the genre is just getting started. However, not every PvP game has to have the same loot-and-shoot formula, and as it turns out, many newer titles are doing far more experimenting in both existing genres and by blending multiple into a single experience. A lot of these games come from established IPs or developers, while others are a team's first attempt at gaming greatness, but they all look fascinating and should for sure be on any PvP fan's radar in the coming months.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
Marathon
Bungie's Attempt At Extraction Shooter Greatness
- Class-based combat in the form of different shells.
- Competitive mode for more hardcore players.
Marathon is the next big name in the extraction shooter space, thrusting players into high-stakes PvP runs where every decision matters. Set in a mysterious world full of color and vibrancy, players control cybernetic mercenaries known as Runners, entering contested zones to grab loot, complete objectives, and race for extraction while facing both AI threats and rival players. The core loop will feel familiar to genre veterans, but the difference comes from the emphasis on class abilities and techniques that ensure each player has a distinct role in the context of their team.
The art style is obviously the biggest draw, with far more bright color and contrast than in other, more realistic shooters, but the aesthetics extend to how enemies function and how weapons feel, rather than being just for show. One of the biggest issues extraction shooters run into is the divide between casual and hardcore players, and even the most successful games struggle to find a balance that works for everyone. With Marathon, however, every kind of player will be able to enjoy the experience, whether they want to jump in for a few sessions and log off, or if they want to keep grinding through to the late game, climbing ranks, and taking on the challenging Cryo Archives that should keep them invested long after launch.
Active Matter
Reality Bending Around All The Action
- Fast and fluid traversal between surfaces.
- Intense PvP encounters supplemented by horrific enemies.
Active Matter takes the extraction shooter formula and warps it into surreal territory, flipping many of the genre's conventions on their heads in the most literal sense. Players enter quantum unstable zones rich with the titular Active Matter, a reality-bending resource that affects gravity, space topology, and battlefield conditions. While inside these areas, players need to compete over the limited loot pool while fending off both other players and abstract PvE threats.
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Where other shooters take a more grounded approach to level design and combat, Active Matter isn't afraid to lean into chaos. Not only is the combat fast-paced and intense, but it also unfolds over extremely unpredictable environments, where players can be on solid ground one minute and running along the ceiling the next. This alone makes the game look unique in an otherwise crowded space and a clear one to watch for if players are waiting for their next shooter addiction.
Mistfall Hunter
Soulslike Goodness Meets PvP Chaos
- Fantasy mixed with the extraction loop.
- Focus on melee and abilities in combat.
Mistfall Hunter takes a very different approach to extraction gameplay, trading guns and grenades for a dark fantasy setting that has just as much PvP goodness as any other game in the genre. The game puts players in the role of Gyldhunters, specialized fighters who venture into dangerous realms seeking loot, resources, and glory, but the task at hand is anything but a cakewalk. Fighting other players is central to the experience, and there are plenty of opportunities for skilled players to kill their way to a nice set of gear upgrades, whether that's by taking down a fearsome monster or a fellow hunter.
Mechanically, combat is tactical and skill-driven in a very different way from a traditional extraction game, with deep character builds and gear customization that have a huge impact on the player's success in each run. Whether teamed up or going solo, players must balance risk and reward, as pushing deeper offers better loot, but it also increases their chance of clashing with other hunters. Many players may already be fatigued by the extraction genre, and this game might be exactly what they need to reignite that passion and get back into the fight.
SAND: Raiders Of Sophie
The Base That Moves With You
- Procedurally generated desert world.
- Base-building mechanics meet large-scale PvP battles.
SAND: Raiders of Sophie is what happens when Mad Max meets base-building and high-stakes PvP action. The world is a vast, deserted battlefield where players need to construct and customize giant Tramplers — walking mobile bases that serve as transport, storage, and combat platforms — while fending off others looking for their next big payday. These mechanical behemoths aren’t just fancy backdrops to the fights; they fundamentally shape how PvP engagements unfold. Players can mount heavy weaponry and go on the offensive to shred through anyone and anything that gets too close.
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Because of the modular nature of the Tramplers, players can easily build and tweak their bases to their needs and tastes without worrying about sticking within set confines. This also allows them to focus all their attention on the battles on the sands, where skill and strategy are the driving force of success in the wasteland. Alongside the large-scale battles, there are also plenty of moments when players need to run around on foot, venturing into the various structures that litter the landscape and hunting for whatever loot they can hopefully escape with.
Invincible VS
Bringing Comic Book Grit To Life
- 3v3 tag fighter set in the Invincible universe.
- Iconic characters battle across a range of environments.
Invincible VS brings the realm of superheroes to the tag fighting genre, pitting the cast of Invincible against one another in tense 3v3 fights to the death. Players assemble teams of iconic heroes and villains and engage in fast-paced competitive matches where combo execution, defensive timing, and team synergy are equally important in deciding the winner.
Fighting game players will feel right at home, and there are plenty of features that make the game feel more modern and polished than even some of the big names in the genre. Seamless switching mid-combo, fast, fluid movements, and a big focus on competitive multiplayer for those looking to really push their limits and become the best heroes they can. The tag fighting genre might be hotly contested, but this is easily one of the more exciting and promising upcoming entries. And could easily become a mainstay for even long-time players.
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