Though rocky at its initial release,Grand Theft Auto Onlinehas blossomed into a popular pastime for numerous gamers. At this point, it’s more than just a multiplayer mode forGrand Theft Auto 5.Grand Theft Auto Onlinehas become an encapsulating online multiplayer experience for a decade. There are a wealth of modes for would-be robbers to raid, many of them emphasizing both teamwork and solo play. In addition, these modes never get stale due to the developer’s negligence. Instead, they just keep the content coming
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With an update to Freemode, players can enjoy competing in a full lobby with a variety of Freemode Events. These continue the chaotic trend ofGTA Online’s mayhem by providing several new modes for players to compete in. These aren’t just deathmatches, though. A handful of these come with bizarre rules rarely seen in a competitive context. That said, branching out is often a viable path, especially in a crowded market. With Freemode,GTA Onlinecan distinguish itself from countless other multiplayer modes.
5Moving Target
This competitive mode fashions fans into couriers. It involves commandeeringa specific vehicle. Players must drive said vehicle to a designated area, all the while keeping it in one piece. That’s not easy amid a barrage of bullets from other players. On the upside, it lets players simulate car chases more wildly than anyGTAgame. With the driver’s team as backup against the attacking team, Moving Target takes ordinary shootouts on the road. This inevitably leads to vehicular carnage.
The speed and explosions then translate to pure, cathartic chaos. It doesn’t eliminate strategy, though. The defending team must coordinate their routes and maintain their pace while the attacking players have to think outside the box. After all, taking out a vehicle is tougher than a person. With the sheer variety of vehicles in Los Santos, that gameplay loop stays fresh for both sides. Moving Target trulytests fans' drivingas much as their shooting.
4Kill List
The Kill List mode brings inGTA 5’s Merryweather mercenaries, and they’re back with a vengeance. This militia group assaults the players with endless waves of cannon fodder. These guys pack the heaviest weapons and pursue their targets to the ends of Los Santos. Wherever players hide, Merryweather is there to outflank and smoke them out. In the end, it’s a struggle just to stay alive. That’s part of the fun.
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Kill List is an infectious rush of adrenaline, matched only by the thrill of having each other’s backs. With friends by their side, fans canwage war against an entire army; it’s tough not to feel some satisfaction in that. On the other hand, any moment could be their last. That feeling heightens every action they take. Of course, it helps that they can access miniguns and other big toys which are harder to acquire in other modes. Using these tools to mow down Merryweather is just the icing on the cake.
3Penned In
Talk about takingterritorial battlesto a new extreme. All players have to do is stay inside a massive dome. The catch is that said dome shrinks as the match progresses. Not only does this make it harder to stay in the dome, but it’s easier for players to knock each other out.
Penned In has all the appeal of Kill List but with a constantly shifting battlefield. Fans can defeat their opponents by keeping them pinned down. At the same time, those on the other end have a greater incentive to push forward. The mode forces players to constantly re-position themselves. As the dome becomes smaller and the area more congested, fans can feel the desperation build. It’s as if the walls are closing in.
2Hunt The Beast
This is easily the most unconventional mode, but that’s what makes it so interesting. During Hunt The Beast, one player who has opted-in for the Freeemode event transforms into a werewolf. The others must then track the creature down. The formula is exactly as weird as it sounds.
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That weirdness creates a palpable thrill, albeit a sadistic one. The matchup may seem unfair, but that’s the point. Being chased can be just as exhilarating (if not more so) as being the chaser. Imagine having a wanted level in the base game anddealing with smarter pursuers. Meanwhile, those pursuers must contend with having a monster on the loose. The snarling sounds and screaming people mean the mode sometimes channels a slasher flick or monster movie. The difference is that this beast is smart enough to drive and shoot guns. When he starts picking off foes with these tools, it only increases the suspense.Such is the unexpected thrillfrom this random mode.
1King Of The Castle
The only thing better than open-field warfare is storming a fortress. King of the Castle places one team in charge of an armored building. As long as they maintain control, it grants them money and other rewards. Sure, it makes no sense, but that doesn’t mean it’s nota valuable prize. It’s so valuable that the other team lays siege and tries to claim the building. That premise is exciting enough, and that excitement goes through the roof as the match unfolds. King of the Castle invites ingenuity from everyone involved. Attackers must deal with not only the players shooting at them but the mines and other defenses around the base.
Carefully selecting their weapons and vehicles can help them break through those barriers, thereby keeping the fortified team on their toes. Even then, though, the mode isn’t as simple as wiping out the other team. Killing the underlings makes the king stronger. Because of that, attackers have to pick their poison. Do they fight one tough enemy or a squad or normal foes? These factors capture the intense enjoyment of a virtual gang war while staving off any monotony. Overcoming those obstacles and conquering the castle feels more momentous than any other mode.
Grand Theft Auto Onlineis available on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
