What makes games great is that they can offer a variety of distinct experiences that will satisfy a number of desires. There are a plethora of unique genres for gamers to play. Sometimes, a game will have an original mode that helps satisfy the needs of different types of people. Multiplayer modes are special in this regard, as they can take an excellent single-player game and add incredible value to it as a package.

Related: Best Multiplayer Games Of The Generation (According To Metacritic)

However, some games go beyond just adding the typical multiplayer experience. Some, instead, add a mode that changes the core experience fundamentally. The best of these will sometimes end up eclipsing a game's primary mode.

10 Fragile Alliance - Kane And Lynch 2

Kane And Lynch In Combat
Kane And Lynch In Combat

While the Kane And Lynch games don't have the best reputation in the world, they actually feature an absolutely fantastic multiplayer mode. Fragile Alliance is a multiplayer mode that simultaneously encourages cooperation and greed.

The object of Fragile Alliance is to pull off a heist. You need to get as much money as possible before you are swarmed by the police. Everyone who makes it to the getaway van gets a share — unless an unfortunate "accident" were to befall them, of course. Any robber killed during the heist respawns as a police officer (and has an opportunity to acquire a smaller sum of money if they stop the robbers). It is a tug-of-war game where you need to decide when your teammates are valuable, and when they have worn out their welcome.

9 RPG Mode - Granblue Fantasy Versus

Granblue Fantasy Versus- RPG Mode gameplay showing Gran and Katalina fighting a boss

So, we aren’t going to claim that Granblue Fantasy Versus' RPG mode is perfect. It isn’t. For starters, the name itself is pretty confusing given that the RPG elements are secondary to the beat-'em-up style of gameplay. However, the fact that it allows players to play through the campaign in co-op, fight unique bosses, and earn gear that they can use to change their character’s appearance, is just super cool.

That's right, you and your friend can team up to tackle the many stages available. You can do this locally, or over the internet. It literally adds dozens of hours of multiplayer content to an already compelling fighting game package.

8 16 Player Versus Mode - Guardian Heroes

Guardian Heroes- Versus Mode absolute chaos

While some fighting games have a beat-’em-up side mode, Guardian Heroes is an example of a beat-’em-up with a fighting game side mode. Better yet, this mode allowed for six simultaneous combatants. And that is just the Saturn version, the Xbox Live Arcade version doubled the number of combatants.

Related: Best Fighting Games For Four Players

It doesn’t end up feeling like the deepest multiplayer experience ever, but it is a ton of fun. The characters already have pared-down fighting game move-sets, so this mode works brilliantly. It is delightful, unadulterated chaos.

7 Co-Op Play - Star Fox Zero

Star Fox Zero: An Arwing flies close to the water while firing a laser.

There have been many unkind things said about the newest entry in the Star Fox series. One of the biggest complaints centers around the control scheme, and how it essentially forces you to do two things at once. And, indeed, it is awkward. However, when played in co-op, this makes for a fascinating experience that forces players to collaborate and communicate.

Star Fox Zero is, for all intents and purposes, a game that is best experienced when played with a friend. The co-op mode here really feels like the main course. If you have a Wii-U kicking around, and you have a friend who is into Star Fox, this title makes for a great multiplayer experience.

6 Factions - The Last Of Us

A member of the Fireflies (left) prepares to execute a member of the Hunters (right) in the Last of Us 1's multiplayer
The Last Of Us' multiplayer mode

The Factions multiplayer mode in The Last of Us is more feature-rich than one would expect. Any concerns that the multiplayer would be “tacked on” were instantly quelled. Factions has multiple modes and even an interesting usage of social media integration. However, the best mode within factions has to be the interrogation mode.

Interrogation mode dynamically shifts as you play it. You need to acquire information by interrogating downed opponents, then, once you have all the data you need, you have to raid your enemies’ lockbox, which will force your opponents to go on the defensive. This creates a delightful push-pull cadence for each match. Given how excellent the single-player experience is in The Last of Us, the multiplayer mode has no business being as good as it is.

5 Pair Play Mode - Tekken Tag

Tekken Tag Tournmanet- Anna kicks Baek in the head.

Tekken Tag is already a fun time when played traditionally, however, the Tekken Tag games have an underappreciated mode that absolutely changes the way these games are played. With pair play, each player will take control of one-half of the team. This may sound like some pretty basic co-op implementation, but you need to consider the level of coordination this requires in order to work.

Being a team-based fighting game, the Tekken Tag games will feature pretty frequent switching during combat. You will be tasked with seamlessly continuing combos. If you tag at an inopportune moment, you will be leaving your partner vulnerable. Communication is key here. This mode is an absolute blast for pairs of people who love fighting games but are ready to take a break from hitting each other.

4 Legends - Ghost Of Tsushima

All the playable classes in Ghost Of Tsushima Legends

The fully-featured Legends mode in Ghost of Tsushima added an entire multiplayer campaign (that even had a distinct aesthetic). The missions feature a wide range of different goals and were spread out across a number of well-designed maps. Legends also includes an engaging leveling mechanic and distinct classes.

It all works remarkably well. The Legends mode is absolutely the gold standard in free updates. Ghost of Tsushima was already full to the brim with content and the Legends mode essentially added another game on top of it.

3 Swap Mode - Puyo Puyo Tetris

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 VS Mode

Puyo Puyo Tetris is whatever you want it to be. You can play Tetris against your friends. You can play Puyo Puyo against your friends. Or, if you want, you can both play different games while still being in competition with each other. However, the real crown jewel of this title is the Swap Mode.

Related: Best Co-Operative Puzzle Games

Swap Mode has you playing both games. At certain intervals, the game you are playing will switch. If you and your friend have differing skill levels at the different games, Swap Mode can easily be one of the best times a person can have while playing a video game with friends. When your favorite mode is up, you will be on the attack. Then when it swaps, you will suddenly find yourself on the defensive, just trying to survive until your game of choice comes back around. It is an absolute blast.

2 Versus Mode - Culdcept

Culdcept Saga gameplay screenshot

The Culdcept series always features a single-player story mode. However, if you play Culdcept, you aren't likely here for the story, you are here for the excellent competitive multiplayer. This cross between Magic The Gathering and Monopoly is among the best virtual board game experiences in existence.

You can play a multitude of different ways. You can have a free for all, or play in teams. Hell, you can even do three on one, which is a fantastic way to introduce multiple new people to the game. The best part is that the game rewards you with cards no matter how you choose to play. Culdcept is absolutely a sublime multiplayer experience every time.

1 Colosseum Mode - Catherine

Catherine- Colosseum mode gameplay

Catherine is a twisted version of Q-Bert with a story that focuses on infidelity. It is an interesting experience that gets a lot right, but stumbles a little here and there with certain narrative elements (they definitely could have handled Erica’s character better). Catherine was initially seen as a single-player game. Sure, it had a multiplayer mode, but it was perceived as being tacked on… until Catherine showed up at EVO, the world’s biggest fighting game competition, that is.

The competitive mode in Catherine is no joke. It is fiendish, treacherous, and requires both quick thinking and dexterous maneuvering. It isn’t just about climbing to the top, here. You are actively trying to undermine your opponent as well. Getting to the top in Catherine is a ruthless scramble. However, once the colosseum mode gets its hooks in, it will be hard to not see it as the primary Catherine experience.

Next: Best Turn-Based Co-Op RPG Experiences Ever Made