Multiplayer refers to any game mode, online or off, that allows two or more players to participate in the game, typically simultaneously. Multiplayer comes in many forms, be it online, splitscreen, over a LAN connection, or even via email. Within those subsections, there lies two main focuses for multiplayer games; first, there are competitive games, and then there are co-op games. The former pits players against each other, while the latter sees them helping each other to achieve a similar end. The recent trend of competitive co-op mixes and matches elements of both, with players competing to be the best even as they cooperate to reach a unified goal.