History Main / GameLobby

* The UsefulNotes/XBoxLiveArcade version of ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheArcadeGame'' works this way, requiring players to get together in a group if they wish to play together. While four-player play was part of the original game's appeal, this system makes it nearly impossible to get a four-player match going.

* ''Machinima/NewSmashBrosZero'': Most of the story takes place in servers throughout the game.

** ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear Xrd'' (which is also used in future [=ArcSys=] titles) has an interactive lobby system where you control a SuperDeformed avatar. There are multiple stations that players can join in to play with others. You can customize your avatar and use emotes.
** ''Guilty Gear Strive'' changed the lobby system to go on a 2D plane, where you instead control a sprite avatar. The lobbies are also split into floors, which are used to better match up with players around your skill level. [[ScrappyMechanic The lobbies are nearly everyone's least favorite thing about the game]], even after they took the time to fix some fundamental issues with it.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' lets players host a lobby for up to 8 players with a determined ruleset. Ready/active players have their icons placed within the fighting ring, waiting players are queues in the right, and people who only want to spectate can sit on the bleachers to the left. The problems with ''Ultimate'''s lobby system is that changing characters or lobby music kicks you out of the queue and you can't change rulesets without creating a new lobby.

* ''ChuChuRocket'' had this feature. Matches were pretty quick in that game.

* The XBoxLiveArcade version of ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheArcadeGame'' works this way, requiring players to get together in a group if they wish to play together. While four-player play was part of the original game's appeal, this system makes it nearly impossible to get a four-player match going.

* ''WorldInConflict'' has a lobby for clan matches, as opposed to free-for-all servers that can be joined by anyone at any time.
* ''MagicTheGathering Online'' works with a lobby. Since it's relatively popular, and only up to two players can play a single game (so far), this is a pretty good way to work.

* ''VideoGame/Awesomenauts'': Before starting a game, you can invite other people to your team in a lobby screen. You can also create private sessions for up to 6 players.

* ''VideoGame/Patapon 3''[='=]s multiplayer/VS matches.

!Examples:

* All the multiplayer Website/FunOrb games use lobby systems. A unified lobby system for all the games on the service was announced, but got stuck in DevelopmentHell.

* ''[[{{Uncharted}} Uncharted 2]]'' does this, and tries to locate the maximum number of players on its own before starting a match, either competitive (10 players) or cooperative (3 players). If it can't find the appropriate number of players in time, it'll start the match without a few. Usually it's able to find the full amount of players due to the game's current popularity.

* All the multiplayer FunOrb games use lobby systems. A unified lobby system for all the games on the service was announced, but got stuck in DevelopmentHell.

* The ''{{Warcraft}}'' and ''{{Starcraft}}'' series work this way. Both games are strategy games, so drop-in/drop-out would be disastrous. Fortunately, both game are very popular, and matches are relatively short.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Spelunker}} Spelunker HD]]'' allows up to 6 players to play online. Good luck finding more than one other person to play with, due to the game's unpopularity. You must wait in a lobby for players to join, then start the game when you're ready.
* The ''{{Warcraft}}'' and ''{{Starcraft}}'' series work this way. Both games are strategy games, so drop-in/drop-out would be disastrous. Fortuantely, both game are very popular, and matches are relatively short.
* The ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' series works this way, and generally does a good job of filling up a large number of players in its Wii incarnation.
* The XBoxLiveArcade version of ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheArcadeGame'' works this way, requiring players to get together in a group if they wish to play together. While four-player play was part of the original game's appeal, this system makes it nearly impossible to get a four-player match going.

* The Game Spy Arcade service uses this to hook up players, usually for multiplayer games that were created before this trope became more common.
* ''ChuChuRocket'' had this feature. Matches were pretty quick in that game.
* ''WorldInConflict'' has a lobby for clan matches, as opposed to free-for-all servers that can be joined by anyone at any time.

* ''MagicTheGathering Online'' works with a lobby. Since it's relatively popular, and only up to two players can play a single game (so far), this is a pretty good way to work.
* All the multiplayer FunOrb games use lobby systems. A unified lobby system for all the games on the service was announced, but got stuck in DevelopmentHell.

* ''Left4Dead'' has lobbies players can set up. While the Quick Match option lets players join in at any game, lobbies give people more controlled settings such as what campaign to play in, difficulty, and server type. However, despite the game's popularity, most people will leave a lobby if they see only one or two people inside, because only the lobby leader can start the game and if they are away from the keyboard, it can't start. A patch in the sequel allows people to vote to get the game going right away if the leader is not starting. Despite the patch, many people still prefer the Quick Match option for its lack of waiting.

* ''[[{{Spelunker}} Spelunker HD]]'' allows up to 6 players to play online. Good luck finding more than one other person to play with, due to the game's unpopularity. You must wait in a lobby for players to join, then start the game when you're ready.

* The XBoxLiveArcade version of the ''TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' arcade game works this way, requiring players to get together in a group if they wish to play together. While four-player play was part of the original game's appeal, this system makes it nearly impossible to get a four-player match going.

* Multiplayer games developed by DICE (the ''{{Battlefield}}'' series and ''MedalOfHonor'' 2010's MP mode) do not have lobbies. Players are put into existing games and have to wait until the next match loads before they can access the menu and exit. It's possible for a player to wait through the load for a match, enter at the last second before it ends, and have to wait for the next one.

* ''Left4Dead'' has lobbies players can set up. While the Quick Match option lets players join in at any game, lobbies give people more controlled settings such as what campaign to play in, difficulty, and server type. However, despite the game's popularity, most people will leave a lobby if they see only one or two people inside. This is due to the fact that only the lobby leader can start the game and if they are away from the keyboard, it can't start. A patch in the sequel allows people to vote to get the game going right away if the leader is not starting. Despite the patch, many people prefer the Quick Match option to eliminate waiting.

* The ''MarioKart'' series works this way, and generally does a good job of filling up a large number of players in its Wii incarnation.