As a country that attracts people from around the world to explore and enjoy its sublime natural beauty, New Zealand has attracted its fair share of adrenaline junkies over the years. This includes those who enjoy everything from bungie jumping in awe-inspiring ravines, climbing to the highest peaks of its gorgeous landscape and mountain biking through stunning woodland.

Unfortunately for the thousands of adrenaline junkies across the islands, however, these activities can’t necessarily be enjoyed all throughout the year. Sometimes, even the most hardened adrenaline junkies and extreme sports enthusiasts must accept that the weather is just too harsh for them to stay safe.

Due to this, New Zealand adrenaline junkies frequently find themselves consigned to the indoors as they wait for the weather to clear or for conditions to improve.

One thing adrenaline junkies can do to keep themselves occupied when they are stuck at home is to indulge in some online games. Not only will these games keep them occupied and help to keep their reflexes sharp, but they can also offer the adventure adrenaline junkies have been craving.

So, what are the best online games for adrenaline junkies in 2023?

Counter Strike: Global Offensive

Despite being released all the way back in 2012, Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) has remained one of the most popular online games. It builds on the success of its predecessors — CS 1.6 and CS: Source — to deliver an updated and improved version of this first-person shooter classic.

CS:GO has simple yet challenging gameplay that delivers an intensity and level of excitement that is rare in the gaming industry today. It is perfect for playing online with strangers or with your friends and has built an incredible community around it over the years.

In addition, a sequel to the game, Counter Strike 2, has been announced and has a tentative summer release date planned!

If you want an intense, fast-paced and challenging gaming experience, you should definitely give CS:GO a try!

Online pokies

One game type that has been exploding in popularity in recent months and years are pokies, which have taken Australia and New Zealand by storm. Specifically for people living in New Zealand they can check out the best 10 NZ online pokies at sites such as betkiwi.co.nz.

NZ pokies fans have been losing their mind for this exciting game type in 2023 so far and this trend looks set to continue into next year! But what makes these online pokies so engaging for even the most hardened online casino fan?

Pokies are essentially slot games, which are a virtual version of the classic machine you would be familiar with in physical casinos. They are a pure game of chance and have very few rules you need to be familiar with in order to play.

Pokies are fast-moving, with the rounds passing by seamlessly as you try to make sense of the deluge of information being displayed on screen. Pokies aren’t for the faint of heart and are the perfect online game for New Zealand adrenaline junkies!

League of Legends

Another older, yet still popular, online game is League of Legends, which has grown to become one of the most popular games ever since it was released in 2009.

League of Legends has its roots in a custom map for Warcraft III and is one of the first games in the now incredibly popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre.

For new players just getting started, League of Legends does have a relatively high barrier to entry in terms of its learning curve. However, there are many guides out there, so it shouldn’t take too long for new players to get up to speed.

If you are looking for an exciting, intense and incredibly fun online game, League of Legends might just scratch that NZ adrenaline junkie itch!

Online poker

A game that has long been a favorite of adrenaline junkies around the world is poker.

Poker is arguably the most iconic card game and is played at both online and in-person casinos around the world. It has become particularly popular with online casino players and is offered in both live casino and virtual versions.

Online poker is the perfect game for New Zealand adrenaline junkies because it combines high-stakes betting, tension, excitement and intellectual challenge in one game. Although poker players may often look calm, we can assure you that beneath the surface they are brimming with excitement. After all, that is where the term poker face comes from!

Among Us

Although it might seem like a fairly chilled out game, we can assure you that Among Us is one of the most tension-filled online gaming experiences you could ever have!

Among Us is what happens when you combine an online multiplayer game with a social experiment in a simple yet highly addictive format. The gameplay is relatively simple and involves you and your friends playing as crewmates attempting to repair their ailing spaceship. However, some players are deadly impostors who want to kill the other crewmates and will silently pick them off as the game progresses.

Among Us is a simple yet highly engrossing game that is filled with tension, excitement and pure adrenaline. It is a game that truly must be experienced to be believed!

Dota 2

Another game in the MOBA genre that has grown to be a massive success over the years, is Dota 2, which is also known as Defense of the Ancients 2.

It was originally released in 2013 and builds on the classic Warcraft III format to deliver intense and deeply engaging online multiplayer game action.

Although much like League of Legends, it does have a relatively steep learning curve. Dota 2 is a very rewarding game that delivers an intense gaming experience that is truly unlike anything else you have ever played. It has an incredible community that has been built around it and is played at massive live esports events around the world.

Live casino

The live casino game genre has also been performing particularly well in 2023, with most of the major New Zealand online casino websites now supporting them.

As the name suggests, online live casino games essentially recreate the live casino experience in a virtual format. In contrast to virtual casino games such as pokies and online roulette, you play with a real-life dealer and fellow players.

Live casino games have exploded in popularity thanks to the social element they include, with players able to talk and interact during the game, as well as the added excitement of playing in real time. For this reason, live casino games are a great option to try for adrenaline junkies in 2023!

PUBG: Battlegrounds

PUBG is a massive multiplayer online shooter game in which crowds of up to 100 players fight in a massive battle royale style deathmatch.

Although this description might sound like a lot to take in on its own, we can assure you the game itself is even more intense and chaotic!

PUBG was released in 2017 and has grown to be one of the most popular online games, which has been helped by the fact that it is a cross-platform game that can be played on mobile devices, consoles and PCs. Additionally, since 2022, it has been free-to-play, which means you don’t have to pay any cash to play it!

PUBG is known for having intense gameplay. It manages to combine the tactical tension of games such as CS:GO with all of the intensity and craziness of a game such as Fortnite. This makes it the perfect game for NZ adrenaline junkies looking to stay sane in the off-season.

Rocket League

Out of all the online games on the list, Rocket League truly stands in a category of its own. Despite this, it is a highly addictive and high-octane game that would push even the most hardened adrenaline junkie to their emotional limits!

Rocket League is a truly unique combination of fast-moving vehicles and football, where cars flit across the map in a chaotic, destructive style in order to score goals against online opponents. There are several different game modes, each of which allow you to team up with friends or strangers to take down your opponents.

Rocket League is truly action packed and features epic explosions, fast moving cars and iconic goal scoring to create a truly unforgettable gaming experience. Although it looks harmless enough, even the most experienced NZ adrenaline junkie would struggle to keep their heartrate under control when playing it.

Halo Infinite

Not bored of multiplayer shooters yet? Then Halo Infinite could be just what you need.

Created by Bungie, one of the leading game designers, Halo Infinite builds on the classic franchise and perfects the multiplayer format for the modern console age.

In addition to having an excellent solo campaign that delivers hours of action, the multiplayer experience is easily one of the best around. Some of the intense game types on offer include capture the flag and random weapon fiestas, in addition to the more standard deathmatch style games.

So, if you want to expose yourself to some intense multiplayer fun in the off-season, we can easily recommend giving Halo Infinite a try!