From visiting your friend’s island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons to teaming up with them to shoot down wasteland baddies in Borderlands 3, the best games to play with friends online offer hours of fun across PC, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and more.
Even miles apart, video games allow friends to play, compete, or even just hang out virtually. There are games you can play over Zoom — our list of the best Jackbox games will help there — but we wanted to focus this list less on party games and on games that are best experienced with a few pals.
We have competitive and cooperative game options below and some that strike a balance between the two. It doesn’t matter what kind of games you or your friends are into — our list has a little something for everyone.
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Strategy, Indie
Developer
InnerSloth
Publisher
InnerSloth
Release
June 15, 2018
Although Among Us has been out for nearly two years, it only hit its stride a few weeks ago. From drawing around 100 players every day, Among Us now draws nearly 200,000 each day. Among Us is a simple social deduction game for 4-10 players. In it, you play as a crewmember with a list of tasks to complete. So, the goal is simple enough: Complete your tasks, and your team wins. However, there’s at least one imposter among the group (you can have more imposters if you want). Imposters can kill crewmembers and sabotage various systems on the ship, keeping crewmembers from completing their tasks. To make matters worse, players can only talk amongst themselves if they report a dead body or call an emergency meeting to vote someone off the ship. Among Us is endless fun, and it’s free on iOS and Android. The Stream version isn’t free, but at $5, it might as well be.
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Genre
MOBA
Developer
Riot Games
Publisher
GOA Games Services Ltd., Riot Games, Tencent Holdings Ltd
Release
October 27, 2009
MOBAs are a huge hit for PC gamers with millions of players logging in every day. After the mod DOTA took off, League of Legends was the first stand-alone game to capitalize on this unique and addicting style of game. The game focuses on two teams of five, each playing a unique hero, attempting to get strong enough to push into the other team’s base and destroy it. Over the game’s impressive lifespan, they have added more than 140 heroes to pick from. Teamwork is beyond essential in League of Legends. Combining skills to take down opponents, strategizing the best time to push or retreat, and picking which character should be placed where will all be important factors in a match. These games can run long, so having a group of friends with whom you communicate well is key, but the reward for that teamwork and cooperation is a very satisfying victory.
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Capcom
Publisher
Capcom
Release
January 26, 2018
Monster Hunter: World goes a long way in making Capcom’s long-running franchise accessible. Still, the grind is real in World. Although the loop of hunting monsters and upgrading your gear is addicting on its own, it’s much better with a group of friends. And because of World’s accessibility, it’s easy for a series veteran to take a newcomer out and show them the ropes. Monster Hunter: World offers hundreds of hours of fun with friends, and with the Iceborne expansion, even more. If you’re a Game Pass subscriber, you don’t have to buy Monster Hunter: World, either. It ranks among the best games on Xbox Game Pass.
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Gearbox Software
Publisher
2K Games
Release
September 13, 2019
The ultimate looter-shooter, Borderlands 3 is an even bigger and deeper game than its predecessors, with multiple planets to explore and several classes that each use their own special abilities. It’s completely playable in single-player mode, but bringing along a friend online makes every mission more engaging and opens up strategic opportunities in battle. As one player draws fire, the other can ambush enemies who aren’t expecting an attack. With the loot system of Borderlands 3 that lets each player have their own drops instead of sharing them, there won’t be any arguments afterward, either. Plus, there are a whole lot of guns.
RP
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Gearbox Software
Publisher
2K Games
Release
March 25, 2022
If you prefer a more fantastic spin on the Borderlands formula, the spinoff game Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands might be exactly what you’re looking for. This full game is based on a previous DLC in which Tina, a slightly unhinged character, to say the least, leads a game of Bunkers and Badasses (their world’s version of Dungeons and Dragons), and narrates the entire adventure. The core game is more or less the same, only with spells, armor, and a revamped skill system, though it is easy to slip into if you’re familiar with the Borderlands games already. Partying up is easily the best way to enjoy this funny, lighthearted, and well-acted tabletop-inspired adventure that capitalizes on how creative and off the wall this series can be.
Read our full Tiny Tina's Wonderlands review
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
People Can Fly
Publisher
Square Enix
Release
April 01, 2021
If you’re more into looting and shooting from a third-person perspective, then the new surprise hit Outriders might be exactly what you and some friends are looking for. You and up to two other friends can team up as sever classes, each with its own suite of powers and abilities, to mow down waves of enemies with extremely satisfying weaponry. The story mode is fairly weak, but if you just tune that out, you and your pals can have a fantastic time blasting your way through the levels, collecting new weapons and armor, and leveling up your very fun-to-use powers. A positive, or perhaps negative depending on what you’re looking for, is that Outriders isn’t intended to be an endless live service game where you always have more to grind for. There is an end to the story, and while there are endgame-level things to hunt and grind for beyond that, you won’t have to dedicate your entire life just to this one game if you want to see it all.
Read our full Outriders review
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
February 04, 2019
One of the newer entries in the battle royale space, Apex Legends managed to carve out its own audience thanks to some smart innovations and design decisions. The game is focused around squads of three heroes that all have abilities and ultimates similar to that of a hero shooter. The main premise is the same — shoot your way to becoming the last squad standing — but this game does a few things that make it more friendly to playing with friends. For one, you’re not necessarily out of the game for good if you die early thanks to a revive mechanic, and the ping system means that you can communicate even if you or your friends don’t have microphones. As an evolving game, with map changes and new heroes joining the roster, Apex Legends is a satisfying and fun way to hang out with some friends.
Read our full Apex Legends review
E10
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Genre
Adventure, Arcade
Developer
Mojang Studios
Publisher
Mojang Studios
Release
November 18, 2011
Why work on building a dream home in Minecraft alone when a friend can help craft more quickly? Minecraft features cross-play between nearly every supported system because of its Bedrock update. This includes Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox, PC, and even mobile devices, meaning players can enjoy the game with their friends regardless of which system they’re on. The only exceptions are legacy platforms like Xbox 360 and PS3, which do not support cross-play. Provided players don’t get bored, there is essentially no end in Minecraft, making it a perfect choice for hunkering down when people can’t leave their homes for weeks on end.
E
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Simulator
Developer
Nintendo EPD, Nintendo
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
March 19, 2020
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a Nintendo Switch exclusive, and that means putting up with the console’s archaic friend code system to invite friends to an island. Once that’s done, however, it’s a joyous experience of appreciating the mundane. Visit friends’ houses to admire their paintings and interior decorating, then venture outside and catch bugs and fish. There isn’t a set goal, but that’s what makes the series so special. Hanging out with friends and discovering secrets is its own reward, and text chat lets players easily communicate with each other without having to use the Nintendo Switch Online app. That said, Animal Crossing: New Horizons does have chat support through the app.
Read our full Animal Crossing: New Horizons review
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Infinity Ward
Publisher
Activision
Release
March 10, 2020
Call of Duty: Warzone is a completely free-to-play battle royale game set in 2019’s Modern Warfare universe. It supports cross-platform multiplayer across PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Unlike the smaller Black Ops 4 mode Blackout, Call of Duty: Warzone doesn’t require another game to run, and it launched with 150-player battles. Friends can team up in trios and fight to the death against other squads with a mix of first-person shooting and vehicular combat. The unique Gulag system even lets killed players come back to life, giving their teammates motivation to keep fighting to their very last breath.
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
The Coalition
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
September 10, 2019
Another great shooter option for Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC players, you can play Gears 5 entirely with a friend. The campaign is cooperative with support for up to two others, and the new Escape mode is only playable cooperatively. Alongside these is Horde mode, which is best played cooperatively for a fighting chance against waves of the Swarm, and there is a beefy competitive multiplayer option for those who want to fight with — or against — their pals. Gears 5 also includes local cooperative play if you’re looking for some couch co-op action.
Read our full Gears 5 review
E
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Racing, Sport
Developer
Playground Games
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
November 09, 2021
Forza Horizon 5 builds upon everything from the previous entry, including the same “Drivatar” A.I. system, but it’s even better in online cooperative modes. The transition is seamless, with friends all driving on the same map where they can run into each other, and they can easily join up to compete in the same racing events without exiting to another player’s session. Forza Horizon 5 features a huge number of races, collectibles, and stunts, and exploring its take on the Mexican landscape is an absolute joy. Racing friends from one end of the map to the other only makes it better.
Read our full Forza Horizon 5 review
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Simulator, Adventure
Developer
Rare
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
March 20, 2018
Sea of Thieves isn’t just better with friends playing online — it’s almost impossible to play without them. Rare’s pirate game includes a small boat for anyone sailing alone, but it really requires a crew of at least three or four people to command the larger vessels and have a chance against other ships. Calling out enemy locations over a chat headset and coordinating to reposition sails and cannons is a blast, especially when players send their friends soaring through the air onto another squad’s deck to attack them directly. Sea of Thieves sees Rare back to its old, weird self, and that is a good thing.
Read our full Sea of Thieves review
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Massive Entertainment - A Ubisoft Studio
Publisher
Ubisoft
Release
March 15, 2019
Available for only a few dollars at this point, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is an excellent shared-world shooter that friends can play together in its entirety. That includes the campaign missions, which take agents into several sections of Washington, D.C. Separate cooperative side missions are also available, and when players have had their fill of fighting grunts in standard missions or raids, they can venture together into the Dark Zone to fight against other agents. Teamwork and cooperation are particularly important here in Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, as valuable gear is on the line and can be lost to another squad in an instant.
Read our full Tom Clancy's The Division 2 review
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy
Developer
Epic Games
Publisher
Epic Games
Release
July 25, 2017
Fortnite is a great choice for online gaming with friends, as its battle royale mode supports cross-play across everything from Nintendo Switch to Android phones. Epic Games’ take on the genre is colorful and less gory than some of its competitors, and its building component makes it perfect for creative players tired of hiding in a bush or behind a rock. New events and gear are also added in Fortnite on a regular basis, ensuring friends will have new content to experience together for as long as they want to keep playing.
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Strategy
Developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher
Blizzard Entertainment, Square Enix
Release
May 24, 2016
Blizzard’s hero shooter ranks among the top multiplayer games ever created, and when you’re playing with friends and communicating through voice chat, it gets even better. You and your allies can coordinate with each other, selecting the perfect characters for each setting and announcing enemies’ positions as they approach or secure an objective. The good news is that all of the additional maps and characters added since launch are available for free. And not only that, but they are open and free to everyone. So, even if your friend doesn’t have the game, they can still play with you if you do. You can find Overwatch available on PC and all consoles — including Nintendo Switch. You’ll be shocked at how many incredible heroes you can choose, and we assure you that the game will still feel new even months after starting to play.
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Mojang Studios
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios, Mojang Studios
Release
May 26, 2020
We could put most action RPGs into this category, and it’d make just as much sense. But Minecraft Dungeons has a couple of things going for it that put it ahead of the rest. For one thing, it’s available on Game Pass, so you can team up with friends and play together, as long as one person in the group has a PC or Xbox One. More notable, however, is the simple and easy to comprehend gameplay. The hack-and-slash genre is not without complication, and games like Path of Exile highlight how far nuts and bolts such as character creation can go. Minecraft Dungeons is elementary and offers plenty of unique loot while consistently concentrating on important things like hacking and slashing.
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