The 25 Best Multiplayer Games of All Time

What are the best multiplayer games of all time? 

Whether you prefer fantasy, mystery, action, adventure, or puzzle-solving, the only thing that makes playing your favorite videogame more fun is playing it with your crew.

And since we’re dedicated to ensuring that you have the most fun possible, we’ve rounded up this list of the best multiplayer games of all time!

So kick back, prop up, and get ready to have a blast with your besties with these awesome multiplayer games. 

The Best Multiplayer Games of All Time

Our ranked lists are created by researching and rounding up information from the most reputable web sources.

Here’s our list of the 25 best multiplayer games of all time:

25. Red Dead Online

If your crew is ride or die, get ready to saddle up! Red Dead Redemption 2’s online adventure allows you to play cooperatively with your friends to hunt down bad guys, solve mysteries, and shoot your way to justice and freedom!

This western-themed free-for-all is a story-driven RPG in a vast sandbox world. Think GTA but with horses instead of cars.

From character creation to cutscenes, Red Dead Online’s immersive design gives you and your friends a chance to whoop it up in another time. So hit the saloon, join the races, or just shoot up the town together as a bonding exercise!

24. Wii Sports

Wii Sports is often overlooked as a contender because of its kawaii character design, but don’t let that fool you.

This is one of the best multiplayer games around. Why, you ask? Because everyone gets into it once they start playing–even the cool kids.

Play golf, tennis, baseball, bowling, or boxing with your friends. The remotes replicate the rackets, clubs, gloves, and bats, allowing you to get physically involved as you team up or face off with the members of your crew.

23. TimeSplitters 2

TimeSplitters 2 is a first-person shooter game for Playstation, Xbox, and GameCube consoles. This fast-paced game is a race through time to save humanity from the grip of a terrible alien race.

The game is uniquely designed with memorable, off-beat characters and sophisticated graphics.

This is a great game to bring your friends together as you work to bring down a common foe. And as one of the few multiplayer FPSs, that’s actually split-screen, it’s worth trying out.

22. Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise is a critically acclaimed action-RPG series available on Nintendo Switch. The game is set in the ninja-inspired Kamura Village, which you and your friends must protect from a terrifying monster!

Hunt monsters to earn rewards that allow you to craft a dazzling array of weapons and armor for your quests. Arm yourselves for battle and become the ultimate hunting party before Kamura is plunged into chaos!

You can play Monster Hunter Rise with up to four players at a time, so gather your closest friends and save the world together!

21. Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves is an online co-op game available on Xbox One, PC, or Xbox Series X. As the name suggests, this story-driven RPG is all about building a crew to sail the high seas and hunt buried treasure as pirates.

You and up to four crew members can trade goods with merchants, hunt down undead pirates, or even fight a Kraken! The high-seas adventures are sure to entertain and delight.

Just be sure to agree on who’s captain beforehand to avoid running your ships ashore.

20. Splitgate

If you’re a fan of first-person shooters like Halo and Portal, Splitgate is one of the best multiplayer games out there.

It’s a unique twist on the FPS format that allows players to get in some truly magnificent shots while zooming between portals to travel from point to point.

The sci-fi battle arena can feel like a free-for-all, but when you play with your friends as a team, it transforms the experience.

This arena shooter is free to play on Playstation 4, Xbox One, Playstation 5, and PC–so there’s no reason not to check it out!

19. Rocket League

Rocket League is a fever dream of a game that allows you and your friends to form teams and play soccer…in cars! You can play online, or you can play split-screen with up to four friends. 

While Rocket League has been out for years, it’s lost very little of its whimsy and charm. It’s incredibly competitive, brightly colored, and an absolute blast to play!

18. Guilty Gear Strive

Guilty Gear is a popular series of fighting games by Arc System Works that gained a dedicated following in Japan–there’s even a manga!

Multiplayer mode is all online, so unless your friends bring over their own devices, you’ll be socializing at a distance. 

Guilty Gear Strive is the latest and seventh installment in the series, and it does more than hold its own. This 2-D fighter has surprising depth and a lot of lore for those who are into story.

Just be warned, if you’ve never played before you probably want to watch a few recap videos first. Otherwise, you might feel a little lost.

17. Rainbow Six: Siege

Rainbow Six: Siege is another online tactical shooter game, but it breathes a whole new life into the genre.

It’s a surprisingly deep and deeply competitive FPS that rewards players for tactical, strategic playing as much as for good aim.

Team up with your friends to clear the map or try one of the player-versus-player modes and take one another down! Just be warned, there will be some tension as the stakes tend to run high in Rainbow Six!

16. PUBG

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is a precursor to Fortnite and one of the biggest and most impressive battle royale games on the market.

You compete with other players and teams on a massive map to win the hilariously named “Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner.”

Just like Fortnite, the map is constantly collapsing in on itself, so you have to move further and further inland as the game goes on. This brings you into close contact with your enemies and forces battle, so get ready to fight!

The last player standing wins, so it’s a competitive game. But if you form the right alliances, you can get your friends to watch your back while you make a bid for the win!

15. Overcooked! 2

Overcooked! 2 is a chaotic game of communication and cooking wrapped into a story-driven plot. 

You and your teammates can work together or compete to be the best chefs in the arena.

The concept is simple enough–fulfill orders for your customers to earn tips and level up your cooking skills. But every level throws in a new and more ridiculous twist. 

Whether you’re cooking in a hot air balloon or on a moving bus, you and your teammates are expected to turn in perfect dishes from an increasingly complicated menu.  

It takes lots of communication and patience to master Overcooked! 2, so prepare yourself–and your fellow players!–ahead of time. This game will cause some bickering, even among the closest of relationships. 

14. Minecraft

When you think of Minecraft, you probably think of the 8-bit pixel design and the insane things people build in creative mode (have you seen the Middle Earth rebuild by Ardacraft?!).

This digital world has endless possibilities for players with enough imagination. 

But did you know there’s also a multiplayer mode in Minecraft? Team up with your friends to fight off monsters in survival mode or create insane feats of engineering in creative mode! 

Whether your friend group just wants to hang out and mess around or you’re in a more collaborative and productive mood, Minecraft can facilitate your good time. 

Play it on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch, PC, iOS, or Android. 

13. Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart is probably one of the best-known and well-loved multiplayer Mario games available. And Mario Kart 8 Deluxe lives up to that hype. Race your friends or battle them in new and improved battle mode courses. 

Choose your favorite Nintendo character and customize your race car to hit the track running! 

This is a multiplayer game in the truest sense–you can play with up to 4 players on one screen or 12 players online. So pack in your friends and start a Mario Kart party!

12. Left 4 Dead 2

Left for Dead 2 is the quintessential zombie shooter game. There are several different “species” of zombies, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Your team must learn how to tackle each new threat to survive. 

This old-school game (released in 2009) is a true multiplayer experience that allows you to play with up to 8 people at a time–locally or online. Try the Campaign, Survival, Versus, and Scavenge modes for fresh gameplay. 

If you love first-person shooters, zombie games, or horror in general, this is one of the best multiplayer games for you.

11. Apex Legends

Apex Legends is one of the most popular battle royale games out there. Set in the same universe as the Titanfall series, Apex Legends hosts a series of well-designed characters in a fresh and imaginative world. 

Build your character, build your team, and then take on the competition to be the last squad standing! This is a game of battle tactics and strategy with an ever-evolving map and array of weapons. 

Apex Legends is multiplayer in the sense that you can play cooperatively with others online. There is not currently a local multiplayer option.

However, it is free-to-play, and you can communicate with your friends through headsets or with the internal ping system. 

Play on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Origin and Steam.

10. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

If you loved any of the Halo games, you are guaranteed to love Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This compendium is basically a directory of the greatest hits that allows you to play pretty much any Halo game in the series for one definitive price.  

Halo is consistently one of the most popular first-person shooters on the market. Become Spartan John-117 (aka Master Chief) and investigate the Halo planets while you try to defeat the world’s greatest enemies–the aliens of the Covenant. 

Multiple games, multiple storylines, multiple players…what’s not to love about Halo: The Master Chief Collection?

9. Grand Theft Auto V Online

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the best GTA games of all time. Despite being on the market since 2013, the storyline, gameplay, and open-world have easily kept players enthralled. 

A big part of that popularity is the multiplayer online component. GTA Online allows players to jump into Los Santos and wreak havoc as they see fit. From organizing heists to starting your own nightclub, there’s not much you can’t do in this game.  

And what makes your seedy success all the sweeter? Bringing your friends along for the ride, of course! Communicate through headsets or through the in-game chat function while you paint the town red.

Rockstar Games is constantly updating and adding new content, so you’ll never run out of side quests, new heists, and new NPCs to harass.   

8. Mario Party Superstars

Mario Party Superstars is an animated romp through a familiar Nintendo landscape. If you’ve ever played any of the Mario Parties, you know the deal. It’s a board game in video game format. 

Choose your main character, roll special dice, and work your way around the maps. The entire thing is broken up by complex mini-games and puzzles that are a blast to play. This is more than the newest release in a series–it’s a game that improves on its genre!

Gather your friends, and play with up to four players. And it’s local, so you can fight over who’s winning on pure luck in person!

7. Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is the crowning glory of the Halo franchise. 343 Industries put a fresh spin on the game, and the campaigns and gameplay are different from the previous Halo games without losing the essence of the brand. 

The game is a free-to-play multiplayer that allows you to team up with your friends as you explore the world and defend your turf. 

We should warn you, however, that there is a pretty oppressive in-game economy in Halo Infinite. If you’re not willing to spend money on the best equipment and upgrades, you may not get as far as other players. 

But for die-hard Halo fans, this game is a must-play.  

6. Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is an online RPG that you can play alone or with your friends! To play with your crew, just travel to the Crucible, an in-game arena that allows you to take on other Guardians. 

Try Clash, Control, or Supremacy modes if you’re feeling competitive. Or go on raids together and play cooperatively to further the storyline! 

This is a first-person shooter that focuses heavily on the storyline, making it a truly immersive experience.

Gather loot and upgrades by completing missions with your Fireteam while combatting the truly evil Dominus Ghaul and his minions.

Destiny 2 is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows platforms. 

5. Fortnite

Fortnite is more than a game at this point–it’s a phenomenon. If you haven’t at least heard of Fortnite, we’re not sure what rock you’ve been living under–but it must be soundproof and wifi-less.  

This free-to-play shooter game drops players onto a massive map for 15-minute “runs” in which they have to gather supplies and weapons while avoiding the borders of their increasingly shrinking territories. 

Gun down the other players and survive the collapsing map in a race to win the coveted Victory Royale before your friends do.  

Fortnite is intense, well-designed, and downright hilarious to play with your friends. Just be careful not to take it too seriously, or you might have a few less friends come morning!

4. Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone is a free-to-play online version of the original Call of Duty. Just like the original first-person shooter, this Call of Duty is chock-full of explosive action that forces you to fight for survival using everything at your disposal. 

The play style combines the arcade shooter action of Call of Duty with today’s more popular battle royale setup. In our opinion, the combination makes the game highly satisfying and addictive. 

You can play in Plunder or Battle Royale mode, depending on your preferences. Both are available for single-player or multiplayer gameplay.

3. Among Us

Among Us started as a cult classic but was catapulted into internet fame by Twitch streamers like Valkyrae, Corpse Husband, and Disguised Toast. 

It’s a 2-D cartoon game that pits friends against one another in a murder mystery-style space adventure. Crewmates on a spaceship work together to figure out who is the “Imposter” before they’re all murdered by him or her!

There are a variety of tasks that must be completed by crewmates during the game to keep the ship running. But if they lose focus or get cornered, they could end up dead! 

Meanwhile, the Imposter is working in secret to kill off the Crewmates while casting suspicion on others. The Crewmates vote in rounds to catch the Imposter while the clock counts down. 

The graphics and characters are completely adorable, making the heart-pounding intensity of the game feel tongue-in-cheek. It’s ridiculous and ridiculously addictive! 

So round up ten of your closest friends and get ready to point fingers and deflect blame in this cute and chaotic thriller.    

2. Animal Crossing

Unlike so many other recommendations on this list, there is no violence in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This chill kawaii game allows you to create an adorable character on an island inhabited by talking animals. 

The best part of Animal Crossing is that there is no discernable goal or way to “win.” You get to make your own fun on your own timeline.  

Build your own home, make friends with the other villagers, and entertain friends with dinner party dishes made from homegrown vegetables. There’s no pressure and no wrong way to play!

Invite your real-life friends to join you and show off the virtual life you worked so hard to build! They can shop at your stalk market stand, visit your home, and exchange clothing patterns and recipes in-game. 

This is the cottage-core, cozy game your friend group never knew it needed!

1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

And finally, we come to the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the standard in multiplayer games… Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. 

This is one of the most beloved multiplayer games around and is often considered one of the best fighting games of all time. It’s the OG battle royale filled with fast-paced and satisfying cartoon violence. 

This updated version from Nintendo is the ultimate crossover that allows you to pit Mario against Kirby, Link against Sonic the Hedgehog, or Sora against Little Mac in a seemingly never-ending array of battlefields. 

If you’re looking for a good old-fashioned smackdown with your friends, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the game to beat.

Summary

There are hundreds to choose from, but these are, by far, the most popular and best multiplayer games on the market today. 

Multiplayers have seen a ton of growth and several unique releases over the past few years. They offer a range of experiences and worlds to explore for players worldwide. 

Whether you’re looking to make new friends or play with your existing crew, there’s something on this list for every level and genre of gamer. 

Here’s a quick recap of the 25 best multiplayer games of all time:

1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
2. Animal Crossing
3. Among Us
4. Call of Duty: Warzone
5. Fortnite
6. Destiny 2
7. Halo Infinite
8. Mario Party Superstars
9. Grand Theft Auto V Online
10. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
11. Apex Legends
12. Left 4 Dead 2
13. Mario Kart 8
14. Minecraft
15. Overcooked! 2
16. PUBG
17. Rainbow Six: Siege
18. Guilty Gear Strive
19. Rocket League
20. Splitgate
21. Sea of Thieves 
22. Monster Hunter Rise
23. TimeSplitters 2
24. Wii Sports
25. Red Dead Online

What’s the best multiplayer game of all time, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.