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At a Glance: The Best Best Multiplayer Video Games

Video games are simply fun! There’s nothing like completing a mission, beating a level, or getting first place in a car race. There’s a joy that comes with finally figuring out a puzzle or pattern to get you to the next stage. However, playing with friends who are sitting next to you or on the other side of the world can bring a different type of excitement that brings out the best in you.

A good multiplayer game can make you competitive or cooperative, while it can introduce you to a whole new community that shares your same passion for video games. It can also breakdown barriers of console loyalty, as some multiplayer games are cross-platform with Xbox, PS5, and PC.

We’ve rounded up some of our favorite multiplayer games, including choices we’ve played ourselves, along with games that received higher than a 4-star rating from gamers using Amazon, Xbox.com, and Humble Bundle digital-distribution platforms. Below, you can find our top picks to play with friends and family.

In This Article

What Are the Best Multiplayer Video Games?

Ahead, you’ll find some of the best multiplayer games to play in 2024. All of our picks are sold at well-respected retailers, have high-critical scores and reviews, and feature at least a 4/5-star rating from gamers.

1. ‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe‘

One of the best game you can get for the Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features hours up hours of fun and entertainment in single-player mode. However, you can really put your drifting skills to the test with online multiplayer, thanks to Nintendo Switch Online.

Once you login, you can select your favorite character — including trusty favorites, like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Waluigi, Wario, Dry Bones, Shy Guy, Bowser, and more — your favorite kart, wheels, glider, and course in a randomized room of up to 12 players from around the world. The winner gets bragging rights, as the climb worldwide leaderboards, while losers can try again to get better and better at kart racing.

In our testing, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe serves as a fantastic gateway into the wider world of the Nintendo Switch and is the ideal first game to play on the console. It caters to all skill levels from novice to advanced, while there’s always a new challenge to figure out and master with nearly 100 courses — thanks to the DLC (downloadable content) Booster Course Pass.

Promising Customer Feedback: “Mario Kart on Nintendo Switch has been an absolute blast for me. Nostalgia hits hard with familiar characters, and the thrill of racing through imaginative tracks never gets old. Whether I’m tackling grand prix solo or sharing the joy-cons for multiplayer chaos, the game’s seamless blend of classic charm and modern polish keeps me coming back for more. It’s not just a game; it’s a joyous escape into the vibrant, competitive world of Mario Kart that never fails to put a smile on my face.” —Amazon Customer

2. ‘Helldivers 2‘

One of the hottest games of 2024, Helldivers 2 for Sony PlayStation 5 and PC is also one of the best co-op (cooperative) games of the year. Although the game had server problems when it was first released in February (because Sony didn’t think it was going to be that popular since the first game was only moderately successful), Helldivers 2 has grown in massive popularity with steady and reliable online multiplayer — thanks to its fun pick-and-go and online multiplayer mechanics.

Part-Starship Troopers and part-Terminator, Helldivers 2 serves up a “nice cup of Liber-Tea,” as an elite group of soldiers known as the Helldivers “spread Managed Democracy throughout the galaxy” for the fascist Super Earth. You job is to kill gigantic alien bugs and kill robots with your squad of up to four players.

Promising Customer Feedback: “This game is a moving target and if you want to put a little time and effort into it, it’s a blast. It does track the genre of the Starship Troopers movie from 1997. You travel a limited galaxy and fight bugs and robots. It does give you a Terminator feel fighting the robots, so if you get tired of blasting bugs, it can help refresh the challenge and content. The game itself is a little buggy, but with updates coming weekly now, it’s up at a 5 for fun and multiplayer madness. Use a mic, your team will do much better.” —Rick

3. ‘Diablo IV‘

Now available on Xbox Game Pass, Diablo IV for Xbox Series X/S is a dynamic isometric action-RPG (ARPG) that pits angels and demons against each other, as a demonic force returns to the realm of Sanctuary. Players make and customize their own characters, such as the Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Rogue, or Sorcerer classes, while they can use their combat and strategy skills in a fantasy world. Meanwhile, players can play online to join others in a party (up to four players) to work together to complete quests.

4. ‘Minecraft‘

After 15 years, Minecraft is still one of the most popular online multiplayer game of all-time — thanks to its one open-world sandbox and its large online community. At its core, it’s a survival game, but over the years, it has grown into a wide scale art form where players craft whatever is in their imaginations from a series of blocks during the day. At night, however, you try to survive the environment and monsters by crafting weapons, resources, and shelter. Aside from that, you’re only limited by your imagination.

5. ‘Forza Horizon 5‘

Set in a fictionalized version of Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 for Xbox Series X/S is a racing game that you can play locally or online. It’s the rare racing game that’s also open world, so you’re free to explore or race. The objective is simple: Expand the Horizon Festival throughout Mexico.

The game also has the largest map — which features active volcanos, jungles and beaches, ancient Mayan temples, and towns and cities — of any Forza Horizon game with about 50 percent more locations, destinations, and overall map compared to the previous installment of the game series.

Forza Horizon 5 is available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for online multiplayer with up to 12 racers at the same time.

6. ‘Halo Infinite‘

The game franchise that put Xbox on the map, Halo Infinite is the sixth main release in the series and one of the most fun first-person shooter games with online multiplayer options for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Before the advent of the internet, people would physically connect Xbox consoles and TVs together with cables to play multiplayer Halo, but now, you just need an internet connection and a subscription to Xbox Game Pass to enjoy playing with friends from all over the world.

The game follows a campaign with Master Chief fighting against the Banished, a evil mercenary group on Installation 07, also known as Zeta Halo. In our testing, Halo Infinite’s controls is fluid and accurate with precision targeting and gameplay, while combat is dynamic and fun to play through all of the chaos of online multiplayer (up to four players in co-co mode) and silent moments to catch your breath, alike.

7. ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate‘

Nintendo is at its best when all of its popular characters are sharing in on all of the fun. Much like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch features the best and brightest from many Nintendo franchises, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Little Mac from Punch Out!, Isabelle from Animal Crossing, Samus from Metroid, and more.

The object of the game is just to beat your opponent through a series of attacks, strategies, or simply knock them off a platform. While online multiplayer is fun and exciting, playing with your friends and family in the same room locally (up to eight players) is the way to go for this fighting game.

We found Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to be just as thrilling and exciting to play as the more mature fighting games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, but just more fun for the whole family.

Promising Customer Feedback: “Best game ever! I like this game so much, it has every character ever! I even listen to the music when when I take my Nintendo Switch with me. This game is perfect for playing multiplayer mode. It’s awesome!” —Andrew Patton

8. ‘EA Sports FC ’24‘

EA Sports FC ’24 has a deep level of immersion that feels realistic, while it includes teams and players from Major League Soccer, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, Premier League, National Women’s Soccer League, and more. Meanwhile, gameplay is enhanced with EA’s “HyperMotionV” technology that give matches more rhythm and fluidity for authenticity. The soccer game also has online multi-player across platforms between PS5, Xbox and PC. This means you can play online against anyone on just about any console from all around the world.

Promising Customer Feedback: “It’s one of the best games I played before, very enjoyable and very fun to play, it has a great graphics engine.” —Luis

Buying Guide; How to Pick the Best Multiplayer Video Games

There are a number of factors to consider when picking the best multiplayer games to play. Below, you’ll spot a few important things that we considered when putting this roundup together.

Storage Space: Today, games are downloaded over the web in gigantic files. You should consider how much available storage you have inside of your console or PC before you pick a game to play. Games can range from smaller titles, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with a small 7GB file size, to in-depth and widespread games, like Diablo IV with a humungous 90GB file size. Storage space could run out very fast, so you may have to think about additional storage options too.

Internet Connection: When playing multiplayer games online, you have to make sure you have a fast internet connect, so you don’t feel any lag — especially when playing co-op or racing games. The slightest delay could cost your a life on the battlefield, like in Helldivers 2, or race course, like in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. A good and reliable internet connect with at least 100Mbps (megabytes per second) download and 25Mbps upload speeds.

Fun Factor: The most important thing about picking a multiplayer game is if it looks like fun to play, especially with a group of friends or strangers on the internet. If you’re going to spend your precious time playing a game, it has to look like an immersive and challenging experience.