The best multiplayer games on Xbox cut across several generations of Xbox consoles, including shooters, side-scrollers, and RPGs. And thanks to backward compatibility, they are all playable on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
These vary from competitive shooters to games that require collaboration and good teamwork to succeed.
So, whether you are the kind who loves to come up with a clever strategy to beat a particularly tough boss in an RPG (probably with an RPG) or you just love to pop off headshots (again, with an RPG, if you can), this list should have a multiplayer game that will appeal to you.
Best Multiplayer Games on Xbox
Call of Duty: Warzone
You cannot compile a multiplayer games list without mentioning Call of Duty Warzone. A step above the already amped-up military action of the standard Call of Duty multiplayer mode, Warzone lets up to 150 players battle it out on a large battle royale map with all manner of interesting zones.
And while it is not the first battle royale game, like Apex Legends, Call of Duty Warzone has arguably perfected the formula. The combination of guns, the ability to customize your character with perks, and cosmetics, and unique features like the Gulag system, makes Warzone an enduring multiplayer game any Call of Duty fan must try out.
Halo Infinite
With tight 4v4 matches that contrast against the more chaotic 12v12 games, all punctuated by satisfying weapons that can fit a playstyle that suits you or changes on the fly, Halo Infinite has a great multiplayer mode that builds upon the established multiplayer of previous Halo games.
It also has additional modes like Oddball, Capture the Flag and Strongholds. Also, new seasons have added more maps and features since the game’s launch in 2021.
And while player counts have dwindled in the traditional multiplayer mode, the introduction of a co-op campaign mode means you can play through the excellent missions of Infinite’s single-player mode with a friend. Like previous Halo games, this can be one of the best ways to don the mantle of Master Chief and shoot your way across space.
Dark Souls: Remastered
While Dark Souls: Remastered might come across as a dreary and lonely affair against powerful enemies in a decaying world, the game has a redeeming multiplayer element in the form of being able to summon real people into your game to take on difficult challenges like bosses.
And what better way to recognize true friendship than by defeating a boss with your buddy in an epic battle?
Equally, people with a penchant for havoc can use this mechanic in reverse to invade the worlds of other players in order to take them out in duels that can feel truly tense. It is one of the most interesting multiplayer elements of gaming around and one of the best multiplayer games on Xbox.
Gears 5
Gears of War is one of the most recognizable multiplayer shooters on Xbox, and Gears 5 is where most of the player base is these days.
The game has ongoing Operations, which let players compete in various multiplayer scenarios and maps. There are plenty of challenges, from competitive Team Deathmatch modes to cooperative Horde modes. You can even play the story campaign cooperatively, either locally or online.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
This long, involved game lets you create your own character and journey through the fantasy realm of Rivellon, fighting off a variety of foes both mundane and magical. And the fact that turn-based RPGs don’t often offer co-op play is what makes Divinity: Original Sin 2 something special.
What’s interesting is that up to three other players can do exactly the same thing, making Divinity: Original Sin 2 arguably the next-best thing to playing through a tabletop RPG with your friends. And while the game is long — at least 50 hours — which means you’re all in for a long haul, that’s just part of the fun.
Cuphead
Cuphead definitely does not look like the first game you will think of when considering a multiplayer experience, but it is a seriously challenging game. And its co-op mode is well worth a look, as it could also be the difference between failure and success.
The multiplayer aspect lets one player takes on the role of the titular Cuphead, while the other fills the form of Mugman. From there, the two cup-shaped warriors must battle through a series of retro and stylistic 2D platform levels, then take on a mix of bosses.
All the while dodging all manner of projectiles, attacks, and battle phrases. Doesn’t sound so easy now, does it?
The cartoon-like aesthetic hides the challenge well, so expect to die and retry a lot. Just bear in mind you’ll need a person to be literally alongside you, as the multiplayer is for couch co-op. There is no online option.
Forza Horizon 4
Just like Call of Duty, no list of the best Xbox multiplayer games would be complete without a racing game. And Forza Horizon 4 is arguably one of the Xbox One’s flagship titles.
This expansive racing game takes place across a good swathe of the United Kingdom, from Edinburgh to Ambleside. You can compete in races, build up your stash of cars, and customize your avatar’s clothing and accessories. You could also simply drive from place to place, taking in the huge open world.
If you choose to play online, each server supports up to 72 players. There’s no local multiplayer, though, so if you want to play with your friends, they’ll need their own copies of the game.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
“Halo” is nearly synonymous with “Xbox multiplayer,” and you can play every Halo game on modern Xbox consoles. And while Halo 5 has a bigger competitive multiplayer scene, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the place to go for cooperative multiplayer.
The Master Chief Collection collects the first six games in the Halo series, complete with cooperative campaign gameplay, either online or locally. And every Halo veteran worth their salt know that campaign co-op is one of the most memorable aspects of the series. It combines challenging combat, impressive set pieces, and a surprisingly decent ongoing story.
Sea of Thieves
Tired of shooting stuff up? Grab your scallywag hat and take to the seas as a pirate to raid and pillage your black heart out!
In Sea of Thieves, you and up to three partners take command of your very own pirate ship to prowl the high seas for treasure, adventures, and, of course, enemies to fight — both computer-controlled monsters and other players. You will unlock cosmetic items as you progress through the game, but the only way to build your skills is to play the game.
Sea of Thieves strikes a beautiful balance between directed and emergent gameplay. It encourages players to pursue their own goals and cooperate with whoever’s available.
Minecraft
Minecraft is proof that multiplayer games don’t have to be all about combat. And everyone, gamer or not, has certainly heard of Minecraft, the creative sandbox that’s the digital equivalent of playing with an instruction-less Lego set.
In Minecraft, you get to explore a randomly generated environment (rendered in a signature blocky, pixelated art style), collecting resources as you go. You can then use these resources to craft whatever you desire, from enchanted swords to towering castles and expansive cities.
The game allows you to play with up to four players locally, or up to 10 players online. You can also save your favorite randomly generated worlds and share them with friends.
Best Multiplayer Games On Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Pass is the Netflix of video games. It has hundreds of titles on its service for subscribers to download and play, including many Xbox One exclusives.
Here are some of the best multiplayer titles it has to offer:
Grand Theft Auto Online
If you loved even a fraction of the freedom that the base story of GTA V gave you, then you definitely do not want to ignore GTA Online.
There is nothing quite like playing GTA Online in the gaming world. Of all the multiplayer games available on Xbox Game Pass, Grand Theft Auto Online gives players more depth and freedom to live a life outside of their own. Dreaming of a life of crime but too chicken to start in real life? GTA Online is the perfect platform for you.
Engage in a list of side activities bigger than your arm, build a thriving, heist-minded enterprise for you and your friends, and basically just get up to so many shenanigans. Some multiplayer games are all about the skills you can display and competition; some are about the grind for loot. GTA Online is all about fun.
Guilty Gear Strive
Dragon Ball FighterZ might be gone from the Game Pass library, but Guilty Gear Strive is a worthy replacement. As with most games in the genre, there is a bit of a learning curve as you figure out what combos to use and which characters best suit your style.
But once you gain a strong understanding of what works (and what doesn’t), Guilty Gear Strive is the gift that keeps on giving. The story is practically just a movie, but there are rooms for you and your friends to go toe-to-toe with each other.
And forget not the Tower, the hub for starting matches with online strangers. We’d recommend getting used to controls first before heading there though.
Minecraft Legends
Yes, we have mentioned Minecraft above, but it’s worth mentioning twice. Because where plain ol’ Minecraft invites you and your friends to explore and build your own world and Minecraft Dungeons invites you and your friends to follow Diablo-esque questlines, Minecraft Legends provides a cooperative RTS experience for you and your buddies.
You and up to three other players can take on the Piglin invasion together, gather resources and supply units to defend your villages. However, if co-op isn’t your style and you’d rather face off against your friends in a more competitive fashion, you can challenge each other or strangers to an RTS battle of the units as you fortify your positions and attack your opponents.
Hot Wheels Unleashed
Yes, Hot Wheels Unleashed might seem like a kiddy game, but that doesn’t detract from its virtue as a hilariously good arcade racer. Nothing beats the thrills of zooming through toy-inspired race tracks at breakneck speeds, which presents more of a challenge than you would expect but maintains the straightforward nature of a one-way race car track.
You can hop onto tracks in both online and offline multiplayer, and it even offers local split-screen across all platforms.
Valheim
Valheim is a Viking-themed game that probably shouldn’t be as good as it is, given how crowded the survival sandbox genre is getting, but it surprises you. This mist-shrouded world invites you to explore every hill and valley and uncover the monstrous bosses that lurk within. Building fortresses and fenced encampments is an engrossing process that can keep you occupied for hours.
Also, the ability to experience all of Valheim‘s treasures with friends more than triples the fun. You can gather resources for your friend’s next ingenious base idea, hunt down animals for armor and equip yourselves to take on a gargantuan boss. You can even attempt to build a raft and sail the sea even though you know in your gut you’re nowhere near leveled up enough for it.
Even though it’s still in early access, Valheim is not a title to miss, and it’s one of the best multiplayer games on Xbox Game Pass right now.
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