The Best Multiplayer Games

Best multiplayer games at a glance

How these multiplayer games were selected

The ranking considers:

• Whether multiplayer is central rather than an optional extra
• The quality of teamwork, competition or shared progression
• Variety between local, online, cooperative and competitive play
• Mechanical depth and accessibility for new players
• Whether different roles or play styles remain useful
• Replay value across missions, matches, cars, fighters or builds
• Solo content where listed
• PC memory and storage requirements

Current cross-play support can vary by game, account system and platform. Verify the supported platform combinations before purchasing specifically to play with someone on different hardware.

1. Split Fiction

Best two-player multiplayer game

Split Fiction is a cooperative action adventure designed for exactly two participants.

The story moves between science-fiction and fantasy worlds created by its two protagonists. Each setting introduces different movement, puzzle and action mechanics.

Cooperation is structural rather than optional. One participant may control a mechanism while the other moves through it, or both may receive complementary abilities needed to complete the same sequence.

Frequent mechanical changes prevent one successful routine from carrying the entire campaign.

The game supports online co-op and split-screen co-op, making it suitable for remote partners and two people sharing one display.

Split Fiction lists full controller support, 16 GB RAM and 85 GB of storage as minimum requirements.

Choose it for a complete story campaign where neither participant is treated as a secondary helper. It is not designed for solo play or groups larger than two.

2. HELLDIVERS 2

Best online squad co-op game

HELLDIVERS 2 sends squads on hostile missions across a shared galactic conflict.

Players select weapons, armor and Stratagems before deployment. Stratagems provide support weapons, defensive equipment, orbital attacks and other battlefield tools.

Friendly fire makes positioning and communication important. A powerful attack can solve one problem while creating another for a teammate standing in the wrong place.

Mission objectives encourage the squad to move, defend positions and decide when optional rewards justify additional risk.

Supported modes are online co-op without a single-player mode. A participant may enter with fewer teammates, but the systems are built around cooperative play.

Minimum requirements include 8 GB RAM and 135 GB of storage.

Choose HELLDIVERS 2 for four-player PvE chaos, coordinated equipment and highly replayable missions. Split Fiction is better for a fixed duo seeking an authored story.

3. REMNANT II

Best difficult co-op multiplayer game

REMNANT II combines third-person shooting, action-RPG builds and demanding boss encounters.

The game supports solo play or online co-op with two other participants. A three-player group can combine different Archetypes, weapons and modifications.

Dodging, positioning and attack patterns remain important even with teammates present. Additional players provide support and revival opportunities but do not remove the need to learn encounters.

World and encounter variation can change routes, events and bosses, giving different campaigns reasons to explore again.

Equipment and class combinations support specialized builds for damage, durability, support or utility.

REMNANT II has full controller support and lists 16 GB RAM with 80 GB of storage as minimum requirements.

Choose it for a smaller co-op group that enjoys difficult combat and build experimentation. HELLDIVERS 2 is more suitable for faster mission-based squad action.

4. Street Fighter 6

Best competitive multiplayer game

Street Fighter 6 is built around one-on-one fighting where spacing, timing and knowledge of the opponent determine success.

Its roster supports contrasting styles, including close pressure, long-range control, throws and flexible all-round play.

The Drive system connects offense and defense through one shared resource. Players must decide when to spend it on pressure, movement, counters or other options.

Different control schemes provide more than one entry point. New players can learn the structure without immediately mastering every traditional input, while experienced players retain access to deeper execution.

Supported modes are single-player and online PvP. The associated tags also identify local multiplayer, but buyers should verify the exact local modes needed for the intended setup.

Minimum requirements include 8 GB RAM and 60 GB of storage.

Choose Street Fighter 6 for direct competition, short matches and a skill curve that can support long-term practice.

5. Forza Horizon 5

Best multiplayer racing game

Forza Horizon 5 turns a large open-world interpretation of Mexico into a shared driving playground.

Players can explore freely, enter races, complete activities and build a collection of cars.

It supports online co-op and online PvP alongside single-player, allowing the game to support both shared progression and direct competition.

Its car roster accommodates road racing, off-road routes, drifting and other driving styles.

Difficulty and assistance settings make the game approachable without removing tuning and performance choices for experienced players.

Forza Horizon 5 has full controller support and lists 8 GB RAM with 110 GB of storage as minimum requirements.

Choose it for a less confrontational social game where friends can race, explore or complete events together. It requires substantially more storage than Street Fighter 6.

6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Best multiplayer first-person shooter package

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare combines a single-player campaign with competitive multiplayer and cooperative Special Ops content.

Competitive modes emphasize responsive first-person gunplay, map knowledge and team objectives.

Weapon customization allows players to adjust handling, range and other characteristics according to the intended role.

Special Ops provides cooperative challenges for players who prefer working together instead of facing another team.

The broad package makes Modern Warfare more flexible than a multiplayer-only shooter, although different modes may appeal to different groups.

Supported modes are single-player, online co-op and online PvP with full controller support. Minimum requirements include 8 GB RAM and 175 GB of storage, the largest installation in this ranking.

Choose it for a mixture of competitive FPS matches, co-op operations and campaign content. Storage planning is essential.

Which multiplayer game should you play first?

Match the recommendation to the group:

• A fixed pair wanting a complete co-op story: Split Fiction
• Up to four players wanting PvE shooter missions: HELLDIVERS 2
• Up to three players wanting difficult bosses: REMNANT II
• Two players wanting direct competition: Street Fighter 6
• Friends wanting relaxed driving and racing: Forza Horizon 5
• A group wanting competitive FPS modes and co-op operations: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Split Fiction is the strongest choice for two committed partners. HELLDIVERS 2 is better for a changing squad, while Forza Horizon 5 suits groups that want flexible activities rather than one linear campaign.

Best co-op multiplayer games

Split Fiction provides the most intentional two-person design because both participants are required throughout the campaign.

HELLDIVERS 2 supports a larger PvE squad and generates stories through friendly fire, equipment choices and changing mission pressure.

REMNANT II is the most demanding co-op option. Its bosses and build systems reward a group willing to repeat encounters and refine tactics.

Forza Horizon 5 offers lower-pressure cooperation through driving and shared events.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare includes cooperative Special Ops, but competitive multiplayer remains another major part of the package.

Best competitive multiplayer games

Street Fighter 6 offers the clearest pure competitive experience. Each match reduces the contest to two players, two characters and a shared mechanical ruleset.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is better for team-based first-person shooting across several multiplayer modes.

Forza Horizon 5 supports racing competition without limiting the entire experience to ranked or adversarial play.

Choose Street Fighter for individual mastery, Modern Warfare for team FPS competition or Forza for vehicle-based events.

HELLDIVERS 2, REMNANT II and Split Fiction focus on cooperation rather than player-versus-player competition.

Local multiplayer versus online multiplayer

Local multiplayer places participants on the same device or local setup. Split Fiction explicitly lists split-screen co-op.

Online multiplayer connects participants remotely. Every recommendation in this article includes an online multiplayer mode.

Street Fighter 6 is associated with local multiplayer in its Steam tags, but the exact supported modes and required controllers should be checked before purchase.

HELLDIVERS 2 and REMNANT II are listed for online co-op, not split-screen play.

Forza Horizon 5 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare should not be assumed to provide the same local features as their online modes without checking the current PC listing.

Does co-op count as multiplayer?

Yes. Multiplayer means that more than one person participates in the game experience.

Co-op is the collaborative branch of multiplayer. Participants work toward shared objectives rather than trying to defeat one another.

Split Fiction, HELLDIVERS 2 and REMNANT II make cooperation central. Street Fighter 6 is primarily competitive, while Forza Horizon 5 and Modern Warfare support both cooperative and competitive activities.

The distinction matters when choosing a game for a group. A mechanically excellent PvP game may not suit friends who want to complete one campaign together.

Best multiplayer games for lower-spec PCs

Street Fighter 6, Forza Horizon 5, HELLDIVERS 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare each list 8 GB RAM.

Street Fighter 6 has the smallest listed installation among those four at 60 GB. Forza Horizon 5 lists 110 GB, HELLDIVERS 2 lists 135 GB and Modern Warfare lists 175 GB.

Split Fiction and REMNANT II each list 16 GB RAM, with storage requirements of 85 GB and 80 GB respectively.

Minimum requirements do not guarantee ideal performance. Multiplayer also depends on a stable connection, and online services may require separate accounts or platform services. Check current processor, graphics, operating-system and network requirements before purchasing.

How to choose a multiplayer game for your group

Start with group size. Split Fiction requires two participants, REMNANT II supports a three-person co-op group and HELLDIVERS 2 suits squads of up to four.

Next, decide whether the group wants cooperation or competition. Street Fighter 6 is built around direct opposition, while Split Fiction cannot be completed through competitive play.

Consider commitment. An authored campaign benefits from a consistent partner, while mission-based games are easier when attendance changes between sessions.

Finally, check local and online compatibility. Two people sharing one PC need different support from two people connecting remotely, and cross-platform play should always be verified for the exact platform combination.

Final recommendations

Split Fiction is the best dedicated two-player experience because cooperation defines every major mechanic. HELLDIVERS 2 is the strongest four-player PvE choice, while REMNANT II provides the best demanding co-op combat for three participants.

Choose Street Fighter 6 for one-on-one competition, Forza Horizon 5 for open-world driving with friends, or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for a broad FPS package with competitive and cooperative modes.

The right multiplayer game depends less on the largest audience and more on the people joining the session: how many are playing, whether they want to cooperate or compete, and whether the group wants one continuing campaign or a game that works whenever someone is available.