10 Best Xbox Multiplayer Games You Can Play Right Now

Summary There are plenty of Xbox multiplayer games for players to choose from and enjoy with friends - or even make new ones.

Games like Back 4 Blood and Dead by Daylight incentivize cooperation, which could help form bonds.

GTA Online and Sea of Thieves, for instance, have an abundance of activities to participate in.

There are plenty of Xbox multiplayer games currently available for interested players, be they on the Xbox Game Pass catalog or not. Multiplayer games offer some of the best experiences with friends and even offer the chance to make new ones. There are competitive games in which players dispute an objective among themselves, while others are cooperative and provide a joyful experience with other party members. Of course, there are also multiplayer games that consist of the liberty of choice, and players can choose whether they want to team up or engage in combat against other users on Xbox.

There are many options for players to choose from. Some of the best Xbox multiplayer games are those that offer a stable connection with the online environment and that have a memorable gameplay style, regardless if it can be played solo or with others. Of course, some others are great couch cooperative games, like the award-winning It Takes Two. Nevertheless, when searching for new multiplayer games, it is only natural to immediately think of online multiplayer and even some of the best cross-platform and crossplay games that are available to play right now.

How we choose entries for our Best-Of Lists. For this List, Screen Rant has considered the critic scores of Metacritic and the site's own reviews. Senior writer Bruno Yonezawa has applied his decades-long involvement with online games, as well as his years of experience as a gaming journalist, to evaluate the picks. We have also taken into consideration what makes something the “Best” of its kind, along with the expectations of the community and how well they are met by players, as well as the entertainment factor of the media being evaluated.

Related 10 Best Free Games On PC Right Now It may be a bit surprising just how many fantastic and big-name video games are available to play for free on PC right now, covering all genres.

10 Back 4 Blood

Released in 2021

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Critic Score Screen Rant 3.5/5 Metacritic 77

A superb coop survival game, Back 4 Blood is Left 4 Dead’s spiritual successor. The gameplay style is nearly identical: players take on roles with different playable characters, each with their own set of skills and weaponry, and need to get through levels as they survive blood-thirsty undead that try to hunt them down. The magic of the game is coordinating strategies to survive with teammates, making it a memorable Xbox multiplayer game.

There are many possibilities when playing Back 4 Blood, since each character feels very unique and, with it, players can go on multiple runs of the campaign. By exchanging playable heroes and using different armaments and strategies, the entire campaign can feel like a new section of the game. Players looking to bond over traumatic horror-driven experiences should not miss out on this great Xbox multiplayer game.

The variety of enemies is also a great selling point, as it makes the survival title feel constantly refreshed with new challenges.

9 Minecraft

Released in 2011

Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

Critic Score Metacritic 82

Minecraft has been a hit for over a decade and shows no signs of slowing down. While the popular sandbox title’s gameplay is great to experience alone, especially for players who are fascinated by the genre, everything gets a lot better when playing Minecraft as an Xbox multiplayer game. When aided by friends, the shared experience of gathering resources and crafting entire new worlds is a pleasant one.

In addition to that, the threats that haunt players during the nighttime are more easily surpassed when playing along with a friend. Another great factor is exploration: playing together allows players to tactically start adventuring underground and checking out the dangers that lurk there, without putting everything at risk. Instead, Minecraft players can become a superpower when exploring together in this Xbox multiplayer game.

8 GTA Online

Released in 2013

Critic Score Metacritic 80

Grand Theft Auto 5 is widely acknowledged as one of the best video games to ever be released, and a portion of its impact on the gaming industry comes from its online multiplayer mode, also available on Xbox platforms. GTA Online is easily one of the richest and most diverse multiplayer worlds currently available, and there is a plethora of things to do. Players can run simple quests, customize cars, randomly attack other players, and even coordinate the very popular Heists in GTA Online.

While veteran players already likely have an established empire within the game, with some of the best penthouses, vehicles, weapons, and near-endless supply of money, newer players can start their adventure now and consistently feel a sense of progress, even if it does take a while to reach those most dedicated players. There is a lot of fun in store with this Xbox multiplayer game, regardless if players choose to team up with their friends or not – though running missions with friends in GTA Online is a memorable experience.

7 Grounded

Released in 2020

Grounded Platform(s) Xbox Series X/S Microsoft Windows , Xbox One Released September 27, 2022 Developer(s) Obsidian Entertainment Publisher(s) Xbox Game Studios Genre(s) Survival , MMO ESRB T

Critic Score Screen Rant 4.5/5 Metacritic 82

Yet another survival-based game, Grounded is one of the best recent Xbox multiplayer games, especially when enjoyed with friends. The title developed by Obsidian Entertainment, known for Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and The Outer Worlds, was released to critical acclaim with its deep gameplay mechanics and general entertainment factor. In the game, players are shrunken down to a hilariously small size and need to explore the backyard of their house, where they will find many threats, including regular-sized insects, which feel gargantuan, given the player’s new form.

As is the case with many titles in the survival genre, Grounded is best when played with friends. Going through a generally hostile world in search of materials to gradually upgrade oneself can be a lonely experience, which can make everything else feel somewhat dull. With friends, however, there is a lot that can be accomplished, especially when building stuff together. Taking advantage of this Xbox multiplayer game can help create bonds, as survival titles normally do.

6 Monster Hunter Rise

Released in 2021

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Critic Score Screen Rant 5/5 Metacritic 88

Hunting monsters has never been better, with Monster Hunter Rise being one of the best Xbox multiplayer games to date. The classic Capcom franchise finally broke ground into the Western market with the release of the incredibly popular Monster Hunter World, but following that, Monster Hunter Rise not only surpassed it in the general quality of its content, but it also made the gameplay mechanics a lot swifter and more reasonable. Instead of stopping to pick up resources on the map, players can easily get them added to their inventory without having to put a damper on hunts.

The gameplay optimization comes in handy and aids the general gameplay experience, which can be enhanced when using its online function. This is one of the best Xbox multiplayer games because it is extremely fun to hunt down gargantuan beasts along other hunters. Each player’s skills can complement each other and, working together, they can give colleagues a breathing space to heal up and sharpen their weapons while the target is distracted. Monster Hunter Rise excels in its solo mode, but multiplayer mode is a lot more fun.

5 Dead By Daylight

Released in 2016

Critic Score Screen Rant - Metacritic 64

Dead by Daylight has been a hit since its launch, much like Minecraft, and is also one of the best Xbox multiplayer games around. The title developed by Behaviour Interactive is a 4v1 asymmetric survival game that only really works in multiplayer. The idea is that, out of the group of five players, one of them will be the killer, while the rest need to find ways to survive and escape. These Dead by Daylight survivors don’t have tools to defeat the killer, but can slow them down.

This Xbox multiplayer game is nerve-racking and is a fun experience to share with others. The killer’s side can get a little lonely, but it also empowers them a lot, giving them a menacing presence that all other players will desperately be trying to avoid. For the survivors, this will be another trauma-fueled experience that can lead to new friendships or tighter bonds with those that already exist. Those who are not good with horror games, however, should avoid Dead by Daylight.

4 Destiny 2

Released in 2017

Critic Score Screen Rant 3.5/5 Metacritic 85

One of the best shooters out there, Destiny 2 is also one of the best Xbox multiplayer games that players can currently experience. The popular game from Bungie builds on the studio’s reputation with Halo and grows immensely with its own unique universe and game mechanics that are unparalleled. There are several different classes, sub-classes, and weapons to pick from, and there are tons of activities to do across several destinations. It is possible to play this alone, but the best experiences are locked behind multiplayer.

Special Vanguard Operations, Dungeons, and Raids, for instance, are all better when coordinating with a Fireteam, and concluding an extremely challenging activity with buddies can be rewarding – even when the loot is not. For players with a taste for the competitive aspect of Xbox multiplayer games, Destiny 2 also features the Crucible and Gambit, the first of which is fully PvP, while the second is a mix of coop PvP and PvE.

Grinding for high-leveled gear solo can be tedious, but other Guardians helping can alleviate that boredom.

3 Diablo 4

Released in 2023

Critic Score Screen Rant 4.5/5 Metacritic 86

The classic dungeon-crawling franchise by Blizzard came back in 2023 with the release of Diablo 4, which quickly established itself as one of the best Xbox multiplayer games of the moment. The action-fueled title can be played alone, but it feels as if it were made to be shared with friends. Going through dungeons, coordinating special and unique abilities, and defeating challenging bosses is a lot better with a teammate than running activities solo.

Another great aspect of Diablo 4 is its replayability factor, mainly due to its several classes, randomized loot, and seasonal challenges. As such, players can run the game several times with their friends, each using a different class every time and having different outcomes altogether. This, which is already one of the best Xbox multiplayer games, gets significantly better when considering that, recently, Diablo 4 entered Xbox Game Pass’ catalog, meaning subscribers can download it and play it without any extra costs.

2 Sea of Thieves

Released in 2018

Critic Score Screen Rant 2.5/5 Metacritic 69

Though not exactly classified as a survival game, Sea of Thieves has a lot of the elements of the genre, and this open-world pirate game is easily one of the best Xbox multiplayer games. The title was released back in 2018 to a mixed reception that stated its bland and empty world. That was something that the developers took notice of and worked to correct – and they did. Currently, Sea of Thieves is an extremely rich game with plenty of activities to do, but the best thing is doing them alongside friends.

It is nearly obvious since administering a ship alone is an utter nightmare. With friends in one’s crew, players can navigate, while others man the cannons and make repairs to the vessel. Roaming the high seas is a dangerous feat, and it is nearly necessary to tackle those threats with a group of fearless allies in this Xbox multiplayer game.

1 Halo Infinite

Released in 2021

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Halo Infinite Franchise Halo Platform(s) PC Microsoft Windows , Xbox One Released December 8, 2021 Developer(s) 343 Industries , Certain Affinity , SkyBox Labs Publisher(s) Xbox Game Studios Genre(s) Shooter ESRB M How Long To Beat 11 hours

Critic Score Screen Rant 3.5/5 Metacritic 87

Nearly nothing screams Xbox as much as Halo, and it just so happens that the franchise’s most recent installment, Halo Infinite, is also one of the best Xbox multiplayer games of all times. The title was a massive comeback for the series, which had been dormant for nearly half a decade. Infinite was originally planned to be a launch title for the Xbox Series X/S, but it had to be delayed in order to improve its overall quality.

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The game arrived in 2021 to critical acclaim. The beauty of Halo Infinite as a multiplayer game is that, players can connect not only in the classic PvP mode, which has teams competing against each other, but also in PvE. In fact, the campaign can be played cooperatively, making for a grand shared experience. There are many fantastic Xbox multiplayer games, and Halo Infinite stands at the top.

Source: Metacritic (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)