Friends can make any activity twice as fun, and the same logic applies to video games. In fact, gaming with your buddies for company can be so addictive that there are entire sub-genres dedicated to providing cooperative experiences. That said, picking the best title from a bevy of options can cause some unnecessary hitches. To help you sidestep that hiccup entirely, we’ve put together a list of the 15 best games to play with friends in 2026.
List of Best Games to Play with Friends
Below, you’ll find a table featuring our picks for the best games to play with friends. There are two main factors affecting our selections. The first is relevance, and the second is fun factor. You’ll find that every listed game is still quite popular while being just as fun. Moreover, these games are usually discounted during major Steam sales.
Name Genre Release Date Roblox UGC Platform September 1, 2006 Minecraft Sandbox and Survival May 17, 2009 Mario Kart World Arcade Racing June 5, 2025 Split Fiction Co-op Action Adventure March 6, 2025 GTA Online Action-Adventure, Empire Building October 1, 2013 RV There Yet? Co-op Action Adventure October 21, 2025 Among Us Party Game, Social Deduction June 15, 2018 Marvel Rivals Hero Shooter December 6, 2024 Helldivers 2 Co-op Third-Person Shooter February 8, 2024 Left 4 Dead 2 Co-op Horde Shooter November 17, 2009 Overcooked 2 Party Game, Cooking Simulator August 7, 2018 Fortnite Battle Royale, UGC Platform July 25, 2017 Valorant First-Person Tactical Shooter June 2, 2020 Sea of Thieves Open-World Action Adventure June 3, 2020 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 First-Person Shooter November 14, 2025
Roblox
- Developer(s): Roblox Corporation
- Release Date: September 1, 2006
- Platform(s): Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, PS4, PS5
For gamers of all ages, Roblox is the ultimate destination. The platform offers a variety of experiences. Whether you want to chill in Fisch, try hard in Blue Lock Rivals, or complete missions in Jujutsu Infinite, the platform has it all. While Roblox is free to explore, several experiences require payment. Nonetheless, it is a versatile game available for almost every device, making it one of the best games to play with friends.
Minecraft
- Developer(s): Mojang Studios
- Release Date: May 17, 2009
- Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, Android, Xbox Series X, PS5
For over a decade, Minecraft has evolved from being a simple sandbox to an adventure with endless possibilities. The best part of Minecraft is the co-op mechanics. You can do whatever you want inside the game with your friends. Raid a village, build the best house designs, or craft the best weapons; it lets you do everything. Getting bored? Grab the best Minecraft mods and find your next friendly voyage.
Mario Kart World
- Developer(s): Nintendo
- Release Date: June 5, 2025
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2
If you don’t have a Nintendo Switch 2, then Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is good enough to stick with. But if you managed to snag Nintendo’s newest handheld, then Mario Kart World is simply a must-play. Imagine the accessibility and sheer joy baked into the franchise’s karting formula, but all of it expanded tenfold through the introduction of a colorful open world. That’s precisely what Mario Kart World is, and it’s easily the best arcade racer on the market currently.
The game also offers a generous multiplayer suite that can be both competitive and cooperative. So, if you want a racing title for all occasions, then this gets our nod as the best game to play with friends.
Split Fiction
- Developer(s): Hazelight Studios
- Release Date: March 6, 2025
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2
Hazelight is known for its be-a-duo games. Whether it is ‘It Takes Two’ or ‘A Way Out’, you will always find that need for co-op gameplay. However, Split Fiction takes it up a notch by infusing some multiverse magic into the core gameplay loop. Every step of the way, you and your co-op buddy will encounter wondrous worlds that offer daring and even silly challenges. Best of all, the game never gets repetitive, which further cements its status as one of the best games to play with friends.
GTA Online
- Developer(s): Rockstar Games
- Release Date: October 1, 2013
- Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Before GTA 5 went the online route, players wished for a world where you could buy cars or real estate and then go on robberies together. Well, GTA Online not only pushed that boundary, but it also made the role-playing experience more exciting. Since going online, this pseudo-MMO has shown absolutely no signs of letting up on the content front.
If you’re jumping in as a new player in 2026, you’ll find a plethora of daring heists to complete, exotic supercars to steal, and illicit business to make money in GTA Online. If you and your friends are looking for a game to build an empire in, then GTA Online offers all the tools to do so.
RV There Yet?
- Developer(s): Nuggets Entertainment
- Release Date: October 21, 2025
- Platform(s): PC
RV There Yet? is built around a simple idea that instantly clicks in a group setting. You and your friends pile into an RV and set off on a chaotic road trip, where keeping things on track quickly becomes the biggest challenge. It’s less about reaching the destination and more about everything that goes wrong along the way.
That’s exactly where the fun lies. Every task turns into a group effort, whether you’re managing the vehicle, dealing with unexpected obstacles, or just trying to stay organized as things spiral. It captures that familiar feeling of traveling with friends, where plans fall apart, and the journey becomes the story, making it an easy pick for a night of loud, unpredictable co-op.
Among Us
- Developer(s): Innersloth
- Release Date: June 15, 2018
- Platform(s): Android, iOS, PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Remember this pandemic phenomenon? Among Us still holds a special place in gamers’ hearts, especially if you want to experience a full party vibe. Gather all your friends or colleagues and host a game. Spot the impostors or be the one to slay all of your friends. But remember, you must talk your way out of the ruthless voting.
Marvel Rivals
- Developer(s): NetEase Games
- Release Date: December 6, 2024
- Platform(s): PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, GeForce Now, PC
Marvel Rivals took the online multiplayer scene by storm when it was initially released in 2024. The hero shooter was a seismic success, garnering millions of players across all platforms. Its robust gameplay, paired with the eccentricities of Marvel’s most beloved superheroes, made for an incredible combination. While its momentum has tapered off slightly, Rivals remains one of the best games to play with friends in 2026.
Helldivers 2
- Developer(s): Arrowhead Game Studios
- Release Date: February 8, 2024
- Platform(s): PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Most non-competitive multiplayer shooters struggle to sustain their early momentum. But most shooters aren’t Helldivers 2. Arrowhead’s cinematic third-person shooter sees you and your friends put on the capes of Super Earth’s Helldivers – the expendable pawns of a fascist empire that’s straight out of Starship Troopers. You’ll embark on daring missions doing pest control on various planets, bringing democracy to savage lands by way of ballistic missiles.
Beyond its strong themes, Helldivers 2 is simply a joy to play. The game is so chaotic and unpredictable that every match can produce a gaming memory for the ages. This is especially the case if you’ve got a pair of friends for company. And even if they aren’t available, the title features strong progression systems that can compel you to grind on your own.
Left 4 Dead 2
- Developer(s): Valve Corporation
- Release Date: November 17, 2009
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360, Linux, GeForce Now, Mac
There are plenty of zombie survival co-ops, but nothing comes close to the level of Left 4 Dead 2. Its enduring appeal is cemented by consistent support, with the game still receiving bug fixes nearly two decades later. From bayous to amusement parks, its iconic campaigns offer thrilling, straightforward zombie survival. For the ultimate adrenaline rush, pitting survivors against player-controlled Special Infected creates a perfectly balanced, skill-driven showdown.
The best part? L4D2 is regularly available for dirt-cheap prices on Steam. You can pick up the game for the same price as a can of soda – no kidding. That’s reason enough to check one of the best games to play with friends of all time.
Overcooked 2
- Developer(s): Team17, Ghost Town Games
- Release Date: August 7, 2018
- Platform(s): Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox One, PS5 Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia
If you want a co-op challenge that competes with the hardest video games, Overcooked 2 is an exceptional one. Overcooked 2’s co-op descends into hilarious, high-pressure chaos, demanding precise coordination and frantic communication.
It turns simple cooking tasks into a symphony of shouting and near-misses, forging strong bonds (or testing them thoroughly). It’s a uniquely frantic experience where teamwork is essential, and laughter is guaranteed, even amidst the kitchen fires.
Fortnite
- Developer(s): Epic Games
- Release Date: July 25, 2017
- Platform(s): PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S/One, iOS, PC, Android, Nintendo Switch, macOS
While Fortnite is typically perceived as battle royale, fans even remotely familiar with Epic’s cash cow will know just how much more the game has to offer. Jump into Fortnite today, and you’ll find arcade racing experiences, Call of Duty knockoffs, Among Us knockoffs, and knockoffs of all kinds, really.
The point is that Fortnite has turned into a one-stop destination for all sorts of multiplayer gaming formats. It’s part of the reason why this “platform” is still going strong while its peers struggle to retain players. Of course, the core BR experience is still pushing boundaries with every new Fortnite update. And the game houses skins for practically every pop-culture character you can think of.
Valorant
- Developer(s): Riot Games
- Release Date: June 2, 2020
- Platform(s): PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Compared to Fortnite, Valorant is more on the competitive side, but trust me, when you and your party get going, this is one of the best games to play with friends. Valorant is a tactical shooter; precise aim is everything you need to win a game. But, does it really matter?
Well, when you jump into a casual game with your friends, it’s all about the giggles and laughs, and Valorant definitely delivers. Especially with the number of funny interactions of abilities you can witness.
Sea of Thieves
- Developer(s): Rare, Microsoft Studios
- Release Date: March 20, 2018
- Platform(s): PS5, Xbox Series X/S/One, GeForce Now, PC
There’s no doubt that Sea of Thieves is one of the best pirate games ever, across all platforms. It thrives on collaborative gameplay, where crewing a ship demands synchronized effort from navigation to combat.
Coordinating with friends to raise sails, fire cannons, and manage repairs creates a compelling shared adventure. The game’s open-ended nature fosters unique, emergent stories born from teamwork, whether pursuing treasure or fending off rival pirates. So if you’re looking for the best games to play with friends, this is certainly one of them!
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Developer(s): Treyarch, Infinity Ward
- Release Date: November 14, 2025
- Platform(s): PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Does Black Ops 7 reinvent the Call of Duty formula in any shape or form? No. Is it fun? Hell yes.
Released to an incredibly negative reception, Black Ops 7 was frankly doomed from the start. A majority of complaints levied at the game have more to do with the fanbase’s exhaustion with Call of Duty. But if you evaluate BO7 on its own merits, it’s undoubtedly the most fun CoD has been this decade.
It offers a striking set of solid maps, futuristic weapons that offer excellent feedback, and a commendable movement system that’s engaging enough to master. These are strong fundamentals for any multiplayer experience, but when you factor in Treyarch’s impressive post-launch support, Black Ops 7 is a game we wholeheartedly recommend. What makes it especially worth experiencing is the new Co-op Campaign, which lets you experience the narrative with your buddies.
And these are all the best games to play with friends. Do you have more suggestions for the list? Drop them in the comments below.
