Nothing beats gaming with friends. Whether you're battling through perilous quests, facing off in intense competition, or erupting in laughter over party-game madness, multiplayer games are the ultimate connector. Each year, developers push boundaries to create experiences that are fresh, thrilling, and outright fun. With 2025 upon us, the list of titles worth your squad’s attention is brimming with exciting choices.

From sprawling RPGs to lighthearted party chaos, these multiplayer masterpieces will have you calling up your crew in no time. Here’s our rundown of the best recent multiplayer games to play with your friends!

1. Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)

Co-op, RPG | Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Larian Studios pulled off an RPG miracle with Baldur’s Gate 3. This game doesn’t just adapt the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons; it fully immerses you in it. The story unfolds in a rich, branching narrative where every choice impacts the world, and with up to four players co-op, it becomes an unforgettable group adventure.

Want to destroy enemies with clever teamwork, or derail the game’s tension by having your party set everything on fire during sneaky scenarios? You can. The mix of deep storytelling, hilarious chaos, and mythic combat makes Baldur’s Gate 3 an RPG experience for the ages. With its endless replayability, it’s still a premiere multiplayer pick heading into 2025.

2. Diablo IV (2023)

Co-op, Action RPG | Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

If there’s one game that lets you revel in demon-slaying with your friends, it’s Diablo IV. Blizzard’s dark, gothic world never looked better, and whether you’re smashing demons as a barbarian or casting firestorms as a sorcerer, the experience comes alive in multiplayer. With open-world design and countless dungeons to explore, it’s an instant classic for co-op fans.

The seamless transition between solo play and teaming up with friends makes it accessible without sacrificing depth. World bosses, PvP zones, shared-world events, and endless loot runs ensure that you’ll never run out of reasons to log back in with your team.

3. Street Fighter 6 (2023)

Competitive, Fighting | Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Fighting-game enthusiasts have crowned Street Fighter 6 as one of the most polished, accessible entries in the genre’s history. With its vibrant visuals, buttery-smooth combat mechanics, and roster of iconic fighters like Ryu and Chun-Li, this is a game that welcomes both casual players and hardcore competitors.

Multiplayer shines with online tournaments, ranked matches, and casual lobbies where you and friends can duke it out for glory and bragging rights. Plus, its innovative World Tour mode blends RPG elements with traditional fighting, offering something new for players who aren’t solely focused on PvP.

4. Halo Infinite Forge (Updated 2024)

Competitive, Co-op, Creative | Platforms: PC, Xbox

Halo Infinite just keeps giving, thanks largely to its robust Forge Mode updates. This creative sandbox lets you and your friends design custom maps and modes that range from insanely fun to downright bizarre. Want an obstacle course that ends with a gravity-launch gauntlet? Or a free-for-all arena where everything explodes? Forge makes it possible.

The game also retains its sharp competitive multiplayer roots. Whether you’re jumping into custom games or reliving intense Capture The Flag matches, Halo Infinite offers some of the best multiplayer experiences in modern gaming.

5. Party Animals (2023)

Party, Action | Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

For fans of party chaos and laugh-out-loud gameplay, Party Animals is a total win. This physics-based brawler pits adorable (but ruthless) animals against each other in hilarious battles. The controls are simple, making it accessible to new players—but the sheer unpredictability of the grappling, punching, and weapon-throwing keeps it exciting time after time.

Maps and modes in Party Animals are bursting with variety; one minute you’ll be hurling friends off moving trains and the next you’ll compete to secure objectives while dodging mayhem. It’s the perfect game for casual couch play or a wild online session.

6. Starfield (Multiplayer Mod, 2025)

Co-op, RPG | Platforms: PC

While Bethesda launched Starfield as a single-player RPG, the gaming community is nothing if not industrious. Thanks to an ambitious modding project, Starfield now offers a multiplayer experience that feels like everything we imagined it could be.

Gather your crew to explore uncharted planets, salvage derelict ships for loot, or engage in space combat as a unified team. The seamless transition between exploration and combat makes it feel as epic in co-op as it does in single-player, creating a game that’s pure joy for any sci-fi fan looking to share the adventure with friends.

7. Factions (The Last of Us Multiplayer, 2025)

Competitive, Survival | Platforms: PlayStation

The long-awaited arrival of Naughty Dog’s Factions proves it was worth the wait. Dropping in 2025, this multiplayer spin-off to The Last of Us series builds on the tense, character-driven storytelling of the originals while adding a layer of cutthroat survival.

Players join factions fighting for survival in a world scarred by infection and civil collapse. Scavenge for weapons, craft essential items, and form tactical strategies with your team to outlast rival groups. Environmental storytelling and detailed, unforgiving combat make each multiplayer match feel deeply personal.

8. Mario Kart 9 (2024)

Competitive, Party | Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2

The Mario Kart franchise has long been the king of fun multiplayer chaos, and Mario Kart 9 only raises the stakes. Released on the Nintendo Switch 2, it introduces jaw-dropping tracks with dynamic elements that evolve throughout races. Add to that an arcade-perfect experience and creative new items like the Thwomp Launcher, and the game doesn’t disappoint.

Whether you’re chasing first place in online tournaments or enjoying local multiplayer with friends, Mario Kart 9 is the kind of game that will have you saying “Just one more race!” well into the night.

9. Darkbound (2025)

Co-op, Survival Horror | Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

If spooky thrills are more your group’s vibe, Darkbound will chill you to the bone. Up to four players are dropped into a desolate space station overrun by grotesque alien entities. To survive, you’ll have to work together to complete difficult objectives, ration limited resources, and sneak past horrors lurking in the dark.

The tension is palpable as every move feels like it could be your last. With nerve-wracking atmosphere, stunning sci-fi visuals, and tight co-op gameplay, Darkbound establishes itself as a horror game you won’t want to play alone.

10. Sons of the Forest (2023)

Co-op, Survival Horror | Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

The sequel to The Forest amps up everything that fans loved about the original. Sons of the Forest combines survival mechanics with visceral horror as you and your friends attempt to survive on a remote, danger-filled island. Build shelters, craft weapons, and fend off bizarre mutant enemies in a world where every decision counts.

What sets it apart is its procedural AI system, which makes enemies adapt to your tactics. No two sessions feel the same, and the cooperative survival aspect means you’ll always be on your toes alongside your friends.