Best Games to Play With Friends

The master list - fun games for every group, sorted by what actually works for your setup.

By Stephen V., Founder & Editor · Last updated July 21, 2026 · How we pick

Quick picks

The short answer first. Tap any row for the full write-up; the price button goes straight to Amazon.

#	Game	Best for	Crossplay	Price
1	Minecraft Sandbox / survival	A mixed group that wants to build or survive together, any devices.	Yes - Bedrock crossplay across all platforms	$29.83
2	It Takes Two Co-op action-adventure	Two people who want one story built entirely around working together.	No - same platform only	$59.99
3	No image Fortnite Battle royale / party	A mixed-platform group that wants a free, everyone-already-has-it option.	Yes - full crossplay across everything	Free
4	Overcooked! All You Can Eat Party co-op	A group of 2-4 that wants controlled chaos and a lot of yelling.	Yes - full crossplay	$23.75
5	Helldivers 2 Co-op shooter	A squad split between PS5 and PC that wants chaotic 4-player co-op.	Yes - PS5 + PC crossplay	$44.40
6	No image Among Us Social deduction	A big group (including long-distance) that wants social deduction.	Yes - full crossplay	Free
7	Diablo IV Action RPG	A group across different consoles that wants a shared long-haul RPG.	Yes - full crossplay + cross-progression	$28.97
8	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Kart racing	A Switch group that wants instant, everyone-can-play racing.	No - Switch only	$59.88
9	No image Rocket League Sports / vehicular	Any mixed group that wants a free, easy-to-learn, hard-to-master pick.	Yes - full crossplay	Free
10	Human: Fall Flat Physics puzzle party	A group that wants cheap, silly physics-puzzle chaos, any platform.	Yes - crossplay across platforms	$12.99
11	Deep Rock Galactic Co-op shooter	A crew of up to four dwarves who want procedural co-op mining.	PC + Xbox crossplay (PlayStation separate)	$9.99
12	Stardew Valley Farming / life sim	A calm group on the same system that wants to build a farm together.	No - multiplayer is same-platform only	$34.00

Start with your situation, not a giant list

Most “best games to play with friends” lists hand you thirty titles and leave you to figure out which ones actually work for your group. That is the wrong question. The real question is situational: who is playing, where are they, and what are they playing on? A four-player couch night, three friends scattered across the country, and a mixed room of PS5 and PC owners all need different answers.

So this master list is ranked for versatility - the games most likely to solve whatever your group is dealing with tonight. If you already know your setup, skip straight to the situation that matches: online, long-distance, party, co-op, crossplay, or free.

Our number-one overall is Minecraft, because its Bedrock edition plays crossplatform across phone, console, and PC - so it works no matter how mismatched your group's hardware is. From there the ranking balances how many situations each game covers, how easy it is to get everyone in, and current price. Every crossplay claim and player count is pulled from the official store page and linked on the pick.

One to skip

It Takes Two is a phenomenal game, but it is strictly two players and has no crossplay - so it is the wrong master pick for a group of three or more, or a mixed-console group. It earns its spot for couples and duos (see split-screen co-op), not for a full squad. Match the game to your player count first.

The picks, in depth

Minecraft

SwitchPS5XboxPCMobileCrossplay: Yes - Bedrock crossplay across all platforms

Best for: A mixed group that wants to build or survive together, any devices.

1-8+ players, online + local · Sandbox / survival

The Bedrock edition plays crossplatform across phone, console, and PC, so it is the default answer when your group is on wildly different hardware. Endless, low-pressure, and works for kids and adults alike. Java edition (PC-only) does not crossplay with Bedrock - buy the console/mobile version for mixed groups.

Facts verified via Minecraft official site.

Also a top pick in Online and Long-Distance.

$29.83 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

It Takes Two

PS5XboxPCSwitchCrossplay: No - same platform only

Best for: Two people who want one story built entirely around working together.

2 players, online or split-screen · Co-op action-adventure

The gold standard for two-player co-op: every mechanic is designed for two, and the Friend's Pass lets a second player join free. Split-screen the whole way through. Skip it if you're a group of three or more - it is strictly two.

Facts verified via EA official page.

Also a top pick in Co-op and Split-Screen.

$59.99 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

No image

Fortnite

PS5XboxSwitchPCMobileCrossplay: Yes - full crossplay across everything

Best for: A mixed-platform group that wants a free, everyone-already-has-it option.

Up to 4 squad, big modes · Battle royale / party

Free, on every platform, with full crossplay - the lowest-friction way to get a group playing tonight when nobody wants to spend money. Beyond battle royale there are party and creative modes. Free with optional cosmetics.

Facts verified via Fortnite official site.

Also a top pick in Online and Long-Distance.

Play free →

#ad · Disclosure

Overcooked! All You Can Eat

PS5XboxPCSwitchCrossplay: Yes - full crossplay

Best for: A group of 2-4 that wants controlled chaos and a lot of yelling.

1-4 players, online + local · Party co-op

Both Overcooked games remastered with full crossplay across every platform - genuinely the easiest way to get four friends on four different systems cooking together. Local and online. It will test friendships; that's the point.

Facts verified via Steam store page.

Also a top pick in Party and Co-op.

$23.75 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Helldivers 2

PS5PCCrossplay: Yes - PS5 + PC crossplay

Best for: A squad split between PS5 and PC that wants chaotic 4-player co-op.

1-4 players online co-op · Co-op shooter

Four-player co-op with crossplay between PS5 and PC, so the classic 'I'm on PlayStation, they're on PC' problem just goes away. Friendly fire is always on, which is a feature. Not on Xbox or Switch, so it only helps PS5/PC groups.

Facts verified via Steam store page.

Also a top pick in Online and Long-Distance.

$44.40 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

No image

Among Us

PS5XboxSwitchPCMobileCrossplay: Yes - full crossplay

Best for: A big group (including long-distance) that wants social deduction.

4-15 players online + local · Social deduction

Free on mobile (a few dollars on other platforms) with full crossplay - the social-deduction pick that scales from four to fifteen. Perfect over a voice call with friends far away. Cheap or free depending on platform.

Facts verified via Innersloth official site.

Also a top pick in Long-Distance and Crossplay.

Play free →

#ad · Disclosure

Diablo IV

PS5XboxPCCrossplay: Yes - full crossplay + cross-progression

Best for: A group across different consoles that wants a shared long-haul RPG.

1-4 co-op, online · Action RPG

Full crossplay and cross-progression, so your group can play together regardless of platform and even swap devices mid-season. Split-screen exists on console too. It is a live-service grind, so best for a crew that plays regularly, not a one-off.

Facts verified via Blizzard official site.

Also a top pick in Online and Co-op.

$28.97 · View on Amazon

$33.24-13%

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

SwitchCrossplay: No - Switch only

Best for: A Switch group that wants instant, everyone-can-play racing.

1-4 local, up to 12 online · Kart racing

The easiest 'everyone grabs a controller' game on Switch - four-player split-screen locally and up to twelve online. Zero learning curve. Switch-only, so it does nothing for a mixed-console group.

Facts verified via Nintendo store page.

Also a top pick in Party and Couch Co-op.

$59.88 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

No image

Rocket League

PS5XboxSwitchPCCrossplay: Yes - full crossplay

Best for: Any mixed group that wants a free, easy-to-learn, hard-to-master pick.

2-4 online, local · Sports / vehicular

Car soccer, free, full crossplay - a five-minute match is easy to teach and endlessly re-playable. Great for a group split across every platform. Free with optional cosmetics.

Facts verified via Rocket League official site.

Also a top pick in Online and Long-Distance.

Play free →

#ad · Disclosure

Human: Fall Flat

SwitchPS5XboxPCMobileCrossplay: Yes - crossplay across platforms

Best for: A group that wants cheap, silly physics-puzzle chaos, any platform.

1-8 online + local co-op · Physics puzzle party

Wobbly-physics co-op puzzles for up to eight with crossplay - one of the best value party picks going, frequently a few dollars. The humor comes from failure. Not a deep game, and that is the appeal.

Facts verified via Steam store page.

Also a top pick in Long-Distance and Party.

$12.99 · View on Amazon

$19.99-35%

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Deep Rock Galactic

PS5XboxPCCrossplay: PC + Xbox crossplay (PlayStation separate)

Best for: A crew of up to four dwarves who want procedural co-op mining.

1-4 online co-op · Co-op shooter

Rock and Stone - four-player co-op cave shooting with destructible tunnels and real teamwork. Crossplay works between PC and Xbox; PlayStation is a separate pool, so check where your group is. Endlessly replayable and often cheap.

Facts verified via Steam store page.

Also a top pick in Online and Long-Distance.

$9.99 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Stardew Valley

SwitchPS5XboxPCMobileCrossplay: No - multiplayer is same-platform only

Best for: A calm group on the same system that wants to build a farm together.

1-4 players co-op (same platform) · Farming / life sim

Four-player co-op farming that is the antidote to competitive stress - everyone shares one farm. The catch: multiplayer is same-platform only, so everyone needs to be on Switch, or everyone on PC. Not a crossplay pick.

Facts verified via Stardew Valley official site.

Also a top pick in Switch and Mobile.

$34.00 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Keep exploring

Crossplay

Different consoles, one game that bridges all of them.

Top pick: Diablo IV · from $28.97

Long-Distance

Different cities, same night. Games that close the distance.

Top pick: Among Us · Free

Co-op

You versus the game, together. Couch or online.

Top pick: It Takes Two · from $59.99

Party

A room full of people and one screen. Make it loud.

Top pick: Overcooked! All You … · from $23.75

Free

Nobody wants to spend money. Play tonight, for free.

Top pick: Fortnite · Free

Online

Everyone's home but apart. Here's what to launch tonight.

Top pick: Helldivers 2 · from $44.40

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game to play with friends right now?+

For a mixed group it is hard to beat Minecraft (Bedrock edition) - it has full crossplay across phone, console, and PC, so nobody is left out. If everyone is on the same platform and you want couch chaos, Overcooked or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are faster to get into.

What can we play if we're all on different consoles?+

You need a crossplay game. Minecraft, Fortnite, Rocket League, Fall Guys, Diablo IV, and Overcooked! All You Can Eat all let PS5, Xbox, Switch, and PC players group up together. See our crossplay hub for the full ranked list.

What are good free games to play with friends?+

Fortnite, Rocket League, Fall Guys, Apex Legends, and Overwatch 2 are all free and crossplay, so any group can start tonight without spending money. Among Us is free on mobile too.

How do you rank these games?+

We rank on verifiable facts: how many situations a game covers, verified crossplay support, player count, how easy it is to get a group in, and current price. We link the official store page for each crossplay and player-count claim, and we do not accept payment to change the order.