A multiplayer game succeeds on whether a single session is fun, then on whether the developer keeps feeding it. We scored seven of the best, all real and live in 2026. Our pick is Helldivers 2, with an SR Score of 92, for co-op chaos that holds up session after session. Marvel Rivals (90) is the runner-up. For the biggest free crossplay platform, Fortnite is the pick.
The ranking
| Rank | Game | Best for | Typical price | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helldivers 2 | Co-op chaos | $39.99 | 92 |
| 2 | Marvel Rivals | Free hero shooter | Free | 90 |
| 3 | Fortnite | Crossplay platform | Free | 89 |
| 4 | Counter-Strike 2 | Competitive shooter | Free | 90 |
| 5 | Warframe | Free co-op shooter | Free | 87 |
| 6 | Apex Legends | Battle royale | Free | 85 |
| 7 | Sea of Thieves | Co-op pirate sandbox | $39.99 | 84 |
Methodology
The Multiplayer Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Moment-to-moment fun (30) — how enjoyable a single session is.
- Matchmaking & crossplay (20) — how easily you get into good games.
- Live support & updates (20) — how active the developer is.
- Value for money (15) — cost vs. ongoing content.
- Reputation & reviews (15) — critical and player consensus.
Fun leads because no amount of support saves a dull loop. Re-weight toward Value and the free games rise.
Helldivers 2
Arrowhead’s co-op shooter, $39.99, drops four players onto hostile planets against Terminids and Automatons. Player wins shift a persistent Galactic War map.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Moment-to-moment fun | 29/30 |
| Matchmaking & crossplay | 17/20 |
| Live support & updates | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 14/15 |
Trade-off: friendly fire and difficulty spikes punish uncoordinated squads.
Marvel Rivals
NetEase’s 6v6 hero shooter, free to play, with a Marvel roster, Team-Up abilities, and destructible maps. It drew over 10 million players in its first three days.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Moment-to-moment fun | 27/30 |
| Matchmaking & crossplay | 18/20 |
| Live support & updates | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 12/15 |
Trade-off: balance shifts quickly as the roster expands.
Fortnite
Epic’s battle royale and platform, free to play, with over 400 million registered players. Beyond the 100-player mode it hosts concerts, creative hubs, and collaborations.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Moment-to-moment fun | 26/30 |
| Matchmaking & crossplay | 19/20 |
| Live support & updates | 19/20 |
| Value for money | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 10/15 |
Trade-off: building can intimidate newcomers, and monetization is constant.
Counter-Strike 2
Valve’s tactical shooter, free to play, where economy and aim decide rounds. The deepest competitive scene here, with optional Prime matchmaking.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Moment-to-moment fun | 27/30 |
| Matchmaking & crossplay | 17/20 |
| Live support & updates | 17/20 |
| Value for money | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 14/15 |
Trade-off: it is PC-focused and unforgiving for beginners.
Warframe
Digital Extremes’ co-op shooter, free to play, with fluid parkour combat and 50+ million registered players. Years of free expansions keep it deep.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Moment-to-moment fun | 25/30 |
| Matchmaking & crossplay | 16/20 |
| Live support & updates | 19/20 |
| Value for money | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 12/15 |
Trade-off: a notoriously steep onboarding curve.
Apex Legends
Respawn’s battle royale, free to play, with fast movement and squad legends. Tight gunplay and a high movement ceiling.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Moment-to-moment fun | 25/30 |
| Matchmaking & crossplay | 17/20 |
| Live support & updates | 16/20 |
| Value for money | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 11/15 |
Trade-off: matchmaking complaints and engine age.
Sea of Thieves
Rare’s pirate sandbox, $39.99, built for cooperative crews sailing, fighting, and treasure-hunting. Available on Game Pass and PlayStation.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Moment-to-moment fun | 25/30 |
| Matchmaking & crossplay | 16/20 |
| Live support & updates | 17/20 |
| Value for money | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 11/15 |
Trade-off: griefing and downtime between encounters can frustrate solo players.
How to choose
Decide how you want to play with others. For co-op against AI, Helldivers 2 is the chaos champion, with Sea of Thieves and Warframe as free-or-cheap alternatives. For competitive PvP, Marvel Rivals and Counter-Strike 2 lead, with Apex for battle royale. Fortnite is the all-ages crossplay hub. Re-weight toward Value and the free games dominate; weight Fun, as we do, and Helldivers 2 wins.
Verification
- Helldivers 2 — pricing verified on playstation.com / store.steampowered.com.
- Marvel Rivals — free-to-play status verified on marvelrivals.com.
- Fortnite — free-to-play status and player counts verified on fortnite.com / epicgames.com.
- Counter-Strike 2 — free-to-play status verified on counter-strike.net.
- Warframe — free-to-play status verified on warframe.com.
- Apex Legends — free-to-play status verified on ea.com.
- Sea of Thieves — pricing verified on seaofthieves.com / xbox.com.
Related rankings
- Best Co-op Games 2026: 7 Titles Scored
- Best Free PC Games 2026: 7 Titles Scored
- Best 2 Player Games 2026: 7 Scored
- Best Battle Royale Games 2026: 7 Scored
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best multiplayer game in 2026?
- Helldivers 2. Its four-player co-op against bug and robot armies, with friendly fire and a persistent Galactic War, delivers the most consistently fun sessions here.
- What is the best free multiplayer game?
- Fortnite or Marvel Rivals. Fortnite is the biggest free crossplay platform with over 400 million registered players; Marvel Rivals is a free 6v6 hero shooter that drew 10 million players in three days.
- Which multiplayer game is best for friends?
- Helldivers 2 for co-op chaos, or Fortnite for casual crossplay across every platform. Both make it easy to drop in with a squad.
- Are these games crossplay?
- Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, Warframe, and Apex Legends support crossplay. Helldivers 2 links PC and PlayStation; check each game's current crossplay support.