From couch co-op to online competitive action a world away, finding a person to share in your journey or compete against has become a core part of gaming. Many games are designed to be enjoyed by multiple people, and on Xbox consoles and PC, there’s no shortage of them. And if you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you and your buddies don’t all have to buy the same games to play with each other online; you simply need the $15/month membership. Once signed up, you and your friends have access to dozens of great multiplayer games. For those looking for the couch multiplayer of the old days, there are some great Game Pass games with split-screen and local multiplayer. We’ve rounded up our picks for the best Xbox Game Pass multiplayer games.
The Xbox Game Pass library changes each month, with new games being added and others being removed. As such, this list will evolve over time as Game Pass evolves. Keep in mind that there are three different Game Pass subscriptions, Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass, and PC Game Pass. If you’re looking to play online multiplayer on Xbox, you’ll want Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The regular Xbox Game Pass subscription doesn’t include online multiplayer. PC Game Pass also features hundreds of games, but if you have an Xbox, you’ll want Ultimate, which rolls all of the perks into one.
Since Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes access to the entire Xbox and PC Game Pass libraries, we’ve noted which platforms the games are available for below. We’ve also made it clear which games are compatible with Xbox Cloud Gaming, a perk of the Ultimate subscription that lets you stream select Game Pass games on your phone, tablet, or PC.
If you’re interested in seeing what else the service has to offer, you can check out GameSpot’s features on the best Xbox Game Pass games, the best Xbox Cloud Streaming games, and a full list of every game on Xbox Game Pass.
A Way Out
Nothing sus here! The breakout hit of 2020, Among Us has gone from strength to strength since it became a runaway success story. Developer InnerSloth hasn’t rested on its laurels either and has steadily transformed this game of sci-fi treachery and suspicion into a quirky and charming experience that can be played with friends or strangers. Very suspicious strangers, that is.
Hazelight has made a name for itself by creating the gold standard in co-op games, and A Way Out is a prime example of this studio and its philosophy. A rugged prison break adventure for two players, A Way Out has terrific environments to explore and takes full advantage of its co-op structure to render some creative obstacles for players to overcome.
One of the best cyberpunk games of recent memory, The Ascent is pure style and attitude in a top-down twin-stick shooter format. It’s worth having a friend around to watch your back in co-op, and with a fellow hacker covering the angles–cross-play included–the gorgeous firefights become fun, explosive, and wonderfully chaotic.
The only thing better than establishing a kingdom and navigating the murderous intrigue of your royal court is doing all of that with a faithful vassal in tow. Whether you’re playing as separate nations or feuding states, Crusader Kings 3 excels with its gameplay that makes every choice matter in this feudal strategy title.
Dead by Daylight
There’s nothing more terrifying than you and your friends having to play hide and go seek with a deranged killer, unless said maniac happens to be under the control of your pal. Classic asynchronous multiplayer gameplay that has evolved over the years, Dead by Daylight is an unnerving experience that has gruesome and gory content waiting for anyone brave enough to try it out.
The best Dragon Ball game on the market–we’ve checked the numbers–FighterZ is simply unmatched with its pitch-perfect gameplay, hard-hitting visuals, and genuine love for anime and manga source material. With a stacked roster of Dragon ball heavyweights and polished competitive gameplay in either couch co-op or online, this fighting game is not to be missed.