What are the best PS5 multiplayer games? From explosive skirmishes on the battlefield to exploring the outer reaches of space, there are plenty of adventures to embark on with your friends. The best PS5 multiplayer games package these elements together with activities, rewards, and stories to keep you coming back for more, so we’re going to help you find the ones worth sinking time into.
The great thing about our list is that it has a little something for everyone, on top of what you can find in our best multiplayer games guide. Some of these games are so great, they’re even featured on our best games of all time list. So, get ready to squad up and head into your next online experience.
The best PS5 multiplayer games are:
1. Call of Duty Warzone
Call of Duty Warzone has been not one, but two games in its lifetime. The latest version, originally called Warzone 2, has dropped the numerical system entirely and stuck with the original name and has recently added in the best Call of Duty MW3 guns, as well as a range of improvements and movement changes.
There are a variety of maps on rotation to enjoy, from Al Mazrah to the new Urzikstan, while delivering a solid last-man-standing battle royale experience. However, if the core mode isn’t for you, there’s a variety of other modes, as well as limited-time modes that can spice things up.
2. Fortnite
We have to give the top spot in this list to Fortnite. Even though it came out in 2017, this is one of the best battle royale games of all time, giving you the chance to jump in and out with friends whenever you like. Maybe you’ll secure a Victory Royale and get yourself that season’s glider as a reward, or you might just have a lot of fun trying.
But if you’re not a fan of battle royale games, Fortnite has expanded beyond its original experience. Now, there are three additional games within Fortnite; LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival, each offering distinct experiences, like LEGO being a survival game and Fortnite Festival bringing the rhythm genre to Epic Games’ monolith.
Considering that Fortnite has been completely free to play since it launched in 2017, and has moved towards a metaverse type of game, it’s certainly worth giving it a try.
3. Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter has been around for decades now, and the latest installment takes both the series and the fighting game genre to new heights. Street Fighter 6 offers electric 1v1 brawling – either online or as a couch co-op experience – and a new Battle Hub social space, alongside a whole host of new features and improvements.
While this guide is multiplayer-focused, SF6 also comes with the all-new World Tour story mode, which blew us away in our Street Fighter 6 review. This is one of the best fighting games ever, and it looks glorious on the PS5.
4. No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky, a triumph in its own right, released a PS5 update that utilizes the strengths of new-gen consoles. With advanced audio, 60FPS capability, and haptic controls to name but a few upgrades, ‘The Next Generation’ update transports the procedurally generated worlds of this survival game to new heights.
With up to 32 players in multiplayer mode, you can explore and fight your way through these worlds and their epic terrains like never before. As a bonus, it’s free to upgrade to the PS5 version for existing players who own the game on PS4.
No Man’s Sky is one of the best PS5 open world games and when you combine that with its multiplayer offerings, it’s truly something special.
5. Apex Legends
With the rise of the battle royale genre came Apex Legends. Set in the Titanfall universe, players choose from a roster of legends to head into battle, each with their own unique set of skills.
Over the years, Apex Legends’ roster of characters, maps, and other mode offerings have expanded past the original battle royale experience, but the best part is that developer Respawn Entertainment consistently listens to feedback.
And if you want to get the ultimate bragging rights in this incredible free shooting game, then you can rise through the Apex Legends ranks in the exciting competitive mode.
6. Rocket League
The thrilling, bonkers world of Rocket League invites players to play a match of soccer in acrobatic, lightning-fast cars. Speeding around the pitch, pulling off crazy flips, scoring goals – it’s a chaotic and enjoyable experience. Team up in multiplayer modes with eight-player online games or four-player split-screen to compete for XP, rewards, and champion status. There’s even a Rocket League ranked mode for super competitive players.
A recent update for the game also enabled 120 FPS support on the PS5, meaning players can now enjoy the best Rocket League cars in premium visual quality.
7. Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 is the latest entry in Blizzard’s hit hero shooter series – kind of. While there is a ‘2’ on the end, Overwatch 2 is more of a massive rework to the original Overwatch, keeping the core principles of the game while also making some significant changes.
With a whole host of heroes – both returning and new – you can get back into booping enemies as Lucio and clicking heads with Widowmaker. And as a full stack, you can work through the Overwatch 2 tier list and make a bid for glory. It’s easily one of the best FPS games on the platform, and despite a difficult few months at launch, it’s excelled as a live-service experience.
8. Destiny 2
Merging an MMORPG and an FPS, Destiny 2 has become one of the biggest multiplayer games around. Although annual expansions and seasonal content will cost, the base Destiny 2 experience is free-to-play and, it has a bunch of multiplayer modes to choose from which can be PvE or PvP. While optimized for PS5, Destiny 2 has cross-play and cross-save support across all platforms, meaning you can jump into the game with a whole variety of other players.
Destiny 2 is currently in the Lightfall expansion and is gearing up for a big finale to its ‘Light and Dark Saga’ in 2024 with The Final Shape. Waste no time in hopping in and getting caught up with the story, as The Final Shape is expected to be something rather special. Read our Destiny 2 Lightfall review to learn more about the latest expansion. Hopefully, with new Destiny 2 The Final Shape Supers, and Destiny 2 The Final Shape Exotic weapons, the upcoming expansion will push this game even further.
9. FC 24
FC 24 marks the latest installment of the iconic soccer sim, and the first to follow the parting of ways between EA and FIFA. If you’re looking for one of the best sports games that has realism up front and center then EA Sports FC is for you. While the premise of FIFA games has long remained the same, the graphics and gameplay have, of course, evolved.
Ultimate Team continues to be the most popular game mode in FC 24, and it’s slightly more approachable this time around thanks to the introduction of FC 24 Evolutions. Meanwhile playing against friends remains as entertaining as ever, with new skill moves added this time around to lightly humiliate them on the pitch. It’s a top game for couch co-op or online competition, and one with lots of shiny current-gen features.
In our FC 24 review, Aaron highlights the greatly improved graphics, player animations, and the overhaul of the trait system – now called PlayStyles – of previous years. It’s the best soccer game around, and one of the best multiplayer experiences out there for sports fans.
10. Deep Rock Galactic
“Danger. Darkness. Dwarves.” Deep Rock Galactic’s tagline couldn’t be more accurate. This four-player co-op game sees you diving deep into the dangerous planet of Hoxxes in search of valuable minerals for a mining company that doesn’t care very much about your safety. You’ll face off against hordes of bugs that call Hoxxes home, including deadly bosses, as you work together to complete objectives before escaping alive.
However, perhaps the part that makes Deep Rock Galactic one of the best PS5 multiplayer games is its community. With a very light-hearted tone and the simple button press to yell catchphrases with your team, Deep Rock Galactic is always a good time, whether you’re with random players or friends. While it might not look like much on the surface, dig deeper and you’ll find one of the best PS5 games.
11. Remnant 2
Remnant 2 has taken Twitch and the soulslike community by storm with its challenging fights, replayability, and secrets. In our Remnant 2 review, we stated that with “multiple classes, strange worlds, frantic combat, and astounding replayability, Remnant 2 more than improves on the foundation laid by its predecessor”.
That is why it gets a spot on this list, especially with the amount of varied Remnant 2 classes (more than double what was in the first game). So, if you want to play one of the best soulslike games, one that offers exciting gameplay, and great bosses and action, then you don’t want to miss out on Remnant 2.
12. The Finals
If, like us, you’ve been dreaming of a shooter that blends the movement of Apex Legends with the gunplay of Call of Duty MW3 then look no further. Embark Studios’ The Finals launched with a bang in late 2023, providing the best of both worlds for players while quickly establishing itself as one of the best FPS games. We reckon it’s the “first truly next-gen FPS”, which is no small praise.
Sporting three distinct classes, each catering to specific playstyles, The Finals has a way to play that everyone can enjoy. This multiplayer-only experience comes with three different modes to tackle in teams of up to three players. While you won’t quite be able to get the full CoD squad together, matches are frenetic, and it won’t be long before another of your homies will get a chance to jump in.
13. Helldivers 2
The whimsically ridiculous team-based shooter Helldivers 2 is one of 2024’s biggest surprises for all the right reasons. The sequel to Arrowhead Studios’ cult classic quickly became the biggest PS5 exclusive to launch on Steam ever, shipping over three million copies within its first two weeks.
The hectic PvE experience boasts the friendliest example of ‘friendly fire’ we’ve ever seen, as misplaced explosives can quickly send your homies flying – the results are hilarious every time. Though it doesn’t have a campaign as such, Helldivers 2 delivers a deep, user-generated story thanks to the bonds you form with your fellow freedom fighters. For more on that, read Rory’s thoughts on the Helldivers 2 story (or lack thereof).
14. Tekken 8
Marking the thrilling conclusion to Jin and Kazuya’s decades-long battle, Tekken 8 is an absolute triumph for the iconic fighting game series. Arguably the most approachable installment yet thanks to the Special Style controller layout, there’s never been a better time to jump into the ring.
It’s also an absolute stunner. Bandai Namco has gone all out on the first game in the series to launch on current-gen hardware with spectacular visuals worthy of the PS5. It looks great, feels great to play, and all of its characters are dripped out to the max.
If you’re looking for a top-tier fighter to get stuck into online then Tekken 8 gets the nod from us. However, if you’re looking for something a little more graphic, opt for the next entry in this list.
15. Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 1 marks a major departure from MK’s of years past, as NetherRealm Studios has opted to reboot the legendary series’ universe this time around – no Moral Kombat 12 to see here. As one of the best fighting games out there, MK1 has amped up the brutality in the prettiest, goriest way possible thanks to current-gen graphics.
There’s also been a major overhaul when it comes to gameplay, with NetherRealm introducing Kameo fighters to the game. While they may at first appear to operate in the same way as traditional fighting game support systems, MK1 Kameos all carry a unique ability, whether it’s Kano offering a projectile via his eye beams, Kung Lao being able to teleport you behind an opponent, or Jax grabbing your foe out of the air.
In our Mortal Kombat 1 review we deem it “a reboot with a big, bloody heart.” This is thanks to the “creative ways” MK’s story and characters are re-tooled, as well as excellent combat mechanics that you’ll need to master if you’re to dominate in multiplayer.
16. GTA Online
Rockstar Games’ multiplayer spin-off of GTA 5 is still going strong, and there’s no signs of slowing down ahead of the launch of GTA 6 either. Regular updates continue to be released for GTA Online, bringing new vehicles, missions, and criminal activities to keep you busy – and believe us, you will be busy. The grind can be tough in Los Santos, but once you understand GTA Online’s businesses, you can start raking in the dough pretty quickly.
It all looks and sounds brilliant, too, as GTA 5’s native PS5 port adds a gnarly 4K resolution bump and 60fps support.
GTA Online is available now as a standalone game on the PlayStation Store, or with any PS5 copy of GTA 5.
So that’s our top picks for PS5 multiplayer games right now. We’re constantly updating this list, and with a lot of new PS5 games on the horizon, our list could very well change soon. Make sure to pick up some of the best PS5 controllers for whenever you have friends or family around to play.
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