Xbox Game Pass continues to dominate the video game subscription service world with each passing month. Thanks to its impressive library of games and its commitment to providing launch releases, Game Pass has dragged the gaming industry into the digital age whether they were ready or not. Since then, competitors have looked to pull players away with their own fantastic offerings.
Game Pass is perfect for all players, especially those who revel in multiplayer gaming. Game Pass has some of the best Xbox multiplayer games out there with plenty of games to fit any player's multiplayer needs, whether it's local/couch co-op, online co-op, MMOs, or competitive experiences. It's tough to find a weak game in Game Pass' catalog as it's full of award-winning multiplayer games. As Microsoft puts it, players can easily find their "next favorite game" with Game Pass.
Updated March 7, 2024, by Michael Colwander: Xbox Game Pass is easily one of the best bang-for-your-buck purchases in gaming. Game Pass has an amazing selection of multiplayer games this February that are sure to be the perfect way to spend time with friends near or far.
30 Vampire Survivors Is Easy To Pick Up And Play
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you.
- Released
- 2021-12-00
- Developer(s)
- Luca Galante
- Publisher(s)
- Luca Galante
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike , Shoot 'em Up
- Engine
- Phaser, Unity
- Platforms
- macOS, WindowsXbox One, Series X/SAndroid, iOSNintendo Switch
- Mode
- Multiplayer, singleplayer
Vampire Survivors is one of the best local co-op games of 2022. In fact, it doesn't even have an online co-op, which should catch the attention of anyone looking for their next couch co-op game. Vampire Survivors is an award-winning roguelike shoot-'em-up where the player character is always firing. Players will encounter waves of hundreds upon thousands of enemy monsters with the goal of surviving as long as possible to unlock better characters and upgrades.
The stages in Vampire Survivors have a time limit of 15 or 30 minutes. Once that hits, players will fight one final stage boss: Death. Each minute that passes after that, another Death will spawn until the players are ultimately defeated. This makes Vampire Survivors an easy game to pick up and play, especially with others.
29 It Takes Two Is An Emotional Tale Of Working Together To Work Things Out
It Takes Two
Embark on the craziest journey of your life in It Takes Two, a genre-bending platform adventure created purely for co-op.
- Released
- November 4, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure , Platformer
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
Local Co-Op: | 2 Players |
|---|---|
Online Co-Op: | 2 Players |
It Takes Two Is the Perfect Length for a Co-Op Game
Some may argue that It Takes Two slightly outstays its welcome, but its relatively lengthy playtime is actually perfect for a co-op experience.It Takes Two is a must-play local co-op experience. It Takes Two tells the tale of two parents, Cody and May, in a failing marriage who have both been transported into the bodies of their daughter's dolls. Cody and May have to work through both dangers and their personal conflicts if they want to reunite with their daughter again.
It Takes Two is designed for co-op play and can't be played solo. Anyone keen to experience the game that won Game of the Year at The Game Awards must find someone to join them on this emotional adventure.
28 Forza Motorsport (2023) Helps Forza Keep The Sim Racing Crown
Forza Motorsport (2023)
Compete in over 500 cars on world-famous tracks with cutting edge AI, advanced physics, and tire and fuel strategy.
- Released
- October 10, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Turn 10 Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- ForzaTech
- Platforms
- WindowsXbox Series X/S
- Mode
- Singleplayer, multiplayer
- Metascore
- 84/100
Online Multiplayer: | 2-24 Players |
|---|
Racing games and multiplayer go hand-in-hand. It's why Mario Kart has continued to be an enormous success over 30 years later. It's not just Nintendo players getting in on the fun. Microsoft's Forza series has dominated the non-kart racing genre for years.
Forza Motorsport (2023) is the eighth mainline game in the main Forza series, but it also serves as a reboot. Turn 10 Studios has devoted a lot of time to freshening up Forza's multiplayer mode. Its biggest change is the Featured Multiplayer, which combines Hoppers and League modes to create a mode that emulates real-world excitement of a race weekend and the anticipation leading up to it. Xbox Game Pass only has the standard version of Forza Motorsport (2023), so those looking for an early edge with the Premium Edition will have to shell out extra money.
27 Wreckfest Is The Explosive Spiritual Successor To FlatOut
wreckfest
Wreckfest is described as the spiritual successor to the FlatOut series and a cross between FlatOut, Destruction Derby and cult 1989 PC racer Street Rod.
- Platform(s)
- Windows , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One , PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X/S , Stadia , Nintendo Switch , Android , iOS
- Released
- June 14, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Bugbear Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- THQ Nordic
- Genre(s)
- Vehicular Combat , Racing
- Mode
- Singleplayer, multiplayer
Online Multiplayer: | 2-16 Players |
|---|
Looking for something with more destruction and explosions? Wreckfest might do the trick. 2018's Wreckfest is the spiritual successor to the FlatOut series. Like FlatOut, Wreckfest is a destruction derby-based racing game where simply passing an opposing racer isn't enough. Players are encouraged to cause as much mayhem and destruction as possible.
While Wreckfest sadly doesn't contain local multiplayer modes, its online multiplayer can field up to 16 players. The game features standard racing modes such as the three-race Multi-Heat and Team Race, as well as Demolition Derby modes such as Last Man Standing and Team Deathmatch.
26 Go To War With Friends In Age Of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Age of Empires IV takes players on a journey through the ages as they command influential leaders, build expansive kingdoms, and fight some of the most critical battles of the Middle Ages.
- Platform(s)
- Windows , Xbox Series X/S , Xbox One
- Released
- October 8, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Relic Entertainment , World's Edge
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
- Engine
- Essence Engine 5.0
- Prequel(s)
- Age of Empires 3
- Mode
- Single-player, multiplayer
Online Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
|---|---|
Online Multiplayer: | 2-8 Players |
Why Is Age of Empires II Still More Popular Than Age of Empires IV?
Despite being released more than 20 years ago, Ensemble Studios' classic RTS is still the most enduringly popular Age of Empires game ever made.Age of Empires IV is the latest entry in the classic real-time strategy series and was first released in 2021 for PC. In August 2023, Age of Empires IV made the jump to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, which features every update to date, including two new civilizations and eight new maps.
Age of Empires IV takes place during the Early Middle Ages to the Renaissance, which is similar to Age of Empires II. Age of Empires IV features ten civilizations, including the English, the Dehli Sultanate, and the Ottomans. The game's multiplayer provides an intense game of strategy that is extremely rewarding. On top of Age of Empires IV, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is also on Xbox Game Pass.
25 Dead By Daylight Is Still The King Of Asymmetrical Multiplayer Games
Dead by Daylight
The eldritch horror known as the entity is drawn to acts of violence and evil. Pulling serial murders and tragedy victims from reality and supplanting them into its domain, these monsters must do the Entity's bidding, so it can feed on the emotions of Survivors to continue to exist.
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S , Android , iOS , Stadia
- Released
- June 14, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Behaviour Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games , Behaviour Interactive , Deep Silver , Starbreeze Studios
- Genre(s)
- Survival , Survival Horror
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- ESRB
- M
Online Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
|---|---|
Online Multiplayer: | 2-5 Players |
Before Friday the 13th: The Game and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, there was Dead by Daylight. First released in 2016, Dead by Daylight has continued to receive consistent updates in the seven years since, with DLC content based on franchises ranging from Saw to Resident Evil.
Like other asymmetrical survival games, Dead by Daylight pits four Survivors against a single Killer. Because Dead by Daylight features so many horror franchises, players can choose from an impressive roster of Survivors such as Ellen Ripley from Alien and Steve Harrington from Stranger Things along with Killers such as Pyramid Head from Silent Hill and Michael Myers from Halloween. Overall, anyone who is a fan of all things horror should give Dead by Daylight a try. It's only going to get better.
24 Play A Nintendo 64 Classic On Xbox With GoldenEye 007
GoldenEye 007
James Bond must track down agent-turned-terrorist Alec Trevelyan to stop the launch of a powerful satellite. Play the game that set the stage for the First-person shooter genre on the console.
- Released
- August 23, 1997
- Developer(s)
- Rare
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter , Stealth
- Mode
- Single-player, multiplayer
Local Multiplayer: | 2-4 Players |
|---|
GoldenEye 007: Tips, Tricks & Strategies for New Players
GoldenEye 007 has been around since the '90s, but the Nintendo Switch & Xbox ports mean plenty of gamers will be discovering or revisiting a classic.Few multiplayer games can invoke a surge of nostalgia like GoldenEye 007. GoldenEye 007 was the console multiplayer game of the 1990s. Any player who enjoyed GoldenEye 007's multiplayer will probably have many stories, whether it was an intense round or debates about how overpowered Oddjob was and still is.
GoldenEye 007 proved first-person shooters had a place on consoles, which opened the door for another multiplayer phenomenon in Halo. GoldenEye 007 on Game Pass doesn't feature any means to play online like its Nintendo Switch counterpart. It does feature an alternate control scheme and support for 4K resolution, which makes screen-watching that much easier.
23 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge Is TMNT Nostalgia In More Ways Than One
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
Stay sharp as you face off against Shredder and his faithful Foot Clan alone, or grab your best buds and play with up to 6 players simultaneously!
- Released
- June 16, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Tribute Games Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Dotemu
- Genre(s)
- Beat 'Em Up
Local Co-op: | 2-6 Players |
|---|---|
Online Co-op: | 2-6 Players |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is a love letter to the past. Not only is it inspired by the classic side-scrolling beat 'em up Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, but Shredder's Revenge nails the aesthetic of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series. To make it even better, the voice actors from that animated series reprise their roles.
Arcade beat 'em ups are always a fun option for a couch co-op game. Players don't have to worry about split screens or having to wait for someone to catch up. There's just a bunch of enemies to take out together, and few modern beat 'em ups come close to being as fun doing that as Shredder's Revenge.
22 Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition Is Getting A Massive 10th Anniversary Update
Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition
The megacorporation "Ultratech" concludes that humanity has become complacent and no longer desires evolution - to rectify this, they introduce new dangers and horrors to the world in order to force them to evolve.
- Publisher
- Microsoft Studios
- Genre
- Fighting
- Mode
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platform
- Xbox OneWindowsXbox Series X/S
Local Multiplayer: | 2 Players |
|---|---|
Online Multiplayer: | 2 Players |
Players looking for a fighting game beyond the big three of Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat should give Killer Instinct a chance. The Killer Instinct series takes many cues from Mortal Kombat for its violence while its gameplay originally drew from SNK titles.
Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition is the third game in the Killer Instinct series and serves as a reboot. Killer Instinct was a launch title for the Xbox One as a free-to-play title with paid characters, such as Arbiter from Halo and General RAAM from Gears of War, added over time. Killer Instinct recently received a massive 10th Anniversary update that will freshen it up for a modern audience, which is great because it's already a fun fighting game with a fantastic online netcode that makes it well worth playing even in 2024.
21 Palworld Is The Bizarre Pokémon-Like Game Taking The Gaming World By Storm
Palworld
Fight, farm, build and work alongside mysterious creatures called "Pals" in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
- Platform(s)
- Windows , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Pocket Pair Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Pocket Pair Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Survival , single player , Multiplayer
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- ESRB
- T
Online Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
|---|---|
Online Multiplayer: | 2-4 Players |
Pokémon with guns?! Palworld's strange pitch has caught the attention of players in recent months. Curious players or those who have been cynical of the Pokémon series' current direction have jumped into the world of Palworld.
In many ways, Palworld feels like a blend of Pokémon and the recent Legend of Zelda games. Players face a large open world and they must build and upgrade their base. Doing so will give them access to new upgrades, including guns. Players can run around and catch different Pals similar to Pokémon and use them to help build up the home base and defend it. Palworld is an intriguing game, but it's rough around the edges due to it being an early build. Despite this, players can still create memories when exploring the world of Palworld together.
20 Terraria Is A Procedurally Generated World Full Of Endless Adventures
Terreria
Terreria allows players to take on the role of an adventurer as they explore a randomly generated map while facing off enemy NPCs.
- Platform(s)
- Windows
- Released
- May 16, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Re-Logic
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure , Sandbox
- Mode
- Single-player, multiplayer
Local Co-op: | 2-8 Players |
|---|---|
Local Multiplayer: | 2-4 Players |
Online Co-op: | 2-8 Players |
Online Multiplayer: | 2-8 Players |
It may be tough to believe at a glance, but Terraria is one of the highest-selling video games of all time. Since its 2011 release, players have sunk hundreds, if not thousands, of hours in Terraria's 2D sandbox that continues to be a labor of love for both its passionate fans and its developer Re-Logic.
Terraria also has a co-op mode available for up to four players locally and eight players online. Building, exploring, and experiencing random events in Terraria's procedurally generated worlds become much more fun with a companion.
19 World War Z: Aftermath Brings The Zombie-Infested War To Player's Doorsteps
World War Z: Aftermath
Video game based on the 2013 film with third person shooter four-player cooperative combat against large numbers of zombies.
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One , Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 5 , Stadia , Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- April 16, 2019
- Developer(s)
- Saber Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Saber Interactive
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter , Third-Person Shooter
- Engine
- Swarm Engine
- Mode
- Single-player, multiplayer
Online Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
|---|---|
Online Multiplayer: | 2-8 Players |
World War Z is the video game companion to the film of the same name, which in turn is based on a 2006 novel of the same name. World War Z isn't a direct video game adaptation since. This is good considering the video game industry has mostly moved on from the concept because there are few good video games based on movies. World War Z takes place in the same universe as the film and lets players explore notable cities, including New York, Tokyo, and Marseille.
World War Z is a co-op shooter where players must survive hoards of undead. Players can choose between eight different classes, including the range-based Gunslinger and the engineer-based Fixer. World War Z: Aftermath is an upgraded version of the Game of the Year Edition, which includes all previously released DLC and content.
18 No Man's Sky Has Finally Lived Up To Its Lofty Pre-Release Ambitions And Then Some
No Man's Sky
Explore and survive in a procedurally generated universe with 18.4 quintillion planets.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S , Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 5 , macOS , Ipad games
- Released
- 2016-08-00
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
- Publisher(s)
- Hello Games
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Mode
- Single-player, multiplayer
Online Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
|---|---|
Online Multiplayer: | 2-4 Players |
No Man's Sky Is About More Than Just Space Exploration
No Man's Sky has come a long way from its humble and rocky beginnings. Now in its stride, it seeks to expand its horizons.No Man's Sky has become the gift that keeps on giving. Long gone are the days when anything and everything about No Man's Sky was excessively mocked. Hello Games has gone above and beyond the initial pre-release promises and created a unique experience worth playing.
Hello Games added co-op and multiplayer to No Man's Sky in its 2016 No Man's Sky NEXT update. Players can now explore and build bases with squads of up to four players, making No Man's Sky one of the most engaging multiplayer experiences ever produced. No Man's Sky also has PVP, which is entirely optional, so players can keep that option off.
17 Deduce Who Among Sus Individuals Is The Imposter In Among Us
Among Us.
Play with 4-15 player online or via local WiFi as you attempt to prepare your spaceship for departure, but beware as one or more random players among the Crew are Impostors bent on killing everyone!
- Franchise
- Among Us
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows , macOS , Android , iOS , Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X and Series S
- Released
- June 15, 2018
- Developer(s)
- InnerSloth
- Publisher(s)
- InnerSloth
- Genre(s)
- Social Deduction , Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer: | 4-15 Players |
|---|
The multiplayer game that took the gaming world by storm, Among Us was one of the most popular games to play or watch throughout the tumultuous 2020. In Among Us, players become Crewmates who maintain the functions of their surroundings. However, one or more players is an Imposter whose goal is to kill every Crewmate.
After everybody is discovered, players will have to communicate verbally with one another to determine who they believe is the killer. Players can also call an Emergency Meeting at any time if they notice anything suspicious. Communication is key in Among Us, which makes it incredibly fun with friends or with complete strangers.
16 Ensure That There's Gonna Be A Jailbreak With A Way Out
A Way Out
Prison inmates Vincent and Leo initially clash, but after Vincent helps Leo win a fight, they warm up to each other and decide to escape together.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One
- Released
- March 23, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Mode
- Multiplayer
Local Co-op: | 2 Players |
|---|---|
Online Co-op: | 2 Players |
A Way Out is one of the many great 2 player games on Xbox Game Pass. It tells a captivating story about two men who meet in prison and form a bond over the common goal of getting the heck out of there. In many ways, A Way Out is the ultimate couch co-op game. The core mechanics are built for two people, the gameplay loop is engaging the whole time, and both players will feel as if they're contributing equally.
There will be times when Player 1 is doing the heavy lifting, while Player 2 has to keep watch before the roles reverse. Hazelight Studios developed A Way Out, the second project directed by Josef Fares, best known for Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
15 Overcooked! 2 Is Frantic Cooking For The Whole Family
Overcooked! 2
Journey back to the Onion Kingdom and assemble your team of chefs in classic couch co-op or online play for up to four players. Hold onto your aprons … it’s time to save the world (aga
Out of the frying pan, into the fire...You’ve saved the world from the Ever Peckish. Now a new threat has arisen, and it’s time to get back in the kitchen to stave off the hunger of The Unbread!
- Franchise
- Overcooked
- Released
- August 7, 2018
- Developer
- Team17, Ghost Town Games
- Publisher
- TANHAM
- Genre(s)
- Cooking , Simulation
Local Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
|---|---|
Local Multiplayer: | 2-4 Players |
Online Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
Online Multiplayer: | 2-4 Players |
Overcooked! 2 is already widely known as one of the best couch co-op games out there. It's just a bonus that it's also on Xbox Game Pass. The fast-paced, team-oriented cooking simulator made waves after its launch in 2018, selling over 500,000 copies within the first month of launch solely on Nintendo Switch.
Later that year, Overcooked! 2 won The Game Award for Best Family Game. Overcooked! 2 still holds up almost four years later, so players should get the family together and start cookin'.
14 Far Cry 5's Montana Is Best Explored With Others
Online Co-op: | 2 Players |
|---|---|
Online Multiplayer: | 2-12 Players |
There's no better way to experience the zany world of Far Cry 5 than with a partner. Far Cry 5's over-the-top world is full of things to do, whether it's progressing through the story or exploring. Co-op players will surely have a hilarious experience worth remembering for years to come.
Far Cry 5 has a drop-in feature where players can be invited to join another at any time in the story after leaving Dutch's Island. Friendly fire is off by default but can be turned on. Far Cry 5 also features a competitive PvP mode through its player-made arcade mode, which contains custom maps and modes.
13 Dune: Spice Wars Is The Perfect Way To Follow Up Watching Dune Part Two
Online Multiplayer: | 2-4 Players |
|---|
Coming home from watching the stellar Dune Part Two and wishing there was a Dune game to play? Look no further than Dune: Spice Wars! Spice Wars takes plenty of cues from strategy games such as Civilization where players must obtain power in Arrakis whether through diplomacy or force.
Whether playing alone or with three other players, players can choose to lead one of six factions based on the Dune universe: the Fremen, House Atreides, House Corrino, House Ecaz, House Harkonnen, and the Smugglers. Players will have to strategize how to combat each other, and the many Sandworms along the way, in order to become the dominating force in Arrakis.
12 Minecraft Dungeons Is A Tame, Approachable, Dungeon Crawler
Local Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
|---|---|
Online Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
Minecraft alone is a great couch co-op game, but Minecraft Dungeons also deserves its proper shine. While maintaining key aspects of what makes Minecraft so special, Mojang Studios was still able to create an entirely different experience for the player in Minecraft Dungeons.
Minecraft Dungeons is considered a dungeon crawler, like Path of Exile, but in a much-liter, more beginner-friendly manner. Minecraft Dungeons' controls are simple and the UI won't overwhelm the player with information. Minecraft Dungeons can be played with up to four people on the same system.
11 The Original Minecraft Is Still An Amazing Multiplayer Experience As Well
Minecraft
The game has no specific goals to accomplish, allowing players a large amount of freedom in choosing how to play the game.
- Franchise
- Minecraft
- Platform(s)
- 3DS , Linux , macOS , Nintendo Switch , PC , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation Vita , Wii U , Xbox 360 , Xbox One
- Released
- May 10, 2009
- Developer
- Notch, Mojang AB, 4J Studios
- Publisher
- Mojang AB, Microsoft, SCEE, SCE Australia, SCEA, SCEJ, Sony Interactive Entertainment, SCEI, Microsoft Game Studios
- Genre(s)
- Adventure , 3D , Open-World
- Engine
- LWJGL
- ESRB
- E
Local Co-op: | 2-4 Players |
|---|---|
Online Co-op: | 2-8 Players |
Local Multiplayer: | 2-4 Players |
Online Multiplayer | 2-8 Players |
The original Minecraft remains one of the best multiplayer games on Xbox and any console. Minecraft is a fun sandbox for all ages and allows players to build what they want and shape the world around them. It's easy to see why Minecraft is extremely popular over a decade after its initial release.
Minecraft continues to be a timeless classic, and it's only just getting started. Any player who boots up Minecraft, whether alone or with a partner, can easily find something to do. Minecraft truly is limitless, and an experience that is even better when shared with another.
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