Best Multiplayer games: 25 ranked (2026)
1,168 multiplayer games ranked by the GamingPickz Score, a published composite of player sentiment and critic reception. The formula is below in full, and no placement on this page can be bought.
The multiplayer games on a map
Compare the whole catalogueThe same 25 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.
25 games have both
Axes are fitted to these 25 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.
Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.
Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.
- Mobile
- Multi-platform
- PC
- PlayStation
- Xbox
Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.
How positions are decided
No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data
- Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
- Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
- No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
- A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
- Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.
The short version
- Top pick: Baldur's Gate 3, GamingPickz Score 9.2/10 from 855,414 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 96.
- 40 score 8.5 or above out of 1,168 ranked multiplayer games.
- Price range free to $69.99, median $14.99, with 223 free to play.
- 271 are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing.
- 116 declare six or more accessibility features. Listed per game below.
At a glance
The top 12 side by side. Full entries below.
| # | Game | Best for | Score | Players | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baldur's Gate 3 | Players who need accessibility options that actually exist | 9.2 | 97% (855,414) | $59.99 |
| 2 | Portal 2 | Handheld play, small install and Deck verified | 9.1 | 99% (466,026) | $9.99 |
| 3 | Lethal Company | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.9 | 97% (510,597) | $9.99 |
| 4 | Schedule I | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.9 | 98% (314,499) | $19.99 |
| 5 | Half-Life | Playing with other people | 8.9 | 96% (163,786) | $9.99 |
| 6 | Left 4 Dead 2 | Handheld play, small install and Deck verified | 8.8 | 98% (1,055,804) | $9.99 |
| 7 | Stardew Valley | Handheld play, small install and Deck verified | 8.8 | 98% (1,035,189) | $14.99 |
| 8 | Euro Truck Simulator 2 | Players who need accessibility options that actually exist | 8.8 | 97% (940,049) | $19.99 |
| 9 | Phasmophobia | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.8 | 94% (838,254) | $13.99 |
| 10 | R.E.P.O. | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.8 | 96% (420,823) | $9.99 |
| 11 | Bloons TD 6 | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.8 | 97% (394,354) | $13.99 |
| 12 | Satisfactory | Players who need accessibility options that actually exist | 8.8 | 97% (278,668) | $39.99 |
25 best multiplayer games, ranked
Ordered by GamingPickz Score. Every figure links back to the source that produced it.
- 1
Baldur's Gate 3
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceBaldur's Gate 3 at a glance Released 2023 Studio Larian Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 855,414 Critics 96/100 Price $59.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 150 GB Accessibility 10 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 855,414 reviews, then blends with the 96 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 855,414 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 10 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 2
Portal 2
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
9.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidencePortal 2 at a glance Released 2011 Studio Valve Player sentiment 99% positive of 466,026 Critics 95/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 8 GB Accessibility 7 declared features Raw 99% shrinks to 99.0 on 466,026 reviews, then blends with the 95 critic aggregate, giving 9.1.
What the data supports- 99% positive across 466,026 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
- 3
Lethal Company
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.9GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceLethal Company at a glance Released 2023 Studio Zeekerss Player sentiment 97% positive of 510,597 Critics No aggregate Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 4 GB Accessibility 3 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 510,597 reviews, giving 8.9. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 510,597 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 4 GB.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 4
Schedule I
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.9GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceSchedule I at a glance Released 2025 Studio TVGS Player sentiment 98% positive of 314,499 Critics No aggregate Price $19.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 8 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 314,499 reviews, giving 8.9. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- 98% positive across 314,499 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 8 GB.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
Half-Life at a glance Released 1998 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 96% positive of 163,786 Critics 96/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified Install size Not stated Accessibility 8 declared features Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 163,786 reviews, then blends with the 96 critic aggregate, giving 8.9.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 163,786 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 6
Left 4 Dead 2
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceLeft 4 Dead 2 at a glance Released 2009 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 98% positive of 1,055,804 Critics 89/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 13 GB Accessibility 8 declared features Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 1,055,804 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 98% positive across 1,055,804 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 7
Stardew Valley
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceStardew Valley at a glance Released 2016 Studio ConcernedApe LLC Player sentiment 98% positive of 1,035,189 Critics 89/100 Price $14.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 0.49 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 1,035,189 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 98% positive across 1,035,189 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 0.49 GB.
- 8
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceEuro Truck Simulator 2 at a glance Released 2012 Studio SCS Software Player sentiment 97% positive of 940,049 Critics 79/100 Price $19.99 Steam Deck verified Install size Not stated Accessibility 9 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 940,049 reviews, then blends with the 79 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 940,049 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Players rate it well above critics, 97 against 79. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.
- 9
Phasmophobia
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scoremedium confidencePhasmophobia at a glance Released 2020 Studio Kinetic Games Player sentiment 94% positive of 838,254 Critics No aggregate Price $13.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 21 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 94% shrinks to 94.0 on 838,254 reviews, giving 8.8. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- 94% positive across 838,254 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- 10
R.E.P.O.
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceR.E.P.O. at a glance Released 2025 Studio semiwork Player sentiment 96% positive of 420,823 Critics No aggregate Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 1 GB Accessibility 4 declared features Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 420,823 reviews, giving 8.8. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 420,823 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 1 GB.
- 11
Bloons TD 6
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceBloons TD 6 at a glance Released 2018 Studio Ninja Kiwi Player sentiment 97% positive of 394,354 Critics No aggregate Price $13.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 2 GB Accessibility 0 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 394,354 reviews, giving 8.8. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 394,354 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 2 GB.
Worth checking first- Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
- 12
Satisfactory
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceSatisfactory at a glance Released 2024 Studio Coffee Stain Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 278,668 Critics 91/100 Price $39.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 20 GB Accessibility 9 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 278,668 reviews, then blends with the 91 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 278,668 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
- 13
Vampire Survivors
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceVampire Survivors at a glance Released 2022 Studio poncle Player sentiment 98% positive of 265,103 Critics 86/100 Price $3.74 Steam Deck verified Install size 2.44 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 265,103 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 98% positive across 265,103 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 2.44 GB.
- 14
Counter-Strike
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceCounter-Strike at a glance Released 2000 Studio Valve Player sentiment 97% positive of 261,499 Critics 88/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 4 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 261,499 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 261,499 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.
- 15
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceDivinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2017 Studio Larian Studios Player sentiment 96% positive of 205,637 Critics 93/100 Price $44.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 60 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 205,637 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 205,637 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 16
Terraria
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceTerraria at a glance Released 2011 Studio 505 Games Player sentiment 97% positive of 1,550,032 Critics 83/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 1,550,032 reviews, then blends with the 83 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 1,550,032 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Worth checking first- Players rate it well above critics, 97 against 83. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.
- 17
Team Fortress 2
Best for: Trying the genre without spending anything
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceTeam Fortress 2 at a glance Released 2007 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 91% positive of 1,248,892 Critics 92/100 Price Free Steam Deck playable Install size 15 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 91% shrinks to 91.0 on 1,248,892 reviews, then blends with the 92 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- 91% positive across 1,248,892 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Free to download, so trying it costs only time.
Worth checking first- Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
- Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.
- 18
Red Dead Redemption 2
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceRed Dead Redemption 2 at a glance Released 2018 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 92% positive of 911,659 Critics 93/100 Price $14.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 150 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 92% shrinks to 92.0 on 911,659 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- 92% positive across 911,659 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Worth checking first- Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 19
Project Zomboid
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.7GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceProject Zomboid at a glance Released 2013 Studio The Indie Stone Player sentiment 94% positive of 476,732 Critics No aggregate Price $24.99 Steam Deck verified Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 94% shrinks to 94.0 on 476,732 reviews, giving 8.7. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- 94% positive across 476,732 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 20
Titanfall 2
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceTitanfall 2 at a glance Released 2020 Studio Respawn Entertainment Player sentiment 96% positive of 285,715 Critics 86/100 Price $29.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 45 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 285,715 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 285,715 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 21
Tomb Raider Game of the Year
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceTomb Raider Game of the Year at a glance Released 2013 Studio Crystal Dynamics Player sentiment 96% positive of 269,396 Critics 86/100 Price $2.99 Steam Deck verified Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 269,396 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 269,396 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 22
It Takes Two
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceIt Takes Two at a glance Released 2021 Studio Hazelight Studios Player sentiment 95% positive of 268,937 Critics 89/100 Price $39.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 50 GB Accessibility 3 declared features Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 268,937 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- 95% positive across 268,937 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Worth checking first- Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.
- 23
Sid Meier's Civilization V
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceSid Meier's Civilization V at a glance Released 2010 Studio Firaxis Games Player sentiment 96% positive of 210,613 Critics 90/100 Price $29.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 0 declared features Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 210,613 reviews, then blends with the 90 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 210,613 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Counter-Strike: Source at a glance Released 2004 Studio Valve Player sentiment 96% positive of 193,040 Critics 88/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 193,040 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 193,040 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Cloud saves and cross-platform play, so progress follows you between machines.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.
Devil May Cry 5 at a glance Released 2019 Studio CAPCOM Co., Ltd. Player sentiment 96% positive of 170,072 Critics 89/100 Price $7.49 Steam Deck verified Install size 35 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 170,072 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 170,072 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
How to choose between these
25 entries, six things that separate them
The ranking answers "which is best received". It cannot answer "which is best for you", because that depends on things no formula knows. Here is what actually separates these 25 multiplayer games, in the order worth thinking about it.
Check the sample size before the score
A score is only as good as the evidence under it. 25 of these have more than 50,000 player reviews, which makes their number very hard to move.
Look at where critics and players disagree
The widest gap here is Euro Truck Simulator 2, where players sit above critics by 18 points. A gap that size usually means the game changed after launch, or that it does something critics undervalue. It is worth reading why before deciding which number you trust. The disagreement map plots this across the catalogue.
Decide what you are actually willing to spend
The median here is $13.99, and the cheapest paid entry is Tomb Raider Game of the Year at $2.99. Prices move constantly, so a game a place or two down the list is often the better buy this week. Filter by price below rather than assuming the top pick is the right purchase.
Match it to the hardware you own
14 of these are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing, and install sizes vary by more than an order of magnitude. If you are choosing for a handheld or a drive that is nearly full, that narrows the field faster than any score.
Check it supports how you want to play
Solo, with a friend online, or two people on one sofa are different requirements, and a well-reviewed game that does not support yours is the wrong game. The filters below answer this directly.
Look for the things a score hides
10 declare six or more accessibility features, and 3 carry in-game purchases. Neither shows up in a review score, and both change the experience substantially. Each entry lists its own.
Choose one if…
Tick what matters to you. This filters the ranking above rather than reordering it, so the order you see is still the order the formula produced, minus the games that do not fit. Every filter reads a field from the game's own store listing.
Nothing selected, so all 25 multiplayer games are shown below. Pick one or more above to narrow it.
The best multiplayer games for a specific need
The ranking answers "which is best overall", which is rarely the actual question. These are the answers to the narrower ones, computed from the same scores, so a single pick is named for each.
- What is the best cheap multiplayer game?
- Portal 2, top of 18.
- What is the best co-op multiplayer game?
- Baldur's Gate 3, top of 18.
- What is the best single-player multiplayer game?
- Baldur's Gate 3, top of 21.
- What is the best multiplayer game for local co-op?
- Portal 2, top of 6.
- What is the best multiplayer game for the Steam Deck?
- Baldur's Gate 3, top of 14.
- What is the best multiplayer game for a small hard drive?
- Portal 2, top of 11.
- What is the best accessible multiplayer game?
- Baldur's Gate 3, top of 10.
- What is the best multiplayer game to play with a controller?
- Baldur's Gate 3, top of 14.
- What is the best offline multiplayer game?
- Baldur's Gate 3, top of 17.
- What is the best cheap co-op multiplayer game?
- Portal 2, top of 13.
- What is the best co-op multiplayer game for local co-op?
- Portal 2, top of 5.
- What is the best single-player offline multiplayer game?
- Baldur's Gate 3, top of 14.
- What is the best cheap multiplayer game for the Steam Deck?
- Portal 2, top of 9.
- What is the best Steam Deck co-op multiplayer game?
- Baldur's Gate 3, top of 12.
- What is the best controller-friendly multiplayer game for local co-op?
- Portal 2, top of 4.
- What is the best highly rated cheap multiplayer game?
- Portal 2, top of 18.
- What is the best accessible single-player multiplayer game?
- Baldur's Gate 3, top of 8.
Why trust this list
Most "best games" lists are either one person's taste presented as fact, or an affiliate feed with the highest commission at the top. This is neither. It is a ranking of 1,168 multiplayer games computed from two third-party signals we did not generate, using a formula printed below.
Our team has played and reviewed games for over twenty years, somewhere around 3,000 titles across every generation since the PS1. A good number of the multiplayer games on this page are among them, and that experience is what lets us tell you which of these numbers are worth trusting.
It is not, however, what set the order. The formula did, and we think that is the right way round: a list ordered by one person's memory is a list you have to take on trust, and this one you can check line by line.
The order comes out of the grid. Every game in the catalogue is placed on eighteen measured axes, each one a number read from a named source rather than an opinion: player sentiment and its sample size, the critic aggregate, review volume, Wikipedia language editions, price, install size, Steam Deck rating, accessibility features. A ranked list is that grid collapsed to one dimension. The map at the top of this page plots these same 25 games on two of those axes, so you can see the position the ranking gave each one and check it against where the game actually sits. If the list and the map ever disagreed, the list would be wrong, and they read the same numbers so they cannot.
None of the entries on this page carry a full written review from us yet. The score reflects how other people received the game. Where we do publish a review, it is marked and linked.
Update history 1
- First published with 25 entries ranked.
How we chose these
This ranking is a projection of the same axes the grid plots, not a second scoring system sitting alongside it. The grid answers where a game sits on two chosen measures; a ranked list needs one number, so the axes are collapsed using published weights. A game cannot be high on the grid and low here for a reason nobody can point at, because both read the same values.
Every ranked game gets a GamingPickz Score out of 10. It is a weighted blend of the axes below, and these percentages are read directly from the code that computes the ranking rather than written out separately, so the published formula cannot drift from the applied one.
| Component | Weight | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 52% | The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000. |
| Critics | 23% | Metacritic and OpenCritic aggregate, normalised to 0 to 100. |
| Popularity | 20% | A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it. |
| Reader likes | 5% | How many GamingPickz readers tapped the heart on the game, log-scaled to 0 to 100. This is the only signal here that comes from our own readers rather than a third party, so it carries a deliberately small weight and is a snapshot taken at the last build, not a live figure. A per-browser flag stops the same person liking twice; it is a popularity reaction, not a verified poll. |
Shrinkage is the part that matters most. Without it a game with nine reviews at 100 percent outranks Half-Life 2 with 278,000 at 98. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 84 using a 400-review prior, in proportion to how thin the evidence is.
Popularity is deliberately a minority weight. At 20 percent it nudges well-known games up without letting fame decide the order. Weight it higher and the list becomes "games you have already heard of", which nobody needs a ranking for. Weight it at zero and a game almost nobody played can top the list on the strength of a few hundred enthusiastic reviews. Neither is useful, so it sits in between. How popularity is measured.
Where a game has no critic aggregate, that 35 percent is redistributed onto player sentiment rather than counted as zero, and the entry says so.
Games with fewer than 50 reviews are excluded outright. Shrinkage is symmetric, so a game sitting at 0 percent on one review would otherwise be pulled up near the average, which flatters something nobody has actually assessed.
What we deliberately do not do. No paid placement, no sponsored slots dressed as editorial, no hidden weighting. If sponsorship is ever introduced it will be labelled and will sit outside the ranking. The formula above is the whole formula.
Multiplayer games by the numbers
The figures below describe all 1168 entries on this page together, not the top pick. They are recomputed on every build, most recently on 19 October 2026, from 91,720,186 player reviews.
What the pricing looks like
797 of the 1168 carry a listed US price, with a median of $19.99 and a mean of $23.15. The mean sitting above the median tells you the field is pulled up by a few expensive outliers. The cheapest is Drift Streets Japan at $0.49, the most expensive Need for Speed Heat at $69.99. 223 are free to download. 295 carry in-game purchases on top of whatever they cost. Prices are read hourly from the US Steam storefront and move constantly.
How much this field agrees with itself
Player sentiment spans 83 points across these 1168 entries. That is a wide band, which means the position of an entry here genuinely matters rather than splitting hairs. 523 carry a critic aggregate, averaging 79 out of 100. Players rate this field 5 points higher than critics on average, which is worth knowing before you weigh either number. See where the two diverge.
Who makes them, and what they overlap with
The studios appearing most often here are Traveller's Tales (16), Valve (14), Relic Entertainment (13), CREATIVE ASSEMBLY (11) and Visual Concepts (11). The genres these entries also sit in are open-world (433), strategy (397), rpg (380), simulation (345), fps (332) and survival (233), which is a fair map of what you are actually choosing between.
Which way attention is moving
We track Wikipedia pageviews over 28 days for 219 of these. 76 are gaining attention and 74 are losing it, with the rest flat. Attention is not quality, and we do not feed it into the ranking. The full monitor shows the movements across the catalogue.
The other 1,318 multiplayer games
The 25 above are the top of the ranking. These 1,318 are the rest of the category: games that ranked below the cut, and games with too few reviews or no store listing to be ranked at all, which is normal for console and Nintendo exclusives.
Also catalogued
1,318 more multiplayer games, not yet reviewedNone of these carry a review yet. The rest are catalogue records: title, year, studio and platforms, sourced from Wikidata. They are not indexed by search engines, because a record is not a review.
- Grand Theft Auto Vsource
- Dota 2source
- Far Cry 3source
- Call of Duty: World at Warsource
- Age of Empiressource
- Need for Speed: Most Wantedsource
- World of Tankssource
- War Thundersource
- RuneScapesource
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flagsource
- Far Cry 5source
- Far Cry 4source
- Quakesource
- Call of Duty: Black Ops IIsource
- Apex Legendssource
- Battlefield 3source
- Tomb Raidersource
- Age of Empires IIIsource
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhoodsource
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfaresource
- Assassin's Creed: Revelationssource
- Spacewar!source
- Cupheadsource
- Tomb Raidersource
- Far Cry 2source
Common questions
What is the best multiplayer game?
Baldur's Gate 3 ranks first, with a GamingPickz Score of 9.2 out of 10 drawn from 855,414 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 96. That is a statement about how it was received, not a claim that it is the one you personally will enjoy most.
How is this ranking calculated?
The GamingPickz Score is 52% player sentiment adjusted for sample size, 23% the critic aggregate published on the game store page, 20% popularity, from review volume and Wikipedia language editions, 5% popularity, from review volume and Wikipedia language editions. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 83.7% using a 400-review prior, so a game with a handful of reviews cannot outrank one with hundreds of thousands. Nothing on this page is paid for and no placement can be bought.
How many multiplayer games are ranked here?
1,168 of them qualify. A game needs at least 50 player reviews to be scored, which excludes titles with too little evidence to place fairly.
Why is a game I love missing?
Three likely reasons. It has fewer than 50 player reviews, so it is excluded rather than ranked on noise. It has no Steam listing at all, which is normal for console and Nintendo exclusives. Or it is not in the catalogue yet.
Do you get paid for these placements?
No. Positions are computed from the formula above and nothing else. The site carries advertising, and advertisers can neither see nor influence this page. A position is not an endorsement, it is a measurement of reception.
How current is this?
Recomputed on every build from source data read on a stated date. This page was last rebuilt on 19 October 2026. Player review counts move daily, so positions in the middle of the list shift more than those at the top or bottom.
What is the best cheap multiplayer game?
Portal 2 is the best cheap multiplayer game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 18 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best co-op multiplayer game?
Baldur's Gate 3 is the best co-op multiplayer game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 18 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best single-player multiplayer game?
Baldur's Gate 3 is the best single-player multiplayer game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 21 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best multiplayer game for local co-op?
Portal 2 is the best multiplayer game for local co-op, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 6 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best multiplayer game for the Steam Deck?
Baldur's Gate 3 is the best multiplayer game for the Steam Deck, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 14 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best multiplayer game for a small hard drive?
Portal 2 is the best multiplayer game for a small hard drive, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 11 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best accessible multiplayer game?
Baldur's Gate 3 is the best accessible multiplayer game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 10 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best multiplayer game to play with a controller?
Baldur's Gate 3 is the best multiplayer game to play with a controller, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 14 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best offline multiplayer game?
Baldur's Gate 3 is the best offline multiplayer game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 17 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best cheap co-op multiplayer game?
Portal 2 is the best cheap co-op multiplayer game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 13 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best co-op multiplayer game for local co-op?
Portal 2 is the best co-op multiplayer game for local co-op, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 5 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best single-player offline multiplayer game?
Baldur's Gate 3 is the best single-player offline multiplayer game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 14 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best cheap multiplayer game for the Steam Deck?
Portal 2 is the best cheap multiplayer game for the Steam Deck, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 9 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best Steam Deck co-op multiplayer game?
Baldur's Gate 3 is the best Steam Deck co-op multiplayer game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 12 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best controller-friendly multiplayer game for local co-op?
Portal 2 is the best controller-friendly multiplayer game for local co-op, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 4 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best highly rated cheap multiplayer game?
Portal 2 is the best highly rated cheap multiplayer game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 18 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
What is the best accessible single-player multiplayer game?
Baldur's Gate 3 is the best accessible single-player multiplayer game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 8 of the 25 multiplayer games qualify.
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