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If you've been playing video games for generations of consoles, you've likely built up a community of friends to play with. Whether that be online or on your own couch, multiplayer is probably part of your gaming diet to some degree. There's a good chance you might not even play single-player games. If you've been playing on PlayStation all this time, there's never been a better time to jump into the PS5 generation.
Leave the mouse and keyboard at work—it's time to dive in with the DualSense. And don't come here looking for us to recommend Elden Ring, because there are so many barriers to entry to playing with your friends. Instead, we found twenty titles that are seriously fun, easy to get into, and have a community that will teach you the ropes and keep you going. (Although they might not always be nice about it—I'm sorry, but that's just online gaming).
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Many of these games play on PS4 as well, and when you buy them digitally they will work on both. So regardless of where you are at in the PlayStation life cycle, make sure you're keeping up with these twenty stellar multiplayer games.
Helldivers 2
One of the best games of 2024, Helldivers 2 is the most fun we've had with online friends in years. The satirical Starship Troopers tone keeps a smile on your place in between rounds of intense bug and robot shooting. It's a tactical, frantic, wave-based shooter with some of the best-looking skyboxes this side of Halo 3. Pure co-op genius. —Bryn Gelbart
Multiversus
It's a simple concept, but virtually no game has ever been able to replicate what Super Smash Bros does so well. But Multiversus seems to have cracked the code. It is, essentially, Smash in how it plays. But it pulls from the entirety of the Warner Bros character catalog. Arya Stark, Wonder Woman, Tom and Jerry!! It's incredibly simple and addictively fun when playing with friends. Plus it's free.—Luke Guillory
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Black Ops 6 is the best multiplayer Call of Duty in years. Plenty of this can be attributed to the big change to the movement system, making the smoothest first-person shooter on the market even smoother. In short, it's super fun, fast-paced competitive chaos. And it's getting a lot of people I know back into Call of Duty who I haven't heard talk about the series in years.—B.G.
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
Yeah. We were surprised too. Hot Wheels, those silly little cars we played with as kids, stormed into our adult lives with the sequel to one of 2021's best multiplayer racing games. Microtransactions are intentionally unnecessary in Hot Wheels Unleashed 2, an admirable feature nowadays. Plus, the level design rivals anything you'd see in a modern-day Mario Kart romp. Take that, Wario. —Brady Langmann
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Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo is back, baby! For a while, console sim racing swung Xbox's way with Forza. But Gran Turismo 7 is setting that next bar really, really high. If it weren't for all the micro-transactions, we'd be looking at a perfect game. Still, for console racing sims, Sony is in the driver's seat after this one. —L.G.
Diablo IV
Last year saw the release of Diablo IV's Vessel of Hatred expansion. But if you're behind the times and want to catch up on some 50 hours of old school dungeon crawling with your buddies, Diablo IV delivers that nostalgic hit of Blizzard magic. All from the comfort of your couch and TV. No LAN party required.—B.G.
Dead by Daylight
Ever wanted to feel like you're in a slasher movie? Whether that means running from a mad killer, or playing as one, Dead by Daylight is the game that delivers on this fantasy. The asymmetrical multiplayer game combines the best of co-op and adversarial modes into a tense, repeatable experience. Plus, it's being constantly updated with new guest characters from all the biggest horror franchises.—B.G.
Fall Guys
Fall Guys is the most accessible battle royale. Kind of wild to compare it to Fortnite, but if you want a toned down version of the same experiences, with similar emotional arcs, it's a fun option. Cute for families and players of all ages, it's still got quite the large player base. Unlike when it launched, it's now completely free to play, so don't let cost get in the way. Download the game now and give it a whirl. You got nothing to lose. —B.G.
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Grand Theft Auto V
GTA V has lived on three generations of console and it's still as fun as ever. That is kind of insane. This game is a decade old, and with GTA VI finally on the horizon it's certainly going to have one final resurgence of players wanting to get one last hit. Now that's going to be something worth living through. —L.G.
It Takes Two
If you want a game you can curl up the couch with your spouse (or BFF) and play for a couple long afternoons, it doesn't get more fun than It Takes Two. Sure there is a bizarre, often troubling story about a failing marriage at its core, but it's easy to ignore all that and focus on the pitch-perfect platforming and stunning variety of creative areas and co-op interactions. If not for Astro Bot, this might be the best 3D platformer of the 2020s.—B.G.
Fortnite
Ah, simple pleasures. It's hard to deny how good Fortnite has become over the years. Yes, you are likely to be playing with at least half a lobby of 12-year-olds, but at least Zero Build finally leveled the playing field for older, more geriatric, gamers. There's also the whole part where pop culture comes in and out of Fortnite like a revolving door. Goku, Master Chief, Rick and/or Morty. They've all been in Fortnite. It's wild.—B.G.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
I’ve never worked in a kitchen before, but Overcooked! has to be what it’s like, right? In it, you bump shoulders with a buddy in a kitchen, taking in, putting together, and serving food orders. One hour of Overcooked! will honestly wear you out. This collection contains the original game and it's sequel as well as all the DLC released (plus exclusive content). All that will make you hungry so have a snack first. —B.L.
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Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter is back, baby! After Capcom's massive misstep that was Street Fighter 5, the correction fans have been waiting for is back. Faster than Tekken, more technical than Mortal Kombat, this series holds a special place in the fighting game community. A gorgeous fighting game that you can play locally or online.—B.G.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
If you want a shooter more about tactics and teamwork than Call of Duty, look to Siege. The popular multiplayer shooter is nearly a decade old, but it has grown an extremely dedicated fanbase that wouldn't even pick up a new Rainbow Six game when Extraction came out and just kept on playing Siege.—B.G.
Rocket League Collector's Edition
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You’d be hard-pressed to find a game on this list stranger, more anxiety-inducing, and more addicting than Rocket League—which, if you’re unfamiliar, is soccer, with cars. That’s about it. But the combo is more than enough to kill three hours of calling LilJimmy232 a big baby because you just dropped five goals on his ass. —B.L.
Final Fantasy XIV Online
MMOs can be overwhelming. If you have a soft spot for Final Fantasy, though, it's not debatable. Final Fantasy XIV Online is a must-play for fans of the franchise, if only to see how its story smartly builds upon and ties together decades of disparate lore. It's also a great way to kill time with your friends. —B.G.
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Minecraft
Mine and craft. Mine and craft. These are the building blocks of success. Or a serious waste of time when you look at the clock and realize it's three AM and eight hours have passed. On a serious note, I'd still rather have the current generation of kids trying to build stuff in Minecraft than ever touch whatever is going on over in Roblox town.—B.G.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
If you want a throwback to the old arcade beat-em-ups of yore, it doesn't get much better than Shredder's Revenge. Whether your fond of the turtles or not, this brawler can sustain up to four players at once as you slash, whack, stab, and nunchuck your way through a series of vibrant levels and challenging boss fights. —B.G.
Monster Hunter Rise
There isn't another online co-op experience quite like Monster Hunter on PlayStation. The latest in the action RPG series that only recently found major traction in North America is the smoothest and most accessible version yet. Monster Hunter Rise is loaded with different weapons to try and beasts to take down at an immense scale. If you haven't tried one of these yet, Rise is a perfect starting place.—B.G.
Marvel Rivals
Overwatch used to be one of the best multiplayer games in town. As you'll notice, it's no longer on this list. Overwatch 2 has proved to be a pretty irredeemable mess and for that Marvel Rivals is eating it's lunch. Obviously inspiredby the gameplay style and heroes of Overwatch, Rivals manages to carve out it's own niche by a) not being as aggressive about loot boxes and b) having characters you know that all play differently. It may be working with a fraction of the budget Blizzard has, but it's been recapturing the fun of the early days of Overwatch for me and the other gamers in the office.—B.G.
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