24 best Xbox online multiplayer games

Bored of all the Xbox games you already own and looking for the next game to play online with your friends? Tried out the good fighting games and want to expand from Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty? We’ve got you covered with a list of the best multiplayer games for the Xbox.

So, turn that Xbox on, and grab your controller because it’s time to delve into some great games, old and new.

Read on to find out all the best Xbox online multiplayer video games.

1. Minecraft

Every friendship group should have its own Minecraft server.

Enjoy all of the challenges and (more importantly) opportunities to annoy your friends that this absolute classic game has to offer.

A great multiplayer game that allows online play with up to four players.

2. Grand Theft Auto Online

From roleplay servers to rocket-powered races, GTA (Grand Theft Auto) still holds up as a polished and varied online experience.

3. Overwatch 2

The spiritual successor to Team Fortress 2, Overwatch spawned a genre of imitators and remains a great way to use an Xbox Online subscription.

4. Rocket League

Easy to learn, and hard to master.

Rocket League has a pleasingly designed difficulty curve and a simple game proposition that allows for fun and challenge simultaneously.

5. Call of Duty Warzone

If you enjoy shooters, Warzone is easy to get lost in.

It is cathartic on your own but is best enjoyed in a party of friends frantically shouting at each other down microphones.

6. Dead by Daylight

Unusually, DBD (Dead by Daylight) is an online game played best on your own, where the masterful horror atmosphere is all the more pervasive.

7. FIFA 23

There is a reason why FIFA is so popular- it has a little something for every football fan.

8. Sea of Thieves

Whilst not as expansive as some other online RPG games, Sea of Thieves trades this for an excellently crafted fun nautical atmosphere.

Who doesn’t like ruling the seven seas as a swashbuckling pirate?

9. It Takes Two

Strictly a two-player experience, It Takes Two is a gem of a game for someone special you want to spend time with who doesn’t live near enough to you to play couch co-op.

10. Apex Legends

Neatly connecting the character-based Rock-Paper-Scissors of Overwatch with the Battle Royale genre, Apex Legends is a nice middle ground for an online shooter.

11. Fortnite

Looking past the cartoon style and endless tie-ins, there is a good Battle Royale game in Fortnite.

Victory Royales are surprisingly cathartic, and late-game showdowns will pull you in.

12. PUBG

If you like your games a little more gritty than silly, opt for PUBG over Fortnite.

But, be prepared for a much harder game as a result.

13. Elden Ring

Speaking of a much harder game, Elden Ring’s online mode consists only of either helping other players complete the single-player game or duelling them or even the occasionally hilarious duelling them whilst they attempt to beat the single-player game.

Unfortunately, Elden Ring is a controller-smashingly hard game, and the online mode is no exception. Not for the faint of heart.

14. Gang Beasts

A couch co-op classic, Gang Beasts can also be played online for when you cannot laugh at your friends in person, as you throw their character off a billboard.

15. Red Dead Online

The only reason to play RDO (Red Dead Online) over GTA:O is if you have a deep love of Western movies.

But the usual Rockstar polish is still present, even if the variety is not.

16. Overcooked!

Overcooked is a great cooperative online game to play with friends.

Also, a top pick for a video game to use as a team-building exercise, if you were looking for one.

17. Borderlands: The Handsome Collection

3 looter shooters in one!

Borderlands is best played with friends in a group of four and does offer a story to follow, unlike most online shooters.

18. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Xbox’s premier MMORPG, ESO (Elder Scrolls Online) is a great way for Elder Scrolls fans to pass the time until TES6 is released.

19. Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare

Inspired by the ubiquitous mobile game of the same name, PvZ: GW (Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare) is cannily more similar to Team Fortress 2 than to its handheld predecessor.

20. Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition

Diablo is a classic in online co-op, perfect if you and four friends are looking for something to get into together.

21. Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 is probably the biggest racing game online at the moment.

It’s well worth a go if online car racing is on your roster.

22. Smite

If you desperately want to play MOBAs but have a crippling fear of PCs, Smite is the game for you.

23. Star Wars Battlefront II

Calling all Star Wars fans! Whether you love the brief interludes of story mode or the multiplayer experience, Star Wars is a must-play multiplayer game.

The Xbox game has a couple of variants too:

• Star Wars Battlefront
• Star Wars Battlefront 2
• Star Wars Squadrons

It is a fighting game, but it follows an interesting storyline. It’s perfect if you love online multiplayer Xbox experiences with a few friends.

24. Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is definitely one of the greatest multiplayer games when it comes to the Xbox Game Pass.

There are more than 100 multiplayer maps in every game, with game modes and so much more.

The Halo series is a popular group of games, we recommend these as well:

• Halo: The Master Chief Collection
• Halo Reach
• Halo 3: ODST

Halo: The Master Chief Collection allows online play like other games, but lots of fans would say it’s a cut above the rest. The gaming experience is quite something, with awesome graphics even in multiplayer mode.

Best multiplayer gaming for the Xbox? That’s a wrap!

That’s it for our guide to Xbox online multiplayer fun!

Did you find something in this list for you? Or, have we missed any glaringly-obvious titles when it comes to the best multiplayer Xbox games of all time?

You can let us know on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Do you enjoy playing multiplayer games online, or local multiplayer over the same network? You’ll need a decent internet connection, especially if you’re playing an Xbox game that demands up to eight players!

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