The best cross-platform games in 2026 make one thing beautifully simple: no matter where your friends play, everyone can still squad up, jump in, and have a great time together.
Whether your group loves RPGs, shooters, racing games, party chaos, or co-op adventures, cross-play keeps everyone connected across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile. Below, you’ll find the best cross-platform games to play with friends in 2026, now grouped by genre so it’s easier to find exactly what fits your crew.
TL;DR – Best Cross-Platform Games to Play With Friends in 2026
- The best cross-platform games let friends play together across different systems
- This list is grouped by genre to make it easier to find the right game for your squad
- Top picks include Minecraft, Fortnite, Rocket League, Diablo IV, Helldivers 2, Warframe, and Sea of Thieves
- Some games also support cross-progression, so your progress can follow you between platforms
Table of contents:
- Best Sandbox, Survival, and Open-World Cross-Platform Games
- Best Battle Royale and Party Cross-Platform Games
- Best Cross-Platform Shooters
- Best Cross-Platform RPGs and MMORPGs
- Best Cross-Platform Sports and Racing Games
- Best Cross-Platform Horror and Fighting Games
- Best Narrative and Co-op Adventure Cross-Platform Games
- What Is Cross-Platform?
- Final Thoughts
Best Sandbox, Survival, and Open-World Cross-Platform Games
Minecraft
Minecraft is still the gold standard when it comes to cross-platform freedom. It’s the kind of game that fits almost any mood — survival, building, exploring, roleplaying, or simply messing around with friends in a shared world that grows more chaotic and memorable every time you log in.
What makes it so easy to recommend is how naturally it supports long-term co-op. One session turns into building a base, the next becomes a cave expedition, and before long, you and your friends are planning entire cities or getting distracted by some bizarre side project that somehow takes over the whole evening.
Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition
Release Date: June 7, 2022
Genres: Adventure, Simulator
As long as everyone is playing Bedrock Edition, cross-play works smoothly across platforms. That means PC, console, and mobile players can all meet in the same world and create something together — which is exactly why Minecraft remains one of the best multiplayer games ever made.
No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky is one of the best examples of a game that completely reinvented itself. What started as a disappointment is now one of the most impressive cross-platform sandbox adventures you can play with friends.
The scale is the real hook here. You can fly between planets, explore strange new worlds, build bases, trade, fight, craft, and simply lose yourself in a universe that feels almost endless. The sense of freedom is massive, and the game constantly rewards curiosity.
No Man's Sky
Release Date: August 12, 2016
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Adventure, Indie, Arcade
It becomes even better in co-op. Exploring space alone is cool. Discovering weird alien planets, setting up bases, and drifting through the galaxy with friends is what turns No Man’s Sky into something special.
Roblox
Roblox earns its place on this list because it isn’t just one game — it’s a huge collection of multiplayer experiences across practically every genre imaginable. Shooters, RPGs, obstacle courses, life sims, horror games, anime brawlers — if your group wants variety, Roblox delivers it in a way few platforms can.
That flexibility makes it one of the easiest cross-platform picks for mixed friend groups. Instead of everyone needing to agree on one specific game style, you can jump between experiences until you find exactly what fits the mood.
It’s also one of the most accessible ecosystems around, with support across mobile, console, and PC. For players who value choice and low-friction multiplayer, Roblox remains incredibly hard to beat.
Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves is the perfect game for players who want shared adventures instead of just matches. It lets you and your crew become pirates, sail across open waters, hunt treasure, fight skeletons, solve mysteries, and battle rival players who want your loot just as badly as you do.
Every session has the potential to become a story. What starts as a treasure hunt can turn into a naval battle, a desperate escape, or a hilarious disaster caused by poor communication and one badly timed cannon shot. That unpredictability is exactly what makes Sea of Thieves so fun with friends.
Sea of Thieves
Release Date: June 03, 2020
Genres: Simulator, Adventure
If your group loves co-op games that feel social, cinematic, and a little chaotic, this is one of the strongest choices out there.
Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic is one of the most satisfying co-op experiences ever made. You and your team of space dwarves drop into hostile caves, mine resources, fight off alien swarms, and work together to survive increasingly dangerous missions.
It’s a game that understands teamwork on a very basic, very enjoyable level. Each class brings something valuable, which gives co-op real purpose, while the randomized caves and mission layouts make every run feel fresh and unpredictable.
Deep Rock Galactic
Release Date: February 28, 2018
Genres: Shooter, Adventure, Indie
Cross-platform support has some limitations depending on where you own the game, but if your group is on compatible versions, Deep Rock Galactic is an absolutely fantastic long-term co-op pick.
Best Battle Royale and Party Cross-Platform Games
Fortnite
Fortnite is still one of the biggest and most polished cross-platform multiplayer games on the market. It combines fast action, strong shooting, constant updates, and a level of variety that keeps each session feeling fresh.
What makes Fortnite so appealing for friend groups is how flexible it is. You can play seriously, sweat for the win, or just embrace the madness and build your way through complete chaos. There’s always something happening, and the game does a great job of making even casual matches feel eventful.
Most importantly, cross-play is frictionless. It’s one of the easiest games to recommend when your squad is spread across different systems and just wants to get into matches without any hassle.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends is one of the sharpest battle royales you can play in 2026. The gunplay feels excellent, movement is slick, and each Legend changes the way your team approaches fights, rotations, and late-game pressure.
The teamwork side is what really makes it stand out. Smart ability use, good positioning, and quick communication can completely change the flow of a match, and the ping system still makes it one of the easiest shooters to coordinate in — even when your squad isn’t using voice chat.
If your group likes high-speed action and clutch moments, Apex Legends remains one of the most exciting cross-platform choices available.
Among Us
Among Us is proof that the simplest multiplayer ideas can create the best stories. It throws players into a social deduction setup where trust disappears almost instantly, and suddenly every conversation becomes suspicious.
The real magic isn’t just in doing tasks or hunting impostors — it’s in the accusations, lies, panic defenses, and last-second votes that make every round feel ridiculous in the best way. Few games are this good at generating instant laughs and betrayal.
Among Us
Release Date: November 16, 2018
Genres: Strategy, Indie
Because it works across so many platforms, it’s still one of the best party-style games for friend groups who want something light, funny, and endlessly replayable.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Fall Guys turns multiplayer chaos into pure entertainment. It’s bright, easy to understand, and full of obstacle-course nonsense that somehow remains funny no matter how many times you get knocked off the map.
It’s also one of the most accessible games on this list. The controls are simple, rounds are quick, and even players who don’t normally spend much time with games can jump in and enjoy themselves almost immediately.
That makes it a brilliant choice for casual cross-platform sessions where the goal is less about perfect competition and more about laughing your way through absolute disaster.
Best Cross-Platform Shooters
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a great reminder of why fast-paced FPS multiplayer still works so well. The weapons feel sharp, the movement is responsive, and the matches carry that familiar Treyarch rhythm that makes firefights feel immediately satisfying.
The campaign adds plenty of tension and spectacle, but for most groups, multiplayer is where the game really shines. It’s polished, easy to jump into, and built for players who want their matches quick, intense, and packed with momentum swings.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Release Date: November 14, 2025
Genres: Shooter
Cross-play works smoothly, which makes it one of the most convenient competitive shooters for mixed-platform squads.
Battlefield 6
Battlefield 6 is all about scale. Huge maps, class-based teamwork, vehicles, explosive battlefield moments — it gives players the kind of large-scale war experience that few shooters can really match.
It’s especially fun with friends because the squad dynamic matters so much. Healing, support, anti-vehicle pressure, and coordinated pushes all feel meaningful, which makes teamwork more rewarding than in many other online shooters.
Battlefield 6
Release Date: October 10, 2025
Genres: Shooter
If your group wants big multiplayer battles with room for strategy and spectacle, Battlefield 6 is one of the best cross-platform picks in the genre.
Destiny 2
Destiny 2 blends MMO progression with excellent FPS mechanics, and that combination still feels unique. The shooting is satisfying, the abilities are flashy, and the world design gives your group plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
You can play for the story, chase loot in PvE, tackle difficult endgame content, or test yourselves in PvP. That variety is a huge part of the appeal, because Destiny 2 can support both short sessions and long-term commitment.
Destiny 2: Shadowkeep
Release Date: September 17, 2019
Genres: Shooter, Adventure
For friends who want a shooter with more progression, more worldbuilding, and more reasons to grind together, Destiny 2 remains a standout.
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 is co-op shooter chaos at its absolute best. It throws you and your squad into hostile warzones full of bugs, machines, explosions, friendly fire, and missions that can spiral out of control in seconds.
That chaos is exactly why it works. Success feels earned because even simple objectives can become tense, hilarious disasters that demand teamwork, quick thinking, and a little bit of luck. When your squad barely survives complete madness, it creates the kind of stories only great co-op games can deliver.
HELLDIVERS 2
Release Date: February 08, 2024
Genres: Shooter, Tactical
If you want a shooter that feels loud, satisfying, and endlessly replayable with friends, Helldivers 2 is an easy must-play.
The Finals
The Finals stands out because its destruction system makes every match feel alive. Walls break, floors collapse, buildings come apart, and suddenly your carefully planned fight is unfolding in a completely different arena.
That unpredictability gives the game a unique energy. It rewards both quick reactions and creative thinking, because sometimes the smartest move is not just to outshoot your opponent — it’s to bring the whole room down around them.
It’s one of the most refreshing shooters around, and a very strong choice for players who want competitive action with a chaotic edge.
FragPunk
FragPunk takes the hero shooter formula and makes it less predictable thanks to its Shard Card system. Rules can change from round to round, which keeps matches lively and forces players to adapt instead of falling into the same routine every time.
That would mean little if the shooting wasn’t good, but fortunately the gunplay feels sharp and fast. The heroes add personality and utility without completely overshadowing the fundamentals, so aim and timing still matter.
For squads looking for something stylish and competitive with a few welcome twists, FragPunk is one of the more interesting shooters to try.
Overwatch 2 or just Overwatch at This Point
Overwatch 2 remains one of the best team-based shooters for groups who enjoy coordination, hero synergy, and fast tactical decision-making. Every fight revolves around positioning, cooldown management, ult timing, and reading the flow of battle.
That makes it especially satisfying with friends. A well-timed combo or a clean team push can completely swing a round, and the roster gives players enough variety to experiment with different styles and strategies.
If your crew loves teamwork-focused shooters, Overwatch 2 still delivers that polished, high-tempo hero shooter experience better than most.
Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals takes the hero shooter formula and injects it with huge personalities, flashy abilities, and Marvel-level spectacle. Playing as iconic characters already gives it immediate appeal, but the real fun comes from the fast pace and explosive teamfights.
It’s energetic, stylish, and often delightfully chaotic. Team-up plays and hero combinations give squads plenty of room to experiment, and when everything clicks, the action feels incredibly fun to watch and play.
If your friend group wants a shooter that feels more playful, colorful, and larger than life, Marvel Rivals is an easy recommendation.
Arc Raiders
Arc Raiders brings real tension to co-op shooter sessions. As an extraction shooter, it’s built around risk, loot, decision-making, and the constant possibility that another encounter could ruin your entire run — or turn it into something unforgettable.
That tension makes it especially good with friends. Careful movement, smart communication, and shared goals matter a lot here, and the social elements add personality to every encounter. It’s one of those games where every successful extraction feels genuinely rewarding.
ARC Raiders
Release Date: October 30, 2025
Genres: Shooter
If your group enjoys higher-stakes multiplayer with PvPvE intensity, Arc Raiders is one to watch closely.
Sniper Elite: Resistance
Sniper Elite: Resistance offers a slower and more tactical kind of shooter experience. It focuses on stealth, positioning, patience, and the satisfaction of setting up the perfect shot rather than constant run-and-gun action.
The ballistics system still gives the series its identity, and the sandbox-style maps allow players to approach objectives creatively. You can plan carefully, relocate often, and slowly dismantle enemy defenses in a way that feels methodical and rewarding.
Sniper Elite: Resistance
Release Date: January 30, 2025
Genres: Shooter, Simulator, Adventure
For squads who prefer precision and tension over nonstop chaos, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a strong change of pace.
Best Cross-Platform RPGs and MMORPGs
Diablo IV
Diablo IV is one of the best action RPGs to play with friends if you enjoy loot, dark fantasy, and the thrill of constantly improving your build. Sanctuary feels grim, dangerous, and full of things worth fighting for.
The combat is punchy and satisfying, every class feels powerful in its own way, and the gear chase gives the game that classic “just one more dungeon” feeling. It’s easy to lose hours in Diablo IV without even noticing.
Diablo IV
Release Date: October 17, 2023
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Whether your party wants to clear the campaign, farm the endgame, or just melt demons together across different platforms, this is one of the strongest co-op ARPGs available.
Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 keeps the series’ signature loot-fueled madness alive. It’s fast, loud, funny, and built around the endlessly satisfying loop of killing enemies, grabbing ridiculous weapons, and turning your character into a destruction machine.
What makes it even more fun with friends is the sheer energy of co-op combat. The builds are flexible, the classes offer room for experimentation, and the new movement systems make battles feel more mobile and aggressive.
Borderlands 4
Release Date: September 11, 2025
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
If your group likes action RPGs with personality, humor, and lots of guns, Borderlands 4 is a natural fit.
Warframe
Warframe is one of the most rewarding games on this list if you enjoy buildcraft, speed, and progression. The movement system alone makes it feel different from almost every other online action game — chaining bullet jumps, slides, and abilities into one fluid combat loop feels fantastic.
On top of that, the customization is enormous. Frames, weapons, mods, arcanes, shards — the game constantly gives you ways to tweak and evolve your playstyle. That kind of freedom gives Warframe incredible longevity.
It’s a brilliant pick for players who want a cross-platform RPG-like experience with fast action and a near-endless sense of progression.
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact remains one of the most inviting action RPGs around. Teyvat is beautiful, the elemental combat system is easy to enjoy but rewarding to master, and the game constantly encourages exploration with puzzles, bosses, hidden rewards, and gorgeous new regions.
There’s also a strong sense of discovery every time new content arrives. New events, new characters, and new environments give players plenty of reasons to return, and those shared co-op sessions make farming and exploring much more enjoyable.
If your group likes fantasy worlds, character collecting, and stylish action RPG gameplay, Genshin Impact is a very strong choice.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds is built for players who love preparing for huge battles and overcoming massive threats as a team. Hunting giant monsters has always been the heart of the series, but the newer systems and bigger worlds make the experience feel more immersive than ever.
The real fun comes from learning how monsters behave, choosing the right weapons, and working together to bring down creatures that feel like true boss fights every single time. It’s demanding, but incredibly satisfying.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Release Date: February 28, 2025
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Cross-play makes it easier than ever to build your hunting party, which is great news for groups who want one of the most rewarding co-op action RPG experiences available.
Final Fantasy XIV Online
Final Fantasy XIV Online is one of the best MMORPGs ever made, and it shines especially brightly when shared with friends. It has epic storylines, memorable dungeons, huge raids, social spaces, crafting, side content, and a world that feels alive at every stage of the journey.
What makes FFXIV so appealing is that it supports many different playstyles. One night you can be pushing harder content with your party, and the next you can be relaxing in a city, fishing together, or simply progressing through one of the best MMO stories ever written.
FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE STARTER EDITION Mog Station Key EUROPE
Release Date: January 1, 1970
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
For players who want a long-term cross-platform world to truly live in, few games do it better than Final Fantasy XIV.
Best Cross-Platform Sports and Racing Games
Rocket League
Rocket League is one of the easiest games to recommend if you want something instantly fun and endlessly replayable. The concept is wonderfully simple — football with rocket-powered cars — but the skill ceiling is enormous, which gives it incredible staying power.
Every match can create highlight moments: last-second goals, absurd saves, accidental team plays, and those magical aerial shots that make you feel far better than you really are. It’s competitive, fast, and very difficult to stop playing once you get into the rhythm.
Cross-play works great, and the short match length makes Rocket League perfect for both quick sessions and full evenings that spiral into “just one more game.”
EA Sports FC 26
EA Sports FC 26 is a strong pick for football fans who want cross-platform competition with a polished presentation. Matches feel fast, sharp, and dramatic, with passing, shooting, defending, and movement all tuned to make big moments feel meaningful.
It’s especially appealing for players who enjoy teaming up in Clubs or building squads together. The game does a good job of making both casual and competitive play feel rewarding, which helps it fit a wide range of friend groups.
EA SPORTS FC 26
Release Date: September 26, 2025
Genres: Sport, Simulator
If football is your group’s comfort genre, FC 26 is one of the safest and strongest cross-platform options around.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is an easy favorite for groups who love racing games but also want freedom. Set across a beautiful version of Mexico, it combines arcade racing energy with a world full of events, side activities, and scenic roads that are just as fun to cruise as they are to compete on.
That’s what makes it such a strong social racing game. You can take it seriously, chase records, tune cars, and compete — or you can simply drive around with friends and enjoy the atmosphere.
Forza Horizon 5
Release Date: November 09, 2021
Genres: Racing
For players who want speed, style, and one of the most visually impressive cross-platform racing games available, Forza Horizon 5 still delivers brilliantly.
Best Cross-Platform Horror and Fighting Games
Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight remains one of the best asymmetrical horror games ever made. It takes the classic slasher setup — one killer hunting four survivors — and turns it into a tense multiplayer loop built on fear, mind games, and high-pressure teamwork.
Every match feels different because player behavior changes everything. Survivors improvise, killers adapt, and the tension ramps up quickly as mistakes become more costly. That unpredictability is a huge part of the game’s long-term appeal.
For players who love horror, suspense, and multiplayer that keeps them on edge, Dead by Daylight is still one of the best picks around.
Tekken 8
Tekken 8 is one of the strongest fighting games you can pick up in 2026. It’s flashy, aggressive, and built around the kind of momentum swings that make every match feel dangerous from start to finish.
The Heat System adds even more energy to the already intense core combat, but the game still rewards the fundamentals that longtime players love: movement, matchup knowledge, whiff punishes, wall pressure, and smart reads.
TEKKEN 8
Release Date: January 26, 2024
Genres: Fighting
If you and your friends enjoy competitive one-on-one games that reward practice and skill, Tekken 8 absolutely deserves a place in your cross-platform rotation.
Chivalry 2
Chivalry 2 delivers medieval multiplayer carnage in a way that feels both skillful and gloriously stupid. One second you’re dueling with careful timing, the next you’re throwing a random object in desperation or charging into a full-scale battlefield screaming with your team.
The combat has real depth, which helps it stay rewarding, but the overall tone never becomes too serious. That balance is what makes it so fun with friends — it can be competitive and hilarious at the same time.
Chivalry II
Release Date: June 12, 2022
Genres: Fighting, Platform, Tactical, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Indie
If your group wants melee combat with personality and large-scale chaos, Chivalry 2 is a fantastic choice.
Best Narrative and Co-op Adventure Cross-Platform Games
Split Fiction
Split Fiction is one of the most creative co-op games on this list because it feels like it was built specifically to keep two players constantly engaged. It throws you into a story where sci-fi and fantasy worlds collide, and each chapter introduces new mechanics, styles, and surprises.
That variety is the game’s biggest strength. One moment you’re solving puzzles, the next you’re platforming through strange environments or handling completely different action sequences. It keeps the pacing lively and gives the whole game a strong sense of momentum.
Split Fiction
Release Date: March 06, 2025
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Platform, Puzzle
Cross-play and the Friend’s Pass system make it even easier to recommend, because getting into the adventure together is refreshingly simple. For pairs looking for something story-driven, imaginative, and cooperative, Split Fiction is one of the best options in 2026.
What Is Cross-Platform?
Cross-platform means players on different systems can play together in the same game. So if one person is on PC, another is on PlayStation, and someone else is on Xbox or Switch, cross-play removes that hardware barrier and lets everyone join the same session.
It’s one of the most valuable multiplayer features in modern gaming because it keeps friend groups together even when everyone owns different devices. Instead of picking games based on what system your friends use, you can focus on what you actually want to play.
Final Thoughts
The best cross-platform games in 2026 do more than just connect devices — they keep friendships active. That’s the real value of cross-play. It removes technical barriers, cuts down the usual multiplayer frustration, and lets the focus stay where it belongs: on having fun together.
Whether your group wants to build in Minecraft, survive chaos in Helldivers 2, hunt monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds, score absurd goals in Rocket League, or just betray each other in Among Us, there’s a cross-platform game here that fits the mood.
And honestly, that’s how multiplayer should work in 2026 — less friction, more fun, and no one left out just because they play somewhere else.