Best Online Games: Find Your Next Multiplayer World

Eleven games compared by how you actually play with other people: alone, in a small co-op group, or against strangers in PvP; in a persistent shared world or in short sessions that reset. Free and paid titles are mixed in on purpose, price is one filter among several, not the only one.

Checked: 21 September 2026

Solo-friendly Co-op PvP Persistent world Session-based Free to play Paid / subscription

How we picked these

Every game below has an official website or storefront page we link to directly, so you can confirm current price, platform and account requirements yourself before installing anything. We did not run our own performance or balance tests; where we describe how a game plays, that description comes from the publisher's own documentation and store listing, not from an in-house "our test." We looked for range: at least one pick for solo play, one for small-group co-op, one for competitive PvP, one persistent shared world, and both free and paid entries, so the list is useful regardless of budget or how much time you have.

We do not invent star ratings, player counts or download totals. Where a publisher does not disclose a figure, we leave it out rather than estimate it.

From our studio

MapRaiders combines real-world walking, running or cycling with territory strategy on a shared map, plus a collectible card game with commanders and decks that you can play at home in a PvE/PvP arena. You claim territory by moving outdoors, not by clicking through a menu. MapRaiders is in development and currently accepting beta registrations; it is not yet downloadable or publicly playable, and it is not a Roblox-style creation platform or a GTA-style open world. It is its own kind of shared world.

See how territory claiming works Meet the six factions

Battle royale and shooters

Session-based, competitive, built around repeat short matches rather than a persistent world.

Fortnite

Free to playPvP + CreativeCross-platform

Good for: players who want battle royale, building and a growing catalog of user-made modes in one client, across almost any device they own.

Limits: cosmetic purchases and a Battle Pass are the main upsell; competitive modes reward practice with building mechanics that take time to learn.

Developed and published by Epic Games. Available on Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, iOS and Android, with cross-platform play across all of them.

Official site: fortnite.com

Valorant

Free to playPvPPC + console

Good for: players who want a tactical 5v5 shooter with agent abilities layered on top of precise gunplay.

Limits: PC and console players are matched separately, there is no crossplay between them; a mobile version has launched in China only, with no confirmed global date.

Developed and published by Riot Games. Available on Windows, and since 2024 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with PS5/Xbox crossplay but not PC/console crossplay.

Official site: playvalorant.com

Shared open worlds and sandboxes

Games built around a persistent or semi-persistent world you explore, build in, or roam with others.

Minecraft

One-time purchaseCo-opNearly every platform

Good for: building, survival and exploration with friends on a private or public server.

Limits: Java Edition and Bedrock Edition are separate games under the hood, with different mod support and server ecosystems; multiplayer across the two needs matching setups.

Developed by Mojang Studios, published by Microsoft. The PC bundle (Java and Bedrock) is a one-time purchase around $29.99; mobile is priced separately and console editions run about $30. Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Android, iOS, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.

Official site: minecraft.net

Roblox

Free to accessUser-made worldsCross-platform

Good for: jumping between thousands of small, user-created games and social spaces under one account.

Limits: quality and moderation vary a lot between individual experiences since anyone can publish one; in-experience items are bought with the Robux currency, which is a real-money purchase.

Operated by Roblox Corporation. Available on Windows, Android, iOS, Xbox consoles and supported PlayStation systems; a single login carries across devices. See our dedicated comparison of alternatives on games-like-roblox/.

Official site: roblox.com

Grand Theft Auto V / GTA Online

Paid base gameOpen worldPC + console

Good for: open-world heists, driving and free-roam chaos with friends in one persistent city.

Limits: GTA Online is also sold as its own standalone product on PC (Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, so you do not have to buy the full GTA V game to play it on any of the three; PC and PS5 have had free standalone periods, while the Xbox Series X|S standalone edition is a paid purchase. There is no free or official mobile version.

Developed and published by Rockstar Games. GTA V costs around $29.99 to $39.99 depending on platform and edition. Available on PC, PlayStation 4/5 and Xbox One/Series X|S.

Official site: rockstargames.com/gta-v

Genshin Impact

Free to playCo-opCross-save

Good for: exploring a large open world and its story solo, then teaming up with friends for four-player co-op content.

Limits: new playable characters are obtained through a gacha (randomized) system that can involve real-money spending; it is optional for finishing the main story.

Developed by miHoYo, published globally by HoYoverse. Available on Windows, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox Series X|S since 2024, with full cross-save and crossplay through one account.

Official site: genshin.hoyoverse.com

Sea of Thieves

Paid / Game PassCo-op crewsXbox + PC + PS5

Good for: small-crew pirate co-op: sailing, treasure hunting and ship-to-ship fights in a shared ocean.

Limits: most content is meant to be played with a crew; solo sailing is possible but exposes you to being outnumbered by other crews.

Developed by Rare, published by Xbox Game Studios. The current 2026 Edition is priced around $39.99 and is included with PC and Xbox Game Pass. Available on Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.

Official site: seaofthieves.com

MMORPGs

Long-running persistent worlds built around characters that progress over months or years.

World of Warcraft

SubscriptionPC / Mac onlyMMORPG

Good for: long-term character progression, raids and a huge, continuously updated world with a large existing player base.

Limits: no console or mobile version exists; the subscription is required for the live game, at $14.99 a month with discounts for longer commitments, or by buying a WoW Token with in-game gold.

Developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Available on Windows and macOS only, through the Battle.net client.

Official site: worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com

Guild Wars 2

No subscriptionPC onlyMMORPG

Good for: MMORPG structure without a recurring subscription fee; the base game has been free-to-play since 2015, with paid expansions for further content.

Limits: PC only, no Mac client any more. ArenaNet-launcher and Steam accounts are separate and don't share purchases.

Developed by ArenaNet, published by NCSoft. Available on Windows via the ArenaNet client or Steam.

Official site: guildwars2.com

MOBA and party

Team-based competitive formats, and one lighter party game for mixed groups.

League of Legends

Free to playPCMOBA

Good for: team-based strategic combat with a huge roster of champions and a decade-plus competitive scene.

Limits: PC only; the mobile version, Wild Rift, is a separate rebuilt game and does not share accounts, matches or crossplay with the PC client. A planned console version was cancelled in 2024.

Developed and published by Riot Games. Available on Windows and macOS.

Official site: leagueoflegends.com

Among Us

Mixed pricingSocial deductionCross-platform

Good for: quick, low-stakes social deduction rounds with a group of friends, on almost any device.

Limits: pricing differs by platform, the PC version on Steam is a one-time purchase of about $4.99, while mobile (iOS/Android) is free with ads and optional cosmetic purchases.

Developed and published by Innersloth. Available on Windows, iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch.

Official site: innersloth.com/games/among-us

Frequently asked questions

Which of these games can I play completely alone?

Minecraft, Genshin Impact and Sea of Thieves all have solo-viable modes, though Sea of Thieves is designed around crews and solo play means facing crewed ships alone. Guild Wars 2 and World of Warcraft are soloable for most leveling content, with group content required for raids and some late-game systems.

Do any of these have a real subscription cost?

World of Warcraft requires an active subscription (or a WoW Token bought with in-game gold) to play the live game. Guild Wars 2 has no subscription, only a one-time purchase for expansions. The rest are free to access, with optional cosmetic or convenience purchases.

Is MapRaiders one of these online games I can play right now?

No. MapRaiders is in development and only open for beta registration at this time, it is not publicly playable or downloadable, so it is not part of the ranked selection above.