Summary
- Multiplayer open-world games offer endless hours of fun and community interaction.
- Monster Hunter Wilds, Forza Horizon 5, and Red Dead Online are standout examples.
- Collaborating in multiplayer enhances the gameplay experience of survival games like Project Zomboid and Valheim.
Good multiplayer games attract massive fanbases and become legendary when everything clicks. This is especially true in the case of multiplayer open-world games. These titles can be challenging to get right, but that makes it all the more memorable when developers nail them.
Any open-world game with a strong multiplayer component can keep players satisfied for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours. Improving one's skills and interacting with the community never gets old as players make the most of what these games have to offer. Not to mention, sharing a game is always a great way to spend time with friends — and maybe make new ones.
18 Best 6-Player Co-Op Games, Ranked
Co-op games come in all shapes and sizes, and these great titles support 6-player groups.
8 Monster Hunter Wilds
Despite Its Issues, Newcomers Will Love This Welcoming Entry
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Monster Hunter Wilds may be getting some flak from long-time fans of the franchise, but Capcom can hopefully fix the game's technical issues and make it easier to play. Regardless, players new to the series can still have a great time with what this title has to offer.
The story-driven gameplay ensures that beginners will have an easy go of things, and it's easy to find like-minded players in the community who will love teaming up to tackle the game's hardest bosses. Players will enjoy the real Monster Hunter experience after the story comes to an end, letting them tackle the game's toughest foes and forge better gear for themselves.
7 Forza Horizon 5
Lets Players Drive Flashy Cars In No Time
Forza Horizon 5
- Released
- November 9, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone // In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
Forza Horizon 5 is an excellent open-world racing game that lets players explore Mexico and partake in the Horizon Festival here. The beautiful visuals of this game, coupled with its focus on multiplayer, ensure that players will love showing off their cars in the game's many races.
While some people may have issues with unlocking great cars so easily in the game, it's just a part of what makes the game fun. Zooming past other racers in breakneck races and other such driving events never ceases to be engaging.
6 Red Dead Online
Despite A Perceived Lack Of Content, There's Still A Lot To Enjoy
Red Dead Online
- Released
- May 14, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
While fans may not love Rockstar's lack of support when it comes to Red Dead Online, that shouldn't take away from the sheer volume of content this experience has to offer. If nothing else, it gives players an excuse to enjoy more of this amazing world.
Best Shared Open-World Games
These fantastic open-world games offer enormous worlds that are shared with other players from around the world.
From story-driven missions to organic multiplayer chaos, there's no shortage of ways for players to have fun in this incredible open-world game. Role-playing as a Wild West cowboy and making friends during their adventures makes Red Dead Online a blast for fans.
5 Sons Of The Forest
Band Together To Survive Against Relentless Cannibals
Sons of the Forest
- Released
- February 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Open-World, Survival Horror
Sons of the Forest is a massively improved sequel where the threat of this forest is always palpable. The cannibals that roam the woods can be hard to deal with, although the experience is a little bit easier with friends. Having up to eight people in one session struggling to survive makes for a great time. The game lives up to the multiplayer, terrifying groups of players together in this excellent open-world game.
4 Project Zomboid
With Friends, This Challenging Game Becomes Easier To Manage
Project Zomboid
- Released
- November 8, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Project Zomboid is one of the best survival video games where players can have a great time. The mechanics are hardcore, which is why collaborating with other players in massive multiplayer sessions will make things easier.
Tackling this game's major challenges in multiplayer makes adds to the magic of this experience. Whether players collaborate or take out other survivors, the memorable gameplay moments that ensue guarantee that Project Zomboid will hold a soft spot in the hearts of many fans.
3 Valheim
One Of The Biggest Survival Games That's A Blast With Friends
Valheim
- Released
- February 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- r
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
Valheim is poised to make major waves in the survival genre once the 1.0 build rolls out. As things stand at the time of writing, the mechanics are already so impressive that players can easily spend hundreds of hours in this game with their friends.
8 Best Survival Games That Let You Play Your Own Way
Survival games come in all shapes and sizes, but the best examples of the genre are often the ones that offer players the most freedom of choice.
Trying to seek entry into the gates of Valhalla and proving one's worth as a warrior is a blast in every session. From eating food to tacking bosses, every activity in Valheim is a blast to engage with as players cooperate to survive in a tough, unforgiving world (or an easy one, based on the difficulty they choose).
2 Grand Theft Auto Online
A Mind-Boggling Amount Of Content
Grand Theft Auto Online
- Released
- October 1, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
It's staggering just how much content is there in Grand Theft Auto Online. This mode became such a massive cash cow for Rockstar that they'e flooded this game with a deluge of updates to keep players coming back for more.
This ended up being a home run strategy, with GTA Online becoming one of the most open-world multiplayer experiences fans can enjoy. Some fans of Rockstar's single-player experiences have gotten tired of the attention this mode gets, but that should take nothing away from how monumental GTA Online has become.
1 Minecraft
An Excellent Multiplayer Experience Propelled By A Massive Fandom
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
A huge reason why Minecraft is such a blast to play even now is because of its amazing online community. From exploring an accurate recreation of Westeros to taking part in the Hunger Games, there's no shortage of unique game modes to enjoy in this game.
Players can fight the Ender Dragon, build something truly creative, or just mess around with other people in multiplayer. This is why Minecraft has made such a major social impact and remains one of the most popular video games fans can get their hands on, especially to play with friends.
8 Best Open-World Games You Can Get Lost In, Ranked
For those looking to completely immerse themselves in an open-world experience, here are some of the best games to get lost in.