Best PvP and Competitive Multiplayer Games
The top competitive multiplayer games are Rocket League, The Finals and Rainbow Six Siege. Of the top 5, all are free and 4 have crossplay.
Top 5: Rocket League, The Finals, Rainbow Six Siege, Counter-Strike 2 and Overwatch.
Shooters and battle royales
From rounds of 5 against 5 in Counter-Strike 2 and Rainbow Six Siege to battle royales like Apex Legends and PUBG. About a third are free, and more than half have crossplay.
Start with: Counter-Strike 2, Rainbow Six Siege, Team Fortress 2 and PUBG: Battlegrounds.
Counter-Strike 2
Free2–10 online
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
You need voice chat to play.
PC
Counter-Strike 2: View game →Rainbow Six Siege
Free2–10 onlineCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
You need voice chat to play.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
Rainbow Six Siege: View game →Team Fortress 2
Our pick
Free2–24 online
PUBG: Battlegrounds
Free2–4 onlineCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
PUBG: Battlegrounds: View game →Apex Legends
Free2–3 onlineCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch 2
Apex Legends: View game →War Thunder
Free2–32 onlineCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
War Thunder: View game →Marvel Rivals
Free2–12 onlineCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
Marvel Rivals: View game →Call of Duty
2–12 online2 on one screenCrossplay
Crossplay between PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
Call of Duty: View game →ARC Raiders
2–3 onlineCrossplay
Crossplay between PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
Each player needs their own copy.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
ARC Raiders: View game →Overwatch
Free2–12 onlineCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch
Overwatch: View game →Halo: The Master Chief Collection
2–16 online4 on one screenCrossplay
The Finals
Free2–12 onlineCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
The Finals: View game →Battlefield 6
2–64 onlineCrossplay
Crossplay between PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
Each player needs their own copy.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
Battlefield 6: View game →Halo Infinite
Free2–24 online4 on one screenCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · Xbox
Halo Infinite: View game →Paladins
Free2–10 onlineCrossplay
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
2–18 online4 on one screen
One copy is enough to play together online.
No crossplay: everyone needs the same platform.
PC · PS4 · Xbox
Call of Duty: Black Ops III: View game →Arma 3
2–64 online
Splatoon 3
2–8 online
Fortnite
Free2–16 online2 on one screenCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch
Fortnite: View game →Valorant
Free2–10 onlineCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
You need voice chat to play.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
Valorant: View game →Halo 5: Guardians
2–16 online
Up to 16 online in the same match.
Each player needs their own copy.
Xbox
Halo 5: Guardians: View game →Gears of War 4
2–10 online2 on one screenCrossplay
Gears of War 3
Our pick
2–10 online2 on one screen
Gears of War 2
Our pick
2–10 online2 on one screen
Sports, racing and fighting
Most play on one screen with a single copy, like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Rocket League, so they work on the couch as well as online. Rocket League and Brawlhalla are free.
Start with: Brawlhalla, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Kart World and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Brawlhalla
Free2–8 online8 on one screenCrossplay
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Our pick
2–12 online4 on one screen
Mario Kart World
2–24 online4 on one screen
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Our pick
2–8 online8 on one screen
Rocket League
Free2–8 online4 on one screenCrossplay
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch
Rocket League: View game →Gran Turismo 7
2–16 online2 on one screen
Up to 2 on one screen with a single copy.
No crossplay: everyone needs the same platform.
PS5
Gran Turismo 7: View game →MLB The Show 26
2–3 online2 on one screenCrossplay
NHL 27
2–12 online4 on one screenCrossplay
College Football 27
2–3 online4 on one screenCrossplay
EA Sports UFC 6
2 online2 on one screenCrossplay
Crossplay between PlayStation and Xbox.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PS5 · Xbox
EA Sports UFC 6: View game →Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
2–8 online4 on one screen
Up to 4 on one screen with a single copy.
No crossplay: everyone needs the same platform.
PS4 · Xbox · Switch
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled: View game →Forza Horizon 5
Our pick
2–12 onlineCrossplay
Crossplay between PC, Xbox and PlayStation.
Each player needs their own copy.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
Forza Horizon 5: View game →Assetto Corsa
2–24 online
Up to 24 online in the same match.
No crossplay: everyone needs the same platform.
PC · PS4 · Xbox
Assetto Corsa: View game →Need for Speed Heat
2–16 onlineCrossplay
Crossplay between PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
Each player needs their own copy.
PC · PS4 · Xbox
Need for Speed Heat: View game →Stick Fight: The Game
2–4 online4 on one screen
One copy is enough to play together online.
No crossplay: everyone needs the same platform.
PC · PS4 · Xbox · Switch
Stick Fight: The Game: View game →Forza Horizon 6
2–12 onlineCrossplay
Crossplay between PC and Xbox.
Each player needs their own copy.
PC · Xbox
Forza Horizon 6: View game →Golf With Your Friends
2–12 online12 on one screen
One copy is enough to play together online.
No crossplay: everyone needs the same platform.
PC · PS4 · Xbox · Switch
Golf With Your Friends: View game →Guilty Gear Strive
2–8 online2 on one screenCrossplay
One copy is enough to play together online.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch
Guilty Gear Strive: View game →Tekken 7
2–8 online2 on one screen
One copy is enough to play together online.
No crossplay: everyone needs the same platform.
PC · PS4 · Xbox
Tekken 7: View game →EA Sports FC 26
2–11 online4 on one screenCrossplay
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
2 online2 on one screen
One copy is enough to play together online.
No crossplay: everyone needs the same platform.
PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero: View game →Tekken 8
Our pick
2–16 online2 on one screenCrossplay
Crossplay between PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
Tekken 8: View game →Rounds
2 online2 on one screenCrossplay
Dragon Ball FighterZ
2–8 online2 on one screen
One copy is enough to play together online.
No crossplay: everyone needs the same platform.
PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch
Dragon Ball FighterZ: View game →
Strategy, MOBAs and more
MOBAs like Dota 2 and League of Legends, strategy like Age of Empires II, party games like Mario Party Superstars and Among Us, and survival against other players like Rust and DayZ.
Start with: Dota 2, Garry's Mod, Rust, Among Us and Dead by Daylight.
Dota 2
Our pick
Free2–10 online
Garry's Mod
2–64 online
Rust
2–8 onlineCrossplay
Among Us
4–15 onlineCrossplay
Crossplay between PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch.
You need voice chat to play.
PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch
Among Us: View game →Dead by Daylight
2–5 onlineCrossplay
Crossplay between PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch.
Each player needs their own copy.
PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch
Dead by Daylight: View game →ARK: Survival Evolved
2–70 online2 on one screenCrossplay
Unturned
Free2–24 online
DayZ
2–60 online
Up to 60 online in the same match.
You need voice chat to play.
PC · PS4 · Xbox · Switch 2
DayZ: View game →Sea of Thieves
2–4 onlineCrossplay
Crossplay between PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
You need voice chat to play.
PC · PS5 · Xbox
Sea of Thieves: View game →Hearts of Iron IV
2–32 online
Super Mario Party Jamboree
2–8 online4 on one screen
Mario Party Superstars
2–4 online4 on one screen
Luigi's Mansion 3
2–8 online8 on one screen
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
2–4 online
Up to 4 online in the same match.
Each player needs their own copy.
Switch
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: View game →Pokémon Sword and Shield
2–4 online
Up to 4 online in the same match.
Each player needs their own copy.
Switch
Pokémon Sword and Shield: View game →Pokémon Unite
Free2–10 online
Super Mario Maker 2
2–4 online4 on one screen
League of Legends
Free2–10 online
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC
League of Legends: View game →Teamfight Tactics
Free2–8 online
Roblox
Free2–99 onlineCrossplay
World of Warcraft
2–30 online
Hearthstone
Free2–8 online
StarCraft II
Our pick
Free2–8 online
Free, so nobody in the group pays to join.
Demanding for someone who barely plays.
PC
StarCraft II: View game →Fall Guys
Free2–40 onlineCrossplay
Games are ordered by their Steam player reviews, and games that aren't on Steam (Nintendo, Riot, console-only games) sit among the most played.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best PvP games right now?
By player reviews, the top competitive multiplayer games are Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Rainbow Six Siege, Team Fortress 2 and Garry's Mod. The list has 163 in total, each with how many can play and between which platforms it has crossplay.
Are there free competitive games?
Yes, 32 of them, like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Rainbow Six Siege and Team Fortress 2. You download them and play without paying, even if they sell items inside.
Which competitive games have crossplay?
69 of the 163 have crossplay, like Rainbow Six Siege, Rust, PUBG: Battlegrounds and Apex Legends. Each card says between which platforms.
Are there competitive games to play on the same screen?
68 of them have split screen or a shared screen, like ARK: Survival Evolved, Call of Duty, Brawlhalla and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.