The 25 best multiplayer PC games ranked in 2026

Timeless gameplay is what online PC games are all about. It's the only way to keep them relevant over the course of several years and even decades. However, the regular release of new content is equally important, as that's what keeps players coming back for more. Titles that manage to do so consistently and effectively can be proudly referred to as the best multiplayer PC games in 2026! Wondering which titles have truly stood the harsh test of time or managed to beat tough competition to reach the top? 

What are the best multiplayer games as of 2026?

Whether you're into fast-paced gunfights or epic fantasy adventures with swords and dragons, we've got you covered. Our ranking of the 25 best multiplayer games on PC covers a diverse range of genres. Of course, our ranking is subjective, so you might disagree with some of our choices. Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments!

25. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege (Included with PC Game Pass and Ubisoft+)

The Rainbow Six series has always delivered a tactical experience reminiscent of the SWAT franchise, focusing on careful planning, coordination, and high-stakes engagements. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege evolves that formula by blending tactical gameplay with faster, more intense round-based action, while still staying true to its roots. Players take on the role of elite Rainbow operators, a highly trained counter-terrorism unit deployed only in the most critical situations, where precision and teamwork make the difference between success and failure.

There are three main multiplayer modes in the game. TDM-Hostage puts players in the roles of hostage "defenders" and attackers. TDM-Secure Area works similarly, but you defend/take over a special room. TDM-Bomb makes you either defuse a bomb or let it explode. Numerous operators and tons of new content (events!) make the game as enjoyable as the day it was released. 

The game is available on PC Game Pass. It's a Microsoft subscription service, allowing its users to take advantage of an ever-growing library of titles. Below, you can see the best offers for a 1-month membership.

However, you can also snag the game via Ubisoft+!

24. War Thunder

War Thunder is the way to go if you are looking for great WW2 games that are available for free. It allows players to participate in historical battles from that period and beyond. Unlike other vehicular combat titles, this one allows you to control not only ground vehicles but also units from the navy and the air force.

Victory depends on the effective coordination between land, air, and naval forces. The game aims for realism through graphics based on real-world locations as well as through complex physics and damage systems. Forget giant health bars slowly ticking down. In War Thunder, a single well-placed shot can end everything instantly: detonating ammunition, knocking out crew, or disabling critical components like engines and turrets. Battles become less about attrition and more about positioning, timing, and knowing exactly where to strike.

Just when one would think the battlefield couldn’t get any more chaotic, Gaijin has teased an experimental infantry mode. On paper, it feels almost out of place in a game dominated by tanks, aircraft, and naval artillery, but that’s exactly what makes it interesting. Infantry would be fragile, exposed, and often overwhelmed… yet at the right moment, a small squad slipping through the chaos could become the most dangerous force on the map.

23. The Elder Scrolls Online

Can't wait for a new installment in the main series, and you’ve also seen everything that Skyrim has to offer? The MMORPG edition of this phenomenal franchise takes place hundreds of years before we begin our journey as the Dragonborn. It features a gripping storyline that stands alongside the best single-player TES experiences. Plus, it is frequently flooded with new DLCs (for example, High Isle) that provide hours upon hours of additional content.

Beyond its story-driven quests, The Elder Scrolls Online offers plenty of reasons to group up with other players. From challenging dungeons and epic trials to faction-based PvP wars involving hundreds of participants, there's always another adventure waiting for you and your friends. After all, saving Tamriel is more fun when you're not doing all the work yourself.

22. Dune: Awakening

Welcome to Arrakis, where water is scarce, temperatures are brutal, you forgot your sunscreen, and giant sandworms are constantly lurking beneath the sand, waiting to ruin your day. But the real danger comes from other people, all trying to survive the endless political struggle between powerful Houses. Dune: Awakening throws a lot at you, but if you give it time, it rewards you with a truly immersive experience.

At its core, the game is a large-scale survival MMO. You begin with almost nothing and then gradually scavenge resources, craft equipment, and build a base while trying not to become worm food.

But this is where Dune: Awakening becomes more than just another survival game. Beyond crafting and exploration lies a living political struggle centered around the most valuable resource in the galaxy: Spice. Players aren't merely fighting for loot: they're competing for territory, power, and influence. 

The result is a multiplayer experience that feels bigger than your typical sandbox. Between faction conflicts, shifting alliances, and constant competition for resources, Arrakis has a way of making you genuinely care about your place in the world. At least until you accidentally attract a sandworm and discover that, in the grand scheme of things, you're still very much on the menu.

21. ARK: Survival Ascended (Included with PC Game Pass)

Dinosaurs. Seemingly ancient, yet still stuck in Early Access. All jokes aside, ARK: Survival Ascended is sort of a remaster of Survival Evolved, created with Unreal Engine 5’s tech.

As suggested by the title, it’s your usual survival game, in which you start a new life on an island inhabited by dinosaurs and other creatures. This refreshed version features a new physics system (dynamic water, destructive buildings, etc.), and the developers are still working on improving it. Hopefully, they’ll succeed—currently, it’s struggling with serious technical issues. If they get fixed, who knows, maybe it’ll emerge as one of the best multiplayer games in 2026… given its popularity, the potential seems to be there. Optimization aside, the gameplay is very fun. And it has dinosaurs—everyone loves dinosaurs.

20. Rust

Rust is another example of an online multiplayer PC game that places survivalist-wannabes in a less-than-welcoming environment. You wake up in a post-apocalyptic world carrying only a stone and a torch.

You'll soon discover that competing against other players is necessary to stay alive. And there's a lot to fight for! Food, water, along with items collected along the way are all lost when you are killed. High risk, high reward, as some like to say. You'd think that after more than a decade on the market, Rust would finally be slowing down, but it's not.

In fact, this year has brought some of the biggest changes in the game's history thanks to the massive Naval Update. We're talking tropical islands, fully customizable boats, stranded ghost ships packed with loot, and even entire floating cities waiting to be explored.

Sure, some hardcore land-loving survivors weren't exactly thrilled about the increased focus on maritime gameplay. But when an update lets players sail across the ocean in search of treasure, danger, and fresh ways to get ambushed by strangers, it's hard to complain too much. Love it or hate it, Rust remains very much alive, kicking, and finding new ways to ruin your day.

If you can't get enough of the struggle, check out these other notable survival games.

19. Team Fortress 2

This game is 18 years old now, so you might be wondering whether it's still worth playing today. It certainly is! Since its release as part of Valve's The Orange Box, it has changed a bit, but its balanced class gameplay never got old.

It may not look like that in 2026, but back in the day, before Overwatch and other similar games came out, the title stood out with its crisp look. Team Fortress 2 also began the trend of hero shooters, which is still going strong with Apex or Valorant. Moreover, it offered customization that became mainstream several years later.

The thing that impresses me the most, though, is that the game still has an active community after nearly two decades. That's a testament to just how strong its core design is. Plenty of shooters have come and gone since 2007, but few can match the charm, personality, and endlessly fun gameplay of Team Fortress 2.

18. Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play 6v6 hero shooter developed by NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel. It brings heroes as well as villains from across the Marvel universe together in one of the best multiplayer games on PC where teamwork, abilities, and pure comic-book chaos take center stage.

I know what you're thinking: there are already plenty of hero shooters out there, so why bother with this one?

The answer is simple: no other game in the genre can pull from Marvel’s roster like this. Marvel Rivals lets you build the kind of team compositions that used to live only in “what if” conversations on the playground. One match might have Spider-Man swinging through chaos while Hulk turns teammates into living projectiles and Iron Man deletes half the map from orbit. And then there is the synergy system. Heroes don’t just fight alongside each other; they actively break the rules together. Combined abilities create devastating team-up attacks that easily change the outcome, if you and your friends can pull them off.

17. PUBG

Here's one of the first Battle Royales that made it big. Maybe it's not as popular as it used to, but it still provides solid gunplay that we can wholeheartedly recommend.

The BR system ensures that the players are always on the run, as the area you can traverse gets smaller and smaller. After the match, only one survivor remains on the map. Winning requires you to strategize your actions rather than launch a gung-ho attack on competitors. Later on, other shooter developers adopted this idea, like, say, Warzone. 

PUBG isn't standing still though. The game has continued to experiment with major updates and map variations, including ERANGEL: SUBZERO, a winter-themed version of its most iconic battleground that transformed familiar locations into a much colder survival experience, alongside newer gameplay systems like destructible terrain that add a new layer of tactical depth to firefights.

16. Rocket League

Rocket League is pretty versatile, as it offers both single-player and multiplayer modes. The latter comes in the form of both online and split-screen play. Another appealing feature of this unusual car game is that it's also free, which makes it one of the best party games around. Entertainment and leisure don't have to be expensive.

The premise is simple yet amusing: soccer but with cars instead of your regular midfielders, strikers, and goalkeepers. Additionally, you can customize your vehicle any way you want and show off your unique sense of style to your rivals.

However, beneath that simplicity lies a surprisingly deep and skill-driven experience. Aerial hits, boost management, wall plays, and precise positioning turn every match into a fast-paced blend of strategy and reflexes. What starts as “tiny cars playing soccer” quickly evolves into a highly competitive, almost sport-like experience where mechanical mastery makes all the difference.

It’s clearly not a short-lived gimmick either. Years after release, Rocket League still maintains a massive active community, powered by seasonal updates, events, and a steady stream of new content. With Epic continuing to evolve the game and a major Unreal Engine 6 upgrade expected in the future, it’s safe to say this is one arena that isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

15. Minecraft (Included with PC Game Pass)

What would YouTube be like today if Minecraft never became popular? It's one of those multiplayer games on Steam that even older generations have heard of - and it's a world of endless possibilities! You just have to get used to its dated (but still very charming) visuals, and you can explore to your heart's content! The title has supported RTX since 2020, and to be honest, it looks stunning with ray tracing.

There's a reason this game is still actively streamed, and mark our words - taking a "short trip" in Minecraft with a bunch of friends is doomed to turn into an all-nighter. Since it's included with PC Game Pass, you can put that statement to the test and see for yourself.

14. Valorant (Included with Game Pass)

Our selection of the best multiplayer games on PC wouldn't be complete without Valorant. It's a showdown between two teams of five, with attackers trying to plant a bomb and defenders stopping their plans. Each round is short, intense, and often decided by split-second decisions, precise aim, or smart positioning.

What sets Valorant apart from other shooters is its roster of unique agents, each bringing distinct playstyles and abilities to the battlefield. From vision-blocking smokes and recon tools to teleportation and area denial, these skills add a layer of tactical depth that goes beyond pure gunplay. Still, raw aim remains just as important, meaning no ability will save you from a poorly taken duel.

Another key layer comes from its economy system. At the start of each round, players earn credits based on performance, which are then spent on weapons, shields, and abilities. Every buy becomes a gamble: invest heavily to dominate the current round, or hold back and risk falling behind later when the stakes are higher.

13. Path of Exile 2

Dark, brutal, and requiring at least a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics to fully understand its synergy systems, Path of Exile 2 remains one of the most complex, and arguably one of the best multiplayer PC games around, especially for masochists or people who genuinely enjoy looking at spreadsheets.

Don't get me wrong: the game is fantastic solo, offering a lengthy campaign, mountains of loot, and an endgame capable of consuming entire weekends. But it's in multiplayer where things become truly fascinating.

Path of Exile 2 practically encourages players to become amateur mathematicians together. Every skill, modifier, and passive can interact with dozens of others, creating builds so bizarre and powerful that half the fun is figuring out why they work in the first place.

Few multiplayer RPGs offer this level of depth. Every co-op session feels less like a dungeon crawl and more like a collaborative research project where the goal is to break the game before the game breaks you.

12. Roblox

Next in our lineup is one that encourages your creativity to run wild, and it's not even Minecraft! As much as that title inspires players to explore and build, you’re not creating a new game there. In Roblox, that's the essence of the gameplay.

As in Nintendo’s Super Mario Maker series, you can either play in one of the worlds created by other players or take the lead and build your own. The game boasts millions of user-created experiences, so whether you're into hilarious obstacle courses, complex simulators, or full-blown role-playing games, Roblox offers an almost endless stream of constantly evolving community content.

Speaking of community, Roblox has long grown beyond just a game. You’ll find an endless amount of YouTube content created inside its worlds, from comedic roleplays to cinematic stories and viral challenges. It has become less of a single experience and more of a creative platform where players don’t just consume content: they constantly build it.

11. Destiny 2

Another post-apocalyptic vision of humanity? We can't help it, game developers love to explore this idea. As one of the so-called "Guardians", you protect people from various dangers in this FPP shooter. Choose one of three different classes, pick your favorite gear, and engage in a looter-shooter fest.

If you've already played other games of this genre, you know that there's usually a huge pool of items and weapons to get, which will surely keep you hooked for a while. Is the end nigh for this seven-year-old title? It doesn't seem like it, because Bungie's latest and "last" update brought back its players!

Of course, saving the universe is never truly finished, so Destiny 2 is back with an expansion, Renegades. This time, players are thrown into the Lawless Frontier, an uncharted region of space where syndicates and rival factions are locked in a constant struggle for control.

Think less “hero of humanity,” more “guns-for-hire caught in a galactic turf war.” And if you’ve ever wanted Destiny to lean a bit more into a space western identity, with cowboys in orbit and strong Star Wars-inspired vibes, Renegades fully embraces that frontier-style chaos. This and even more DLCs are included in the brand-new Destiny 2: The Collection.

10. World of Warcraft

Has the king fallen? Not necessarily. WoW is still a great game overall, and it certainly maintains its status as a cultural phenomenon. It's the MMORPG that everyone in the community is familiar with, and it's still being updated and expanded on a regular basis.

Need evidence? Not too long ago, Midnight launched as the latest WoW expansion, offering an unprecedented level of freedom when it comes to, well, decorating your fantasy home in Azeroth! Yes, the expansion introduced long-requested player housing, finally allowing us to truly feel at home in WoW.

But if you're here for more than interior design, don’t worry; there’s plenty of traditional MMO action too. You can push your character to new heights with a raised level cap of 90, take on fresh raids, explore reimagined and entirely new zones, and even unlock a new neutral race: the mysterious Haranir.

9. Grand Theft Auto V (GTA Online)

Undeniably, Grand Theft Auto Online stands out as one of the best multiplayer PC games. Its massive open-world environment is like a playground where you can wreak havoc with your pals.

Team up or go head-to-head with other players while exploring the city, pulling off heists, completing various missions, or just causing trouble. While we await the release of the sixth entry to the series, GTA V's solid online component ensures there's no shortage of action in the meantime.

Rockstar absolutely understands this, giving us the Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Edition as a free update for PC and most recently consoles, which includes improved graphics, a range of performance enhancements, and of course… plenty of new vehicles.

8. Final Fantasy XIV

We haven't included a Japanese take on the MMORPG genre yet, so here you go. Final Fantasy XIV is practically another FF entry that happens to be multiplayer. This was meticulously crafted for the story to be engaging, and the gameplay is as good as in the single-player entries in the series.

Once you progress in the game, you will be able to change classes and jobs. You need to unlock new classes first, but the effort is worth it nonetheless! Finally, there are hundreds of hours that you can spend in the game—especially with new expansions like Endwalker and the ongoing Dawntrail cycle, which continues to grow through major updates such as patch 7.4, adding new story content, raids, and quality-of-life improvements.

7. League of Legends (Included with PC Game Pass)

League is hands-down one of the best free multiplayer games around. While its community has a reputation for being competitive and occasionally vocally challenging, the game itself remains a cornerstone of the esports scene, and watching a good match can feel just as exciting as watching an adrenaline-pumping match in a "regular" sport.

Choose your champion and engage in 5v5 battles in one of the most popular MOBA titles of all time. With over 150 unique champions to choose from, no two matches feel the same. Whether you prefer leading the charge as a tank, eliminating priority targets as an assassin, or supporting your team from the backline, League offers a playstyle for virtually everyone.

However, it's not just the massive roster that has kept League of Legends relevant for so many years. Beneath its relatively simple premise lies an enormous amount of strategic depth. Success requires much more than quick reflexes; you'll need to coordinate with teammates, secure objectives, manage resources, and constantly adapt to an evolving battlefield. The basics are easy to learn, but true mastery can take hundreds of hours, which is precisely why so many players keep coming back for "just one more match."

6. Helldivers 2

In terms of sheer popularity, Helldivers 2 is one of the biggest surprises, and a game that will surely have many co-op enthusiasts pull an all-nighter. Or two. Compared to its predecessor, it offers a completely different perspective on the galactic conflict, and it seems that this quite risky move has paid off for the devs.

After all, Helldivers 2 will definitely end up being among the most popular online games in 2026: it’s safe to assume this, even though the end of the year is still far away. The Starship Troopers vibe practically oozes from the screen, with intense bug extermination that will keep your finger glued to the trigger (and eyes to the screen) for countless hours.

And of course, the devs are constantly working to bring us even more chaos with updates and story arcs such as Machinery of Oppression, which brings players face-to-face with the returning, highly organized Cyborg forces. It also introduces new industrial warzones and expands the Galactic War progression, pushing the conflict to an even larger scale.

5. Call of Duty: Warzone

The Call of Duty franchise has definitely had its ups and downs over the years, but its Battle Royale experiment turned out to be a major turning point. I still remember when Warzone first dropped and suddenly everyone was dropping into Verdansk like it was a second job.

Warzone 2.0 initially tried to shake things up with reworked movement, updated mechanics, and a refreshed take on large-scale combat, building on what made the original mode so addictive in the first place. Over time, though, it has evolved into the unified Call of Duty: Warzone, a constantly updated live-service platform that pulls in new seasons, maps, weapons, and content across the entire Call of Duty ecosystem.

At its core, it’s still a classic Battle Royale: drop in, loot up, survive, repeat. But what keeps it relevant is the sheer pace of updates, shifting metas, and those chaotic large-scale firefights where anything can (and usually does) go south.

Love it or hate it, Warzone remains one of the most recognizable and influential entries in the entire genre.

4. ARC Raiders

If any household appliance has ever made you angry (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t had a printer betray them at the worst possible moment), ARC Raiders finally lets you get your revenge on machines. This time, however, we’re talking about something a little less harmless than a stubborn inkjet. The world is filled with massive, heavily armed robotic threats roaming a hostile landscape, waiting to turn your squad’s carefully planned extraction into a disaster.

Because, at its core, ARC Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter. Interestingly, it’s one that didn’t really try to reinvent the genre, but still managed to become one of the most talked-about online multiplayer PC experiences. That's due in no small part to the constant tension: other squads hunting the same loot, firefights breaking out over scraps, and the constant fear that someone is waiting just around the corner.

Soon, the real problem shows up: a towering robotic war machine entering the battlefield and instantly turning every confident plan into a survival decision. Suddenly it’s no longer about winning fights. It’s about deciding whether players want to stand their ground, greedily grab all the loot from other players, or just leave with whatever limbs are still attached.

3. Dota 2

Another League-like title makes it into the top ten! We're talking, of course, about Dota 2! All of the game's heroes are available from the start, which is a huge advantage over Riot's MOBA. On the other hand, none of them can be a jack of all trades; they are good at one aspect but lacking in others.

This fact changes your approach. Even though you can choose any hero you want, you have to know what you're getting into. Otherwise, it won't be a successful match. The game doesn't have as big an audience as Riot's title, but Valve can't say nobody's playing their masterpiece. It's a bit more challenging, but it gives you a lot of room to grow as a player, and that's why it's so high on the list.

So, if you're looking for a multiplayer title with near-endless strategic depth and years of room for improvement, Dota 2 should definitely be on your gaming radar. Just don't be surprised if learning the game occasionally requires the same mindset you'd bring to a spreadsheet, a textbook, and a doctoral thesis. For some players, that's a warning, but for Dota fans, it's a selling point.

2. Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 should feel right at home for those who've been grinding CS:GO for hours. This fresh installment from Valve's online shooter series comes with a bunch of tweaks: a new engine, prettier graphics, dynamic smoke grenades, and reworked maps, to name a few.

While it may not be the most groundbreaking addition to new multiplayer games on PC, its timeless formula is undeniably addictive: two teams, one objective, and virtually no room for mistakes. Every round can be decided by a single well-placed headshot, clever strategy, or perfectly timed utility usage, creating a level of tension few multiplayer games can match. Better yet, it's completely free-to-play, allowing anyone to jump into the action without spending a cent.

Don't mistake that accessibility for simplicity, though. Beneath the straightforward premise lies one of the deepest competitive experiences in gaming. Players spend hundreds, if not thousands of hours mastering recoil patterns, grenade lineups, and map knowledge, all so that, when the moment finally arrives, a single smoke grenade can bounce across half the map and land exactly where it's needed. Few multiplayer games reward preparation, precision, and teamwork quite like Counter-Strike 2.

1. Fortnite

Like it or not, Fortnite is a global phenomenon that continues to enjoy astonishing popularity. Even your grandmother has probably heard the name somewhere. The game's building aspect sets it apart from other BRs on this list, allowing for some camping. 

It's over the top and has a cartoony look that even Team Fortress 2 can't compete with. It's totally unapologetic when it comes to atmosphere. It's a bit of a chaotic bloodfest with lots of jumping, looting, and absolute fun. The frequent collaborations with cult series like Marvel and My Hero Academia, along with pop culture icons and celebrity skins based on real-world stars, have made it even more iconic. After all, where else can you see Kim Kardashian, Spider-Man, Eminem, and Jinx from Arcane fighting it out in a chaotic free-for-all for survival?

What are the best Steam multiplayer games?

Some gamers may be upset to see Epic Games' goldmine at the top of the list. But don't let this victory overshadow the fact that you can discover the vast majority of the best multiplayer games on Steam. No matter what setting or type of gameplay you prefer, the most popular PC platform offers a spectacularly wide variety. If you're open to trying them out, one of them will surely cast its love spell on you.

It's not just recent releases that will entice you with addictive gameplay and massive communities. Despite the passing of the years and the arrival of new competitors, titles like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG: Battlegrounds continue to dominate player counts and maintain their positions among the most-played games on Steam.

At the same time, newer entries are quickly climbing the ranks and shaking up the scene. Games like ARC Raiders show that fresh multiplayer experiences can still break through, offering intense cooperative action alongside the long-standing giants of the genre.

 

And with that, we conclude our list of the best multiplayer games PC can offer. As you may have noticed, many of them aren't new, but their value can be seen in their timelessness. If we forgot to include your favorite, please let us know in the comments.