Best multiplayer games on Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass offers many single-player and multiplayer games for a small monthly fee compared to other subscription-based gaming services. If you're looking for some of the best multiplayer games on Xbox Game Pass, I have 10 awesome games you should definitely try with your friends.

Top 10 Co-Op and Multiplayer games on Xbox Game Pass

Valheim

Valheim is a massive action-survival game centered around defeating mythical bosses and countless enemies. With over seven biomes to explore, and especially with the upcoming Ashlands update, Valheim offers so much content in terms of crafting weapons and armor, tree-punching, and house-building.

Don't let the low polygon count fool you; the game is brimming with post effects, giving it a beautiful and unique charm. Although you can finish Valheim while playing solo, I find it a more enjoyable and fun experience to play with friends. With a full party of 10 players, you and your friends can efficiently rummage through the resources and defeat bosses quickly.

Sea of Thieves

If you want to experience the daily sea pirate life, then Sea of Thieves is the game for you and your friends. The main loop of Sea of Thieves is exploring vast oceans and islands while collecting loot to upgrade your ship or get cosmetics for your scurvy-riddled character.

In your adventures, you'll encounter multiple iconic enemies, such as the Kraken, Megalodons, and Pirate Ships. Ship combat is one of the best aspects of Sea of Thieves; think of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag in first person, but layered with multiple mechanics like hole-fixing, throwing a water-filled bucket, and much more. I say from experience this is a very fun game to play with friends.

Minecraft Legends

Minecraft Legends is an RTS game taking place in the pixelated and blocky world of arguably the most beloved game ever. I've never been a fan of spinoff Minecraft games, but Minecraft Legends struck me with its humble yet complex gameplay charm.

Minecraft Legends sports up to eight players in versus mode, while a campaign can have up to four players. Since the game's structure revolves around multitasking, gathering your friends is the best way to expedite the campaign experience. If you're feeling confident with your skills, you can play against your friends, delivering you endless hours of war and strategy-building.

Related: Minecraft Legends multiplayer not working – How to fix

Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise was originally a Nintendo Switch exclusive but is now on Xbox Game Pass as well. If you're new to the franchise, it's basically an action game with a focus on slaying humongous monsters and carving them for parts you can use to craft your weapons and armor.

Rise has a lot of mechanical differences compared to other iterations in the franchise. It blends both Monster Hunter: World's combat fluidity and Monster Hunter: Generations Ultimate's art style. This game will definitely take hundreds of hours to complete fully, especially if you're playing with your friends.

Grounded

Grounded is a stunningly creative survival game wherein you and your friends take control of shrunken children finding a way to restore themselves back to normal. Think of it as a modern-day version of a Bug's Life game.

What I love about Grounded is its big-brain mechanics, which you normally wouldn't think of as "logical" in a video game until you fill the shoes of ant-size humans. Combat is also very well thought out. It's one of those survival games where it's better to play with your friends than solo.

7 Days to Die

7 Days to Die is a hardcore post-apocalyptic survival-zombie game. Your first few playthroughs are going to be very challenging, if you don't know your way around the map or how to deal with the multitude of survival mechanics like hydration, temperature, hunger, and various status effects.

However, playing this with a full party of four players is a whole different experience, especially if you have someone who can help you maneuver through the early points of the game. I had a fun and engaging experience while playing with my friends, which proved to be one of the most in-depth multiplayer zombie survival games I have ever played.

Related: Where to find Antibiotics in 7 Days to Die

Forza Horizon 5/Forza Motorsport

Microsoft has been putting up bangers in the racing genre with Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Motorsport. I put these games in this entry because choosing between these two essentially depends on the player's taste.

If you're into an open-world and laid-back racing experience with an arcadey feel, you will go for Forza Horizon 5; for a more professional and realistic experience, Motorsport should be your pick. Both these games are fun to play with your friends, especially if everyone has a racing sim setup.

No Man's Sky

No Man's Sky was a laughing stock in the video gaming industry when it launched. Fast forward a few years since its release, and it has become one of the best multiplayer survival games to date. I did not believe in this game due to the myriad of controversies upon its release, but Hello Games took it up a notch and delivered on a redemption arc.

With over 18 quintillion planets to discover, you and your friends will never run out of places to explore and loot. If you're concerned about the game's narrative and story, you don't have to; No Man's Sky is a one-of-a-kind game that speaks for itself. The story is about you and your friends venturing off to unknown planets in the galaxy.

Battlefield 2042

Battlefield 2042 is another game that had a shaky start, but developer DICE stepped up their game and added content, fixed bugs, and so much more. With over 128 players in a single lobby, you can expect you and your friends can team up in different squads to take on the enemies on a colossal map.

The game has matured quite a lot throughout its life cycle and now provides a strong multiplayer experience; it's something I would definitely recommend for a massive multiplayer FPS game.

Wild Hearts

Wild Hearts has an amazing concept and multiple mechanics that separate it from the Monster Hunter franchise. One of the best mechanics in Wild Hearts is the Karakuri system; players can utilize it to build towers and various structures to help them engage in their fights against the Kemonos. Think of it as the building mechanic that made Fortnite a stand-out and everlasting battle royale game.

The Karakuri structures help players maneuver around the battlefield, grant them special attacks, or even block specific Kemono attacks. The mechanical complexity of the Karakuri system makes me fall in love with Wild Hearts as it breathes fresh air into the same formula that Monster Hunter has been going with for the past two decades.

The game has its downfalls: the technical performance on both PC and consoles leaves much to be desired. However, it doesn't take the fun away from the game. Wild Hearts gets a high recommendation from me if you and your friends are looking for a Monster Hunter-like alternative in Xbox Game Pass.

For more game guides in the massive library of the Xbox Game Pass, check out the 8 Best Roguelike Games on Xbox Game Pass on Pro Game Guides.