While single-player narrative campaigns and RPGs take focus in game-of-the-year talks, multiplayer games are just as important to play and respect in the medium. Ultimately, gaming is even better with someone else, and the best multiplayer games of 2024 all made the base campaigns even better with the community.
In order to be counted, the game had to have been playable in the calendar year of 2024 in either 1.0 or Early Access. We also didn’t include multiplayer competitive games like MOBAs or FPS or even the continuously updated battle royales.
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Finally, the game or the co-op/multiplayer mode had to have been new to the market or a new expansion to be considered the best multiplayer game of 2024. In short, this list is all about the even better games with cooperative play. Without further ado, here are the best multiplayer games of 2024.
10. Death Note: Killer Within
Developer: Bandai Namco Entertainment, Grounding Inc.
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
When it comes to anime games, I have wanted more. I have wanted more variety when it comes to taking on a series that goes beyond a fighter, and, more importantly, I’ve wanted to see the ethos of a property showcased. This year, Death Note: Killer Within didn’t give us an arena fighter or play-by-play of the titular anime series. Instead, it gave players (and fans) a social sim. Probably the smartest way to gamify the Death Note IP, Death Note: Killer Within tackles the genre that Among Us popularized but adds the specific shonen spin that you can only find with, well, Kira.
With two teams of players (of up to 10), each person has a role to play as they work with each other as a part of L’s team to find Kira, or they work with Kira as his followers to kill the investigators. A little bit like Among Us and a lot a bit like the board game Secret Hitler, this is one more people should have been talking about in 2024.
9. Super Mario Party Jamboree
Developer: Nintendo Cube
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch
“Super Mario Party Jamboree is a game best played with others. You can play online against random opponents or locally against friends. There is the option to play versus the computer, but the AI characters don’t give the same challenge as human opponents. Playing against the computer is still perfectly enjoyable, but there is just something extra special about knowing you are taking stars away from a real, live human being.
Super Mario Party Jamboree is chaotic fun for the whole family and is the best of what Mario Party has to offer. Unique minigames, fun maps, and the opportunity for a new experience every time make this an all-time Switch classic that everyone should check out.” —Kyle Foley
7. Tekken 8
Developer: Bandai Namco Studios Arika
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
“Tekken 8 offers great gameplay through precise controls, gorgeous visuals, and audio that energizes the player. Combined with a bevy of play options, this game offers a tremendous amount of gameplay to both new and old fans of the series, as well as the fighting as a whole. With only a couple of minor hiccups, Bandai Namco has unleashed a monster onto the fighting game scene. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for fist to meet fate.” —Charles Hartford
8. Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
Developer: Square Enix Business Division 5
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
“In 2024, Final Fantasy XIV made a concerted effort to reinvest in its multiplayer/co-op offerings. While Endwalker was marked by attention on the solo player, Naoki Yoshida has talked extensively about Dawntrial, bringing back a focus to the multiplayer part of MMORPG. One of the key elevations that came with Dawntrail was a deepening of mechanics in dungeons and, ultimately, in the new Raid series.
You couldn’t just vibe. You had to pay attention, play a role, and learn. Shout out to Mountain Fire, which is finally giving Tanks something big to do in Valigrimanda Extreme. Then, of course, there is chaos. With the new 24-man Alliance raid added with the 7.1 Crossroads patch, XIV has shown a renewed focus in multiplayer content that makes it a must.” —Kate Sanchez
5. Helldivers 2
Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
“Right now, Helldivers 2 is an easy game to recommend. It’s fun solo, even better in multiplayer, and feels worth it at its price point. The gunplay is fantastic, the gameplay loop is satisfying, and the reward progression is consistent. Its live service plans are its biggest question moving forward, but right now, Helldivers 2 is a ton of fun. It really captures the old-school couch co-op madness that I felt with the original back in Korea, and I’m excited to keep bringing democracy to the galaxy.” —Matt Sowinski
5. World of Warcraft: The War Within
Developer: Blizzard
Publisher: Activision Blizzard
Platform: PC
“So much more good could be said about World of Warcraft: The War Within. This is the expansion that fans have wanted for years. It’s, in essence, Blizzard firing on all cylinders. Everything here, from world content to delves, is a great addition that proves its worth so far. Even the story is incredibly executed in ways that we’ve imagined the story being told since The Wrathgate back in Wrath of the Lich King. If this is how The Worldsoul Saga is kicking off, then this new WoW era will be its best yet. And if you’re thinking about returning to Azeroth, there is seriously no better time because the game is just that good again.” —Mick Abrahamson
4. Marvel Rivals
Developer: NetEase Games, Marvel Entertainment
Publisher: NetEase Games
Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
“Marvel Rivals is fantastic. Everything runs smoothly with a fantastic core gameplay loop. The characters are varied and a blast to use, with a play style available for everyone and a hero they love or can fall in love with. It takes a foundation people know and makes it its own. If NetEase Games can deliver a constant stream of heroes, levels, and modes, Marvel Rivals has everything it needs to succeed.” —Matt Sowinski
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: ActivisionBlizzard
Platform: PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
“The small tweaks make Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 stand out. The most noticeable update is the new maps. Each map is unique and created to encourage a variety of gameplay styles. Some, like Payback, are designed for close-quarters fighting. This pushes players to use smaller guns with faster rates of fire and creates an intense, chaotic game experience. Others, like Red Card, feature long-rage sections that are great for using larger rifles or snipers.
What makes Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 stand out is the small tweaks. The most noticeable update is the new maps. Each map is unique and created to encourage a variety of gameplay styles. Some, like Payback, are designed for close-quarters fighting. This pushes players to use smaller guns with faster rates of fire and creates an intense, chaotic game experience. Others, like Red Card, feature long-rage sections that are great for using larger rifles or snipers.” —Kyle Foley
2. EA Sports College Football 25
Developer: EA Sports
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
“The return of college football video games means the return of everyone’s favorite friendship tester; Online Dynasty. Online Dynasty in EA SPORTS College Football 25 is the perfect way to see which of your friends can lead their college football program the best in the hunt for the national title. As fun as it is to build your program and compete for the championship, the real fun is bringing friends back together after a decade-long wait.
Online Dynasty has rekindled old friendships and helped form new ones. It’ sthe perfect way for couch coaches to see who really knows the most about college football and can deliver on all the trash talk they’ve spent years perfecting. Planning around player vs. player games is a serious event, something many have turned into an in-person weekend hangout instead of just an online game. It manages to capture the joy of college football and the competitiveness of multiplayer gaming all in one excellent package.” —Kyle Foley
1. Path of Exile 2 (Early Access)
Developer: Grinding Gear Games
Publisher: Grinding Gear Games
Platform: PC
“There isn’t much of anything that holds back POE2 Co-Op. From trading to battles and balancing, it seems the developers at Grinding Gear Games have put a concerted effort into ensuring that the experience doesn’t shift significantly across solo play and co-op. That’s important because it ensures that the players, regardless of their preference, can explore the way that fits them. Player power is alive and well when it comes to Co-Op.” —Kate Sanchez
So that’s it for our best multiplayer games of 2024! From the cozy to the fantastical, there are many reasons to pick up these games. Picking our best multiplayer games of 2024 wasn’t easy, so if we missed one of your favorites this year, let us know on social media: @butwhytho.net on Bluesky.
When available, the blurbs for The Best Multiplayer Games of 2024 list were taken from previously posted reviews of the films. Otherwise, they were written for the film by the critic who voted it highest.
