Best 2025 Video Games for multiplayer design

#1 Borderlands 4
5.0

Multiplayer design has limited but strong positive evidence for frictionless shared play design.

Pros: movement feel, loot system

Cons: performance optimization, narrative quality

#2 Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
5.0

Multiplayer design was positive where local split-screen support was tested, though related evidence also notes 30 fps compromises.

Pros: combat system, character roster

Cons: level design, mission design

#3 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
4.9

Asynchronous multiplayer is one of the clearest strengths, making players feel connected through structures, roads, likes, and shared effort.

Pros: narrative quality, combat system

Cons: difficulty balance, weapon balance

#4 Capcom Fighting Collection 2
4.6

Multiplayer design is a major strength, especially online/local play, lobbies, and chaotic Power Stone-style group play.

Pros: content variety, value for money

Cons: cross-play support, competitive balance

#5 Arc Raiders
4.5

Reviewers consistently emphasized that Arc Raiders’ PvPvE structure creates unpredictable, social, and often hopeful multiplayer moments.

Pros: sound design, combat system

Cons: voice acting, menu usability

#6 Anno 117: Pax Romana
4.5

Cooperative and competitive modes add worthwhile variety, and the flexible structure makes shared empire-building especially appealing.

Pros: fun factor, graphics quality

Cons: learning curve, bug frequency

#7 Split Fiction
4.5

Multiplayer design was praised for fitting the exclusively co-op approach and supporting differing skill levels.

Pros: co-op experience, content variety

Cons: writing quality, narrative quality

#8 Battlefield 6
4.4

multiplayer design was the strongest consensus positive, praised as layered, chaotic, and highly replayable.

Pros: multiplayer design, sound design

Cons: narrative quality, map and navigation design

#9 Kirby Air Riders
4.3

Multiplayer was usually praised as the game's happy place, especially with groups, though Stadium splitting and missing Grand Prix-style structure drew complaints.

Pros: battle mode quality, content variety

Cons: learning curve, competitive balance

#10 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
4.3

Multiplayer is the strongest and most consistently praised pillar. The map pool, responsive gunplay, movement options, modes, and playlist changes make it one of the better recent Call of Duty...

Pros: multiplayer design, level design

Cons: fun factor, narrative quality

#11 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
4.3

Multiplayer design was generally praised for returning modes, HAWK mode, Graffiti, and arcade competition, with some playlist and choice caveats.

Pros: level design, remake/remaster quality

Cons: soundtrack quality, mission design

#12 Monster Hunter Wilds
4.2

Multiplayer design was broadly positive, especially once connected, though some reviewers noted restrictions and setup friction.

Pros: combat system, narrative quality

Cons: difficulty balance, endgame content

#13 Sniper Elite: Resistance
4.2

Axis Invasion is often the standout, turning missions into tense contests against another sniper. No Cross also earns praise, while ordinary deathmatches and trap-heavy lobbies have more limited or uneven...

Pros: overall quality, level design

Cons: innovation, mission design

#14 Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
4.1

Multiplayer design is considered solid overall, with ranked, casual, room matches, and online basics, though it depends on players gelling with the systems.

Pros: content variety, gameplay mechanics

Cons: learning curve, user interface design

#15 Donkey Kong Bananza
4.0

Multiplayer design appears intentionally support-oriented, with the available two-player mode fitting parent-child play best.

Pros: fun factor, world interactivity

Cons: frame rate stability, boss design

#16 Pokémon Legends: Z-A
4.0

Multiplayer design received positive evidence after a patch made battle rewards more directly useful.

Pros: combat system, exploration quality

Cons: graphics quality, voice acting

#17 Marathon
3.9

Multiplayer is aggressively PvP-focused, with trios, solo play, and emerging duo options producing very different experiences. Squad play can be excellent, while solo and mismatched team sizes expose some of...

Pros: fun factor, loot system

Cons: difficulty balance, quest design

#18 Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
3.7

Ranked, rooms, tournaments, spectating, and local versus provide a solid competitive framework, though missing casual matchmaking or awkward room-focused choices bother some players.

Pros: remake/remaster quality, combat system

Cons: content variety, character customization

#19 Mario Kart World Review
3.3

Multiplayer design was split: local play and friend sessions were praised, but online grouping, public Knockout Tour with friends, and mode limitations drew criticism.

Pros: content variety, soundtrack quality

Cons: open-world design, exploration quality

#20 Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted
3.3

Local co-op and versus broaden the classic formula and can be excellent with another player. The lack of proper online multiplayer is one of the most repeated missed opportunities, especially...

Pros: fun factor, remake/remaster quality

Cons: graphics quality, soundtrack quality

#21 Civilization VII
3.2

Multiplayer worked smoothly for one reviewer and had useful age/session ideas, but others noted launch feature limits or platform restrictions.

Pros: fun factor, economy and resource balance

Cons: progression system, user interface design

#22 Elden Ring Nightreign
3.1

Multiplayer design was ambitious but divisive, thriving with coordinated teams and struggling with strangers or limited communication.

Pros: co-op experience, fun factor

Cons: difficulty balance, social features

#23 Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
2.8

Multiplayer is the clearest recurring weakness: some fun is acknowledged, but reviewers cite limits, time gates, and afterthought design.

Pros: core gameplay loop, narrative quality

Cons: crafting system, multiplayer design

#24 Battlefield REDSEC
2.3

Playlist design is the most repeated structural complaint: many players want a Solos option, and random squadmates can make coordination frustrating. A smaller group likes the enforced squad focus.

Pros: fun factor, battle mode quality

Cons: multiplayer design, replay value

#25 Little Nightmares III
1.8

Multiplayer design was criticized for online-only limits, no drop-in switching, and difficult co-op setup despite the feature’s prominence.

Pros: atmosphere, faithfulness to franchise

Cons: puzzle design, co-op experience

#26 Football Manager 26
1.0

Multiplayer was hit especially hard by bugs and crashes in the reports that tested it, making network saves far less dependable than the single-player experience.

Pros: gameplay mechanics, animation quality

Cons: user interface design, bug frequency