10 Best Multiplayer Games on Xbox Game Pass (2026)

Getting everyone together is the hard part. Finding a game the group can agree on shouldn’t be. Xbox Game Pass offers different ways to spend an evening with friends, from a shared mining job to a pirate voyage that starts sensibly and ends with somebody shouting about a hole in the ship.

These ten picks cover cooperation, competition, and the kind of session each game supports, including newer releases such as Forza Horizon 6 and Black Ops 7. US Xbox listings were checked on October 6, 2026. Catalogs and tiers can change, so confirm the exact edition on your account before arranging a session. An included base game doesn’t automatically include every expansion.

Choose Your Next Game

10. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Official original Xbox One launch trailer. Watch on YouTube (XBOX ON).

The Master Chief Collection puts several Halo adventures in one place, giving your group room to switch between campaigns and multiplayer. The appeal is the variety: different games bring different maps, weapons, and encounters, while the series’ combination of shooting, vehicles, and unusual enemies supplies plenty of shared moments.

For campaign sessions, agree on the specific Halo game first. Player counts, split-screen options, and crossplay support aren’t identical across the collection, so treating it as one uniform co-op game will lead to confusion. Xbox’s current bundle instructions also identify Reach and ODST separately for Game Pass downloads. Check the required components before everyone sits down to play.

9. No Man’s Sky

Official Worlds Part II update trailer. Watch on YouTube (HelloGamesTube).

No Man’s Sky is a useful choice for friends who would rather head toward the horizon than queue for another match. Its planets, space stations, ships, and resource gathering give a group several ways to spend a session. One evening can revolve around exploring an unfamiliar system; another can be about expanding a base or preparing for a longer trip.

The February 2026 Remnant update adds another cooperative project: gathering salvage and hauling it for recycling with friends. A shared plan helps everyone stay involved instead of disappearing into separate chores. Check your multiplayer settings before joining the group, and agree on a starting location. This is the full No Man’s Sky game, with online play alongside its solo exploration.

For more, see our No Man’s Sky tips for beginners.

8. Minecraft Dungeons

Official launch trailer. Watch on YouTube (Minecraft).

Minecraft Dungeons turns the familiar blocky world into an action adventure about clearing levels and collecting equipment. Different weapons and artifacts help players build roles without asking everyone to understand a huge skill tree first. The shared objective is straightforward enough for a mixed group to follow, even when the screen starts filling with enemies.

Its local co-op makes it a useful option when everyone is on the same couch, while online play gives distant friends another way in. Be clear about the edition: the base game is the subscription recommendation here. Ultimate Edition and its collection of DLC are separate products, so an included base-game download doesn’t promise every extra area.

7. Gears of War: Reloaded

Official game trailer. Watch on YouTube (Gears of War).

Gears of War: Reloaded gives two players a clear job: work through the original Gears campaign together, using cover and concentrated fire to survive the next encounter. Its heavier pace makes it a useful alternative to the quicker shooters in this list. Having a second player nearby also turns a difficult fight into something you can plan around.

The 2025 remaster supports split-screen and online campaign co-op, so it fits both a couch session and an evening with a distant friend. Competitive multiplayer offers another reason to return after the story. Select Reloaded specifically: it revisits the first Gears of War rather than packaging the entire series. Its Xbox console version is for Series X|S. Campaign split-screen is not available on PC.

6. Palworld

Official 1.0 launch trailer. Watch on YouTube (Pocketpair Palworld).

Palworld gives a group two connected goals: find new Pals and make the home base work better. Creatures contribute to exploration, combat, and production, so a useful discovery can change both the next expedition and the jobs waiting back at camp. That makes it an appealing pick for friends who enjoy collecting things together.

Its July 2026 full release gives returning players a fresh reason to explore, while survival and crafting provide jobs to divide between the group. Set a shared goal before heading out so the evening doesn’t become a collection of unrelated errands. Xbox’s listing supports four-player online co-op; larger dedicated-server arrangements have different requirements. Confirm the setup your group will use rather than assuming every version offers the same session.

For more, see our Palworld tips for beginners.

5. Grounded 2

Official announcement trailer; the game is available in Early Access. Watch on YouTube (XBOX).

Grounded 2 gives your group an oversized park to explore from an undersized perspective. Crafting equipment, building shelter, and dealing with insects make it easy to find several jobs that need doing. Its Buggy mounts bring another way to travel and help turn familiar surroundings into an adventure rather than a backdrop.

Choose it if you want a project that lasts across several evenings. You can build a base one night and prepare for an expedition the next. Grounded 2 is still a Game Preview release, also listed as Early Access on Steam, so expect development to continue. Check everyone’s platform and account setup before creating the group’s world.

4. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

Official game teaser. Watch on YouTube (Call of Duty).

Black Ops 7 is the pick for a group that wants a familiar competitive shooter with more than one way to spend the evening. Standard multiplayer supplies the match-based option, while Zombies and the co-op campaign give friends shared objectives. Switching modes can keep the group together when not everyone wants another competitive round.

Choose the mode before the download, then check the required content packs. The subscription recommendation is the included base game, not a promise of Vault Edition extras, BlackCell, or every cosmetic item. Black Ops 7 requires Game Pass Ultimate on console or PC Game Pass for included access; a cheaper tier’s online multiplayer benefit alone does not supply the game.

For more, see our Black Ops 7 tips for beginners.

3. Forza Horizon 6

Official launch trailer. Watch on YouTube (Forza).

Forza Horizon 6 takes the festival to Japan and gives a group reasons to drive together between organized races. Car Meets, Drag Meets, and Time Attack Circuits offer different ways to compare cars and driving skills. It is a useful change of pace when your friends want competition without spending another evening in a firefight.

The May 2026 release also supports shared creation through CoLab, allowing friends to build custom events together. Start with an activity everyone understands, then branch into the wider festival as the group settles in. Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass includes the Standard Edition. Car Pass, premium add-ons, and expansions are separate, so agree on shared content before choosing an event.

For more, see our More games like Forza Horizon 6.

2. Deep Rock Galactic

Official 1.0 launch trailer. Watch on YouTube (Coffee Stain Studios).

Deep Rock Galactic gives your team a mining contract and a cave full of reasons to stick together. Each class contributes different weapons and movement tools, so a group can solve problems with more than firepower. Gathering the required minerals, handling alien swarms, and getting everyone to extraction make a complete session with a clear destination.

It’s especially useful when friends want roles that feel different without playing separate games. There’s an important version check for mixed-platform groups: Xbox crossplay is with the Windows Microsoft Store version, not the Steam version. The original Deep Rock Galactic is the co-op recommendation; the similarly named Survivor is a separate single-player game.

1. Sea of Thieves

Official 2026 Edition launch trailer. Watch on YouTube (Sea of Thieves).

Sea of Thieves gives your crew a ship and enough freedom to turn a simple voyage into a story. Sailing, navigating, repairing damage, and handling the cannons all benefit from someone taking responsibility. Treasure hunts and encounters give you reasons to travel, while the possibility of another crew arriving can change a calm trip very quickly.

It takes the top spot for groups that enjoy making their own plans. Choose High Seas if other crews should be part of the adventure, or look at the separate Safer Seas option for a private voyage, with its own restrictions. The current subscription listing covers the standard offering, rather than promising every cosmetic bundle or premium edition.

Which Game Should You Start With?

Start with Minecraft Dungeons or Gears of War: Reloaded for couch co-op. Deep Rock Galactic provides focused team missions, while Grounded 2 and Palworld suit a longer shared project. Forza Horizon 6 covers social racing, and Black Ops 7 supplies competitive shooting. No Man’s Sky and Sea of Thieves are the choices when the group would rather explore together. Check everyone’s subscription tier and exact game version before making plans.

Looking for more? More Steam multiplayer-friendly picks · Survival games for longer co-op projects.