Unlike PlayStation which has been working on story-rich, single-player games for years now, Microsoft never left its touch on the multiplayer genre, and that’s something the console’s community must be proud of. Even when delivering compelling stories, Microsoft’s long-running IPs such asGears of WarandHalohave always been pretty front and center with their multiplayer aspects.
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What a year it’s been.
If you are new to Xbox Series X|S, or simply looking for some fresh multiplayer experience on your console aside from your daily go-to options, we’ve put together the best multiplayer games to play on Xbox Series X|S, selected from a wide variety of sub-genres.
EA Sports FC 24
Best Simulation Multiplayer
Featuring dozens of licensed leagues and tournaments, it is safe to say thatEA Sports FC 24is currently the ultimate football (soccer) experience for everyone who is looking for authenticity over any other aspect. But aside from that, the series' most popular game mode revolves around a multiplayer environment with a variety of modes to play.
…the addition of Volta Football mode and the significant evolution of Pro Clubs added even more content to the multiplayer branch of the EA Sports FC series
From the competitive Rivals mode that will get you promoted to weekly Champions tournaments, to a co-op mode to enjoy head-to-head games where more than two players are involved, this game offers some fun and dynamic multiplayer opportunities. In recent years, the addition of Volta Football mode and the significant evolution of Pro Clubs added even more content to the multiplayer branch of the EA Sports FC series, making the latest version of it the most content-rich, authentic, and visually fantastic football simulation ever.
Forza Motorsport (2023)
Best Racing Multiplayer
Despite the community backlash overForza Motorsport’s harsh progression system, most players are indeed happy with the game’s seamless multiplayer experience, which was a huge step forward, compared to all its competitors out there, even the Forza Horizon series.
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Back For-za win!
Forza Motorsport’s multiplayer advantage is not just limited to a wide variety of modes that shuffle weekly; the game also introduces a great skill system that encourages players to drive safely and professionally, preventing those who tend to ruin others' experience in a competitive environment from reaching anywhere close to the top tiers. Combining this with amazingly working servers that deliver a seamless online race into life is what makes this game worthwhile for those looking to truly challenge their skills.
Forza Motorsport
Best Co-op Survival
Obsidian’s open-world survival started small when it was launched in Early Access back in 2020, but in the two years leading to its full launch,Groundedgrew enough to become one of the best co-op survival experiences on Xbox consoles.
…even if you don’t want to hang around too much, you shouldn’t be missing the main campaign.
The small yard that was only home to Spiders, Cockroaches, and Ladybugs in the beginning, now features multiple new areas to explore, with much more wildlife to encounter and survive. The good news is the game still receives content updates from Obsidian, but even if you don’t want to hang around too much, you shouldn’t be missing the main campaign. Due to its several years in early access, its successes aren’t as widely sung as many of Xbox’s other titles, but make no mistake — Grounded is absolutely worth your time.
Halo Infinite
Best Casual FPS
With that massive hiccup in the content support ofHalo Infinite’s multiplayer branch, it didn’t take the latest Halo long to lose a big chunk of its player base, but 343 Industriesmade a comeback in 2023, and withCertain Affinity’s premium Halo Infinite modeon the way, the future does seem bright for the fans of the series.
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Although it has not fully won back its initial massive player base, Halo Infinite did receive all the fixes it needed back in 2021. Not only have more maps and modes arrived over the last few years, but also the progression system has received that much-needed improvement to reflect the time that each player invests in the game.
The Finals
Best Use Of Environment
Developed by Battlefield veterans,The Finalsis the debut title by Embark Studios that found massive success shortly after its launch. The Finals feels like a masterful combination ofBattlefieldandApex Legends, with a new set of rules that introduces yet another fast-paced competitive PvP shooter to the world with familiar standards.
The Finals is the bridge that finally links a Battlefield-style world with the competitive scene.
While the core gunplay of The Finals does feel familiar, the game’s insane destructibility makes it stand out from any other competitor, adding a new tactical depth to the genre that you can barely find in any other fast-paced shooter out there. The Finals is the bridge that finally links a Battlefield-style world with the competitive scene.
Best In Diversity Of Game Modes
The multiplayer was a part of Gears of War from the very beginning, and it has only been improved since then. WithGears 5, The Coalition not only brought back the previous modes but also introduced the new creative Escape mode, with some light Extraction-Shooter inspirations, where players must work together in a co-op environment to find the exit point of a dungeon-like map.
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Gears 5 is perhaps the best entry in the long-running shooter series and stands as one of the best games in the Xbox One era.
Aside from co-op, Gears 5 also has a new PvP mode that lowers the tension of intense competitive modes to a more casual-friendly experience in Arcade. The post-launch content updates for Gears 5 delivered tons of new maps for the multiplayer game modes, making it the most diverse multiplayer experience in the entire series.
Street Fighter 6
Best Fighting Game
Unlike its predecessor, which never came out on Xbox consoles,Street Fighter 6has been available for Xbox Series X|S since the first day of its launch, and it deserves to have a solid spot on this list for its laser focus on the competitive scene and multiplayer environment.
Street Fighter 6 is a game that will stick around for a long time, and it will receive both balancing and content support from the developers in the coming years.
Introducing the brand-new Battle Hub mode is a relief for allStreet Fighterfans to organize their multiplayer experience in the way they desire. Aside from that, we all know Street Fighter 6 is a game that will stick around for a long time, and it will receive both balancing and content support from the developers over the coming years to maintain itstop-spot against some fierce competition.
Sea Of Thieves
Best Open-World Multiplayer Game
Similar to Halo Infinite,Sea of Thievesalso had a rocky launch, but the amount of progress that this game made over the years after its release is not even comparable to any other Xbox first-party game. Rare worked so hard on Sea of Thieves that, at least based onSteam statistics, it is the most-played multiplayer title by Xbox Game Studios in a long time, with a consistent player base that keeps growing over time.
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Every year, Rare has a massive update for Sea of Thieves that not only brings new features and gameplay opportunities but also adds more depth into its massive world, allowing players to keep coming back for more new activities. Sea of Thieves is currently one of the most beloved multiplayer games among first-party titles on Xbox, and the game absolutely deserves to have a podium finish on this list.
Sea of Thieves
Apex Legends
Best Competitive FPS
If PC gamers are proud ofCounter-StrikeandValorantamong competitive shooters,Apex Legendsis probably the closest equivalent of them on consoles when it comes to consistency. Thanks to the time and effort that Respawn puts into Apex Legends, this game’s player base has barely experienced anyrough patchesover the years it shadow-dropped back in 2019.
…Apex Legends has always kept its community happy with a consistent stream of content…
Maintaining and balancing the competitive aspects on both PC and console is not an easy job, but Apex Legends has always kept its community happy with a consistent stream of content, a fairly balanced set of unique heroes, and a distinct gunplay feel that has turned into a standard for the fast-paced shooters to come after.
Best Multiplayer Platform
Sometimes some games grow big enough that you simply can’t ignore them, even if they are generally your cup of tea. Whether you like it or not,Fortniteis now a massive, unparalleled multiplayer brand with infinite creativity in content support. Nothing else can go toe-to-toe with what Fortnite is offering players — and for free!
Epic Games has transformed Fortnite from just a game into a giant multiplayer platform…
Even when Fortnite was a single Battle Royale game, it was still a force to be reckoned with, but it’s blown the competition out of the water now that it has three fantastic new standalone modes — LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival. Epic Games has transformed Fortnite from just a game into a giant multiplayer platform, and they manage to keep the game feeling fresh with every new season by constantly evolving and changing the game’s map and systems.
Dualshockers Definitives: 10 Best Multiplayer Games Of 2023
This was a great year for multiplayer games spanning many genres. Here are the best multiplayer games of 2023, as ranked by DualShockers.
