The Best Multiplayer Games on Steam

The Steam platform hosts a diverse library of cooperative and competitive experiences that cater to millions of players worldwide. From high-stakes tactical shooters to expansive role-playing adventures, these titles define the modern multiplayer landscape through continuous updates and dedicated community support. This selection represents the highest-rated and most influential multiplayer titles currently available to PC gamers.

‘PUBG: Battlegrounds’ (2017)

‘PUBG: Battlegrounds’ is a foundational battle royale title developed by PUBG Studios and published by Krafton. The game features 100 players who drop onto a large map to scavenge for weapons and equipment while competing to be the last survivor. This title is credited with popularizing the battle royale genre on a global scale through its realistic gunplay and strategic survival mechanics. Krafton continues to support the experience with new maps and gameplay rotations to maintain its competitive edge.

‘Destiny 2’ (2017)

‘Destiny 2’ is a first-person shooter with significant role-playing elements developed and published by Bungie. Players take on the role of Guardians who protect the last safe city on Earth from various alien threats across the solar system. The game offers both cooperative “Strikes” and “Raids,” as well as competitive modes in the “Crucible.” Bungie manages the title as a live-service game, frequently introducing seasonal content and major expansions to evolve the narrative.

‘Apex Legends’ (2019)

‘Apex Legends’ is a fast-paced battle royale game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. It distinguishes itself by featuring a roster of unique characters known as “Legends,” each possessing specific tactical and ultimate abilities. Set in the ‘Titanfall’ universe, the game emphasizes squad-based movement and communication through its influential “ping” system. Respawn Entertainment maintains a rigorous seasonal schedule that introduces new heroes and environmental changes to the maps.

‘Dead by Daylight’ (2016)

‘Dead by Daylight’ is an asymmetrical horror game developed and published by Behaviour Interactive. The gameplay pits one player as a powerful Killer against four others playing as Survivors who must repair generators to escape. The title is well-known for its extensive crossovers with horror film franchises, including ‘Halloween’ and ‘Resident Evil.’ Behaviour Interactive provides frequent updates to balance character perks and introduce new maps to the rotation.

‘Sea of Thieves’ (2018)

‘Sea of Thieves’ is a pirate-themed adventure game developed by Rare and published by Xbox Game Studios. Players sail across an open world on ships, engaging in treasure hunts, naval combat, and exploration in crews of up to four. The game uses a shared-world system where players can encounter other crews at any time during their voyages. Rare has expanded the game significantly since launch with “Tall Tales” and seasonal rewards to enhance the sandbox experience.

‘Warframe’ (2013)

‘Warframe’ is a cooperative third-person action game developed and published by Digital Extremes. Players control members of the Tenno, an ancient race of warriors who use advanced biomechanical suits to complete missions across a sprawling solar system. The game features a complex crafting system and a wide variety of mission types, from stealth tasks to large-scale space battles. Digital Extremes is recognized for its frequent content drops and a fair free-to-play model that avoids pay-to-win mechanics.

‘Helldivers 2’ (2024)

‘Helldivers 2’ is a third-person squad-based shooter developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Players take on the role of elite soldiers who must work together to complete objectives on hostile alien planets. The game emphasizes tactical cooperation and features a physics-based combat system where “friendly fire” is always active. Arrowhead Game Studios utilizes a persistent galactic war map that responds to the collective efforts of the entire player base.

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

‘Elden Ring’ is an open-world action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. While primarily a single-player experience, the game features a robust multiplayer system for cooperative boss fights and competitive invasions. Players can leave messages for others or summon allies to help navigate the challenging terrain of the Lands Between. Bandai Namco Entertainment saw record-breaking sales for this title, which combined FromSoftware’s signature combat with a world designed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin.

‘Monster Hunter: World’ (2018)

‘Monster Hunter: World’ is an action role-playing game developed and published by Capcom. It allows players to track and hunt formidable creatures across several diverse ecosystems using various weapon types. The multiplayer component supports up to four players joining forces to take down increasingly difficult monsters in exchange for materials used to craft gear. Capcom successfully transitioned the long-running series to home consoles and PC with this entry, which emphasizes ecological detail and fluid combat.

‘Rust’ (2018)

‘Rust’ is a brutal survival game developed and published by Facepunch Studios. The objective is to survive in a persistent world by gathering resources, building bases, and defending against other players. Cooperation is vital for forming clans, though the game is equally known for its intense player-versus-player raids and social deception. Facepunch Studios releases monthly content updates that introduce new mechanics, vehicles, and items to keep the survival loop engaging.

‘Valheim’ (2021)

‘Valheim’ is a Viking-themed survival and exploration game developed by Iron Gate Studio and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Up to ten players can share a procedurally generated world where they must build settlements, craft equipment, and defeat mythical bosses. The game incorporates a distinct low-fidelity aesthetic combined with advanced lighting and physics systems. Coffee Stain Publishing has overseen the game’s growth through significant updates that expand the available biomes and crafting recipes.

‘Deep Rock Galactic’ (2020)

‘Deep Rock Galactic’ is a cooperative first-person shooter developed by Ghost Ship Games and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Teams of up to four players control space-faring dwarves who must mine resources on a hostile planet while fighting off waves of insectoid enemies. The game features fully destructible environments and four distinct classes that must coordinate their abilities to succeed. Ghost Ship Games is praised for its player-friendly seasonal model and the strong sense of camaraderie fostered by the gameplay mechanics.

‘Team Fortress 2’ (2007)

‘Team Fortress 2’ is a class-based first-person shooter developed and published by Valve. The game features nine unique character classes, each with distinct personalities and tactical roles on the battlefield. It is renowned for its stylized art direction and the introduction of a complex economy centered on cosmetic items. Valve continues to provide maintenance and seasonal events for the title, which has maintained a massive and loyal player base for over a decade.

‘Left 4 Dead 2’ (2009)

‘Left 4 Dead 2′ is a cooperative first-person shooter developed and published by Valve. Four players must work together to fight through hordes of zombies and specialized “Infected” to reach safety across several distinct campaigns. The game utilizes an “AI Director” that dynamically adjusts the difficulty and item placement based on the players’ performance. Valve also included a competitive “Versus” mode where players can take control of the zombies to stop the human survivors.

‘Counter-Strike 2’ (2023)

‘Counter-Strike 2’ is a tactical first-person shooter developed and published by Valve. It serves as the successor to ‘Counter-Strike: Global Offensive,’ introducing updated graphics and improved networking through the Source 2 engine. The gameplay focuses on two teams, Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, competing in objective-based rounds involving bomb defusal or hostage rescue. Valve maintains the title’s status as a premier global eSport through constant balance adjustments and tournament support.

‘Dota 2’ (2013)

‘Dota 2’ is a massive online battle arena game developed and published by Valve. Two teams of five players compete to destroy the opposing side’s “Ancient” while managing resources and experience gain. The game features a roster of over 100 heroes, all of which are available for free from the start. Valve hosts “The International” annually, which is one of the highest-paying tournaments in the professional gaming industry.

‘Terraria’ (2011)

‘Terraria’ is a 2D sandbox adventure game developed and published by Re-Logic. It offers players a vast world to explore, build in, and defend against various monsters and complex bosses. The multiplayer mode allows groups to collaborate on massive construction projects or participate in difficult combat encounters together. Re-Logic has provided over a decade of free content updates, significantly expanding the game’s depth beyond its original release scope.

‘Stardew Valley’ (2016)

‘Stardew Valley’ is a farming simulation game developed and published by ConcernedApe. While it began as a single-player experience, the developer later added a comprehensive cooperative mode that allows up to four players to run a farm together. Players can share resources, split labor tasks, and engage with the local community in a shared game world. ConcernedApe continues to refine the multiplayer experience with updates that add new events and endgame content for group play.

‘Portal 2’ (2011)

‘Portal 2’ is a puzzle-platformer developed and published by Valve. The game includes a dedicated cooperative campaign that is separate from the single-player story, featuring two robots named Atlas and P-Body. Players must work together to navigate complex test chambers using portal guns to manipulate space and momentum. Valve designed the cooperative puzzles specifically to require communication and synchronized timing between both participants.

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023)

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ is an expansive role-playing game developed and published by Larian Studios. Set in the “Dungeons & Dragons” universe, the game supports cooperative play for up to four individuals who can journey through the campaign together. Players make impactful choices that alter the narrative and can interact with the environment in creative, tactical ways during combat. Larian Studios received numerous accolades for the game’s technical complexity and the freedom it affords players within its multiplayer framework.

Tell us which of these Steam multiplayer titles you and your friends have spent the most hours playing in the comments.