Although there are a lot ofgreat single-player games on the PlayStation 5, multiplayer games make up the lion’s share of the console’s offerings and continue to grow in popularity with every year that passes. In fact, with so many to choose from these days, finding the best online multiplayer PS5 games can be a lot more challenging than it has any right to be.
The good news is that this huge variety means that there is something for pretty much everyone, from sports sims to high-octane shooters. The best PS5 multiplayer games offer unique experiences that just can’t be found elsewhere, edging out their competitors with their slick gameplay, sharp visuals, andinnovative gameplay mechanics. In some cases, though, they’re just an awful lot of fun.
20Fallout 76
OpenCritic Rating: 54
Fallout 76was a game that nobody really wanted. Over time though, the fandom has gradually come to accept it for what it is: a solid, albeit unspectacular online RPG that somehow managed to survive its catastrophic launch and carve out a foothold in the hugely competitive world of live-service games.
There’s plenty for players to see and do when they first get started and a large player base that has been further bolstered by the success of Amazon’sFalloutshow. New content continues to arrive at a steady pace, making this one of the best multiplayer PS5 games for those looking for something long-term.
19Genshin Impact
OpenCritic Rating: 81
Although many considerGenshin Impactto be a mobile title at heart, there are still plenty of people who opt to play the game on a PC or console. Doing so not only provides players with much better visuals and audio and more options when it comes to controlling their characters, but also improves performance dramatically.
It’s important to note thatGenshin Impactis a single-player game with co-op support rather than a game that was developed with multiplayer in mind. Even so, playing with others is arguably a whole lot better than playing solo, so to describeGenshin Impactas one of the best online multiplayer games for the PS5 seems fair with this in mind.
18Warframe
OpenCritic Rating: 74
Given how competitive the free-to-play market is these days and the sheer volume of third-person shooters competing within it, to survive for more than a decade is an incredibly impressive achievement.Warframehas done exactly that, with its high octane mech on mech combat having delighted more than sixty million players since its initial release back in early 2013.
Even today, there are still tens of thousands of active players, helping to keep waiting times to an absolute minimum. This is largely due to the fact that the game continues to receive regular updates and new content, while also boasting full crossplay support. Some may not appreciate the grind butthe game’s stylish combat systemdoes a pretty good job of distracting from it.
17Chivalry 2
OpenCritic Rating: 82
It may not have fared all that well with critics, butChivalry: Medieval Warfarewent on to attract a fairly sizable player base in the years following its release, not to mention tens of thousands of positive reviews on Steam. As a result, expectations were pretty high for its 2021 sequel, and, for the most part,Chivalry 2was able to deliver.
Most critics adored the hack-and-slash combat this time around, as too did new and returning players. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the game’s strong reviews led to a notable increase in sales, with more than a million copies sold in its first month or so on the market. There are definitelybetter hack-and-slash gamesout there, but when it comes to medieval warfare,Chivalry 2is in a league of its own and one of the best online multiplayer games on the PS5.
16Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
OpenCritic Rating: 80
Fall Guystook the world by storm when it was released in August of 2020. It was one of that month’s free PS Plus games, which, together with the pandemic lockdowns, undoubtedly played a huge role in its sudden and meteoric rise to stardom. Interest did gradually cool off in the weeks and months that followed, but regular updates and collaborations have helped to ensure that it never died off entirely.
As a result,Fall Guysstill has a pretty active player base these days and boasts full crossplay support across all available platforms. Each new season typically introduces new rounds, cosmetics, and game modes, providing players with plenty of reasons to keep coming back. It’s surprisingly accessible too, with both adults and children able to enjoy and excel at thischarming battle royale game.
15Monster Hunter Rise
OpenCritic Rating: 88
Few series have benefited from the popularization of online multiplayer quite as much asMonster Hunterhas, with more recent installments of thelong-running Capcom franchiseencouraging players to team up with their friends rather than go it alone.Monster Hunter Risemay have taken a little longer to make its way to the PS5 than some would have liked, but now that’s here, there are very few complaints from players.
Trying to capture a Royal Ludroth or take down a Zinogre requires real strategy and usually requiresMonster Hunter Riseplayers to work together to get the job done. Granted, like a lot of other online multiplayer games on the PlayStation 5, players can complete these hunts solo, but things usually tend to go a lot more smoothly with multiple people and are thus a lot more enjoyable as a result.
14EA Sports FC 24
As well as being the first installment in EA’s brand-new football game franchise,EA Sports FC 24also happens to be one of the very best football games of all time. The graphics are incredible and the HyperMotion V technology amps up the realism of the game’s animations to never-before-seen levels. At this point, the only way to get a more authentic football experience would be to pick up a ball and head outside.
Much like its predecessors,EA Sports FC 24boasts a wide range of game modes, most of which support both local and online multiplayer. This year’s edition builds uponthe crossplay support introduced inFIFA 23, allowing players to team up with friends on other consoles for every single multiplayer match type. This includes all of the co-op ones as well, which wasn’t the case inFIFA 23.
13Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Call of Dutyfans are spoiled for choice these days, withCall of Duty: Warzone 2.0and this year’s annual release both providing fantastic options for anyone on the lookout for a great online multiplayer game. The latter certainly has its strengths, but most will probably prefer playingWarzonedue to it having better game modes and a much longer lifespan.
Building upon the solid foundations laid by its predecessor,Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0is an excellent choice for fans of battle royale matches and high-octane gunplay. It looks fantastic on consoles and the gameplay is every bit as good as one might expect from a franchise of this caliber. In its current form, it’s one ofthe most enjoyableCall of Dutygamesin recent memory and one of the best online multiplayer games on the PlayStation 5.
12Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
OpenCritic Rating: 89
Video game lovers who grew up in the nineties and early two-thousands likely spent at least some time playingTony Hawk’sgames. With their epic soundtracks and in-your-face antics, thePro Skatertitles ranked among the era’s very best sports sim games and were made all the more popular by shows and movies likeJackassandCKY.
Eventually, the formula began to grow a little stale, and interest largely moved on, with EA’sSkateand other series like it taking its place at the top of the pile. That all changed in 2020 though, when Vicarious Visions remade the first two games for modern consoles. Though times have most definitely changed,Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2is still incredibly enjoyable today; even more so when played locally or online with a friend.
11Fortnite
OpenCritic Rating: 84
Fortnitemay not be the most innovative online multiplayer game for the PlayStation 5, but it is one of the most popular. Tens of thousands of people all over the world continue to play the battle royale title on a daily basis, with more new features and game modes being added with each subsequent season.
In late 2023,LEGO FortniteandFortnite Rocket Racingwere added to the mix, making the game accessible to an even broader range of players. With Epic promising to support these two new game modes for the foreseeable future and more presumably on the horizon, it seems unlikely thatFortnitewill be going away anytime soon.
