Best Multiplayer Games on Xbox Game Pass
“It’s better with friends” isn’t just something we say when a game is kind of bad, it’s true of the good games too! For people who have Xbox Game Pass, whether on their console or PC, there’s a wealth of fantastic multiplayer games where you and your friends can create chaos, and precious memories, together.
To that end, I’ve compiled a list of multiplayer games on Xbox Game Pass I think you should check out. While focusing on quality, I’ve done my best to include a variety of games, so there should be something for everyone.
If you want some games to try out with your buddies, and you want to know how to protect yourself as you game with PIA VPN, you’re in the right place.
Private Internet Access has Xbox gamers covered with, firstly, actual support for Xbox and other consoles. Secondly, it has a global network of crazy fast VPN servers, industry-standard encryption and security, a fancy ad-blocker, and so much more.
Table of Contents
Just a Quick Note about Xbox Game PassWhy Do Gamers Use VPNs?
Why PIA Is the Best VPN for Xbox
FAQ
Just a Quick Note about Xbox Game Pass
The Xbox Game Pass comes in 4 flavors…
- Xbox Game Pass Core
- Console-only, has 25 games and enables online play for all games you own.
- Xbox Game Pass for Console
- The standard Game Pass for consoles.
- PC Game Pass
- The standard Game Pass for PC.
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- Covers both console and PC, includes extra games, and includes EA Play, which is EA’s own “game pass” of sorts.
- You can also get EA Play and Ubisoft+ separately.
Most of the games below require at least the Console or PC Game Pass tiers. I’ve listed the required tiers for each game, just to be safe.
1. 7 Days to Die
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Console, PC, Ultimate
7 Days to Die is an open-world horror game that manages to combine FPS mechanics, zombie survival, tower defense, and even a wide variety of mini-games. It’s a fairly tough game that’s technically been in early access since… forever ago, but it still has an active player community and has been the reason for many a sleepless night.
2. Chivalry 2
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Core, Console, PC, Ultimate
Chivalry 2 is pretty much the ultimate medieval combat simulator. Join friends and strangers in large-scale battles, master the complex-ish melee system, shoot arrows from a safe distance, operate siege engines, take castles, and more. Ride to glory or defeat while (probably) giggling with pure joy all the way.
3. Deep Rock Galactic
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Console, PC, Ultimate
In a world where live service games have a deservedly terrible reputation, one game dares to stand up and say “Here, have your money’s worth!” That game is Deep Rock Galactic, the greatest ore-mining, monster-slaying, extraction-shooter game that was ever made. No PVP here, just hop into a match, get that loot, and get out alive!
4. Halo Infinite
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Core, PC, Ultimate
Despite a launch that I’m going to call “lackluster” because I want to be nice, Halo Infinite is in a fantastic spot right now. Season 5 brought a lot of major gameplay changes that put the game more in line with the Halo we know and love, and the recent netcode overhaul makes the game feel better than ever. Go through the campaign with friends, or go head to head, it’s up to you.
5. Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Console, PC, Ultimate
I’m not personally much for racing games. I just never really got the knack of in-game driving. Or real-life driving. But even I can’t ignore the sheer animal appeal and genius of a Hot Wheels racing game. Speed down the toy race tracks in the toy car of your dreams, and you’ll probably go right back to some of the best moments in your childhood.
6. LEGO® 2K Drive Cross-Gen Standard Edition
Platforms: Console
Game Pass tiers: Console, Ultimate
Yes, it’s another racing game, but this one is LEGO! While it has that same light-hearted and wacky feel that you’d expect from the Hot Wheels Unleashed franchise, Lego 2K Drive comes with the added bonus of being able to customize your car more than pretty much any other game would allow. And turn it into a boat or plane on the fly.
7. Minecraft
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Console, PC, Ultimate
Right now, some of you are thinking, “Is this guy actually about to explain Minecraft?” If that’s you, just skip ahead. It’s fine.
For the beginners out there, Minecraft is the game that popularized the survival-crafting genre. Despite its basic appearance, the gameplay loop of exploration, crafting items from resources you find, and building your dream home from blocks is notoriously addictive. It was released in 2011, and still enjoys a highly active community. Just… be in your base come nightfall, if you can help it.
Note: the PC version is named a little differently, being called: Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition for PC
8. No Man’s Sky
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Console, PC, Ultimate
Oh look, it’s another game list, and I’m talking about No Man’s Sky again. Go figure. Well, No Man’s Sky is absolutely the best arcade, exploration, base building, and universe simulator in existence, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon. If you haven’t given it a good go yet, it’s time.
9. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Console, PC, Ultimate, EA Play
Another game that launched poorly, but is now quite respected, Rainbow 6 Siege has developed a passionate fanbase of tactical FPS players. With tons of operators, weapons, and gadgets to choose from, it’s a sort of tactical playground full of mischief and distant cries of “LAG!” or “HACKS!”
10. Remnant II – Standard Edition
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Console, PC, Ultimate
A few games have tried to perfect the “Dark Souls With Guns” concept, but none have managed it quite so well as the Remnant games. The sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes, Remnant II refines almost everything about the first game, while giving you new gear to play with, new enemies to fight, and pretty much everything else you’d want. And you can do it all in co-op.
11. Sea of Thieves
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Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Core, PC, Ultimate
Sea of Thieves is probably the ultimate cartoony pirate simulator ever made. Sail the high seas, fight off other players, find treasure with your friends, and there’s even a quest chain with THE Jack Sparrow, if you’re into that sort of thing. It’s a rollicking good time, even if you can’t turn off the PVP and might get your ship sunk now and then.
12. Space Engineers
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Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Console, PC, Ultimate
Another great cooperative survival title, Space Engineers sees you and your friends building up everything you need to survive in the cold vastness of space. It’s good fun, even if it’s a bit complex. Well, you’re supposed to be an engineer, after all. It IS rocket science.
13. Stranded Deep
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Console, PC, Ultimate
This is a newer survival title with a distinct pirate theme and a fair bit of underwater adventure. Think Subnautica meets Sea of Thieves, and you’ll begin to get the idea.
14. Battlefield 1
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Ultimate, EA Play
Yes, Battlefield 2042 is on Game Pass. Yes, I’ve played 400+ hours of that, and it has the larger player base, and it’s newer. But this list is about the BEST multiplayer games on Game Pass, and Battlefield 1 is by far the better title. Just saying.
15. It Takes Two
Platforms: Console, PC
Game Pass tiers: Ultimate, EA Play
It Takes Two is a game that has won quite a few awards, including Game of the Year at the 2021 Game Awards. It’s meant for two players (with both local and online co-op available), and follows the story of a couple trying to undo the magic spell that turned them into dolls… while maybe fixing their marriage?
Why Do Gamers Use VPNs?
Enhanced security, enhanced privacy, and better connections. Let’s break that down: a VPN works by routing your internet traffic through a server in the location of your choice, and encrypting all traffic between your home network and that server. Those two features serve to hide your IP address at the other end, and stop anyone on the local network from spying on what you do, including your ISP.
This gets you around local network blocks and protects you from DDoS attacks. What’s more, better gaming VPNs will automatically look for the best route to your destination, often bypassing congested networks and other issues. This results in more stable, and sometimes even faster connections.
Why PIA Is the Best VPN for Xbox
Private Internet Access has a worldwide network of 10Gbps NextGen servers designed to handle as much gaming, live streaming, and Netflix in the background as you want. Even better, operating in as many countries as it does means that you can almost always connect to a VPN server that’s close to the game servers, which is what you want for the best results.
Oh, and it actively supports Xbox and other consoles through VPN-enabled routers.
Combine that with no data caps, a no-logs policy, 24/7 customer support, unlimited connected devices, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, and PIA makes one fancy Xbox VPN. Try it out risk-free for 30 days to make sure it’s right for you.
FAQ
Oh, lots of them. Scroll back up for a list of what I think are the best ones, but here’s a quick list of my favorites: No Man’s Sky, Deep Rock Galactic, and Battlefield 1. Of course, there are multiplayer games of almost every major genre, including your usual shooters, survival games, horror games, sports games, and so many more.
Probably the aptly named It Takes Two. It’s a two-person co-op game detailing the journey of a couple as they try to work out their issues… and get back to normal, having been turned into dolls by a magic spell. I feel it’s only fair to warn you that this is a highly emotional game that has challenged many relationships, but it’s also won a ton of awards.
Nope. It’s not on Game Pass, or PS+ for that matter. The developer, Rockstar, has more than enough brand recognition and a hefty chunk of the game industry’s total revenue at this point, so they don’t need the financial incentives or brand boost that smaller devs get from these programs. However, you’ll need the Game Pass Core (or PS+) to play online.
There are plenty of co-op games on the game pass alone, and far more on the store overall. You’ve got your big names like Fortnite (there are co-op modes), Minecraft, Ark, Destiny 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, and even Final Fantasy 14 is coming to Xbox soon. Then you have myriad lesser-known titles, like Goat Simulator 3, which you should try.
Well, you have the usual reasons, of course: enhanced security and privacy. In particular, PIA VPN can help you avoid DDoS attacks and some other malicious behaviors by hiding your IP address. It can also help get past local network blocks on game traffic, and even get you a faster connection with better ping… under specific circumstances.
As you might expect, we recommend Private Internet Access. First off, it supports Xbox and pretty much any console you might want, via VPN-enabled routers. The support team is also versed in any console-related issues you might run into. And then there’s the worldwide network of 10Gbps VPN servers to help you get a stable connection wherever you are.
