The best choice depends on your group’s platforms and the kind of co-op you want. For a two-player story campaign, Split Fiction is the clearest fit; for a larger online squad, Helldivers 2 supports up to four players. Minecraft offers open-ended building and exploration, while Fortnite gives friends a range of modes—but not every mode is co-op. Check platform and edition compatibility before buying or inviting your group.
Compare the games by group, platform, and play style
| Game | Best for | Supported platforms and crossplay notes | Group format and access | Online requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Split Fiction | A directed story adventure for two | EA lists PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC for crossplay. Confirm that your specific platform pairing is supported. | Two-player co-op. One player must own the full game; the other can join using Friend’s Pass. | Internet, installation, and applicable platform-account requirements apply. Console players should have crossplay game invites enabled. |
| Minecraft | Building, survival, and exploration | Cross-play depends on edition. The official overview describes one edition for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and another for Windows 10/11, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and mobile. | Open-ended play; console split-screen supports up to four players. The overview does not specify a single cross-platform group-size limit. | Online multiplayer may require a separately sold console subscription. |
| Helldivers 2 | Mission-based shooter co-op | PlayStation’s product page lists PS5, PC, and Xbox. Its cited crossplay announcement specifically confirms PC and PS5; Xbox crossplay is not established by those sources. | Up to four online players. | PS Plus is required for online play on PlayStation. |
| Fortnite | Friends who want a choice of modes | Epic says players can play with friends on any platform. Players on platforms other than PC or Mac need crossplay enabled to play with friends on other platforms. | Mode-dependent: choose a collaborative mode for co-op; Fortnite also includes competitive modes. | Add friends using their Epic display name and check the crossplay setting on applicable platforms. |
Best crossplay co-op picks by the kind of session you want
Split Fiction: the strongest pick for a two-player campaign
Split Fiction is built around a co-op adventure, making it a natural choice for two friends who want a directed story rather than a sandbox or a drop-in squad shooter. EA lists PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC for crossplay. Its game page describes Friend’s Pass, and its purchase page makes the key condition explicit: “One user must own the full game in order for the co-op player to play the full game.” In other words, one player can buy the game and the other can join through Friend’s Pass; the pass does not mean neither player needs a purchase. Check EA’s instructions for your platform pairing, and on consoles enable crossplay game invites. EA announced the game’s launch for March 6, 2025, in its launch announcement.
Minecraft: best when your group likes making its own goals
Minecraft suits friends who would rather build, explore, or survive together than follow a fixed campaign. Its flexibility comes with an important compatibility check: the official Minecraft overview describes cross-play for Windows, Mac, and Linux in one edition, and cross-play for Windows 10/11, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and mobile in another. Do not assume Java and Bedrock editions—or every version of the game—play together. Confirm that everyone has a compatible edition before starting a shared world. The same overview says console split-screen supports up to four players and notes that console online multiplayer may require a subscription sold separately.
Helldivers 2: best for a coordinated online squad
Choose Helldivers 2 if your friends want mission-based shooter co-op. PlayStation’s product page lists PS5, PC, and Xbox and supports up to four online players; it also says PS Plus is required for online play on PlayStation. Be careful when planning an Xbox-and-other-platform squad: PlayStation’s January 9, 2024 crossplay announcement confirms PC and PS5 crossplay, but does not establish Xbox crossplay. The current product listing establishes Xbox availability, which is not by itself proof of crossplay with every listed platform.
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- Cooperative Gameplay: Team up with friends in this 1-4 player adventure, working together to craft unique decks and overcome challenges
- Strategic Deckbuilding: Customize your deck with over 650 cards, including 112 small cards and 26 large cards
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Fortnite: best for groups who want different kinds of play
Fortnite can work well when friends are on different platforms and want to choose among varied modes. Epic’s support instructions say players can play with friends on any platform, and that people on platforms other than PC or Mac need crossplay enabled to play with friends on other platforms. Add each other using Epic display names, then select a collaborative mode if the goal is co-op: the game also offers competitive modes, so cross-platform play alone does not make every session cooperative.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Before you buy or send an invite
- Match the actual platforms. A game being available on two systems does not automatically establish crossplay between them. This matters especially for Helldivers 2, where the cited crossplay announcement is specifically for PC and PS5.
- Check editions, not just the game name. For Minecraft, confirm everyone is using a compatible edition and version before setting up a shared game.
- Count players and choose the right format. Split Fiction is a two-player adventure; Helldivers 2 supports up to four online players. The cited Minecraft overview specifies up to four for console split-screen, not a universal cross-platform group limit.
- Check what each player needs to access the session. In Split Fiction, one player must own the full game for the Friend’s Pass player to join the full game. Console online multiplayer for Minecraft may require a separate subscription, and PlayStation online play for Helldivers 2 requires PS Plus.
- Set up friends and crossplay before game night. For Fortnite, check crossplay settings where required and add friends through Epic display names. For console Split Fiction players, enable crossplay game invites.
Platform support, subscription policies, and pass rules can change. The official pages linked above establish the features described here, but they do not guarantee every regional pairing or edition will remain available indefinitely.
Quick Recap
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