The best PS5 multiplayer game depends on how your group wants to play: choose Helldivers 2 for coordinated online co-op, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for competitive matches and Zombies, or look to Final Fantasy XIV Online, Gran Turismo 7, Fortnite and No Man’s Sky for a persistent world, racing, varied activities or exploration. This is a retrospective guide to games worth playing during 2024—not a claim that every pick launched that year. PlayStation’s 2024 multiplayer award went to Final Fantasy XIV Online, but the right choice for your group comes down to its preferred play style and whether you need online or couch play.
Best PS5 multiplayer games by play style
| Game | Best fit | What is established | What to check before choosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helldivers 2 | Online co-op squad missions | PlayStation describes it as a cooperative team shooter for PS5 and PC, with up to four online players. PS5 and PC players can cross-play. | It is online-only; PS5 online play requires PlayStation Plus. It does not fit offline or couch-only groups. |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | Competitive matches, with cooperative Zombies as another option | Its October 2024 launch included 12 core 6v6 maps and four Strike maps for 2v2 or 6v6. Round-based Zombies also returned. | The PS5 Store listing’s “up to 40 online players” is not a stated single-match size. Check the listing for current requirements. |
| Final Fantasy XIV Online | A persistent multiplayer world | PlayStation.Blog awarded it the Gold Trophy for Best Multiplayer Experience in its 2024 awards. | Verify current subscription, trial and platform-account terms before committing. |
| Gran Turismo 7 | Racing-oriented competition | PlayStation’s 2024 awards coverage names it among multiplayer-related titles. | Check current lobby features, online requirements and modes for the kind of racing your group wants. |
| Fortnite | Groups looking for varied activities | PlayStation’s awards discussion points to its broad range of modes and activities. | Check current modes and player details; specific counts and features are not established here. |
| No Man’s Sky | Exploration with friends | PlayStation’s 2024 awards coverage connects the game with rebuilding a universe and exploring new frontiers. | Confirm current multiplayer features and requirements for your group. |
Which PS5 games have online co-op?
Helldivers 2: a clear fit for a four-person squad
Helldivers 2 is the most directly documented pick here for friends who want to cooperate online. PlayStation’s product page lists support for up to four online players, and PlayStation Support confirms that PS5 players can team up with PC players through cross-play. It launched for PS5 and PC on February 8, 2024.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Marvel's Wolverine PS5 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Monster Jam Showdown - PlayStation 5 | $19.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Sackboy: A Big Adventure – PlayStation 5 | $31.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
NBA 2K26 - PlayStation 5 | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The trade-off is important: online play is required, so this is not a choice for an offline session or a group gathered around one console. PlayStation Support also says PS5 console play requires PlayStation Plus. See the Helldivers 2 PS5 product page and Helldivers 2 support page for the official details.
Black Ops 6: competitive multiplayer and round-based Zombies
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 offers a different mix: competitive multiplayer alongside cooperative Zombies. In its June 2024 announcement, PlayStation described 16 launch multiplayer maps—12 core maps for 6v6 and four Strike maps playable as 2v2 or 6v6—and the return of round-based Zombies. The game launched on PS5 on October 25, 2024.
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The current US PlayStation listing advertises online play for up to 40 players, but that product-page maximum should not be read as the size of a single match. Look at the specific mode and current Store listing when choosing it for a group. Sources: PlayStation.Blog’s Black Ops 6 multiplayer details and the Black Ops 6 PS5 listing.
What if your group wants a world, racing or varied activities?
Final Fantasy XIV Online for a persistent world
PlayStation.Blog named Final Fantasy XIV Online the Gold Trophy winner in its 2024 Best Multiplayer Experience awards. Treat that as an editorial recognition, not a guarantee that it suits every group. Its appeal is the persistent-world style of multiplayer, rather than the short squad missions or competitive matches offered by the shooters above. Check the current official game terms for subscription, trial and account details before starting.
Rank #2
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Gran Turismo 7 for racing
Gran Turismo 7 is the racing-oriented candidate in this shortlist; PlayStation’s year-end awards coverage references it in a multiplayer context. The award coverage does not establish current lobby options, online requirements or the exact modes available to your group, so confirm those details in the game’s current official listing before planning a session.
Fortnite for different kinds of group play
PlayStation’s 2024 awards discussion highlights Fortnite’s range of activities and modes. That makes it a flexible candidate when friends want choices beyond one fixed style of match. Specific current modes, player counts and requirements can change, so check its current PlayStation listing for the activity you intend to play.
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No Man’s Sky for exploration
PlayStation’s awards article associates No Man’s Sky with rebuilding a universe and exploring new frontiers. Consider it for a group drawn to exploration rather than match-based competition, but verify its current multiplayer features and requirements before settling on it.
Can you play these games together on one couch?
The documented details for this shortlist do not establish local multiplayer modes or couch player counts. Do not assume that an online multiplayer game supports split-screen or local play. Before buying or setting up a session, check the current PS5 Store listing and the game’s official details for local multiplayer, the supported number of players and whether a second controller is useful. PlayStation’s DualSense controller page is relevant if a game you choose supports another local player.
Rank #4
- Face thrilling, unpredictable challenges as you explore distinctive hand-crafted lands through deeply immersive and expressive controls.
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Do you need PlayStation Plus for PS5 online multiplayer?
Not universally: PlayStation Support says some games require PlayStation Plus for online multiplayer and advises checking each game’s Store listing. For the specific case of Helldivers 2, PlayStation Support says a PS Plus membership is required for PS5 console online play. Check the current listing for any other game rather than assuming one rule applies to the entire shortlist. See PlayStation Support’s guidance on joining games.
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How to choose for your group
- You want a coordinated online squad: start with Helldivers 2 if a four-player, online-only format suits everyone.
- You want competitive matches: consider Black Ops 6, and check which mode and match format your group plans to play.
- You want a persistent world: consider Final Fantasy XIV Online, after checking its current account and subscription terms.
- You want racing: consider Gran Turismo 7, after verifying the current online options you need.
- You want a range of activities or exploration: look at Fortnite or No Man’s Sky respectively, then confirm current features and requirements.
- You want couch multiplayer: confirm local support and player count for the specific game first; online support alone does not prove local play.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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