Playing games cooperatively with others can often lead to a richer and more memorable experience, and many RPGs provide the perfect backdrop for just such a multiplayer adventure. RPGs can be good for groups of friends who want to delve into dungeons and quickly slaughter everything in sight or a family who wants to explore the rich narrative of a well-told story. Sometimes, playing an RPG multiplayer with others online can even lead to rewarding and long-lasting friendships.
There are various options of games for groups to play together, such as chaotic party games or shooters. The roleplaying game genre can often provide a more immersive world and offer different types of classes or strategies for multiple people to enjoy. In the past few years, cross-platform play has often been seen in many of the popular multiplayer RPGs and can make games easier for people to connect over long distances while still often offering local play, too.
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10 Best RPGs Of 2023
From Final Fantasy XVI to Baldur’s Gate 3, this was a great year for RPGs, but these ten games stood out as the best of the bunch in 2023.
10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink (2024)
PS4, PS5, PC
- Franchise
-
Granblue Fantasy
- Platform(s)
-
Microsoft Windows
, PlayStation 4
, PlayStation 5
, Steam - Released
-
February 1, 2024
- Developer(s)
-
Cygames
, PlatinumGames - Publisher(s)
-
Cygames
- Genre(s)
-
Action
, RPG - ESRB
-
Not Yet Rated
The main narrative of Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a single-player story, but playing the online multiplayer is still worth checking out. Once connected with a group of either friends or random players online, this co-op experience lets parties do quests to gain rewards and take down bosses but does not affect the story of the single-player campaign. Granblue Fantasy: Relink offers fantastic combat and beautiful graphics, earning it a Metacritic score of 80 and receiving 5 out of 5 stars from its Screen Rant review.
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Granblue Fantasy: Relink – How To Play With Friends (Co-Op Multiplayer Mode)
You can expand your crew in Granblue Fantasy: Relink to include your friends in co-op multiplayer online, but only if you talk to the right hub NPC.
9
Wasteland 3 (Released In 2020)
PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Platform(s)
-
PC
, Xbox One
, PlayStation 4 - Released
-
May 19, 2020
- Developer(s)
-
inXile entertainment
- Publisher(s)
-
Deep Silver
- How Long To Beat
-
37 Hours
Wasteland 3 is the first game in the series to offer multiplayer, and although it only allows for online play with one other person, its two-player co-op is a wonderful RPG experience to share with a friend. Each player in the experience can control three characters in their own team simultaneously and can start conversations with NPCs. Friends can join at any point in the campaign, even jumping in during the middle of a game if the host player invites them to. Wasteland 3 has a Metacritic score of 85 and received a Screen Rant review of 4 out of 5 stars.
Related
Wasteland 3 Review – A Frozen Fallout Mixed With XCOM
Wasteland 3 is more approachable, intuitive, and enjoyable than previous games in the series, and both new and returning fans will find a lot to love.
8
Diablo 4 (Released In 2023)
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Franchise
-
Diablo
- Platform(s)
-
PlayStation 4
, Xbox One
, PlayStation 5
, Xbox Series X/S
, Microsoft Windows - Released
-
June 2, 2023
- Developer(s)
-
Blizzard Team 3
, Blizzard Albany - Publisher(s)
-
Blizzard Entertainment
- Genre(s)
-
Action RPG
, Hack and Slash - ESRB
-
M
- How Long To Beat
-
34 hours
See at Best Buy
See at Walmart
See at blizzard
Diablo 4 is the most recent game in the franchise, and although older entries like Diablo 2 have long been staples for many in the multiplayer RPG category, the improvements Diablo 4 has been regularly receiving since its launch has made it a serious contender. Being able to easily join up with friends or strangers to tackle dungeons, gather tons of loot, and even fight massive world bosses is a rewarding experience that the Diablo games have perfected into an art. Diablo 4 has a Metacritic rating of 86 and a Screen Rant review, giving the game 4.5/5 stars.
7
Torchlight 2 (Released In 2012)
PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Although it isn’t the latest in the franchise, Torchlight 2 remains a solid example of pure fun when it comes to multiplayer dungeon-crawling RPGs. Whether online or in local play, up to four people can team up to experience any part of the game together, with cartoony graphics and creative classes that are as enjoyable as they are effective. Torchlight 2 has a Metacritic rating of 88 and can easily be played without experiencing the first in the series.
6
Monster Hunter Rise (Released In 2021)
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Franchise
-
Monster Hunter
- Platform(s)
-
Nintendo Switch
, Microsoft Windows
, PlayStation 4
, PlayStation 5
, Xbox One
, Xbox Series X/S - Released
-
March 26, 2021
- Developer(s)
-
Capcom
- Publisher(s)
-
Capcom
- Genre(s)
-
Action RPG
- ESRB
-
T
- How Long To Beat
-
22-105 hours
See at Walmart
See at Best Buy
Monster Hunter Rise is available on nearly every modern gaming platform, but unfortunately, it does not offer crossplay. For those who can connect, however, up to four hunters can join forces either locally or online and enjoy questing together. Playing in multiplayer also gives extra free items for multiplayer gameplay, like Lifepowders, Armor Powder, and more, to aid in the adventure. Monster Hunter Rise was given a perfect 5/5 stars in its Screen Rant review and has a Metacritic score of 88.
Related
Monster Hunter Rise Review: A New Era
Monster Hunter Rise has cut away every annoyance from the older entries in the series, creating one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch.
5
Dark Souls 3 (Released In 2016)
PS4, Xbox One, PC
Dark Souls 3
- Franchise
-
dark souls
- Platform(s)
-
PlayStation 4
, Xbox One
, Windows - Released
-
March 24, 2016
- Developer(s)
-
FromSoftware
- Publisher(s)
-
Bandai Namco Studios
- Genre(s)
-
Action RPG
- ESRB
-
M
- How Long To Beat
-
32-97 hours
See at Walmart
See at Best Buy
Dark Souls is a notoriously difficult series, but having friends along for the ride can help ease the burden and lighten the atmosphere of the game a bit. The game supports both online and local multiplayer, although only the host can interact with NPCs during the game. That said, having a friend or two come in to help take down a boss or even play through the entire game together can add a lot to the game. Dark Souls 3 has a Metacritic score of 89, with a 9.0 User Score.
4
Divinity: Original Sin 2 (Released In 2017)
PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Platform(s)
-
Nintendo Switch
, PlayStation 4
, Xbox One
, PC - Released
-
September 14, 2017
- Developer(s)
-
Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
-
Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
-
Action
- ESRB
-
m
- How Long To Beat
-
59 Hours
Despite being an older game, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is still one of the best multiplayer RPG experiences for its strong story and the freedom that it allows each of the players despite being in the same game. Up to four players can join a co-op party together online or locally and can either work together or do their own things while enjoying being in the same world. Divinity: Original Sin 2 has a Metacritic score of 93, and Screen Rant rated the experience at 4.5/5 stars.
3
Final Fantasy XIV (Released In 2013)
PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Final Fantasy XIV
- Franchise
-
Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
-
PlayStation 4
, PlayStation 5
, PlayStation 3
, Microsoft Windows
, macOS - Released
-
August 24, 2013
- Developer(s)
-
Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
-
Square Enix
- Genre(s)
-
MMORPG
, Multiplayer - ESRB
-
T
As an MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV has been around for over a decade and released several expansions during that time. With each expansion’s release, the Metacritic scores kept increasing, ultimately landing at a 92 with the launch of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. The MMORPG can see many players enjoying the game at once, with parties of up to eight players able to group up to complete quests, dungeons, trials, and more together. Although there are some solo instances where the party will be forced to separate, these are not common.
Related
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Review – To The Moon & Back
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker brings an end to a storyline that’s lasted nearly a decade but still looks ahead to an exciting future for the MMORPG.
2
Elden Ring (Released In 2022)
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Elden Ring
- Platform(s)
-
PlayStation 4
, Xbox One
, PlayStation 5
, Xbox Series X/S
, PC - Released
-
February 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
-
FromSoftware
- Publisher(s)
-
Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Genre(s)
-
Action
, RPG - ESRB
-
M
- How Long To Beat
-
56 Hours
The massive RPG experience of Elden Ring is already a fun experience, but that is enhanced when played with others. One caveat, which some see as a bonus, and others see as a punishment, is that when the online co-op is open for all, then it also makes games susceptible to PvP invasions.
This can quickly derail a focused quest with a party, although it can also add a unique and interesting dynamic to the game. Thankfully, this doesn’t happen if the online co-op is a password-protected game with invited friends. Elden Ring has an impressive 96 on Metacritic and received 5/5 stars from Screen Rant’s review.
Related
Elden Ring Review: Hands Across America
Elden Ring is a staggeringly large, nearly perfect culmination of everything FromSoftware has developed since the release of Demon’s Souls.
1
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Released In 2023)
PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Franchise
-
Baldur’s Gate
- Platform(s)
-
macOS
, Microsoft Windows
, PlayStation 5 - Released
-
August 31, 2023
- Developer(s)
-
Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
-
Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
-
RPG
- ESRB
-
M
- How Long To Beat
-
50 – 100 hours
Besides winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3 has also captured the attention of the co-op multiplayer RPG crowd as being one of the best RPG experiences to share with others. In multiplayer, groups of up to four can become a party and explore and quest together, or even split up and fight alone.
Every player has freedom and choice and can enjoy a very rich story that is themed heavily on the Dungeons and Dragons experience. With a Metacritic rating of 96, Screen Rant review of 4.5/5 stars, and a host of awards, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a must-play experience for anyone looking for a rich cooperative RPG multiplayer experience.