In the realm of video games, cross-platform support is becoming increasingly vital. Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and Fortnite have pushed crossplay into the spotlight, and most AAA multiplayer games now include at least some cross-platform connectivity. Finding every cross-platform game is difficult, therefore we did the legwork to compile a thorough list of titles that enable crossplay.
Unfortunately, there are no regulations governing crossplay, thus each game handles the function differently. To complicate matters further, certain backward-compatible titles on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X still enable crossplay on the most recent hardware, even though it hasn’t been officially released.
We dug through as many game listings as possible to bring you a comprehensive list of all cross-platform games. Keep in mind that publishers and developers release new games every day, and developers update their games even more frequently. Because of that, it’s best to check with the developer or publisher to see if your favorite game supports crossplay.
Simply put, cross-platform games are titles that are available on numerous platforms. Consider Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, as well as Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which is available on all of those systems as well as the Nintendo Switch.
Compare and contrast these games to titles such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, which is available only on PS5, or Halo Infinite, which is available only on Microsoft platforms, such as Xbox and Windows. (Although — not to make matters more confusing — Halo Infinite may technically be a cross-platform game, since it’s available on more than one system. You see just how broad the definition can be.)
Cross-play games, on the other hand, are usually what people want to learn about when they search for “cross-platform games.” All cross-play games are cross-platform games, but not all cross-platform games are cross-play games. Here’s the distinction:
A cross-play game is a title that lets people on different platforms play the multiplayer mode together. In other words, if you have a PS5 and your first friend has an Xbox Series X, while your second friend has a PC, a cross-play game will let you all play together. Many multiplayer games — even cross-platform ones — restrict multiplayer modes to other players on the same console family.
This was a big problem in previous console generations, when friend groups would have to confer with each other beforehand to ensure they all bought PlayStations, or Xboxes, or PCs. Thankfully, multiplayer games from recent years tend to support cross-play as a rule, and will even let you carry over your multiplayer stats from system to system.
Best cross-platform games
Narrowing down the best cross-platform games isn’t easy as these are games that are available across multiple platforms, which at the time of writing tend to include a lot of games released over the past few years. As the current generation matures, we’re likely to see more platform-specific games, such as Starfield, that won’t work on last-gen consoles.
Read Also: Do I Have to Transfer Data From PS4 to PS5?
On Xbox, there are a lot more games that will play well on the Xbox One and Xbox Series S. The best Xbox One games can benefit from being played on the Series X or Series S, while some picks on the best Xbox Series X games, like Forza Horizon 5 are compatible with the Xbox One. Also, some of the best PC games can also be found on Xbox.
The Nintendo Switch somewhat stands alone with no cross-generation games unless titles are ported over to the Switch.
What are the Best Cross-play Games?
Cross-play games are much more common now than they were in the past. There’s no way to definitively list every single cross-play title, especially since you could technically define a game that works on both the PS4 and the PS5 as “cross-play.”
As such, rather than just list every single cross-play game, we’ve singled out a handful that are worth trying, then included a longer selection below that. While first-person shooters (understandably) make up a lot of cross-play selections, we’ve decided instead to highlight a number of different genres, from social deception games, to RPGs, to sims, to board games.
For the purposes of this article, we’ve also elected to set our definition of a cross-play game as “any multiplayer game that allows players on at least three distinct systems to play together.” These systems could be PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X; they could be iOS, Android and Switch. For each game, we list the systems that support cross-play, so be sure to double-check those before you and your friends run out to buy multiple copies.
Among Us
Are you good at lying? Are you good at sussing out fibbers? Then Among Us is a game for you. This cartoonish title sees you and a team of other blob-like astronauts going about a spaceship (or a few other locations) and crossing off a list of tasks. But what you don’t know is there’s a traitor or two around you, looking to destabilize your work or pick off your crewmates one by one.
It’s then the duty of the players who are not the so-called imposter, to detect and purge the enemy. The problem is this can result in accusing the wrong people of being an imposter, with the imposter player/players given the stage to state their case as to why they are actually on the side of the crew. Cue all manner of heated discussions and debates with accusations thrown all over the place; Among Us as stressful as it is riotous fun.
Supported systems: PC, iOS, Android, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Brawlhalla
Fighting games and multiplayer go hand-in-hand, which is why it’s always a bummer when these games limit your online opponents to players in your same console family. Brawlhalla isn’t the deepest fighting game around, but when it comes to cross-play compatibility, it’s available on a staggering number of platforms.
In addition to consoles and PC, this one also plays nicely with macOS, iOS and Android. The premise is pretty simple: Take control of a colorful avatar (there are 54 available), then customize your loadout and fight against up to three other players as you attempt to knock each other off a platform, Super Smash Bros.-style.
Supported systems: Mac, PC, iOS, Android, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Genshin Impact
One of the odder games on this list, Genshin Impact came out of nowhere two years ago to become one of the most accessible and popular massively multiplayer online games on the market. In this action/RPG, you recruit a team of adorable anime characters, then set out to explore a big, open world, more than a little bit inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. What’s especially impressive about Genshin Impact is that you can play it on a smartphone with relatively little loss in quality, then pick up where you left off on a PC or console later.
Supported systems: PC, iOS, Android, PS4, PS5
Gwent
Everyone loves The Witcher lately, but most Witcher stories cost money. You can’t read the books, play the games or watch the Netflix show for free — but you can play Gwent. For those who haven’t tried it, Gwent is the addictive collectible card game that debuted in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In it, you build a deck of soldiers and monsters, then compete against other players to see who can survive the longest. Gwent is now a standalone game, and like most CCGs, it requires an agreeable mix of strategy and luck to master.
Supported systems: PC, iOS, Android
Minecraft
Minecraft needs no introduction. It’s one of the oldest and most beloved cross-play games in existence. In this building and exploration sim, you take control of a blocky avatar, gather resources and build whatever you can imagine. With cross-play, you can collaborate with your friends and family, whether you want to fight off monsters in adventure mode, or construct castles in creative mode.
Since cross-play works across computers, consoles and smartphones, it’s easy for parents and kids to play together, which is always a big draw. Just be aware that you’ll have to buy multiple copies of the game, since “cross-play” doesn’t usually mean “cross-buy” as well. Also note that if you’re playing on PC, you’ll need the Bedrock edition to play with others on mobile or consoles, not the PC-only Java version.
Supported systems: PC, iOS, Android, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition
Neverwinter Nights is a bit of a special game as it was basically Bioware’s first foray into making a 3D game based in the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons fame. It laid the foundation for many of Bioware’s best RPGs that followed it, from Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic to Mass Effect.
So Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition is worth a look for gaming history alone. As a game in the modern world, it may look long in the tooth but still has an intriguing story that had a good bit of depth to it than just standard fantasy fare. Then the multiplayer mode, which lets you play across multiple platforms, expands the scope of the game by some margins. You can embark on full D&D scenario with a party of friends, or serve as a Dungeon Master to take said party through a custom story and setting. Just bear in mind that custom scenarios need to be created, and are best done on a PC rather than a console.
Supported systems: Linux, Mac, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Rocket League
Rocket League has an unusual premise, but it’s remarkably easy to describe: “Soccer, but with cars.” In this bizarre competitive sports games, two teams of up to four players apiece drive all over a stadium, bumping around an enormous ball until they can land it in an opponent’s goal. That’s it. That’s the whole game. And yet, the game can be either deep and demanding or random and chaotic, depending on how your group of friends likes to play. Rocket League’s cross-play features support PC and all the major consoles, and the game is free-to-play, so it’s easy to give it a try.
Supported systems: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Splitgate
“What if Halo were also Portal” is a question that we didn’t even realize needed answering until Splitgate came along. This innovative first-person shooter combines the bright colors and weird weaponry of Halo with the mind-bending physics of Portal, and it’s just as addictive as it sounds. Splitgate matches are sometimes fiercely competitive, and sometimes unpredictably zany, and you won’t really know which you prefer until you jump into a few matches and play for yourself. Since the game is free-to-play, it’s easy to jump in and see whether you and your friends want to make it part of your regular rotation.
Supported systems: Linux, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Star Wars: Squadrons
Star Wars: Squadrons is a good, old-fashioned space sim, in the vein of X-Wing or TIE Fighter from back in the ‘90s. And, like any self-respecting space sim, it has both a detailed single-player campaign and an expansive multiplayer mode. The multiplayer mode is actually where Star Wars: Squadrons gets really interesting, as it allows you to customize your protagonist and all of your ships, provided you rack up enough in-game rewards to do so. The best way to do that is to cooperate and compete with your friends, which you can do across PC, PlayStation and Xbox. May the Force be with you.
Supported systems: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Tetris Effect
Tetris has had a multiplayer component going all the way back to the ‘80s. It’s no surprise, then, that Tetris Effect excels in its multiplayer offerings, or that it supports cross-play between PC and all three major console families. The gameplay involves clever spins on the classic Tetris formula, such as clearing more than four lines at a time, and setting down blocks in time with the music. It’s an extremely chill experience — or an extremely competitive one, if you want to test yourself against your friends and rivals. You can even play this one in VR, if you have a PSVR or an Oculus device.
Supported systems: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
