I've played RPGs for over 20 years, and these are the 10 best I'd recommend playing with friends in 2026

This list is dedicated to helping you discover the best multiplayer RPGs that are better to play with friends.

While many of these picks are fantastic to play solo – with some highlighted among our pick of the best single-player RPGs – I've brought together a selection of role-playing games that are even better to tuck into with pals. From your friends bringing a level of unpredictability as you make choices and take on enemies together, to sharing story beats and questlines, nothing makes an RPG more memorable than the company you keep as you experience adventures together.

As one of our RPG vibes that we include in our rankings (which you can read about in our FAQ section), Better With Friends really is about highlighting the experiences that are only enhanced by having some good company at your side. From co-op action RPGs that inspire teamwork, to MMORPGs that are all about that social connection, and more, read on as I guide you through the best RPGs that are better with friends.

The best RPGs to play with friends, starting with...

10. Remnant: From the Ashes

If you're looking for an action RPG that you can get stuck into with pals, Remnant: From the Ashes is here to answer your call. As a third-person experience with survival elements, take on hordes of monstrous creatures in a post-apocalyptic world where you are essentially one of the last remnants of humanity left. But you don't have to go it alone, because you can fight back against the horrors and try to conquer big bosses with up to two other players in online co-op.

Teamwork can really be the key to survival, after all, and nothing invokes camaraderie quite like overcoming challenges and lots of nasty foes. With plenty of different weapons and armor to get your hands on and play around with, having pals at your side earning rewards together just makes Remnant: From the Ashes all the more satisfying.

9. Granblue Fantasy: Relink

With four-player co-op, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a fantastic action RPG with a helping of fantasy that you can experience with your buddies at your side. Set in the Sky Realm, which is made up of floating archipelagos, you play as a captain of your own airborne crew as you navigate the skies aboard a flying airship. With the help of a dragon and other crewmates who have their own unique powers, you set sail to Estalucia, which is believed to be an island that stretches out beyond the end of the skies.

While you can take on quests solo with your intrepid party, you can also complete them and adventure through the Granblu Fantasy: Relink with the help of three of your friends. The co-op support works very well, and playing with others is a sure-fire way to take on quests and battles faster, and it makes for one very enjoyable shared experience.

8. For the King

Fans of the best turn-based RPGs will no doubt be happy to know there's a great option out there if you're after one that's better with friends. With a dash of roguelike elements and some JRPG-infused combat that takes inspiration from dice-rolling, For the King is a strategy role-playing experience that supports both local and online co-op for up to three players.

Set in the fantasy realm known as Fuhrul, where the king has been murdered by someone as yet unknown, you set out to answer the queen's call to fight back against the encroaching chaos after the king's death. With procedurally generated maps, quests, and even loot, each run offers up something different, and with pals at your side, you can choose to stay together to increase your chances, or split up to explore more of the map. If you're looking for something that will put your strategy to the test, this is a great RPG to consider checking out with some good company.

7. Sea of Stars

When it comes to RPGs that are even better with friends, Sea of Stars is a great pick for those who want something you can play locally. While some RPGs only let you experience particular parts or aspects of the game together, up to three players can actually play through the entirety of Sabotage Studio's pixelated adventure, with the ability to drop in and out of the world at any time to join your friend's play sessions. From exploring and traversing across the fantasy landscape, to getting stuck into turn-based combat as you take on random encounters, you can also enjoy hanging out as you cook, fish, sail, and more.

Following the story of the two Children of the Solstice, who use the powers of the sun and moon to take on monstrous creations of the evil Fleshmance alchemist, Sea of Stars is full of characters to get to know. And getting swept up in the world is made all the more memorable when you have friends at your side.

6. Diablo 4

Get ready to delve into dungeons together because Diablo 4 is here to bring you hack-and-slash action RPG goodness that you can play with pals. Supporting local co-op for two players, or online for up to four, you can work together to fight back against the darkness in the world of Sanctuary. With bosses to defeat and plenty of challenges to overcome as you try to put a stop to the cultists awaiting antagonist Lilith's arrival, Diablo 4 has its fair share of dangers to conquer and quests to complete, and nothing beats doing it with friends.

Choosing from a selection of playable classes, you can customize your own character and work on your builds to suit your playstyle and complement your pals' chosen adventurer. Plus, it features cross-play and cross-progression, and if you enjoy gathering loot, Diablo 4 has it in spades with plenty of unique items to get your hands on.

5. Stardew Valley

Farming RPG Stardew Valley is an absolute delight to play with friends and family. Carving out your own pixelated farming life, you can work together to shape and develop your very own farm, sharing resources, working together to grow crops, raise cows, chickens, sheep, and bunnies, and earn gold so you can buy buildings to keep on advancing your agricultural pocket of land.

With an easy-to-use co-op set-up that allows you to create a farm for you and your pals, it really is satisfying to see how your teamwork has helped transform it from an overgrown space to a thriving place filled with crops and adorable animals. With plenty of features to work towards together and a laidback vibe that's perfect if you're looking to kick back with, Stardew Valley is a wonderful RPG that only gets better with fellow farmers.

4. Divinity Original Sin 2

Divinity Original Sin 2 is a rich fantasy RPG set in the world of Rivellion that's packed full of possibilities. While you have a party of companions you can adventure alongside, you can also bring some added unpredictability to your experience by journeying alongside friends who have just as much freedom to interact with the world and experiment in combat as you do.

With local support for two players in splitscreen co-op and online co-op for up to four players, things can really get quite chaotic when more than one friend is involved, but the experience of adventuring through the game is all the more memorable for it. With the choice from six different origin characters, or the option to create your own custom hero, every choice you and your friends make will have consequences, and whether you choose to deliberate over your decisions together or not adds another layer to the experience.

3. Monster Hunter Rise

As one of the best Monster Hunter games around, Monster Hunter Rise is also one of the RPGs I'd recommend if you're after something you can play with friends. With a Hunter Hub that easily allows you to get stuck into the action with your pals, you can set out on multiplayer quests and work together to hunt down big monsters to your heart's content. It's also made all better thanks to difficulty scaling, which takes into account the company you have if you're after a challenge.

Packed full of different weapons to try out and use against your foes, it's also easy to find a playstyle that suits you, and when your pals enter the fray with their own weapons of choice, you can bring to life a powerful team that can take down many monsters together.

2. Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 is easily one of the best WRPGs around, and letting your friends loose on your adventures in the Sword Coast only adds to the magic and chaos of it all. As you venture to rid yourself of the tadpoles lodged in your brains, you can experience all of the major story beats and questlines together, decide what choices to make, and try to react to your friends' antics in turn-based combat as you fight against foes.

With so many classes and races to choose from, playing in co-op, either locally or online, really brings a different dimension to the game. After all, you never can tell what your pals might do or where your choices may lead you, but that's just what makes Baldur's Gate 3 such an unforgettable multiplayer experience.

1. Final Fantasy 14

As one of my sister's all-time favorite games – not to mention one of the best MMORPGs – I've seen first-hand how Final Fantasy 14 brings people together and inspires teamwork, connection, and camaraderie. With a thriving community of players, the MMORPG is a great option to play if you're looking to step into the Final Fantasy universe and have the option to share the experience with friends at your side. Over the years since its launch, the base game has vastly expanded and improved, along with the addition of expansions like Heavensward and Stormblood, there's plenty to discover.

While you can take on the main story dungeons solo if you so wish, having a party of fellow players at your side really can enhance the experience, and once you reach higher levels, you can also tackle raids together, or just enjoy hanging out in various social spots.

Best RPGs that are Better With Friends FAQs