The Best Multiplayer Games App for Playing with Friends
The best multiplayer games app isn't the one with the flashiest single game — it's the one you actually open when you've got five minutes with a friend. That means lots of games everyone already knows, quick to start, and playable on one phone or across two. Here's what to look for, and how Multiplayer Games stacks up.
What makes a multiplayer games app great
- Games everyone knows. Nobody wants to read a rulebook at the dinner table. Classics like Chess, Connect Four and Battleship need no explaining.
- Every way to play. Same-device pass-and-play, online with friends, a quick match with someone new, and a CPU for solo practice.
- Fast to start. Open the app and be playing in seconds, without an account.
- Something to come back for. Leaderboards, streaks and stats give you a reason to keep playing.
- Free and fair. No pay-to-win and no paywalls on the games themselves.
Our pick: Multiplayer Games
Multiplayer Games bundles 18 two-player classics into one free app for iPhone, iPad and Android, with a matching website you can play in any browser. Every game has a local mode and a computer opponent with Easy, Medium and Hard difficulty.
- 18 games. From Chess and Backgammon to 8 Ball Pool, Hangman and Dice Duel.
- Online play. Invite a friend with a room code, play live, or take turns over the day.
- Quick match. Get paired with another player when your friends are busy.
- Leaderboards and streaks. Climb the weekly rankings and keep a daily streak going.
Best games in the app for different groups
- For quick rounds. Tic Tac Toe, Dice Duel and Four in a Row — most games take a couple of minutes.
- For thinkers. Chess, Go, Reversi and Backgammon reward planning ahead.
- For families and kids. Memory Match, Hangman and Dots and Boxes are easy to learn and fun at any age.
- For a bit of competition. 8 Ball Pool and Sea Battle are the most-played head-to-head games.