Best multiplayer sports Multiplayer sports are a fantastic way to bond with friends, build new relationships, and experience the thrill of competition. Whether you’re looking for something to play online with friends or something to enjoy in person, multiplayer sports offer a wide variety of options. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the best multiplayer sports—exploring a mix of digital and physical games, while also offering practical tips to make your experience even better. If you’re ready to discover the top sports to play with others, you’ve come to the right place!
Why Multiplayer Sports Matter of Best multiplayer sports

Before we dive into the list of best multiplayer sports, let’s first understand why multiplayer games are so popular and important. The appeal of multiplayer sports lies in their ability to:
- Foster Teamwork: These games often require you to work together, communicating and strategizing with your team. This can improve not just your skills in the game, but also your ability to collaborate in real life.
- Offer Social Interaction: Multiplayer sports are a great way to meet new people and stay connected with old friends. Whether you’re physically playing in a field or virtually competing, multiplayer sports create shared experiences that enhance relationships.
- Boost Physical and Mental Health: Many multiplayer sports involve physical activity, which helps to boost your health, fitness, and mental well-being. For online multiplayer sports, they can still provide mental stimulation and a sense of accomplishment when playing with others.
- Have Fun! The number one reason to play multiplayer sports—whether digital or physical—is simple: it’s fun. Sports create excitement, foster competition, and deliver countless memorable moments.
Top 10 Best Multiplayer Sports You Should Try
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular and enjoyable multiplayer sports across both real-life and digital platforms. Whether you’re gathering for a local game or connecting online, these sports have got you covered.
1. Soccer (Football)
Why it’s Great: Soccer is the most popular sport globally, and it’s also one of the best multiplayer sports out there. The objective is simple: score more goals than the opposing team within a set amount of time. However, the strategy, passing, and teamwork involved make it both thrilling and challenging.
How to Play: In its classic form, soccer requires a ball, a field, and at least two teams (usually with 11 players on each side). The game is played with a round ball, and players aim to kick it into the opponent’s goal while preventing them from scoring.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Communication is key. Whether you’re playing casually or in a competitive league, make sure to communicate with your teammates to pass effectively, defend well, and make strategic moves.
- If you’re new, start with smaller teams and less challenging competition to build your skills.
Online Alternative: If you’re looking for an online multiplayer soccer experience, try out FIFA (available on most gaming platforms). It’s one of the top football games that lets you compete with others worldwide.
2. Basketball
Why it’s Great: Fast-paced, high-energy, and thrilling—basketball is one of the best multiplayer sports you can play. The game requires players to dribble, pass, and shoot the ball into the opposing team’s hoop while defending their own.
How to Play: Traditionally, each team has five players on the court, and they work together to outscore the other team. The game involves various moves like dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Focus on team strategies—basketball is about more than just individual talent. Effective teamwork and passing are critical to winning.
- Keep an eye on the clock! Time management and the clock in basketball play a huge role, especially towards the end of a close game.
Online Alternative: NBA 2K is a great way to play basketball virtually. The game offers both casual and competitive modes, allowing you to join friends for fun or take on players around the world.
3. Tennis
Why it’s Great: While tennis is often thought of as a one-on-one game, doubles tennis brings it to the multiplayer realm. It’s a fast-paced sport that combines agility, precision, and strategy.
How to Play: Tennis is usually played with either one player against another (singles) or with teams of two (doubles). The objective is to hit the ball in such a way that the opponent cannot return it within the boundaries of the court.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Focus on coordination with your teammate if playing doubles. Communication and positioning are essential.
- Practice your serves and volleys. These are key components of winning tennis matches.
Online Alternative: You can enjoy tennis on a variety of gaming platforms, such as Mario Tennis Aces for the Nintendo Switch. It’s an easy-to-learn game with multiplayer modes for family and friends.
4. Volleyball of Best multiplayer sports
Why it’s Great: Volleyball is a sport known for its fun and cooperative nature. It’s easy to pick up, requiring players to work as a team to score points by sending the ball over the net.
How to Play: The game typically involves two teams of six players, though you can play with fewer players in casual settings. The objective is to pass and hit the ball so that the opposing team cannot return it.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Focus on timing and coordination. Volleyball is all about setting up the perfect pass for your teammates to attack.
- Work on your positioning, especially when defending against attacks.
Online Alternative: Mario Volleyball for the Nintendo Switch offers a fun and casual take on the sport with plenty of multiplayer options.
5. Table Tennis (Ping Pong)
Why it’s Great: A fast-paced, exciting game that requires excellent reflexes and coordination. Whether you’re playing casually or competitively, table tennis offers quick games that keep players engaged.
How to Play: Table tennis is played on a small table with paddles and a lightweight ball. Players must return the ball over the net, trying to score points by making it land on the opponent’s side of the table.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Focus on improving your serves and spins to make the game more challenging.
- Keep your reflexes sharp by practicing quick returns.
Online Alternative: Virtua Tennis offers an online version of table tennis, complete with multiplayer gameplay, allowing you to compete globally.
6. Rugby of Best multiplayer sports
Why it’s Great: Rugby is a high-contact, action-packed sport that requires incredible teamwork, stamina, and strength. Whether you’re playing in a league or just for fun, the game offers excitement and adrenaline.
How to Play: Rugby involves two teams aiming to carry or kick the ball over the opponent’s goal line. The sport combines elements of running, tackling, and passing, and the ball can be moved forward only by running or kicking.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Be strategic when passing the ball and look for gaps in the defense.
- Communication and timing are essential, as rugby is a game of constant movement and quick decisions.
Online Alternative: Rugby 20 is an excellent choice for those who want to play rugby on gaming consoles, offering multiplayer modes.
7. Golf
Why it’s Great: Golf is one of the most relaxing sports, but it’s also highly competitive. Multiplayer golf allows friends to compete to score the fewest shots in a round, all while enjoying beautiful outdoor settings.
How to Play: Each player takes turns hitting their ball towards the hole with the goal of using the fewest strokes. The game involves a variety of clubs, each suited to different types of shots.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Take your time to line up each shot, as golf is about precision and patience.
- Learn to adjust to different course conditions, such as wind and terrain.
Online Alternative: If you can’t get to a real golf course, PGA Tour 2K offers a fantastic multiplayer golf experience online.
8. Bowling Best multiplayer sports
Why it’s Great: Bowling is a fun sport that brings together players of all skill levels. It’s perfect for casual hangouts or competitive leagues, and it can be played indoors or outdoors.
How to Play: Players roll a heavy ball down a lane towards a set of ten pins, trying to knock them over. The game is typically played in frames, and each player takes turns.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Focus on your aim and the speed of the ball. A consistent release is key to hitting the pins correctly.
- Bowling is a great social sport—cheer each other on and have fun with friends!
Online Alternative: Wii Sports Resort offers virtual bowling where you can compete against players worldwide.
9. Cricket
Why it’s Great: Cricket, especially popular in countries like India, England, and Australia, is a game of patience, skill, and strategy. Multiplayer cricket can be played both casually and in leagues.
How to Play: Cricket is played between two teams, with one batting and one fielding at any given time. The batting team aims to score runs by hitting the ball and running between wickets while the fielding team tries to get them out.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Focus on your batting technique, and practice defensive and attacking shots.
- Work closely with your team when fielding to create pressure on the batsman.
Online Alternative: For cricket fans, Don Bradman Cricket offers a fantastic multiplayer mode for competing against other players.
10. Badminton of Best multiplayer sports

Why it’s Great: Badminton is a fast-paced and enjoyable sport that requires agility and precision. Whether you’re playing singles or doubles, badminton is a great choice for both beginners and experienced players.
How to Play: Badminton is played with rackets and a shuttlecock. The objective is to score points by sending the shuttlecock over the net and into the opponent’s court.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Work on your footwork to move quickly around the court.
- Focus on your timing when hitting the shuttlecock to create the best angles.
Online Alternative: Badminton League offers a virtual badminton experience where you can compete with others online.
Conclusion
In this guide, we’ve explored some of the best multiplayer sports, ranging from classic outdoor games to thrilling online experiences. These sports aren’t just fun; they encourage teamwork, social interaction, and physical activity. Whether you’re hitting the field for a match or logging in to compete virtually, multiplayer sports offer something for everyone.