The 20 Best Crossplay Games That Came Out in 2021
Gaming has become one of the favorite pastimes among the population for more than just a few years now. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that came with it, a surge of games, plus gamers, have been the result. With nothing better to do to pass the time and nowhere to go until restrictions were lifted, people resorted to gaming. Along with games that could be played on desktop and laptop computers, console games from devices such as Microsoft’s X-Box and Sony’s Playstation have continued to make headway to merge these three worlds together in the form of cross-play games.
Call of Crossplay
Fortnite is credited to be the first game within the industry of gaming to implement a crossplay system that saw the combination of PC games with console games successfully. Gamers from the world of Xbox consoles and PlayStation consoles were now finally able to go toe-to-toe against each other or play cooperatively, in a game they took a mutual interest in. Since then, more games have joined in to take advantage of crossplay platforms as a means to not only bank in on a thriving market but push as many limits as possible to see what can be done. Since then, crossplay with virtual reality headsets has also come into the fold, which seems to suggest when it comes to crossplay games, there really are no limits.
Crossplay in 2021
While the ordeal of COVID 19 continues, the world moves forward. This includes the world of gaming. Now that the gaming industry has merged the worlds of different operating platforms together to play the same game, this momentum seems to have picked up steam in 2021. Among them, who really knew how to make crossplay work and who still has room for improvement?
20. Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
The Witcher series came up with a game within its gaming platform called Gwent. The popularity of that game spawned the creation of an online card gaming experience that is available as a crossplay on the consoles of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Fans of HearthStone will recognize Gwent for the similarities. Now a game on its own, Gwent offers a spectacular set of graphics, plus the wonderful complexities of the different cards involved where luck has very little to do with the success of your gameplay if you don’t have the skill to go with it. Although the game is available as a multiplayer experience, it is possible to play on your own as well.
19. Guns of Icarus Online
Fans of the steampunk genre who happen to have access to Linux, Microsoft, OS X, and Playstation 4 will find this crossplay gaming realm ideal for a collaborative effort to exercise all the strategies you need to make the most out of your multiplayer experience. There is a choice of ships to choose from, namely between Galleon, Junker, and Squid. There are also three different types of characters you can choose and upgrade, which are engineer, gunner, and pilot.
18. HearthStone
Free, especially in the form of an online multiplayer gaming experience that is rich with content is almost always a crowd-pleaser. Now with crossplay platforms that allow users of Android, iOS, PC, PS4, and Xbox One to come together in the same gaming world of HearthStone, then it’s a great recipe for a good gaming experience. Unlike games that focus on action revolving around hack and slash and shooting, HearthStone is a card game. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, HearthStone is a digital trading card game where you must defeat your opponents while strategically using a deck of thirty cards. For gamers more into intellectual-style gameplay as opposed to action, this serves up to be a great gaming experience.
17. Genshin Impact
It came out in late 2020 and made over $200 million in just two months since its first appearance online. The popularity of it as 2021 ran its course has only increased the appeal of Genshin Impact as it expands its own cross-playing horizons. However, in order to enjoy the cooperative multiplayer experience, you will have to reach level sixteen first as a single player. By then, you will be experienced enough with the game to serve as a decent partner with another player, regardless of what platform they’re playing on. As a team, up to four of you can work together for as long as you’re in the same region.
16. Mortal Kombat 11
Always popular, and sometimes controversial, Mortal Kombat does not disappoint fans of the series as they come out with Mortal Kombat 11. This is their answer to the crossplay realm of gaming. Between the options of Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One, a pool of fighters can be chosen to help you overtake your opponent as you test your might.
15. Gears of War 4
While the single campaign of Gears of War 4 seems too short for players who probably would have preferred more content, the crossplay between PC and Xbox gamers still makes the multiplayer experience an intense one. The Gears of War franchise has been around for twenty-five years and has become a cult favorite among dramatic shooter-style games.
14. Phantasy Star Online 2
The biggest appeal for Phantasy Star Online 2 is the number of crossplay platforms it involves. Between Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, this RPG-based game allows players to come together in a vast universe as a gaming community. Based on the Phantasy Star Universe, this crossplay game offers a futuristic world that offers oodles of customization options. For RPG gamers, this feature is important.
13. Chivalry 2
In June 2021, Chivalry 2 was designed to be a playable crossplay game on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X. The release of this game comes ten years after Chivalry: Medieval Warfare that was previously released on Windows. Aside from the game looking as sharp as it does, the gameplay experience is smooth, both as a single-player and in multiplayer efforts.
12. Dauntless
One of the most widely used games in crossplay is Dauntless. This action roleplaying game allows players from Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox to come together as slayers to hunt down the enemies of the game, Behemoths. The style of gameplay is similar to Monster Hunter, where the gaming experience depends on the ability to use the resources you find to create better gear so you can handle tougher to beat opponents as the game progresses.
11. Rogue Company
Free and available to play on the platforms of Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, Rogue Company is a cross-platform game that has a certain attitude to give this game an interesting realm to visit. The appeal that it’s available on four platforms makes it easy for friends to gather together and either play as a team or against each other as rivals.
10. Paladins
The free online shooter, Paladins, is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox. As a player, it is your choice if you wish to compete as a magistrate or paladin. These two characters are enemies to each other. Whichever side you choose, you must maintain continual touch with your fellow teammates in order to win. There are a variety of different game types to choose from between assault, deathmatch, ranking, and siege. The mix of fantasy and science fiction gives these crossplay games a fantastic gaming experience for fans who enjoy this particular genre of gameplay.
9. ARK: Survival Evolved
Available for crossplay on PC and Xbox, ARK: Survival Evolved has you stranded on the shores of an island that has many mysteries to solve. Between that and all of the environmental and beastly dangers that lurk, you and your friends need to find a way to gain control of the island in order to survive. The more players that work together to achieve their goal in this regard, the better odds you have to win.
8. Minecraft
Although not new, Minecraft continues to come up with new concepts added to the game where it never loses the feeling of new among even the oldest veterans of the game. While the graphics seem 1980s retro by nature, the overall appeal of the game continues to keep players coming back for more. Gamers who use the Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox are the only platforms that can access this crossplay realm. This is a very popular game for children as it allows them to exercise their imagination.
7. Sea of Thieves
Themed as a pirate game, Sea of Thieves is available for cross-play on PC, Steam, and Xbox. While other platforms are left out, the quality of this game between players is nothing short of stellar. As a player, sail around the world and either work with your buddies or challenge your rivals as you live your fantasy life as a pirate traveling the high seas. Between mysteries to solve and an empire of wealth and power you call your own, there is very little you can’t do in the Sea of Thieves.
6. Rocket League
Between Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One, Rocket League offers one of the greatest crossplay platform games to play among friends. The huge player pool allowance offers a world that combines soccer and rocket-style vehicles as players instead of people. Even if not part of a large friendship party, the smoothness of the crossplay allows gamers from four different platforms to play in the same world as Rocket League is exactly how good crossplay-style games should be done.
5. No Man’s Sky
Available for crossplay on PC, and a minimum requirement of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, No Man’s Sky offers an excellent range of players to choose from. Between imaginative concepts and the exploration of space in this science fiction-themed game, the possibilities seem endless. Designed as a game that focuses on building and exploration, the beautiful display of graphics and smooth gameplay that’s loaded with missions never leave many opportunities for a dull playing experience. Whether playing together as a team, or against each other as rivals, the smoothness of this crossplay game is hard to beat.
4. Dead by Daylight by Resident Evil
Available for crossplay between the platforms of Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox is Resident Evil’s Dead by Daylight. After a slight drain in the franchise’s popularity, the latest edition of its horror-style contribution to the gaming industry has not failed to disappoint. Not for the faint at heart, Dead by Daylight makes for a good crossplay game, especially if you’re into chills and thrills. With a player capacity of five in a game, there are four survivors and one killer. The roles of these characters are assigned to the player at the start of the game.
3. Splitgate
As early access, Splitgate was released on May 24, 2019, on the platforms of PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Developed by 1047 Games, an independent company, Splitgate combines the world of Halo’s science fiction style of gameplay with wormhole portals similar to the infamous Portal series. In 2021, the popularity of the game exploded after a growing number of fans became fed up enough with some of the bigger-named first-person shooter games gave it a try. Since it is a free-to-play, crossover game, fans of first-person shooter games sparked substantial growth within the realm of Splitgate. This resulted in this humble company investing in more servers just to keep up. Although the game technically came out before 2021, there were enough upgrades and improvements done to the game that came about in 2021 that added to its fan appeal. It was suspected once some of the bigger-named first-person shooter names released their upcoming games that Splitgate would see a significant drop in players. However, the opposite has happened. Now with a rumored Splitgate 2 on the horizon, time will tell to see what happens next.
2. Halo Master Chief Collection
With the recently introduced Halo Infinite to join the Halo Master Chief Collection, it not only put its competitors in the first-person shooter games on notice to step up their act but served as an example of how multiplayer platforms with crossplay capabilities are done. Although it’s only available through Xbox and PC, players who use either of these consoles who are fed up with big-name companies failing to impress with their first-person shooter games are flocking to Halo. Where Halo lacks in the number of crossplay platforms to work with they make up for in numbers. Many owners of Sony’s PlayStation consoles who feel left out and want in on the action are switching operating systems just so they can take part in the Halo universe.
1. Fortnite
Fortnite has over 350 million registered players worldwide. While the game itself has already been around for a few years, it continues to expand its horizons where the newness of the game continues. This is what marks a truly great game. Fortnite, easily, is ranked the best because of the fact it has smoothly integrated the platforms of Android, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox together. The battle royale by Epic continues to reign when it comes to the most ideal multiplayer shooter platforms. The formula they use to make this work as well as it does is a recipe those who failed to impress in 2021 needs to learn from.
