Just Got a PC? Here's How to Find Multiplayer Games Your Friends Play
The platform switch
You built a PC or bought a gaming laptop. Your Steam library is growing. But your friends are still on PS5, Xbox, or Switch. The games you used to play together on console might not have crossplay with PC. And the PC exclusives you're excited about don't help when nobody else in your group has a PC.
Welcome to the cross-platform problem.
Step 1: Figure out what your friends are on
Before downloading anything, take inventory. Who's on what? If your group is spread across PC, PS5, and Xbox, you need games that support crossplay between all three. Not just "crossplay supported" on the store page, but confirmed working between your specific platforms.
Check our crossplay pages:
Step 2: Check what's free first
You just spent money on a PC. You probably don't want to rebuy games you already owned on console. Start with free-to-play titles that support crossplay. Several of the biggest multiplayer games are free on every platform.
Browse free multiplayer games filtered by platform availability.
Step 3: Watch for the Steam vs Microsoft Store problem
Some games have crossplay between the Microsoft Store/Xbox app version on PC and Xbox, but NOT between the Steam version and Xbox. This catches new PC gamers off guard. They buy the Steam version because that's what PC gamers use, then discover they can't party up with their Xbox friends.
When in doubt, check the specific game's page in our database for crossplay details. We note when the store version matters.
Step 4: Set up a board for your group
The fastest way to figure out what your mixed-platform group can play: create a board on PickThe.Games. Mark yourself as PC, have everyone else mark their platforms. The swipe feed only shows games that work across your group's platform mix, and crossplay compatibility is checked automatically.
No more researching each game individually. No more "wait, does this work on PS5 too?"
The good news
PC has the best crossplay support of any platform. More games support PC-to-console crossplay than any other combination. Your switch to PC doesn't mean losing your group. It means having more options, not fewer.
Browse PC games or try swiping to see what's available for your group.