Every friend group eventually runs into the same wall: one person's on PlayStation, another's on Xbox, someone only has a gaming PC, and somebody else is stuck with just a phone. Cross-platform games are the fix -- they let all of you land in the same match regardless of what's actually sitting in front of you.
What "cross-platform" actually means
A cross-platform (or "crossplay") game lets players on different systems share the same matchmaking pool and play together directly, instead of each platform's players being sorted into separate servers. Some games support it fully across every platform; others support it only between certain pairs (PC and console, but not mobile, for example) -- worth a quick check before you build a squad around a specific title.
Games that work across almost everything
- Fortnite -- PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and Android all share the same lobbies.
- Minecraft (Bedrock edition) -- PC, console, and mobile players can join the same world together.
- Rocket League -- full crossplay across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
- Among Us -- PC, console, and mobile players can all sit at the same table.
- Dead by Daylight -- crossplay spans PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile.
- Roblox -- effectively platform-agnostic, running across PC, console, and mobile.
Beyond those, a large chunk of today's biggest multiplayer games -- Apex Legends, Overwatch 2, No Man's Sky, Fall Guys, Diablo IV, and Call of Duty's Warzone -- support crossplay between PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, even where mobile isn't part of the mix.
The account step people skip
Several of these games route crossplay through a linked account system -- an Epic account for Fortnite, a Microsoft/Rockstar-style link for others -- so your friends list and progress follow you across devices. It's worth setting that up before game night rather than during it; account-linking screens are not where anyone wants to spend their evening.
When cross-platform still isn't enough
Even with crossplay support, someone in the group still needs the actual hardware -- a console, a capable gaming PC, or a phone with enough storage and a fast enough chip for the specific title. If your group's real problem is that half of you don't own gaming hardware at all, crossplay support in a AAA title doesn't solve that part.
The version of crossplay that needs nothing
Browser-based multiplayer games sidestep the whole question. There's no platform to match, no account-linking step, and no install -- everyone just opens the same link. It's crossplay in its simplest possible form: a webpage works the same whether you're on a five-year-old laptop, a Chromebook, or a phone.
That's exactly how RivalPit works -- 110+ casual multiplayer games playable instantly in a browser, so getting your whole mismatched-hardware friend group into the same game takes exactly one shared link.
Frequently asked questions
What does "cross-platform" actually mean in a game?
It means players on different systems — PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or mobile — can play together in the same match or server, instead of each platform's players being walled off into separate matchmaking pools.
Which games work across the most devices?
Fortnite, Minecraft, Rocket League, Among Us, Dead by Daylight, and Roblox all support play across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile, making them reliable picks for a group with completely mismatched hardware.
Do I need to create a special account to play cross-platform?
Often yes — many cross-platform games (Fortnite, Rocket League, Minecraft) use a linked account system so your progress and friends list follow you across devices, so it's worth setting that up before trying to squad up with friends on other platforms.
What's the easiest way to play with a friend when nobody wants to buy new hardware?
Browser-based multiplayer games sidestep the whole cross-platform question, since everyone is just opening a webpage rather than matching consoles, accounts, or app stores.