Start with three questions: How many people will play together? Which platforms are they using? Does everyone want PvE only, or are they willing to face other players? Those answers narrow the field faster than genre labels do. Then compare pace, realism, solo options, and online subscription costs.
Compare the options by what your group wants
| Group priority | Candidate | What official sources say | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-platform extraction with player-versus-player risk | ARC Raiders | Embark describes an extraction adventure with machine and player threats, and says social play works across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Official ARC Raiders site | It is not described as PvE-only. Confirm the available modes and that every player’s platform is supported. |
| Tactical realism and a choice of PvE or PvEvP | Gray Zone Warfare | The early-access launch announcement describes an open-world tactical shooter with PvE and PvEvP servers; players can go solo or play with three friends. Launch announcement | The cited information is from the early-access launch announcement. Check current platform support, server rules, price, and performance reports. |
| Four-player cooperative PvE, including a solo option | Deep Rock Galactic | The official FAQ describes a four-player co-op shooter and says solo players are accompanied by Bosco. Official FAQ | Crossplay is limited to particular platform combinations; it is not universal. |
| Three-person tactical PvE | Rainbow Six Extraction | Ubisoft presents it as tactical co-op PvE. Its Buddy Pass invites two friends to play for 14 days from any platform, even if they do not own the game. Official game page | Confirm that the Buddy Pass offer and the game are currently available in your region. |
| Four-player online squad missions; adjacent genre | Helldivers 2 | Arrowhead’s FAQ sets a four-player maximum. PlayStation support confirms PS5/PC cross-play. Arrowhead FAQ PlayStation support | Official sources position it as a squad shooter, not a like-for-like extraction shooter. |
Use the table as a shortlist, not a universal ranking: each game fits a different mix of group size, platform compatibility, PvP tolerance, and preferred style.
Choose the group size first
Decide how many friends need to join the same session, not just how many the game supports in theory. Gray Zone Warfare’s cited launch page describes solo play or a squad with three friends. Helldivers 2 allows up to four players, and Deep Rock Galactic is described as a four-player co-op game. Ubisoft’s Buddy Pass for Rainbow Six Extraction invites two friends, forming a three-person group.
If your group’s attendance changes from night to night, check whether the game supports solo play and how that experience works. Deep Rock Galactic says solo missions include Bosco. Helldivers 2 requires an internet connection, and its FAQ cautions that higher-level content may be difficult solo.
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#1 Best Overall
- Includes Buddy Pass: Invite 2 friends to play with you for FREE for 14 days.
- Play alone or with friends from any platform in this 1- to 3-player co-op PvE FPS.
- 69 guns, 25 gadgets, 18 operators with progression levels, 12 large dynamic maps, 13 mutating enemies, and free post-launch content.
- Test your skills with 4 adjustable difficulty levels and a thrilling Endgame ranked mode.
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Players: Get 4 EXCLUSIVE Epic gearsets across both games and instantly unlock all 18 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction operators in Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
Verify the exact crossplay bridge
“Crossplay” does not necessarily mean every version can play together. Check the platform pair for each person before buying, especially if someone uses a PC storefront rather than a console.
- ARC Raiders: its official site says social play works across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. ARC Raiders
- Helldivers 2: PlayStation support confirms cross-play between PS5 and PC. PlayStation support
- Deep Rock Galactic: the official FAQ says players cannot join across platforms, while the Xbox listing identifies Xbox One and the Windows 11 Microsoft Store version as its crossplay pair. That is narrower than “Xbox and PC” in general. Official FAQ Xbox listing
For each member, write down the console or PC storefront they use and confirm that exact combination is supported. A shared game title or a broad crossplay claim is not enough to establish compatibility.
Rank #2
- EXPANSIVE CAMPAIGN: Many real-world locations have been captured using photogrammetry to recreate a living, immersive environment, and multiple infiltration and extraction points and kill list targets provide a whole new perspective on each mission. Take on the Nazi plot solo or work with a partner, with improved co-op mechanics allowing you to share ammo and items, give orders and heal each other.
- ADVANCED GUNPLAY PHYSICS AND TRAVERSAL: Use ziplines, slide down slopes and shimmy along ledges to reach the perfect vantage point, or to sneak past a sharp-eyed lookout. Factor in rifle stock and barrel options along with gravity, wind and heart rate while you line up your sights on the target.
- HIGH CALIBRE CUSTOMISATION: Use workbenches to customise and upgrade virtually every aspect of your weapon – change scopes, stocks, barrels, magazines and more. Rifles, secondaries and pistols all have a huge variety of options. On top of that you can select the ammo to suit your target, from armour-piercing right down to non-lethal.
- INVASION MODE – CAMPAIGN DROP IN PvP AND CO-OP: Invade another player’s Campaign as an Axis sniper and engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse, providing a new dimension to the challenge as you stalk your prey. Alternatively, as Karl you can call for assistance and have a second sniper drop in to help you out of a tricky situation.
- TENSE ADVERSIAL MULTIPLAYER: Customise your character and loadout and earn XP, medals and ribbons as you take on intensely competitive 16 player battles that will really test your sharpshooting skills. If co-op’s more your style, you can team up with up to 3 other players against waves of enemies in Survival mode.
Decide whether PvP belongs in the experience
PvE and PvPvE create different expectations for a group. In PvE, the opposition is environmental or computer-controlled; in PvPvE, other players may also threaten the squad. Agree on that before choosing, because a game with contested extraction is a poor match for friends who want only cooperative missions.
If your group accepts PvPvE
ARC Raiders is the clearest cross-platform extraction candidate in this shortlist. Its official site describes threats from deadly machines as well as Raiders preying on other players. It is a fit for a group that wants extraction and accepts the risk of player encounters, not a confirmed PvE-only choice. ARC Raiders official site
Rank #3
- Gold Edition - Includes the game, Season Pass, and exclusive National Guard gear set.
- Gain Access to All Three Major Expansions - Underground, Survival, and Last Stand, adding new content, gear, and gameplay as you fight to take back New York.
- Receive Exclusive Gear and Monthly Perks - Make your Agent stand out from the rest with a unique sawed-off shotgun, exclusive customization options and Monthly events and content.
- Seamless Multiplayer: The Dark Zone - Collaborate with other players, or attack and steal their loot.
- Gear Up and Customize Your Agent - Customize, modify, and level up your gear, weapons, and skills to take back New York on your own terms.
Gray Zone Warfare offers a different kind of choice: its early-access launch announcement describes both PvE and PvEvP servers. It also presents the game as a realism-focused open-world tactical shooter, with a stated 42 km² map and play for one person or up to four total. Treat those details as launch-announcement specifications rather than a current assessment of performance or availability. Gray Zone Warfare launch announcement
If your group wants PvE cooperation
Deep Rock Galactic and Rainbow Six Extraction are the more direct fits in this group: their official sources present them as cooperative PvE games. Helldivers 2 is another option for coordinated online squad missions, but it is an adjacent recommendation rather than a strict extraction-shooter pick. Deep Rock Galactic FAQ Rainbow Six Extraction Helldivers 2 FAQ
Rank #4
- Includes Buddy Pass: Invite 2 friends to play with you for FREE for 14 days.
- Play alone or with friends from any platform in this 1- to 3-player co-op PvE FPS.
- 69 guns, 25 gadgets, 18 operators with progression levels, 12 large dynamic maps, 13 mutating enemies, and free post-launch content.
- Test your skills with 4 adjustable difficulty levels and a thrilling Endgame ranked mode.
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Players: Get 4 EXCLUSIVE Epic gearsets across both games and instantly unlock all 18 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction operators in Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
Match the pace and the cost to your group
After player count, platform, and PvP preference, consider how your friends want missions to feel. Gray Zone Warfare’s launch announcement emphasizes realism and tactical open-world play. Deep Rock Galactic is framed as a science-fiction co-op shooter in destructible caves, while Rainbow Six Extraction is described as tactical PvE co-op. Helldivers 2 focuses on online squad missions. These are official descriptions, not comparative tests of difficulty, performance, or mission quality.
Also account for recurring online-play requirements. Helldivers 2 requires an internet connection; PlayStation support says PS5 online multiplayer requires PlayStation Plus. The Xbox listing says Deep Rock Galactic console online multiplayer requires Xbox Game Pass Essential, Premium, or Ultimate. Check the current terms for your region and platform before committing. Helldivers 2 FAQ PlayStation support Xbox listing
Best Value
- Includes Buddy Pass: Invite 2 friends to play with you for FREE for 14 days.
- Play alone or with friends from any platform in this 1- to 3-player co-op PvE FPS.
- 69 guns, 25 gadgets, 18 operators with progression levels, 12 large dynamic maps, 13 mutating enemies, and free post-launch content.
- Test your skills with 4 adjustable difficulty levels and a thrilling Endgame ranked mode.
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Players: Get 4 EXCLUSIVE Epic gearsets across both games and instantly unlock all 18 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction operators in Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
Run a final pre-purchase check
- Count the people who need to play together and confirm the game supports that group size.
- List every member’s platform and storefront; verify each exact crossplay pairing.
- Agree on PvE-only versus PvPvE, including whether player encounters are acceptable.
- Check solo support for nights when some friends are absent.
- Confirm online subscription requirements, current local price, and availability directly with the relevant store or platform.
- For offers such as the Rainbow Six Extraction Buddy Pass, verify current terms and regional availability before relying on them.
Official game pages and launch announcements establish advertised features, not current prices, regional availability, server health, population, frame rates, accessibility, or comparative difficulty. Confirm time-sensitive details with the platform store and publisher before making a group decision.
Quick Recap
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