The best casual squad games to play with friends should be highly accessible to your group of friends anytime when you feel like sharing a good game. You don’t have to go through hoops or invest hours before you can play with your friends.
There are a lot of exciting games readily available to groups of players looking for casual games to pass time or to enjoy together. From simulation games, puzzle games, sandbox games, and many more you can easily find squad games online.
But of course, you would want to choose the best video games for you and your friends to play. And because of the sea of games out there, it can be quite confusing to decide what to choose.
So, we have researched the best casual games for groups of friends. These games not only have gained a massive following but also have garnered good reviews from players.
Here are the best casual games to play with friends:
Best Simulation Casual Squad Games to Play with Friends
Simulation games are one of the most popular genres in the gaming industry. Many people are into playing simulation games because it gives them a sense of control and power. It is also a great way to escape reality and enter into a different world where you can be anyone you want to be.
The following are the best casual simulation games to play with friends:
Animal Crossing
- Release Date: April 14, 2001
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Platforms: Nintendo 64, iQue Player, GameCube; Wii, Wii U, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch
Animal Crossing is a simulation game where players are allowed to do whatever they want to do on their island. You can farm, fish, collect items, plant, or socialize.
You and your friends can share the fun through party play where four players can join in. There are also options to do wireless local co-op if you and your friends are in the same vicinity or online multiplayer if you’re in different locations.
Among the things that you can do with your friends include Scavenger Hunt, Obstacle Course, Dream Puzzle, and Treasure Hunt.
Golf with Your Friends
- Release Date: January 29, 2016
- Publisher: Blacklight Interactive
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia, Classic Mac OS
Golf with Your Friends is one of the best casual multiplayer games that you can play with your friends. It is a golf game that features 12 challenging levels and you can customize the rules to make the game more interesting.
The game also has a multiplayer mode where up to 12 players can play together. You can also play in co-op mode if you want to team up with a friend and take on the levels together.
The game also features a level editor where you can create your golf course. You can share your levels with your friends and see who can finish the course first.
The Overcooked Series
- Release Date: August 2, 2016
- Publisher: Team17
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia
The Overcooked Series delivers a game of cooking within a limited time. Players will take orders that they have to complete within a given time.
You and your friends will be cooking together to complete the ordered meals, earn coins, and then ranked according to the number of earned coins.
This casual game online will bring out the competitive atmosphere between you and your friends while enjoying the different cooking levels that will test who can adapt better to the different cooking environments.
Overcooked allows co-op play of up to 4 players with a competitive multiplayer mode.
NBA 2K20
- Release Date: August 21, 2019
- Publisher: 2K Games
- Platforms: Android, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia
NBA 2K20 is one of the good casual multiplayer games that you can play with friends. It is a basketball simulation video game that features MyTEAM and MyPLAYER modes.
You can create your players and teams in the MyPLAYER mode and then test them out in the MyTEAM mode. You can also go up against your friends online in multiplayer mode.
The game also features a story mode called The Neighborhood where you and your friends can explore and interact with other players.
The Sims 4
- Release Date: September 2, 2014
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Macintosh operating systems, Microsoft Windows
The Sims 4 is also one of the best casual multiplayer games, whether you play on PC or PlayStation and Xbox One, you and your friends will appreciate the creative freedom the Sims 4 offers. You can design your characters and homes and live out your virtual life however you want.
This life simulation game allows you to get married, have kids, get a job, and much more. You can also join in with other players in multiplayer mode where you can play together in the same world and build a community with your friends.
Best Casual Shooter Games or Battle Royale Games to Play with Friends
Battle royale or a shooter type of game is one of the best PC games for casual gamers who want the fast-paced, adrenaline rush feeling of being chased or chasing the enemy.
The thrill becomes more intense as you play with friends because each of you needs to cooperate to carry the team to win against the enemies.
Here are the best casual shooter or battle royale games that you can play with your friends:
Fortnite
- Release Date: July 25, 2017
- Publisher: Epic Games
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, and Android
Fortnite is one of the casual computer games that will have you and your friends hooked for good. As one of the best games for casual gamers, Fortnite features a co-op sandbox survival mode called Save the World where you and your friends can team up to fight against zombies.
You and your friends can also join in on a 100-player battle royale mode where the last player or team standing will be the winner.
Call of Duty: Warzone
- Release Date: March 10, 2020
- Publisher: Activision
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S
Call of Duty Warzone is a casual game online, free to play by you and your friends. This game is one of the video games that became a hit after release with different modes for you and your friends to choose from so you never get bored with having to go back to the same gameplay.
Among the best modes to join in as a group in this game as one of the best casual games, PC free-to-play choice, include Plunder where you and your friends search for cash to accumulate the highest cash against other players.
In Resurgence mode members of your group gets the chance to be resurrected as long as one group member is alive while in the Battle Royale mode you’ll see which group survives at the end and wins.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Release Date: August 4, 2020
- Publisher: Epic Games
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Microsoft Windows
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is also the best game, casual online players can choose from among the sea of casual games. This game has compelling visuals and chaotic gameplay that will keep you and your group of friends hooked for a long time.
You and your friends will play as little bean-like creatures and compete in a series of 60-player online games where the goal is to be the last one standing. The games are wacky and ever-changing so you never get bored playing this game with your friends.
Halo
- Release Date: November 15, 2001
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Platforms: Xbox, Windows, macOS , Xbox 360, Windows Phone, iOS, Xbox One, Arcade, and Xbox Series X/S
If you and your friends are fans of science fiction, then Halo is a great casual game to play together. In this game, you and your gang will save the human race from extinction by battling the Covenant, an alliance of alien races.
You can play through the campaign mode together or join in multiplayer matches online with other players. Halo also has a co-op mode called Firefight where you and your friends can team up to fight against
Best Casual Puzzle Games to Play with Friends
Puzzle games are another popular genre that many people enjoy playing. These games are great for groups of friends because it develops this sense of camaraderie through creative thinking and building short-term, fun achievements.
You might have remembered days before when there are still scrabble boards, now with the rise of online games there are a variety of games that you can share with your friends. These puzzle games are great for overnight stays at your friend’s house or just to pass time together on weekends.
Here are the best casual puzzle games to play with friends:
Unrailed!
- Release Date: September 9, 2019
- Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment GmbH
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Macintosh operating systems
Unrailed! is one of the fantastic games for casual gamers especially if you and your group of friends are fond of building games. In this game, you and your friends have to coordinate and cooperate to build a railway to stop the train from derailing.
You can play with up to four of your friends and even hop on a co-op play where you can have a two vs two play among your group of friends to see who among you has the best train skills.
There is a dynamic weather system with different worlds as you enter the different difficulty levels of the game.
Human Fall Flat
- Release Date: July 22, 2016
- Publisher: Curve Digital
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, iOS, and Android
Human Fall Flat is one of the casual multiplayer PC games that will give you and your friends some good laughs over solving puzzles in your outdoor adventures. Up to 8 players can join in as you navigate on each level and solve puzzles.
What makes this game extremely enjoyable is that there are multiple solutions to the puzzle so you and your friends can get creative and discover a lot of possibilities to level up.
You and your friends won’t get bored with the several game settings as you level up, from snowy mountains, industrial locations, nightscapes, canopies, and many more.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
- Release Date: July 16, 2015
- Publisher: Steel Crate Games
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, Linux Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is one of the most amazing multiplayer casual games if you and your friends want to have an intense, sill, and a fast-paced game where everyone has to talk out loud as the name of the game suggests.
This game will measure the communications skills of your group of friends as you work on puzzles to prevent the bomb from exploding. Only one player will diffuse the bomb while the other players have to provide instructions as that one player who has to diffuse the bomb can’t see the bomb.
Make sure to communicate effectively with your friends or face the possibility of fighting over failure to diffuse the bomb.
Best Casual Sandbox Games to Play with Friends
Playing sandbox games with friends is one of the best ways to enjoy your time and bond with them. These types of games usually have no specific goal and you are free to explore the game as you like.
The best sandbox games are those that give you a lot of freedom in how you want to play the game. You can either cooperate with your friends or compete against them.
Here are the best free casual games online with a sandbox genre to play with friends:
Tabletop Simulator
- Release Date: June 5, 2015
- Publisher: Berserk Games
- Platforms: macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux
Tabletop Simulator is a sandbox multiplayer game that allows up to ten players to join in. This game is perfect for board game lovers as it recreates the feeling of playing physical tabletop games.
You can play any type of board game with your friends as you want in this virtual reality as long as you have the rules and items to set it up. You can also create custom games or download ones made by other players.
This is a great game to play if you want to try out new board games without having to buy them first.
Minecraft
- Release Date: November 18, 2011
- Publisher: Mojang
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Xbox 360, Raspberry Pi, Windows Phone, PlayStation 3, Fire OS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Apple TV, tvOS, Nintendo Switch, and New Nintendo 3DS
Minecraft is one of the most popular casual online multiplayer games where players have the freedom of how to play the game. This 3DS sandbox game is famous for a reason. Minecraft offers a creative and almost infinite world for players to explore, even overtaking most of the Xbox one casual multiplayer games.
Players can build anything they want with the blocks that are available in the game. You can also mine for resources, craft items, and fight mobs. There are different game modes that you can play with your friends such as survival mode, creative mode, Adventure mode, and there is even competitive Minecraft.
Grand Theft Auto V
- Release Date: November 18, 2011
- Publisher: Mojang
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows
Grand Theft Auto V is another one of the impressive multiplayer games casual gamers will love. You and your friends can take control of the streets in various virtual cities and emerge as rulers over criminals. This game supports up to 30 different players who can access different co-op and competitive modes.
You and your friends can team up to complete jobs in a crew of five and aim to climb online leaderboards. You can also join in races and firefights together and gather more points as you defeat enemies.
Best Casual MMORPGs to Play with Friends
When you say MMORPGs, you might be thinking that you have to invest a lot of time before you and your friends can start playing together. But there are MMORPGs now where you don’t have to spend hours upon hours to be able to reach the endgame and enjoy playing with friends.
Here are some of the best casual MMORPGs that you can play with your friends:
Among Us
- Release Date: June 15, 2018
- Publisher: Innersloth
- Platforms: Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Among Us is one of the unique video games that has caught the attention of millions of players. This social deduction game is one of the most entertaining free casual multiplayer games for you and your friends. The gameplay starts with up to 15 players where up to 3 impostors will be randomly chosen.
The remaining non-impostor players would have to vote and choose who the impostors is/are. This game brings some good fun that you can expect from funny casual games with the thrill of not knowing who your friends and enemy are.
Boom Beach
- Release Date: March 26, 2014
- Publisher: Supercell
- Platforms: Android and iOS
Boom Beach is a strategy game and one of the best casual co-op games that you can play with your friends. This game is all about defeating the Blackguard who enslaves the islanders. You will have to build a base, train your troops, and lead them into battles against the Blackguard.
You can also team up with other players online and take down the Blackguard together. This game is perfect for those who want to strategize and plan their attacks.
League of Legends
- Release Date: October 27, 2009
- Publisher: Riot Games
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, MacOS, League of Legends: Wild Rift on android and iOS
League of Legends is a multiplayer game that will have you and your friends team up to battle another group of five players, defend your base, gain control of the map, and destroy the enemy’s base to win. League of Legends MMO is currently in the works.
This game has a massive following because of its addicting gameplay where you and your friends can get that sweet win after strategizing and cooperating.
Best Casual Word Games to Play with Friends
Finding some chill, fun casual games to play with friends, we would not want to miss Word Games as the best games to go into. There are a lot of Word Games that can have you and your friends learn and enjoy at the same time.
The following are the best casual word games that you and your friends can play together:
Words with Friends 2
- Release Date: September 2017
- Publisher: Zynga
- Platforms: Android, iOS, and Windows Phone
Words with Friends 2 game gives that nostalgic feel for you and your friends who miss playing classic crossword puzzle games. The gameplay is simple, you will be given a board with lettered tiles, and you will have to form words horizontally or vertically.
The one with the most points after all the tiles are used up wins the game. You can also play this game against random opponents or invite your friends for a more personal match.
Word Wheel by POWGI
- Release Date: June 3, 201
- Publisher: Lightwood Consultancy Limited
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation Vita
Word Wheel by POWGI is a casual game that up to 4 of you and your friends can join in to see who can form the most words from a series of letters on the wheel by using the middle letter.
You and your friends can dive straightly into the game without the pain of having to do some quests to unlock multiplayer mode. Just download the game on your consoles and you can start playing together and see who has the best vocabulary among your group of friends.
Conclusion
So these are the best casual multiplayer games that you can play with your friends whether on an Xbox or PS5, PC, or laptop. Choose the game that you think your group will enjoy the most and have fun!
