Compare

Twelve games, side by side

Sort the table by any column, then read the head-to-heads for the pairs readers ask about most.

All reviewed games with scores, price model, platforms, cross-play and session length
								Typical session
Deep Rock Galactic	9.2	Co-op shooter	Paid	9.6	3 platforms: Windows, Xbox, PlayStation	Partial	Yes	25–40 minute missions
Rocket League	8.9	Arcade sport	Free to play	7.6	4 platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch	Full	Yes	Five-minute matches
Guild Wars 2	8.8	MMORPG	Free to play	9.0	1 platforms: Windows	None	Yes	30 minutes to a whole evening
No Man’s Sky	8.8	Space exploration	Paid	9.8	5 platforms: Windows, macOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch	Full	Yes	An hour or a lost weekend
Brawlhalla	8.7	Platform fighter	Free to play	8.8	7 platforms: Windows, macOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android	Full	Yes	Three-minute bouts
Old School RuneScape	8.6	MMORPG	Free to play	8.4	4 platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Full	Yes	Ten minutes on a phone to a full day
Halo Infinite	8.5	Arena shooter	Free to play	8.4	2 platforms: Windows, Xbox	Full	Yes	10–15 minute matches
Sea of Thieves	8.5	Co-op adventure	Paid	8.6	3 platforms: Windows, Xbox, PlayStation	Full	Partly	One to three hours
Trackmania	8.5	Time-attack racing	Free to play	7.4	3 platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox	Full	Yes	Forty-second runs, repeated
Albion Online	8.3	Sandbox MMORPG	Free to play	7.8	5 platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Full	Partly	30 minutes to several hours
Destiny 2	8.2	Online action shooter	Free to play	6.6	3 platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox	Full	Partly	20 minutes to a full raid night
Palia	8.1	Cosy life-sim MMO	Free to play	8.2	4 platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox	Full	Yes	30–60 relaxed minutes

Select a column heading to sort. Scores are editorial opinions; platform support can change, so confirm on the official site.

Head-to-head

Five common either-or choices

Two MMOs that respect your time

Guild Wars 2
8.8

Both let you walk away for months and return without penalty, but they feel nothing alike in the hands.

Choose Guild Wars 2 if you want action combat, shared open-world events and a modern look with no subscription.

Choose Old School RuneScape if you want slow, self-set goals, a phone-friendly client and a world shaped by player votes.

Co-op night: caves or open sea?

Two of the best games to play with a regular group, with very different attitudes to other players.

Choose Deep Rock Galactic if you want tight 30-minute missions, clear roles and no strangers interfering with your evening.

Choose Sea of Thieves if you want long, unscripted sessions where the stories come from whoever appears on the horizon.

Cars, but not as you know them

Rocket League
8.9

Both are pure skill games with short rounds. One is a team sport; the other is you against the clock.

Choose Rocket League if you enjoy team play, ranked ladders and a contest decided in five minutes.

Choose Trackmania if you prefer solo practice, instant restarts and the quiet satisfaction of a new personal best.

Free shooters from the same family tree

Destiny 2
8.2

Bungie created Halo before Destiny, and the shared DNA shows in how good both feel to play.

Choose Destiny 2 if you want co-operative raids, character builds and a long-term hobby, and accept the cost.

Choose Halo Infinite if you want even-start competitive matches, no pressure to buy, and a pass that never expires.

Calm worlds for quiet evenings

Palia
8.1

Neither game will raise your pulse. Both are lovely places to potter about, alone or with a friend.

Choose Palia if you want a village, friendly neighbours and a home to decorate, all for free.

Choose No Man’s Sky if you want a galaxy to roam, bases on alien moons and ten years of updates for one payment.