Looking for suggestions on games for my group… Need help picking the next one?

We just finished our second run of Valheim, but the Ashlands update was too laggy for everyone to really enjoy it. We’re looking for something that can handle at least 6 players, preferably something where we can rent a server (or have some kind of persistent online play), and it needs to support Xbox cross-play. It doesn’t have to be survival/crafting, but that’s usually what we go for. I’ve looked into ARK and No Man’s Sky, but nothing else has really caught my attention. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

What about trying out Codenames or Catan?

Isle said:
What about trying out Codenames or Catan?

Thanks for the suggestions! I think we’re aiming for something a bit more active though, rather than board games, but I’ll keep those in mind for sure!

I think it might be easier to look into server rental options first and then check what games are available through them.

Briar said:
I think it might be easier to look into server rental options first and then check what games are available through them.

Yeah, I tried Nitrado, which we use for Valheim, but they didn’t have many options. I’ll check out some other providers though.

You could always throw a couple of mods on a Minecraft server. Or try Vintage Story if you’re looking for something a bit harder.

Icarus and Conan were a lot of fun with some friends, but I’m not sure if they have cross-play or support server rentals.

The LOTR Moria game is pretty fun. It’s simple, but polished enough to be enjoyable if you’re even slightly into Middle-earth lore.

What about Enshrouded?

Kasey said:
What about Enshrouded?

I played it, but it doesn’t have cross-play. Still, I had fun with it.

You could host and run your own private World of Warcraft server with bots simulating other players, adding a bit of an MMO feel without losing the fun. It’s been a while since I set it up, but it’s possible. You’d have to host it yourself, though, as opposed to paying for someone else to do it.

Bro, you should definitely try Ark Survival Evolved. Just look for some good server settings, and you guys will have a blast. I can even send you my server settings if you want.

Phoenix said:
Bro, you should definitely try Ark Survival Evolved. Just look for some good server settings, and you guys will have a blast. I can even send you my server settings if you want.

I might give that a go, thanks for the suggestion!

No reason not to try Ark. It has native server hosting that you can buy, at least for the new version, Survival Ascended. That’s what I saw my friend playing.

I agree, Ark has always been one of the best games to play with friends.

If you haven’t played Sea of Thieves yet, it’s an amazing group game. This is PC only, but Abiotic Factor is incredibly underrated, unique, and just plain fun. It’s crafting/survival without feeling like a chore and has a ton of charm. It’s kinda open-world, but you follow a linear progression.

You should definitely try Don’t Starve Together. It’s one of those games…