Compare the best multiplayer simulator games for flying, farming, trucking, trains and racing, with co-op modes, costs and connection tips.
The best multiplayer simulator games are Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for group flying, DCS World for co-operative combat, SimRail for shared railway operations, Farming Simulator 25 for co-op farms, Euro Truck Simulator 2 for relaxed convoys, SnowRunner for off-road teamwork and iRacing for organised competition. Choose according to what your group wants to operate together.
Which multiplayer simulator is best for your group?
Choose by activity and session structure, not graphics alone. Some games provide a shared business or railway, while others merely place separate aircraft or vehicles on the same server.
| Simulator | Best for | How friends play together | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | Civil aviation and sightseeing | Fly separate aircraft in the same group or online world | Ordinary multiplayer is not the same as sharing one cockpit |
| DCS World | Combat aviation | Fly co-operative missions, crew supported aircraft or oppose each other | Everyone needs the relevant aircraft and map content for their role |
| X-Plane 12 | Technical civil flying | Use networked multiplayer for private internet or LAN sessions | Setup is less automatic than joining a typical game lobby |
| SimRail | Railway operations | Drive trains and operate signal boxes across the same railway | Best suited to groups willing to follow signalling and timetables |
| Farming Simulator 25 | Long-term co-operative play | Run one farm, operate machinery and complete contracts together | Mods and downloadable machinery can cause joining mismatches |
| Euro Truck Simulator 2 or American Truck Simulator | Relaxed road convoys | Use the official Convoy mode for shared deliveries and traffic | Map DLC and mod differences can restrict routes or block entry |
| SnowRunner | Off-road logistics | Recover vehicles and move cargo through the host's campaign world | World progression is tied primarily to the host's save |
| iRacing | Structured competitive racing | Enter organised races, endurance teams or hosted sessions | Subscriptions and separately licensed cars and tracks add cost |
| Infinite Flight | Mobile aviation | Join the same online region and fly separate aircraft together | Online multiplayer requires the appropriate subscription access |
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the broadest civil-flight choice and is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro. DCS World is better when the group wants missions and weapons, while X-Plane 12 suits friends who prefer aircraft systems and configurable networking. Our detailed comparison of multiplayer flight simulators covers these choices alongside free and mobile alternatives.
SimRail stands out among railway games because drivers and dispatchers affect the same network. Many other train simulators remain single-player, so consult our PC train-sim comparison and its multiplayer options before buying several copies for a group.
Can two friends control the same vehicle?
Usually not: most multiplayer simulator games give each friend a separate aircraft, lorry, train or racing car. A shared server, group flight or convoy does not imply shared controls.
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: ordinary group flying places players in separate aircraft. Our explanation of MSFS 2024 shared-cockpit flying clarifies the distinction and the practical limitations.
- DCS World: selected aircraft support multiple human crew stations, but this depends on the specific module.
- Farming Simulator 25: players share a farm and its equipment, although each person controls one machine at a time.
- SimRail: friends occupy different trains or signal boxes while co-operating across one railway.
- Truck and racing simulators: each person drives a separate vehicle.
If the aim is instruction rather than casual formation flying, X-Plane 12 can be networked more directly. Follow our setup instructions for private and LAN sessions in X-Plane 12 rather than assuming a public multiplayer service is required.
Do all players need the same DLC and mods?
Every player needs the base game, but downloadable-content and mod requirements vary. The safest rule is that each person should own the vehicle and map they will use, while the whole group runs the same game version and identical mod list.
- DCS World: each pilot needs the aircraft module being flown, and a mission on a paid map requires access to that map.
- Truck simulators: friends without a map expansion cannot follow routes through that territory. Convoy mods should match in version and load order.
- Farming Simulator: a missing or outdated gameplay mod is a common reason a player cannot join a farm.
- Flight simulators: friends may still connect without owning one another's add-on aircraft, but they can see a substitute model or incorrect livery. That is different from true shared-cockpit compatibility.
A mistake we see constantly is adding mods before proving that an unmodified session works. Establish a clean connection first, then add one shared mod or content pack at a time.
How do you fix a simulator that will not join friends?
Most failed multiplayer sessions result from version, mod, account, cross-play, firewall or NAT mismatches rather than inadequate PC performance.
- Match the game version. Install pending updates and make sure nobody is using a different test branch or incompatible edition.
- Test without mods. Disable community aircraft, maps, scripts and gameplay modifications on every machine. Restore them gradually after the clean session works.
- Check the session settings. Confirm the server region, password, visibility, player limits and any cross-play option. Multiplayer availability does not automatically mean different platform editions can join each other.
- Review account restrictions. Console privacy controls, child accounts and blocked user-generated content can prevent joining without producing a useful error message.
- Rule out the network. Allow the simulator through the operating system firewall and restart the router. Avoid manual port forwarding unless the simulator's own documentation requires it, particularly on shared or carrier-grade NAT connections.
- Start with one guest. Once the host and one friend can connect reliably, add the remaining players. This quickly identifies which account, machine or mod set introduces the failure.
For competitive racing or combat, select a server near the whole group rather than simply near the host; latency affects close formation, wheel-to-wheel racing and weapons more than farming or convoy driving. For persistent farms and off-road campaigns, decide who will retain the host save before investing hours in the session.