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Guide · Gaming Community

How to Find People to Play Games With Online

Finding people to play with is easy. Finding people you actually enjoy playing with is harder.

Whether you're starting a new game, tired of solo queue, or just looking for a regular group to game with, there are more ways than ever to meet other players online.

The problem is knowing where to look — and finding people who actually match the way you like to play.

This guide covers the best places to find people to play games with online, the pros and cons of each, and how to turn a random teammate into someone you actually look forward to gaming with.

8 min read

Why Finding the Right People to Play With Matters

Games are usually better with the right people.

A great teammate can turn a frustrating loss into a hilarious night. A good squad can make a game you've played for hundreds of hours suddenly feel new again. And sometimes the people you meet through gaming become genuine friends outside of it.

But there's a difference between finding another player and finding the right player.

Two people can own the same game and still be terrible gaming partners.

One might want to grind ranked every night while the other just wants to relax after work.

One might love constant conversation while the other prefers quieter sessions.

One might play for two hours after the kids are asleep while the other wants six-hour sessions every weekend.

That's why the best place to find gaming friends depends on what you're actually looking for.

The Best Ways to Find People to Play Games With Online

There isn't one perfect place for everyone. Each option solves a slightly different problem.

Here are some of the most common ways gamers find people online.

01

Use In-Game Matchmaking

The easiest option is usually already built into the game you're playing. Most multiplayer games can automatically place you with other players through matchmaking, squad fill, party systems or public lobbies.

Why it works

  • Fast. You can usually find other players within minutes.
  • No setup required. You don't need to join another community or create another profile.
  • Great for spontaneous gaming. If you simply want to play right now, matchmaking is hard to beat.

Where it falls short

  • Matchmaking is designed to fill a lobby, not necessarily build friendships.
  • The system may consider things like skill level, connection quality, region or rank, but it usually knows very little about who you'll actually enjoy playing with.
  • You can have an amazing match with someone and never see them again.

Best for: Players who want to jump into a game immediately and aren't necessarily looking for a regular gaming group.

02

Join Gaming Discord Communities

Discord has become one of the biggest gathering places for gaming communities. There are servers dedicated to individual games, genres, streamers, clans and just about every gaming niche imaginable. Many include dedicated Looking for Group (LFG) channels where you can post what you're playing and find others who want to join.

Why Discord works

  • There are enormous communities for popular games.
  • Voice chat is built in.
  • You can often find players for very specific activities, ranks or game modes.
  • Because you're interacting in a community rather than simply entering matchmaking, there's more opportunity to get to know people.

The downside

  • Large Discord servers can move very quickly.
  • An LFG message can disappear underneath dozens of newer posts. You may find someone for tonight without necessarily finding someone you'd want to play with next week.
  • Smaller communities can be much better for building relationships, but they can also be harder to discover.

Best for: Players looking for active game-specific communities, clans, raids, competitive teams or people to play with immediately.

03

Try Reddit and LFG Communities

Reddit has communities devoted to finding gaming friends, specific games, platforms and multiplayer groups. Instead of simply saying "Anyone want to play?" you can usually write a little about yourself and what you're looking for.

"Xbox | EST | Mostly evenings. Looking for relaxed players who don't take losses too seriously. Usually playing co-op shooters and survival games. Prefer people who use a mic and don't mind some terrible jokes."

That tells someone considerably more than a matchmaking lobby ever could.

Why it works

  • You can explain exactly what you're looking for.
  • You can specify your platform, region, age range, games, schedule and playstyle.
  • Because posts can contain more context, it's easier to identify people who might actually be compatible.

Where it struggles

  • It still requires a lot of manual searching.
  • You might read dozens of posts before finding someone who seems like a good fit.
  • Like any public online community, experiences vary considerably depending on the community and the people using it.

Best for: Players willing to put some effort into finding people with similar interests, schedules and personalities.

04

Use Your Gaming Platform's Social Features

Xbox, PlayStation, Steam and other gaming platforms all have social tools that can help turn good encounters into repeat sessions.

Sometimes the best gaming friend isn't someone you deliberately searched for. It's the random player you happened to meet last night.

If someone was fun to play with, add them. Send a quick message. Invite them the next time you see them online.

It sounds obvious, but a lot of potential gaming friendships disappear because neither person makes the first move.

"GG! That was fun. I'm usually on around this time if you ever want to play again."

It doesn't need to be complicated.

Best for: Turning good random encounters into repeat gaming sessions.

05

Use Dedicated LFG and Gaming Friend Platforms

There are also websites and apps specifically designed to help gamers meet other gamers. These can be much more useful than traditional matchmaking because players are actively there looking for other people.

Depending on the platform, you may be able to search or match based on things like games, platform, region, age, skill level, competitive vs. casual play, availability and communication preferences.

The more information a platform considers, the better your chances of finding someone compatible.

But there's still an important question:

"Are you matching because you play the same game, or because you'll actually enjoy playing together?"

Those aren't always the same thing.

Best for: Players who want a platform specifically designed around meeting other gamers, not just filling a lobby.

The Problem With Traditional LFG

Most Looking for Group systems start with one question:

"What game do you want to play?"

That's completely reasonable when you're trying to fill the last spot in a raid or find a teammate for tonight.

But it's not necessarily the best way to make gaming friends.

Illustrative example

Player One

CompetitiveHighly experiencedUses voice chat constantlyGets frustrated by mistakesUsually plays late at nightFocused on winning and progression

Player Two

CasualStill learningLikes conversation and joking aroundDoesn't care much about losingPlays a couple evenings per weekMostly wants to relax

Technically, they're a match.

They own the same game.

But they're probably not a great match for each other.

That's the problem Project Beacon is trying to approach differently.

A Different Way to Find Gaming Friends

Most ways of finding gamers start with the game.

Project Beacon starts with the gamer.

We call that Gamer DNA.

Gamer DNA is a set of preferences that describes how you actually like to play.

Instead of only asking "What games do you play?", Beacon looks at things like how competitive you are, how social you like your sessions to be, how seriously you take progression, your preferred pace, communication style, gaming schedule and what you're actually hoping to get from multiplayer gaming.

Because sometimes your best gaming friend isn't playing the same game as you yet.

Maybe you meet because you're both relaxed evening gamers who love cooperative experiences.

You start with one game.

Then someone suggests another.

Six months later, you're still playing together.

That's the kind of connection we're interested in helping people find.

See How Gamer DNA Works →

Gamer DNA · example

Nova Wren

@nova_wren · PC · Fictional member

🛡️ Steady Under Fire🎧 Talker🌱 Welcomes Newcomers🌙 Late-Night Regular🎯 Improver

Nova plays to get better with people she likes. She'll call the plan, keep the mood up when a run falls apart, and would rather spend three hours with the same group than queue endlessly with strangers.

Gaming tendencies

Long sessionsVoice most nightsShot-callerCo-op & shooters

Ideal match

Someone who talks, doesn't tilt, and treats a bad night as a laugh rather than a post-mortem.

Curious what your Gamer DNA looks like?

Discover Your Gamer DNA →

What Makes a Good Gaming Match?

Playstyle

Are you competitive, casual or somewhere in between? Someone who loves optimizing every build may struggle with someone who deliberately picks the funniest weapon available. Neither is playing incorrectly. They're just looking for different experiences.

Communication

Some people want constant voice chat. Others prefer occasional callouts. Some prefer text. Finding people who communicate similarly can make gaming considerably more comfortable.

Goals

Are you trying to climb ranked? Complete every achievement? Explore? Build ridiculous bases? Finish the campaign? Or just laugh with somebody for a couple of hours? Your goals matter.

Availability

This one gets overlooked constantly. You could find the perfect gaming friend — but if you're never online at the same time, it doesn't help much. Similar schedules can be just as important as similar games.

Personality

Sometimes you just click with someone. That's difficult to quantify, but interests, humour, conversation style and attitude toward gaming all contribute to whether you want to play together again.

How to Turn Someone You Meet Online Into a Regular Gaming Friend

Finding someone is only the first step.

If you have a great session with someone, don't assume they'll automatically invite you again.

Make the second session happen.

Random teammate
Second session
Regular teammate
Gaming friend

Add them after the game. Send a short message. Invite them again a few days later.

You don't need to force a friendship. Just create another opportunity to play together.

And if it doesn't click?

That's okay too.

Not every connection needs to become permanent.

Sometimes you play together a few times and move on.

Finding your people usually means meeting several people along the way.

Staying Safe When Meeting Gamers Online

Meeting people online should still come with sensible boundaries.

Avoid sharing sensitive personal information with someone you've just met.

Use the privacy, mute, block and reporting tools available on the platform you're using.

And trust your instincts.

If someone repeatedly makes you uncomfortable, pressures you for personal information, ignores your boundaries or turns gaming into something you no longer enjoy, you don't owe them another session.

The right gaming connections should make gaming better — not stressful.

So, Where Should You Look?

If you simply need teammates right now, start with in-game matchmaking or an active Discord LFG.

If you're trying to find people who play a very specific game, game-specific Discord and Reddit communities can work extremely well.

If you meet someone randomly and enjoy playing together, add them and make the effort to play again.

If your biggest challenge is finding people who understand the realities of work, family and limited gaming time, read our guide on how to find gaming friends as an adult.

But if what you're really looking for isn't another random teammate...

If you're looking for people you'll actually click with...

That's the problem we're building Project Beacon to solve.

If you just want to find a group to play with tonight, see how Lit Beacons work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find Gamers Who Get You

Your gaming friends shouldn't be chosen by chance.

Project Beacon is building a different way to meet gamers — one based on the person behind the controller, not just the game on the screen.

Create your Gamer DNA.

Discover players with compatible playstyles, personalities and gaming preferences.

Connect. Play something together. And see where it goes.

Find your people. Play your way.

Join the Project Beacon Beta →

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