To decide what game to play with friends, agree on your player count and budget first. Check who owns the games and what needs installing, make a shortlist, then vote. You can do this while chatting in Discord or use a PLAYNEXT browser session to gather suggestions and choose together.

Agree on the group and budget

Count who wants to play before you start sharing Steam links. A four-player game won’t fit five friends who want to join the same session. Check the player limit for the mode you plan to use, including whether it supports online or local co-op.

Set a spending limit that works for the group, including zero. Nobody needs to justify skipping a purchase. If someone wants to play something they own, start there rather than asking them to buy into a new game.

Agree on the time you have, too. An hour for gaming includes downloads, updates, and learning the controls.

Check ownership and setup

Ask who owns each candidate and who has it ready to launch. Owning a game doesn’t mean it’s installed. A large download can use up the evening before the group reaches the lobby.

Check platform compatibility, player limits, and language support before adding a game to the shortlist. Save anything that needs more preparation for another night.

Make a shortlist, then vote

Ask each person for a game they would like to play that fits the group’s constraints. Keep the list short enough to compare without opening another dozen trailers.

Agree on a voting method before you begin. You can vote for preferred games or compare two games at a time in a knockout bracket. Decide how to handle a tie so you don’t have to start the discussion again.

Choose together in PLAYNEXT

PLAYNEXT gives your group a browser session for suggesting games and voting on what to play:

  1. Sign in with Discord, create a session, and share the invitation link with your friends.
  2. Set the session’s budget and language. Link Steam to suggest eligible games from your library. PLAYNEXT adds recommendations to fill the selection.
  3. Check the available ownership information as you choose. You can join and vote without linking Steam.
  4. Choose through a popular vote or a knockout bracket. In popular voting, a tie for first place finishes with a knockout. In a knockout, you choose between two games at each matchup.

Once you have a pick, check downloads and setup before launching. Ownership information helps you assess the choice; you still need to confirm that your friends can get into the game tonight.