They can, but it depends on how much walking on they receive. Is the area full sun, full shade, or some of both? What's the soil like? How much moisture does the area receive and do you want to depend just on that or supplemental water? What's the maximum height you want?

creeping jenny
creeping charlie
creeping phlox
sedums
bugleweeds/ajugas
thymes
fine fescues (a type of grass, but you don't have to mow it)
lamiums
lamiastrums

Personally, I would do either a prairie planting with some sort of pathways or use a variety of plants, not just groundcovers, for some variety in color, height, foliage, and so on.