Due to its portability, the Nintendo Switch is home to tons of awesome multiplayer games. Whether you're looking for couch co-op games or party experiences for groups of friends, you'll find something to love on the Switch.
So, in this article, we look at the best local multiplayer games for the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite. All of which you can play with your family and friends from the comfort of your couch.
1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Great for: Up to four players of any experience level.
Everyone loves a bit of Mario Kart, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best games this series has to offer. It includes all of the DLC from the original Mario Kart 8 release, plus a proper battle mode with specially-designed courses. There's a huge range of characters, karts, and courses to choose from.
You can race with up to four people on a single console. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also features accessibility options like auto-accelerate and steering assist.
Combined with a dynamic item system that helps players in the back catch up, this is a great game to play with young children, your grandma, or that person in the office who's never touched a controller.
2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Great for: Groups of any size who want to have fun with casual battles or sink their teeth into a deep combat system.
Smash Ultimate is not only an amazing fighting game, but a celebration of gaming as a whole thanks to its range of included franchises. It includes all playable characters from past games, almost every stage, tons of music from the various series represented, and lots of modes to play around in.
Whether you want to engage in super-serious one-on-one duels or use items in wild battles, Smash Ultimate is an incredible party game. As long as you have enough controllers, up to eight players can compete. It's easy enough for anyone to pick up after a few matches, but packs a ton of depth for those with time to invest.
Paid DLC packs are available to unlock additional characters and stages.
3. Overcooked and Overcooked 2
Great for: Up to four people who want a co-op game and don't mind retrying when it goes wrong.
Overcooked tasks you with running a hectic kitchen. You need to prepare ingredients, cook, serve up meals, and wash the dishes so you can make even more food. While it starts out simple, it quickly becomes crazy.
The game constantly throws curveballs through kitchens that change their shape, split in half, or spontaneously combust. Grab three friends and work together, communicate effectively, and roll around on the floor laughing when it all goes terribly wrong.
While Overcooked is simple to play, the game doesn't make it easy to succeed. You might want to avoid playing this one with people who get easily upset.
Overcooked 2 is similar, but adds new recipes, kitchen hazards, and a throwing mechanic to mix it up. Read our Overcooked 2 tips and tricks for a better chance at success.
4. Snipperclips Plus
Great for: Couples who enjoy spatial puzzles, or families who want an engaging co-op experience to enjoy with their kids.
Snipperclips is a cooperative game for two or more players. Each level presents you with an objective, such as throwing a ball through a hoop or cutting a piece of paper into a certain shape. To achieve this, both players can cut the other's character into any shape they like.
You must work together to shape your characters into tools that can help you complete the objective and move on to the next level. Aside from the main mode, there are extra stages for up to four players to work together in, plus some party modes that combine the snipping ability into games like hockey and a deathmatch.
It's a wholesome local multiplayer experience that will both challenge you and make you laugh.
5. Mario Tennis Aces
Great for: An even number of players who enjoy sports games with a twist, or classic tennis gameplay.
Mario Tennis Aces is, unfortunately, the only Mario sports offering on the Switch at the time of writing. It builds on top of familiar tennis gameplay using an energy meter, which powers special moves like ultra-precise strikes and last-second saves. If you prefer a more traditional experience, the Simple mode drops all the extras to provide a straightforward match of tennis.
Compete against your friends in singles or doubles, or try some of the included minigames for something different. A Mario Tennis tournament provides a great night of fun with competitive friends, but it's casual enough for anyone to pick it up before long.
6. The Jackbox Party Pack (2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6)
Great for: Groups of four or larger who enjoy social games and want to laugh.
The Jackbox Party Pack titles are collections of party games that are more akin to board games than video games. The company releases a new collection every year, containing five games apiece.
While the game content appears on-screen, each player uses their phone, tablet, or computer to participate. Depending on the game, you may need to answer questions, draw pictures, and vote for answers.
Most games have a limit of eight players, though many of them allow more people to participate by joining the audience. If you're not sure which Party Pack to buy, #3 is probably the best overall, while #4 and #5 are good too. If you would like to learn more about Jackbox games, WhatNerd has ranked every Jackbox game released so far.
Some of the standout games include:
- Fibbage: A game where you have to produce a convincing lie in a bid to fool fellow players.
- Quiplash: A quick-thinking game where players vote on the funniest responses to a prompt.
- Drawful: Like Pictionary, but with stranger prompts and hilarious drawings.
- Fakin' It: Everyone has to complete a simple task, except for a "faker," who tries to blend in by making up answers. The other players have to figure out who's faking.
Keep in mind that your system must be connected to the internet to play the Jackbox games.
7. Super Mario Party
Great for: A night of competition for up to four players, with a good balance of skill and luck to keep it fun for everyone.
Super Mario Party combines a board game where the goal is to collect as many stars as possible with a variety of minigames to earn all-important coins. You'll need strategy to navigate the board, skill to win coins in the minigames, and a bit of luck with your dice rolls.
Aside from the main game, Super Mario Party includes a team mode where you can move around the board freely. You can also enjoy the minigames on their own or try one of the available side games.
A game typically takes at least an hour to complete, so this isn't a good fit for a party where people want to swap in and out. And while it doesn't have many boards, Super Mario Party still offers a great time.
8. Castle Crashers
Great for: Up to four players who want to cooperate on an adventure together.
Castle Crashers is a classic indie beat 'em up game that's perfect for couch co-op. Up to four players play as medieval knights who fight to rescue captured princesses. As you level up, you choose what attributes to upgrade, which lets you coordinate with your teammates.
The game uses a fun Newgrounds style of art and doesn't take itself too seriously. Since you can play the entire campaign in multiplayer, it makes for a fun adventure together. There are a few side games to try, too.
9. Rocket League
Great for: Two to four players who want a fast-paced soccer experience.
Rocket League is essentially soccer played with rocket-powered cars. You'll need to use boost, jumps, and flips to maneuver the ball into the opponent's goal. While it's easy to pick up, there's a lot of depth in the movement to master.
Up to four players can play while the system is docked, or two players in handheld mode. Matches are quick and exciting to watch, making this a solid all-around multiplayer game for the Switch.
10. Puyo Puyo Tetris
Great for: Fans of traditional puzzle games who enjoy slower gameplay for two to four players.
If you're a traditional puzzle enthusiast, Puyo Puyo Tetris is a must-have multiplayer title. The game fuses Tetris with Puyo Puyo (which is popular in Japan) for some fresh puzzle action.
The game lets you play pure Puyo Puyo or Tetris modes, a hybrid version where you play both at once, and a swap mode where you go back and forth between them. As you clear lines or Puyos, you'll send garbage to your opponents to make their lives tougher.
11. Minecraft
Great for: Creative groups who want to work on building cool worlds together, or parents who want to join their kids in their favorite game.
Minecraft is the video game that has defined a generation. It's available on almost every platform, and lets you create anything your mind can come up with.
If you weren't aware, Minecraft is also a great multiplayer experience. You can play locally via split screen with up to four players and collaborate to build your world together.
12. Enter the Gungeon
Great for: Two players who don't mind starting over when they fail in a tough game.
Enter the Gungeon is a top-down bullet hell roguelike, which means you'll spend your time dodging incoming fire before dying permanently and starting all over again. The game randomizes its levels, enemies, and weapon placements each time you play, which keeps it fresh and challenging.
Inviting a friend makes this tough experience more enjoyable, making it a great choice for hardcore players.
13. Super Bomberman R
Great for: Up to four players looking for some pick-up-and-play arcade action.
Super Bomberman R is the latest game in the hit arcade series. It sees you and three other pals battling it out on a square grid. You must lay bombs to destroy blocks, pick up power-ups, and ultimately trap your opponents with a well-placed explosive.
It's pretty simple, but still provides a good time if you don't feel like jumping into a more involved game. Give it a look if you're a fan of arcade action.
Play the Best Nintendo Switch Multiplayer Games
Thanks to this list you should have plenty of co-op games to play on your Nintendo Switch. Whether you're looking for a deep two-player game to play with your significant other or want a party game to enjoy with a large group, you have great options.
Just make sure you have enough controllers for everyone. To help, we've written about the best Nintendo Switch controllers if you need to buy some more. When you're all set up, here's how to customize your Nintendo Switch to the max. And then, here are the best Nintendo websites to keep track of.