Here are the best Nintendo Switch multiplayer games to play with your friends on the Nintendo Switch. The list includes premium games and free-to-play titles.
Part of the Nintendo Switch‘s appeal is its versatility. You can play it at home on the TV and on the go in portable mode. This versatility also applies to multiplayer games, which can be played with single Joy-Con controllers, in tabletop mode, and wirelessly both online and locally.
And while the Switch might not be the competitive powerhouse that the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are, it still offers an incredible library of multiplayer games. In fact, the portable console is home to some of the best co-op experiences we’ve seen this generation. Here are our favorites, whether you’re a fan of raucous racing games, mellow simulators, or monster-hunting titles of the finest caliber.
Everybody loves board games, but it’s easy for your collection to grow out of control. Before you know what has happened, your entire closet is overrun with dozens of boxes, making it a nightmare to pull down a game and get it set up. Clubhouse Games simplifies that process. This new title from Nintendo includes 51 hit board games, card games, and a random assortment of other mini-games that are fun for the whole family.
Clubhouse Games makes it easy to jump into classics such as Mancala, Dominoes, Backgammon, Chess, Chinese Checkers, and Four-in-a-Row at the press of a button. Games can be played in a variety of modes — including TV, tabletop, and handheld — and support up to four players.
The next step in the Minecraft franchise is here, and it doesn’t disappoint. Minecraft Dungeons is a drastic departure from the original title, but it still features its trademark charm and accessibility.
Players of all skill levels will enjoy this action-packed romp through the blocky world of Minecraft Dungeons, as they slowly collect an arsenal of powerful weapons to take down the evil Arch-Illager. It may not be as difficult as other ARPGs, but it’s one of the most entertaining dungeon crawlers on the market. The game is best played with a few friends, so grab an extra controller and start slaying those Creepers.
Anyone looking for a trip down memory lane should look no further than Streets of Rage 4. This title manages to stick to the beat-em-up formula from the original three games without feeling like a title that’s two decades old. Dotemu has done a wonderful job keeping the heart of Streets of Rage intact, while simultaneously revitalizing the dormant franchise.
The game is short — and can be finished in a single playthrough — but with multiple playable characters and unlockable content, you’ll more than get your money’s worth. It can become a bit challenging during the later levels, so running through the game with a partner is highly recommended. Better yet, teammates who are effectively communicating can pull off some beautiful combos, clearing entire rooms in a matter of seconds.
Why create the perfect village, complete with a lavish mansion, if it’s only going to be populated by a single player? Like other Animal Crossing games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons allows other players to enter a village, either online or in a local cooperative mode. This only requires a single Joy-Con controller per player, too, so the stock Switch and the game are enough to get started.
Islands are shared per console, meaning that if multiplayer players enjoy the game in the same household, they’ll have to make room for each other. It seems like a nuisance, but learning to live with another person is an important part of maturing, especially when they can build wherever they want.
Read our full Animal Crossing: New Horizons review
Fully playable as a single-player game like the other Darksiders titles, Darksiders Genesis is the first in the series to also offer cooperative play. Two players can choose to control either War or newcomer Strife in an isometric action game that plays like a mix of Diablo and classic Darksiders. The two Horsemen of the Apocalypse control completely differently from each other, with Strife focusing on ranged combat while War does damage up close.
Darksiders Genesis also offers deep replayability because of its Arena missions, which play out as mini horde modes that task players with defeating enemies as quickly as possible. It’s surprisingly deep, and just as fun as the main levels.
You can’t play Monster Hunter: World on Nintendo Switch, but Phoenix Labs has created an alternative that not only scratches the same itch, but is completely free to play. Dauntless is an online action/role-playing game that lets you craft your own armor and weapons and face off against powerful enemies in cooperative play. It isn’t shy about where it took its influences, but continued updates, a gorgeous art style, creative character designs, and an intriguing world all make it the perfect substitute. Because it’s free, you don’t have much to lose by giving it a try.
The latest game in Nintendo’s favorite series about a terrified plumber searching for his missing friends, Luigi’s Mansion 3 features a lengthy single-player campaign mode like the first two games, but you can also play through the story with a friend by your side as trusty and viscous “Googi,” making puzzle-solving and combat more entertaining and easier for less-experienced players. You’ll be using Googi almost constantly, so the second player will have plenty to do.
For more dedicated multiplayer gameplay, you can check out the cooperative ScareScraper, either online or with local friends, or compete in minigames over at ScreamPark. Both are the perfect way to get everyone in on the ghost-hunting action, if they aren’t too scared by the spookiness.
The classic handheld game series arrived on Nintendo Switch in 2018 with Pokémon: Let’s Go, but that version of Pokémon heavily streamlined the role-playing mechanics to make the experience more accessible.
