Best Multiplayer Switch Games

Many Nintendo Switch owners enjoy playing games on their own, but nothing beats the fun you can experience playing with other people. Nintendo has been around for decades, and they’ve always been fantastic at creating multiplayer games. They gave us some of the most iconic video games in history, and it looks like they aren’t slowing down anytime soon. 

The company has a game library filled with native and third-party games that can be enjoyed with friends and family. The design of their games has evolved tremendously over the years, and you will most likely be impressed with their graphics when you play them on your Switch. Going through all the multiplayer games available on the market may be overwhelming, so we’re here to help you out.

In this guide, we’ll share the best multiplayer games available on the Nintendo Switch console. We’ve included titles to please gamers of all ages and preferences, from kid-friendly relaxing simulations to challenging adventures.

Animal Crossing became the most popular game of 2020 as soon as it was released. The gameplay is relatively simple, revolving around the creation of your own island. You can get creative in crafting essential tools or decorating your home, explore the local flora and fauna peacefully or hunt down insects. Overall, the game is very relaxing.

Fishing on sunset in your personal paradise, what could be better? Animal Crossing isn’t an art piece featuring next-gen graphics or a deep storyline; it doesn’t need to be. The game lets you kill a few hours chatting while exploring new horizons, and that’s what it’s beloved for. While the game’s graphics are cartoonish, featuring vivid colors and cute characters, it manages to feel real. The time of the day and season adapt to real life, and every day brings new surprises.

The world is filled with friendly animals and other players. You can visit friend islands to share supplies or have some fun together. Even hopping on a flight, you’ll meet new world residents, each with a unique personality. The multiplayer mode supports up to eight players, enough for the whole family or friend group to join. Animal Crossing is a positive and fun game free from violence and mature content, so it’s great for gamers of all ages.

Pros

• Up to eight players
• Suitable for gamers of all ages
• A lively world filled with friendly characters
• Plenty of world customization options
• A great way to relax

Cons

• Only supports four players on the same system

Specification

• Price $79.99
• Game file size 10.2 GB
• Genre Simulation
• No. of players Single System (1-4) Local wireless (1-8) Online (1-8)

The variety of Mario-themed games available on Nintendo is astonishing. Choosing the best one to play is challenging, but you can’t go wrong with Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. The game can be played alone or in multiplayer, letting you team up with up to four friends locally or online.

The game’s developer took our beloved characters, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad, and placed them into a new world full of adventure. Like most Mario games, this release is a platformer based on completing levels and defeating occasional bosses. But apart from casual jumping and running, players must utilize unique character abilities to finish with the highest score.

Every playable character has a very distinct style. In the Bowsers Fury adventure, Mario and the team arrive at Lake Lapcat, where everything is cat-themed. Even the flowers and birds resemble cats, which is ridiculous yet fun. The levels are creative and challenging, not letting you relax unless you wish to pause the game to take a snapshot. In both game parts, you can collect stamps throughout the levels that can be later used for decoration in Snapshot Mode.

Pros

• Characters have a distinct playstyle
• Two adventures in one game
• Online or local multiplayer
• Great snapshot mode
• Beloved characters

Cons

• Not suitable for larger companies

Specification

• Price $79.99
• Game file size 3 GB
• Genre Platformer Action
• No. of players Single System (1-4) Local wireless (2-4) Online (2-4)

Mario Kart 8 is the ultimate racing game for all Mario fans. The game doesn’t contain mature content or violence and is thus suitable for gamers of all ages, supporting up to 12 players. Like in previous Mario kart games, the objective is to collect various items and hinder opponents while aiming to reach the finish first. But the deluxe version also includes all of the game DLCs ever released, along with 42 new playable charters such as Bowser Junior and Splatoon.

Another new feature is the Smart Steering mode, meant to help novice players control the car. The game’s graphics are cartoonish yet detailed, with thought-through movement physics. The Battle mode has also been revised. The developers added five new modes set on eight arenas. For instance, in the Balloon mode, the players must use their position as an advantage to pop the enemy’s balloons. The Coin Runners mode, in turn, shades Sonic vibe: the goal is to collect all of your rivals’ coins.

Pros

• Suitable for all ages
• New Battle modes
• All previous DLCs included
• Supports up to 12 players
• Online or local multiplayer

Cons

• Pricey

Specification

• Price $79.99
• Game file size 7.4 GB
• Genre Racing Multiplayer Other
• No. of players Single System (1-4) Local wireless (2-8) Online (2-12)

You may be tired of reading about Mario-themed games, but we can’t skip Luigi’s Mansion 3. The game is set in a haunted hotel where Luigi is left all alone after Mario and the friends go missing. The character must overcome his fears to save the day. Along the way, he will be slamming and vacuuming ghosts (hey, Ghostbusters!) and teaming up with Gooigi to solve puzzles and defeat bosses.

Unlike most Mario games, Luigi’s Mansion presents a terrifying atmosphere achieved by cinematic sounds and ghoulish décor. Each floor is a new level designed with a different theme. The game offers you to play alone or with up to eight local or online players. While it involves mild cartoon violence, the game is suitable for all ages.

Pros

• A horror game suitable for the youngest of gamers
• Can be played alone or in a team
• Each level has a different theme

Cons

• Pricey

Specification

• Price $79.99
• Game file size 7.4 GB
• Genre Action Adventure
• No. of players Single System (1-8) Local wireless (1-8) Online (1-8)

As the name suggests, Overcooked! 2 is a cooking-themed game that can be played alone or in a team of four. If not all your friends have a Nintendo Switch, you can play online with random players. Both cooperative and competitive modes are available, but the latter is surprisingly more fun.

The game is based in the Onion Kingdom. The players work in a busy restaurant aiming to produce as many dishes as possible to save the kingdom from starvation. But don’t focus on the storyline, as Overcooked! 2 is the most hectic, chaotic cooking game ever produced. It’s all about screaming at each other to cook faster as you strive to save the world. Overall, the gameplay is highly challenging and fun, helping to truly test your friendship and ability to build a strong team.

Pros

• Can be played alone or in multiplayer
• Local or online multiplayer
• Hilariously chaotic
• Challenging

Cons

• Won’t appeal to those preferring story-focused games
• The graphics are pretty average

Specification

• Price $6.99
• Game file size 5.7 GB
• Genre Strategy Party Simulation
• No. of players Single System (1-4) Local wireless (2-4) Online (2-4)

Diablo 3 is the latest release in the famous Diablo trilogy. The game narrates the story of a world being taken over by demons and angels. The player’s objective is to protect the human land, battling demonic creatures such as walking corpses, seraphs, and Lords of Hell.

However, the storyline isn’t the main focus here. Any new player can jump right into the action without learning the lore and previous game events for hours. The game involves blood, gore, partial nudity, and violence, rated as mature. The series’ third game adds new characters, bosses, and weapons. Graphics have also been improved, presenting horrifying apocalyptic environments. You can play alone or in multiplayer in a team of up to four players.

Pros

• Great graphics
• The storyline is engaging but not overwhelming
• New characters and weapons
• Challenging

Cons

• Pricey
• A lot of mature content

Specification

• Price $79.99
• Game file size 15.7 GB
• Genre Action Adventure Role-Playing Party
• No. of players Single System (1-4) Local wireless (1-4) Online (1-4)

Fortnite is undoubtedly a viral freemium multiplayer game that is available on various gaming platforms. The game goes through different seasons that always keep it fresh and exciting. The outstanding graphics and gameplay of the game can easily get someone hooked on it. 

Fortnite’s cartoonish environments are always full of life and breathtakingly beautiful, and each character has a distinct style. Players can be divided into teams of up to 99, locally or randomly online. The objective is to win a battle by being the last team – or player – standing. There are four game modes, Battle Royale, Party Royale, Creative, and Save the World, each with different gameplay and rules.

In Creative mode, you can set your own rules, create a custom island, and play locally with friends. Weekly events constantly present new skins and weapons that can be obtained by completing challenges. Most of the items can also be purchased, which may be seen as both a pro and a con.

Pros

• Endless fun with weekly updates and events
• New seasons are issued regularly
• Four game modes
• Free to download

Cons

• In-game purchases make the game a bit unfair

Specification

• Price Free
• Game file size 17.9 GB
• Genre Action Strategy Other
• No. of players Single System (1) Online (1-99)