Top 10 Nintendo Switch Multiplayer Games to Play with Friends

The Nintendo Switch library includes over 4,000 games, with roughly half supporting some form of multiplayer. Nearly all of these run on all Switch systems, though Switch 2 exclusives like the Mario Kart World won’t run on the original Switch.

It isn't only the game selection that has changed with the newer system, but how those games actually perform during multiplayer sessions. The Switch 2's key improvements for multiplayer are 256GB of storage (versus 32GB), faster loading times, and Joy-Con 2 controllers that fix the drift problems that ruined countless gaming sessions on the original. 

Below are the 10 best Nintendo Switch multiplayer games, all fully compatible with both the original Switch and the Switch 2. Each one was selected with three criteria in mind: they're consistently fun across different skill levels, they make good use of the Switch's unique features, and they create the kind of memorable moments that keep friend groups coming back.

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Price: $59.99

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the Switch game most people think of when they hear “multiplayer.” It’s fast, funny, and unpredictable, which makes it perfect for a living room full of friends. Up to four players can race in split-screen, or you can head online for twelve-player showdowns. The track list is enormous, with old favorites like Coconut Mall and Waluigi Pinball sitting alongside new additions such as Sky-High Sundae. 

The real hook, though, is how quickly things change in the game. You might be cruising in first place, but one Lightning Bolt shrinks the pack, a Blue Shell smashes the leader, and the entire room reacts at once. That constant swing between control and chaos is what makes it the most dependable party game on Switch. Races rarely end quietly; they usually finish with laughter, groans, or shouts for a rematch.

And speaking from personal experience, those nights often run longer than planned, and the first real obstacle to keeping the tournament going is battery life. After a few hours, someone’s Joy-Con starts blinking red, and that pause kills the energy in the room. A charging dock like the Dual Wield takes that worry off the table by powering four Joy-Con 2 controllers at once and snapping them into a grip, so there is always a fresh controller ready when the race heats up.

2. Splatoon 3

Price: $59.99

In Splatoon 3, two squads of four fight to paint the map with their own color, and when the timer runs out, the side with the most ground covered wins. You can blast opponents to slow them down, sure, but that’s not really the point. The real game is about claiming space. And because you can dive into your own ink, you end up swimming through walls, sneaking around corners, and so on.. All of a sudden, where you stand on the map matters as much as how well you aim.

Most people play this game online, either with random players or in private squads with friends. Local wireless battles are possible too if each player has a Switch. For co-op, Salmon Run puts four players against waves of fish-like enemies. The goal is to survive the round while collecting golden eggs that drop from bosses. It is frantic, and groups succeed only if they spread out to manage enemies and regroup quickly when someone goes down.

Weapons change how you approach each match. Rollers act like giant paintbrushes that coat entire lanes. Chargers, for example, function like sniper rifles, picking enemies off from a distance. Nintendo regularly adds new maps and gear, so strategies keep evolving. At first glance, Splatoon 3 may look lighthearted, but it is one of the most tactical multiplayer games on the Switch.

3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Price: $59.99

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is Nintendo’s flagship fighting game with over thirty-six million copies sold worldwide. It has 89 playable characters, from Mario and Pikachu to Sonic and Solid Snake, and more than 100 stages where those matchups play out. Each stage changes how a fight unfolds, with hazards, platforms, and layouts that can turn a match on its head. 

Up to eight players can clash in chaotic free-for-alls or structured team battles. On the surface it looks simple, but the longer you play it, the more you start to notice how much timing and precision matter. 

That precision is also why handheld play can feel tough after a while, and handheld Smash can get uncomfortable really fast. The flat body of the Switch 2 doesn’t help either, and your hands will start to strain 15 minutes in. If this sounds familiar, the Attack Vector can turn the flat body of your Switch 2 into a real controller with three swappable grips for comfort and serious handheld command. You’ll notice the difference right away: less strain, sharper inputs, and longer sessions without your hands giving out.

Once you have your gear ready, you can change how chaotic a match feels by adjusting the items (special objects that appear on the stage, like Poké Balls that release Pokémon to fight for you, hammers that deal huge damage, or healing food that restores health). This mix of structured competition and party-style mayhem makes Smash an easy choice when you want to play with friends or family.

4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Price: $59.99

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is less about competition and more about simply spending time together with friends and family. Up to eight players can visit the same island online, while four can share a console locally. There are no points or leaderboards. Instead, the fun is in fishing by the river, furnishing houses, and chatting with the game’s cast of cheerful animal neighbors.

The multiplayer appeal is in visiting a friend’s island and seeing how they’ve shaped it. One night you might explore a friend’s orchard, trade rare furniture, or take part in a fishing tournament. Another night it’s more low-key: watering flowers, showing off new outfits, or just talking while catching bugs. Because every town reflects personal choices (where trees grow, how houses are decorated, what fossils fill the museum) each visit feels like stepping into someone’s own little world.

The pace is deliberately slow. Sessions can stretch for hours as groups decorate, collect resources, or hunt for fossils side by side. Nintendo updates the game with seasonal events, so there is always a reason to come back. And it is worth noting the cultural impact: during the 2020 lockdowns, New Horizons became a phenomenon because it gave people a way to connect when meeting in person was impossible. 

5. This Means Warp

Price: $25.99

Multiplayer is the foundation of This Means Warp. The game first launched on PC before finding a home on consoles, and its roguelike design works well on Switch because short, unpredictable runs are a natural fit for handheld play. The entire game is built around crews of two to four players trying to keep a starship alive.

On one console, you and your group can split Joy-Cons for couch play, and online mode connects full crews across different systems. In the game, you have to fire the cannons, and your friend will need to run around patching holes, and another player drags supplies back and forth while alarms blare. The chaos is deliberate, and that’s what makes it fun: the crew either holds it together or watches the ship go up in flames.

Sessions like this often put the console through rough handling, with frequent docking, tabletop setups, and being passed around mid-game. That constant movement is where the hardware usually takes a beating, which makes protection matter just as much as performance. The Force Field 2 keeps your Switch covered while leaving the kickstand and dock fully usable. It prevents scuffs, controller wobble, and repeated case removals, so the console keeps up with the same chaos the crew faces on screen.

6. Overcooked! 2

Price: $24.99

Few games test friendships like Overcooked! 2. This chaotic cooking simulator drops up to 4 players into absurd kitchens where you're racing against time to prep meals while dodging moving platforms, teleporters, and occasional kitchen fires.

The genius is in how it forces communication. One person chops vegetables while another handles the grill, but when the kitchen splits in half or starts rocking like a ship, your careful plans fall apart. Suddenly everyone's shouting orders and scrambling to save burning food. It's stressful in the best possible way.

What keeps it fun despite the chaos is how forgiving failure feels. Burning a burger or missing an order deadline usually ends in laughter rather than frustration. The game's colorful art style and silly scenarios (cooking on haunted houses, space stations, even while rafting) maintain a light tone even when things go wrong.

Both local and online co-op work well, though local play has the advantage of being able to shout instructions directly. This game also supports cross-platform play too, so Switch players can cook alongside friends on other consoles. Just expect your Joy-Con straps to get a workout during particularly intense moments.

7. Minecraft

Price: $29.99

With over 350 million copies sold worldwide, Minecraft is the best-selling video game ever, and on Switch it turns into a portable playground for friends. The appeal is simple: it gives you an open world where you can build anything or fight through survival challenges together. 

The Switch edition supports four-player split-screen and up to eight players online. It also runs on the Bedrock build of Minecraft, the same version used on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and mobile. That setup means Switch players can jump into the same worlds as friends on other systems, which makes it one of the easiest multiplayer games to organize.

In multiplayer, one friend might be mining for iron, another is building a house, and someone else is out fighting monsters at night. Those jobs naturally split up the work, so the group feels like a real team. On Switch, you can play split-screen at home or undock the console and bring the same world to a friend’s place without losing progress.

Suffice to say that Minecraft has a way of turning short plans into all-night projects. You might set out to gather a few resources and end up building a fortress, clearing caves, or chasing the Ender Dragon hours later. On handheld Switch and Switch 2, the only thing that usually forces a stop is the battery running dry. With a miniature power bank for handhelds like the Energy Pack, which clips onto the console, you can triple the battery life, so multiplayer sessions carry on without interruption.

8. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Price: $59.99

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a ghost-hunting adventure that doubles as a great co-op game. The main story takes place in a haunted hotel where Luigi searches for Mario and the gang, and the entire campaign can be played with two people. One player controls Luigi, while the other takes on Gooigi, his green goo doppelgänger who can slip through grates and handle traps. That setup creates clever teamwork moments, like distracting ghosts while the other player sneaks up to finish them off. It is an ideal couch co-op option for two friends or a parent and child, since the scares are lighthearted and Luigi’s nervous humor keeps the mood playful.

Multiplayer expands beyond the story. ScareScraper mode supports up to eight players online or through local wireless. Groups clear randomly generated floors of a tower, racing against the clock to vacuum ghosts or rescue Toads. Communication and coordination matter, but the chaos is part of the fun. For more casual competition, ScreamPark splits players into two teams for mini-games like ghost-catching contests and cannon shoot-outs. These modes are shorter than the main adventure, but they add variety and make the game work well for larger gatherings.

9. Nintendo Switch Sports

Price: $39.99

Nintendo Switch Sports launched with six sports: Tennis, Bowling, Chambara (swordplay), Soccer, Badminton, and Volleyball. Golf was added later in a free update. Each one uses the Joy-Con motion controls in simple, intuitive ways. You can swing a racket, roll a bowling ball, or kick with the leg strap in Soccer shoot-outs. Anyone, no matter their age or skill level, can pick up a controller and play. 

In this game you both cooperate and compete with friends. Volleyball, for example, is all about timing as you and a partner set and spike in sync, while Bowling lets everyone roll at once, which keeps the pace quick and the laughs steady. Online play brings an extra hook with customizable avatars and cosmetic rewards, so you always have a reason to keep playing beyond the living room.

Of course, Switch Sports is at its best in long sessions with a full group, and that brings practical considerations. Swinging your arms around for hours can get tiring, and Joy-Con batteries drain faster when used for motion controls. To keep them charging between rounds, a multi-dock station like the Dual Wield handles four Joy-Con 2 controllers at a time so every controller is ready by the next match. Strap them on tight, give everyone a bit of space in the room, and you’ll have one of the most social, laugh-out-loud multiplayer experiences on Switch.

10. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Price: $59.99

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a two-in-one package that shows two very different flavors of Mario multiplayer. 

In 3D World, up to four players pick from familiar characters with distinct strengths. Mario is balanced, Luigi jumps higher, Peach hovers across gaps, Toad runs faster, and Rosalina (unlocked later) adds a spin move that clears enemies. The group races through dozens of short, inventive stages that combine platforming challenges with hidden collectibles. You’re all working toward the same goal (reaching the flagpole at the end) but the game quietly stirs in competition with a crown awarded to the top scorer. That simple twist fuels a lot of shouting as friends jostle for coins, grab power-ups, or accidentally bump each other off ledges.

Bowser’s Fury plays differently. Instead of small courses, it drops Mario and a partner into a single open-world map called Lake Lapcat. The objective is to collect Cat Shines, tokens that unlock new areas and power-ups. One player controls Mario directly, while the second plays as Bowser Jr., armed with a magic paintbrush that can attack enemies and reveal secrets. Bowser Jr. cannot be knocked out, which makes him perfect for a less experienced player who still wants to contribute. The twist is the looming threat of a giant, enraged Bowser who rises from the lake at random, turning peaceful exploration into a frantic scramble until he’s defeated.

Conclusion

The Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 offer the broadest mix of multiplayer experiences you can find on one system. Fast and competitive games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate keep groups shouting. Co-op challenges such as Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Overcooked 2 turn teamwork into comedy. Slower, more creative titles like Minecraft and Animal Crossing let friends build, explore, and relax together. These multiplayer games have something that fits whatever mood your group brings to the table, and that’s why it remains the strongest system for multiplayer.