What are the best multiplayer games on Switch? [TOP 20]

Are you looking for the Best multiplayer game on Switch ? The safe bets remain Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the whole family to play together, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for competitive game nights with friends and Overcooked! 2 for cooperative chaos.

Here is our selection of The 20 Best Multiplayer Games on Nintendo Switch, sorted by score Metacritic, featuring local, co-op, and party games for every type of player.

1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the legendary characters of the universe Nintendo face off in explosive battles. You'll find Mario, Link, Pikachu and much of the world Pokémon They've come together with a single goal: to knock your opponents out of the arena.

It's the biggest one Smash never released, with its 89 playable characters and its dozens of arenas. Locally, you can play up to 8 players on a single console, as long as you have enough controllers.

For whom? It's the perfect action game for memorable evenings, whether with friends or family. Easy to pick up, but deep enough for those who want to dive into the competition.

2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

A must-have among the Racing Games on Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe throws you into wild races with the iconic characters from the universe Mario. The goal is simple: finish first while collecting shells, mushrooms, and other strategically placed power-ups.

He proposes more than 90 circuits thanks to the Additional Circuits Pass, a series record. Locally, you play up to 4 players on a single console. Local multiplayer does not require a subscription.

For whom? For everyone—young and old, beginners and experts alike. It’s the party game Perfect for a day out with family or friends for an impromptu tournament.

3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons invites you to Create your own little haven of peace on a deserted island. You set everything up just the way you want and build relationships with adorable animal residents. It's one of the best-selling games on the Nintendo Switch, and that's no coincidence.

You can invite your friends to your island to visit, trade items, or go fishing together. Multiplayer is on the rise Up to 8 players online and 4 players locally on the same console.

For whom? If you like the relaxation, customization, and cooperation without competition—this game is for you. It's also an excellent choice among the Switch Games for the Whole Family. The four-person room remains completely free.

4. Bayonetta + Bayonetta 2

You play the role of Bayonetta, a badass witch who pulls off one spectacular battles against angels and demons. The goal: to line up the best combos and dodges to wipe out hordes of enemies, with lightning-fast action and completely over-the-top scenes.

This pack includes two Cult Classics not available on any other console, with a gameplay with exceptional fluidity. Be honest about multiplayer: Bayonetta 1 is a pure single-player game. Alone Bayonetta 2 offers a true two-player mode, the Tag Climax, which can be played in co-op mode both locally and online. It's a nice bonus, but it's still secondary to the campaign.

For whom? For fans of battles at the Devil May Cry and occasional cooperative duos. First, consider it for its unrestrained solo action.

5. Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise, it's a big cooperative hunt in a world inspired by the Feudal Japan. Together with your friends, you track down and battle’huge, fearsome monsters in a team-based action-adventure game.

You can play up to 4 players online or via a local wireless connection between multiple consoles. The tactical and epic battles are worth checking out, especially when everyone has a clearly defined role on the team.

For whom? It's the perfect game if you like the progress and challenges. You go on one hunt after another, upgrade your gear, and face increasingly tough monsters. Perfect for friends who love cooperative gameplay.

6. Diablo III: Eternal Collection

This is the full version of Diablo III, with all the expansions included. You explore randomly generated dungeons and you face hordes of demons in a hack-and-slash Extremely addictive. Each game has you collecting items and leveling up for hours on end.

The biggest advantage is the Co-op for up to 4 players on a single console in split-screen mode. The service life is enormous: dozens of hours just for the campaign, and many more with Adventure Mode.

For whom? For the fans of fast-paced action, loot, and ongoing multiplayer progression. The entire adventure remains playable in Local co-op with no membership fee.

7. Pikmin 4

Pikmin 4 is a such a cute adventure signed Nintendo. You control little colorful creatures, the Pikmin, to explore a strange world and solve puzzles. It’s an accessible, charming, and highly inventive game, perfect for relaxing.

Be honest with yourself about one thing: the heart of Pikmin 4 remains a single-player campaign. The multiplayer aspect is handled through the mode Dandori Battle, a split-screen showdown for two players in local mode. It's fun in short sessions, but it's still just a secondary mode.

For whom? Ideal for families and young players. No subscription required: the mode Dandori Battle is played entirely locally on a single console.

8. Dragon Ball FighterZ

Best representative of the franchise among the Dragon Ball games on Switch, Dragon Ball FighterZ is an anime-inspired fighting game based on 3-on-3 matches. You build your team with your favorite characters: Goku, Vegeta, Trunks or others. The gameplay is accessible for beginners, but offers real depth for players who want to master the combos.

On the Switch, this game stands out for its incredible animation, signed Arc System Works : It really feels like we're in the anime. The mode local multiplayer allows two players to compete against each other on a single console, although a standard controller is still more comfortable for quick combos.

For whom? For the DBZ fans and fans of head-to-head fighting games. For local play, no subscription is required.

9. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

In this platform game Nervous, you embody Donkey Kong and His Family. Your goal: to protect your island and face off against the Ice Vikings who want to take control of it.

Tropical Freeze is beloved for his demanding gameplay, but perfectly crafted. On the agenda: a challenge mastered and ultra-creative levels. The second player plays as a companion (Diddy, Dixie Where Cranky Kong), each with its own ability to navigate difficult passages.

For whom? For fans of challenging platform games who want to play in pairs. The cooperative mode is played in 2 locally on a single console, with no subscription required.

10. Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a game of turn-based strategy to the unlikely crossover: Mario and the Rabbids. You put together a team and go from one thing to the next tactical combat to prevent chaos from engulfing the merged universes of the two worlds.

It is both accessible, funny, and surprisingly strategic. The countryside lends itself to 2-player local co-op on a single console, using dedicated controllers where each player controls half the team. No subscription is required since the game is played entirely offline.

For whom? For anyone who wants to Learn about the strategy in a lighthearted Mario world, with family or friends.

11. Splatoon 3

In this ultra-colorful shooter, the goal is simple: cover the floor with ink. You have to paint more territory than the opposing team in three minutes. They're running, dodging, and repainting in every direction.

The flagship mode is the 4-on-4 territory match, snappy, and easy to get the hang of. But the real gem for multiplayer is the Salmon Run : a cooperative mode in which four players work together to fend off waves of Salmonoïdes. It's one of the few shooters designed around the’team spirit rather than pure frag.

For whom? For fans of Fun, non-violent online games, and for those who prefer to play as a team. The local wireless mode lets you play with multiple Switch consoles, but not in split-screen mode on a single console.

12. Super Mario Party Jamboree

This is the longest episode of the series Mario Party, with more than 110 mini-games. The concept is simple: you roll the dice, move along the board, and collect stars faster than the other players.

Super Mario Party Jamboree brings together the best levels and iconic mini-games from the series. The mode Jamboree TV takes the festive atmosphere even further, with challenges that can accommodate a large number of online players.

For whom? It's the perfect party game to liven up a family night. In local mode, you play 4 on a single console.

13. It Takes Two

In this adventure 100 % cooperation, you play as one half of a miniaturized couple trying to return to their normal size. Together, you explore imaginative worlds and overcome a multitude of challenges to move forward.

It Takes Two The gameplay changes with each level, which makes it varied, funny, and never repetitive. The game is played must be done in pairs, via local split-screen or online. Thanks to the Friend’s Pass, your partner can join you for free without buying the game.

For whom? For the couples, friends, and all pairs who want to share a wonderful adventure. It’s undoubtedly one of the best cooperative experiences available on the console.

14. Overcooked! 2

Overcooked! 2 is a cooperative cooking game completely crazy. You process orders as quickly as possible in completely absurd kitchens : a rocking boat, a shifting road, an erupting volcano. The culinary chaos is guaranteed at every level.

You're sure to burst out laughing as the teamwork quickly becomes intense. You have to divide up the tasks, shout out orders, and deal with the fire that breaks out in the kitchen. It all depends on the communication among players, which makes each game unique.

For whom? Perfect for playing with family or friends during fun get-togethers. It's played by 2 to 4 players. About 4 to 7 hours to finish the campaign in co-op. It all comes down to local on a single console, no subscription required.

15. Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics

Visit 51 board games from around the world all in one game. You'll find card games, board games, checkers, bowling, and even chess. Enough to keep the whole family entertained on a single console.

The biggest advantage is the local multiplayer : Several games can be played by four people on the same console, and some even switch to wireless sharing with a single copy of the game.

For whom? For fans of games that are simple and easy to learn, whether with kids or among friends casual gamers who want to mix things up.

16. Mario Party Superstars

Mario Party Superstars includes the best trays and mini-games classics from the series. You'll find five cult trays past episodes and more than 100 mini-games remastered.

Multiplayer is on the rise up to four players locally on a single console.

For whom? For those who are nostalgic and want to Rediscovering the Classics with friends. It's one of the best party games on the Switch for livening up a night out.

17. Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe

You play the role of Kirby, the little pink ball that can copy the powers of one's enemies to make your way through colorful levels. Your mission: help an alien find the parts of his spaceship, either alone or with others.

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is banking on a simple and accessible gameplay in a super cute world. Its biggest strength is the local multiplayer for up to four players on a single console. This Deluxe version adds a Unpublished Epilogue and a handful of mini-games to do as a team.

For whom? It's the perfect book for kids and the whole family. Two Joy-Con are all it takes to start a two-player game—no subscription required. It’s an excellent first cooperative game to introduce younger children to the concept.

18. Endless Dungeon

A mixture of shooter and of repeating loop pattern, Endless Dungeon takes you to a abandoned spacecraft. The goal is simple on paper: explore the levels and escort your crystal all the way to the exit, while fending off waves of enemies.

This title stands out thanks to its teamwork. Each player controls a character with different abilities, and coordination makes all the difference during assaults. You set up the turrets together, manage resources, and then work as a team of three to protect the crystal. A game combines nerve impulse and small tactical decisions between waves.

For whom? For the fans of loop-based games who enjoy taking on a challenging adventure again with friends. The game is played cooperatively online up to 3 players. The solo is still perfectly playable if you'd rather go at your own pace.

19. Mario Tennis Aces

Among the Sports games on Switch, Mario Tennis Aces stands out with its ultra-dynamic arcade-style tennis. On the agenda: fast-paced rallies, spectacular special moves and an energy gauge to manage so you can unleash your most powerful attacks.

Each character has a unique style and local multiplayer starts up in just a few seconds. You can play up to 4 players Play doubles on a single console. An afternoon with friends is all it takes to have a good laugh when a special shot sends your opponent flying to the other end of the court.

For whom? For fans of arcade sports who want to play quickly, whether with family or friends. All local multiplayer remains free.

20. Mario Strikers: Battle League Soccer

Mario Strikers: Battle League Football brings you soccer, Mario-style. Get ready for chaotic soccer—no referee, plenty of tackles, power-ups, and super shots! The game is worth checking out for its dynamic and truly fun gameplay. The matches are sure to be explosive and wild!

For whom? For fans of arcade-style sports games who want something fun and fast-paced.

Now you have everything you need to take your gaming nights with family or friends to the next level! Whether you're looking for competition, cooperation, or even both, the Nintendo Switch has you covered.

Which of these top multiplayer games on the Switch are you most excited about? Tell us all about it in the comments!

And for even more Switch games that are worth checking out:

• Top 10 Best Mario Games on Nintendo Switch
• What are the best indie games on Switch?
• What are the best adventure games on the Switch?