The Nintendo Switch has established itself as THE reference console for multiplayer gaming, Whether you're playing with your family, friends or partner. Whether it's a PC, PS5 or Xbox Series, it offers a unique experience thanks to its detachable Joy-Con and its catalog of co-op games designed for the sofa.
In this selection, we have brought together best cooperative titles on Nintendo's hybrid console, from wacky party games to narrative adventures and online multiplayer.
Here are the 10 must-have co-op games for the Switch at a glance. Choose according to your situation: number of players, local or online, and current mood.
| # | Game | Players | Local / Online | Game type | For whom? | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Mario Bros. Wonder | 1 à 4 | Local | Platform | Family, all levels | 92 |
| 2 | Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury | 1 à 4 | Local | 3D platform | Friends, siblings | 89 |
| 3 | Overcooked! All You Can Eat | 1 à 4 | Local + Online | Party-game | Evenings with friends | 87 |
| 4 | Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | 1 à 2 | Local | A demanding platform | Experienced players | 86 |
| 5 | Minecraft | 1 à 4 / 8 | Local + Online | Sandbox | Creative, Family, Children | 86 |
| 6 | Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime | 1 à 4 | Local | Action / cooperation | Friends, couple | 84 |
| 7 | It Takes Two | 2 | Local | Narrative adventure | Couple, fusion duo | 84 |
| 8 | LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga | 1 à 2 | Local | Adventure / action | Star Wars fans, parents/children | 82 |
| 9 | Unravel Two | 1 à 2 | Local | Platform / puzzle | Siblings, couple | 82 |
| 10 | Untitled Goose Game | 1 à 2 | Local | Infiltration / humor | Duo of friends, short sessions | 81 |
💡 Our quick tip :
- 👨👩👧 Family → Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- 🍕 An evening for 4 → Overcooked! All You Can Eat
- 💑 Playing in pairs → It Takes Two
- 🧱 Long, creative sessions → Minecraft
All these Nintendo games are available today, some in Deluxe Edition or Definitive Edition to enjoy all the content at once.
1. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- ⭐ Metacritic score: 92/100
- 👥 Number of players : up to 4 players
- 🎮 En local
- 🎯 Family, friends (all levels)
- 🍿 Relaxing evening and discovery
- 📅 Release date: October 20, 2023
Super Mario Bros. Wonder marked the series' comeback since New Super Mario Bros. U, originally released in 2012. The title innovates by introducing new mechanics, including Fleurs Prodiges which transform levels in totally unpredictable ways.
For newcomers and nostalgic retro fans alike, it's a wacky world that's just right for you. experiment with several people on the same screen.
See Super Mario Bros. Wonder on Amazon
2. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
- ⭐ Metacritic Score: 89/100
- 👥 Number of players : up to 4 players
- 🎮 En local
- 🎯 Friends, siblings
- 🍿 Fun evening with a competitive edge
- 📅 Release date : February 12, 2021
Super Mario 3D World invites you to explore the levels of the Libellas kingdom, with the introduction of the Cat costume as a new transformation, enabling it to climb walls and defend itself with its tail. His Bowser's Fury expansion an explosive adventure where you have to stop Fury Bowser, single-handed. or two !
See Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury on Amazon
3. Overcooked! All You Can Eat
- ⭐ Metacritic Score: 87/100
- 👥 Number of players : up to 4 local players
- 🎮 En local + Online
- 🎯 Close friends, couple
- 🍿 Dynamic evening (and chaotic)
- 📅 Release date : November 12, 2020
Overcooked! All You Can Eat is THE party-game to play. In fact, the game lets you your coordination and patience put to the test within a frenzied cuisine, where customers won't forgive a late meal!
You can include up to 4 players for an evening that promises to be as memorable as it is chaotic...
See Overcooked! All You Can Eat on Amazon
4. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
- ⭐ Metacritic Score: 86/100
- 👥 Number of players : up to 2 local players
- 🎮 En local
- 🎯 Experienced players, siblings
- 🍿 Technical challenge for two
- 📅 Release date : May 04, 2018
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a platform game featuring the video game's most iconic gorilla Donkey Kong.
Between the return of aquatic levels and 3D perspective gameplay, the title lets one of your friends to play Diddy Kong to support you in the various levels. A little nugget well worth the detour.
See Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Amazon
5. Minecraft
- ⭐ Metacritic Score: 86/100
- 👥 Number of players : up to 4 local and 8 online players
- 🎮 En local + Online
- 🎯 Creative player groups, family, children
- 🍿 Long, relaxing session
- 📅 Release date : June 21, 2018
We no longer present Minecraftthe famous game from Mojang Studios that marked a whole generation. Whether in your own world or within a server, You and your friends are the protagonists of this vast world.
All you have to do is explore, build, fight and have fun.
If you want to compare prices, go to our article How much does Minecraft cost on Switch?
6. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
- ⭐ Metacritic Score: 84/100
- 👥 Number of players : 1 to 4 players
- 🎮 En local
- 🎯 Friends, couple
- 🍿 Cooperation session and synchronization
- 📅 Release date : September 9, 2015
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime will require a great deal of cooperation. Gameplay is based on vessel control through several levels, as enemies attempt to destroy it.
You'll need dividing up tasks for effective action against waves of enemies and progress in this space adventure with multiple playable modes.
See Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime via Nintendo eShop
7. It Takes Two
- ⭐ Metacritic Score: 84/100
- 👥 Number of players : 2 players
- 🎮 En local
- 🎯 Couple, a pair of close friends
- 🍿 Extended narrative adventure
- 📅 Release date : March 26, 2021
It Takes TwoGOTY 2021 is a narrative game about a couple on the verge of divorce. They find themselves trapped in two dolls.
They will have to pass a number of tests that constantly involve new gameplay mechanics, the goal being to understand what went wrong in their relationship and regain their human form.
8. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
- ⭐ Metacritic score: 82/100
- 👥 Number of players : 1 to 2 players
- 🎮 En local
- 🎯 Fans of the saga, parents/children
- 🍿 Nostalgic session and accessible
- 📅 Release date : April 6, 2022
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is aimed at fans of the eponymous saga. The latter allows you to relive the events that make up the 9 films in the franchise.
The title offers a 2-person split-screen local co-op mode. No online game, however: you'll have to be side by side on the sofa to enjoy this nostalgic experience.
See LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga on Amazon
9. Unravel Two
- ⭐ Metacritic Score: 82/100
- 👥 Number of players : 1 to 2 players
- 🎮 En local
- 🎯 Fratries, couple
- 🍿 Calm reflection and poetic
- 📅 Release date : June 9, 2018
On his side, Unravel Two invites two players to play as two little woolen creatures. They are connected by a wire that will unite them throughout the adventure.
The challenge is simple: complete the platform game in the heart of nature, by solving the various puzzles who will be on your path. As you can see, collaboration will be essential.
10. Untitled Goose Game
- ⭐ Metacritic Score: 81/100
- 👥 Number of players : 1 to 2 players
- 🎮 En local
- 🎯 Duo of friends, couple
- 🍿 Short session for laughs and get into mischief
- 📅 Release date : September 20, 2019
Finally, we have Untitled Goose GameIn this Hitman-esque stealth game, the goal is not to assassinate a target. On the contrary, you play as a goose whose goal is to to go and tease the villagers.
In co-op mode, you'll be able to bring a an accomplice in your petty theft each as zany as the next.
See Untitled Goose Game on Amazon
FAQs
What's the best 4-player Switch co-op game?
Without hesitation, Overcooked! All You Can Eat ! It's the only one of its kind to offer local AND online co-op for up to 4 players, with gameplay designed for collective chaos.
💡 For a quieter, family-friendly option, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the ideal alternative 4 local players, accessible to children, but rich enough not to bore adults.
Which Switch games can be played by 2 players on the same console (without separate Joy-Cons)?
Most of the games in the top list work with one Joy-Con per player, so without additional controller.
- ✅ It Takes Two
- ✅ Unravel Two
- ✅ Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
- ✅ Untitled Goose Game
These games are perfect for this Take both Joy-Cons out of the console and start playing together straight away.
What are the best online Switch co-op games?
The Switch is primarily designed for local co-op. The top games offering real online co-op are Minecraft (up to 8 players online) and Overcooked! All You Can Eat.
💡 For online, Nintendo Switch Online subscription is generally required.
Which Switch co-op game is best for couples?
It Takes Two is designed with this in mind: it's impossible to play solo, as the entire adventure is based on cooperation between two players. It's GOTY 2021, so expect to play for around 12 to 15 hours.
✅ If you're looking for something more poetic and calm, Unravel Two is an excellent alternative.
Which Switch co-op game is right for kids?
Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Minecraft are the two best choices.
- Mario Wonder is very accessible thanks to a “ghost” mode that prevents players from getting in each other's way
- Minecraft offers a total freedom in a violence-free universe.
✅ LEGO Star Wars is also a good choice for children who are fans of the saga.
Do I need to buy a second controller to play co-op on Switch?
Not necessarily. For 2 players, the two Joy-Cons supplied with the console are sufficient in most cases (one Joy-Con per player).
⚠️ On the other hand, for It Takes Two, Donkey Kong or 3-4 player games, one or two additional controllers (Joy-Con or Pro Controller) will be required.
All in all, a good Switch co-op game depends on context : Mario Wonder to play with the whole family, Overcooked! All You Can Eat for 4 players in chaos mode, It Takes Two for a duo. Whatever your choice, the console offers a rich co-op experience, sometimes more accomplished than on PC or Xbox, thanks to its ease of use.
If you're on a tight budget, take a look at the best free games on Switch or to best puzzle games on Switch if you prefer reflection to action.
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