35 Best Co-Op Nintendo Switch Games, Ranked

Since its early days in the industry, Nintendo has been well-known partly for its various memorable co-op video games. Even in an increasingly online medium, Nintendo's co-op reputation stands well into the Nintendo Switch console generation.

The gaming console/handheld hybrid is an excellent form factor for co-op gameplay, both online or locally, across first- and third-party titles. The lucrative Super Mario franchise is a wellspring of multiplayer games, thanks to the subgenres it experiments with. Meanwhile, third-party publishers like Capcom produced other contemporary hits with Monster Hunter Rise. Overall, the Nintendo Switch boasts a healthy catalog of co-op-friendly games of various genres.

Updated March 2, 2025, by Robbie Robinson: The Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been announced, but with no news on its exact release date, gamers will have to stay content with their current Switch. On the bright side, there are thousands of games to be found in the Nintendo Switch catalog. The publisher is the powerhouse when it comes to co-op games, which is why this list has been updated to include even more of the best co-op games on the Nintendo Switch.

35 Kirby and the Forgotten Land Is a Two-Player Action & Platforming Game

Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee Must Defeat the Beast Pack

Kirby is another household name when it comes to Nintendo. The character is beloved for his round body and Kirby's classic and unstoppable powers of absorption. One of the newest Kirby games, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, throws players into a world of 3D platforming and combat. As Kirby, the first player is capable of sucking things up and turning into them. Being Bandana Waddle Dee might not seem as fun, but he has solid combos, and his triple jump almost makes up for his lack of flight.

However, having to play as Waddle Dee vs. Kirby is a low point for the game when it comes to multiplayer. As the choice of characters could lead to in-fighting among siblings, Kirby and the Forgotten Land can't quite measure up to its counterparts. The game is also fairly solid for a charming, family-friendly platformer, but it's certainly lacking in multiple areas. That being said, it's still a great co-op game for anyone with a Nintendo Switch.

34 Cult of the Lamb Features Roguelike Combat With Resource Management

Cult of the Lamb's Multiplayer Update Lets Players Manage a Cult Together

Cult of the Lamb was something of an indie darling when it released. While it was plenty of fun with its combat and cult-building aspects, a lot of players began to find that it had very little replay value. Well, since its release, the devs have worked hard to bring updates, DLCs, and new content to the game. As such, Cult of the Lamb is still worth checking out, especially since it has become a co-op game.

Despite seeming fairly simple, Cult of the Lamb requires a great deal of time management that can, at times, feel rather overwhelming. Players will have to juggle taking care of the cult while also going into the dungeons to fight the bosses or collect resources. Growing the cult and keeping them happy and healthy is super important, but without defeating bosses, there's little game progression to be found. With two players, the management becomes much easier to handle.

33 WarioWare: Move It! Is One of the Best Wario Games to Date

Befitting of Wario, Move It! Is Full of Chaotic Microgames

Wario is one of the most iconic Mario franchise characters. Though he may be painted as a villain, many fans have grown attached to his greedy and crass personality. Wario might not be as popular as Mario, but Wario has gotten his fair share of fun video games throughout the years. Some of the most fun Nintendo games stem from the WarioWare franchise, and that is all thanks to the goofy and ridiculous microgames available to play.

As microgames, each minigame is extremely fast-paced and short, leaving little room for thought. As players dance as kelp in the sea or extinguish fires, they can rely on nothing but pure instinct. WarioWare differs from other minigame collections because its minigames are entirely bizarre at times, making it both enjoyable for children and adults. Move It! also promotes activity, as it requires players to get up and put their bodies into it. Gamers who enjoy Move It! can also find other WarioWare games on Switch, such as Get It Together!

32 Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics Has a Library of Minigames

Though Short, Clubhouse 51's Minigames Are Perfect for Competitive Players

Much like Wii Sports is more of a catalog of games than just a singular game, so is Clubhouse Games. There game features tennis, shogi, fishing, mancala, and many more, ensuring a diverse selection to choose from. Clubhouse 51 is also an excellent way for players to try out games they've never heard of, perhaps gaining a new interest or hobby along the way.

Like many multiplayer Nintendo games, Clubhouse 51 is a great choice for any social gathering. It can be enjoyed even if the Switch is in handheld mode, as two players can still compete against each other on the very same screen without even using the joycons. Clubhouse 51's library makes it a viable choice for loads of different situations or moods.

31 Pico Park Will Put Every Friendship to the Test

Pico Park is a Puzzle Party Game as Hilarious as It Is Frustrating

Pico Park has become rather infamous for being a rage-inducing game prone to making players get into arguments with one another. While that doesn't sound like fun for everyone, many friends or family members can't resist attempting the challenge. With up to eight players, gamers will take on different colored little cats and complete a series of tasks throughout the levels. For the most part, the goal is for players to successfully make it to the end of the level.

That may sound easy, but Pico Park is firm on there being no "I" in "team", as it only takes one player's death to reset the level for everyone. Throughout the levels, players must complete simple puzzles or small parkour segments. However, it only takes one mistake for the level to end. Pico Park is a great party game on the Switch, as it requires solid teamwork and communication. For the brave groups who manage to make it through Pico Park, there is also a second game that offers even more challenging levels.

30 Super Mario Party Jamboree Has New Ways to Backstab Each Other

The Mario Party Series' Lack of Sportsmanship Has Become Part of the Appeal

Yet another Mario Party has graced the loving owners of the Nintendo Switch. Super Mario Party Jamboree has everything anyone could want from a Mario Party game. There are silly minigames, stars to be stolen, and shameful remarks to make about competitors. In addition, Mario Party Jamboree has made some new tweaks to the game.

A major addition to Mario Party Jamboree is the ability to pick up companions of sorts, like NPCs that will travel with them on the board. That means players can buy two items at the shop, which is pretty overpowered. The minigames are fantastic, and the fighting spirit is properly stoked for all players. Mario Party is the best franchise of co-op games on the Switch, and with a new one out, gamers should make sure to give it a try.

29 Just Dance Is Consistently Great for Family Fun

Just Dance Is Also an Excellent Game for Getting a Workout

Just Dance has to be considered one of the best franchises ever when it comes to party games. Not only can people learn real dances from it, but it's also a good way to get some physical activity while experiencing the joys of playing a video game. Of course, it can be played solo, but having healthy dance-offs with friends or family is always fun. The Nintendo Switch has multiple Just Dance games on the platform, but Just Dance 2025 became available on October 15.

There's nothing groundbreaking about the 2025 edition, but it's Just Dance. It doesn't need to change — it's perfect as is. Now, Just Dance 2025 has added about 40 new songs, featuring the likes of Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter. The motion controls of the Switch work amazingly with Just Dance, and it's an easy game to get into. It's hard to master, but it's still exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

28 Heave Ho Is the Best Game for a Double Date

Likewise, Heave Ho Is Another Chance for Players to Show Their Competitiveness

The Switch has no shortage of silly, yet addictive games. Heave Ho feels exactly like what the ultimate co-op Switch game should be. Four players will dive into a game with long-armed, big-handed fellows that have two purposes — gripping and swinging. The general idea is simple since players simply need to make it to the goal. However, the levels consist of players dangling from increasingly ridiculous platforms with jumps that require focus and heavy teamwork.

Heave Ho is also an excellent game for a double-date night. There are team-based modes that pit two players against two players, and the team that makes it to the goal first wins. It's an awesome game for anyone looking to be playfully competitive with the Switch but not wanting to play a Mario game. It's quite a difficult game, as it requires plenty of strategy, but it's entertaining enough not to be angering.

27 Ultimate Chicken Horse Lets Players Craft Complex Levels

It's Up to Players to Decide How Tough Ultimate Chicken Horse's Levels Are

Ultimate Chicken Horse is a unique game on the Switch that offers a new way of platforming. Out of a handful of levels, players will build the levels together as they play. First, players will pick from a roster of adorable little animals and dive into a very straightforward level. After the level is beaten in Ultimate Chicken Horse, players choose from obstacles that they can place on that same level. It can be as crazy or as peaceful as players would like.

Players can, of course, die, but there's no blood or gore. That makes Ultimate Chicken Horse a good family-friendly game that will entertain children and likely frustrate parents or older siblings. For the more competitive people out there, diving in with four players can be total mayhem. No rules state that anyone must work together.

26 Castle Crashers Is a Comedic Side-Scroller That's Harder Than It Looks

Cartoonish Violence and Crass Humor Make Castle Crashers Enjoyable

Castle Crashers is far from being a new game, but it's perfect for the Switch. Castle Crashers sees a kingdom ravaged and its princesses kidnapped during a dance-filled party. It's up to the powerful knights of the realm to slay their foes and save the princesses. There are tons of levels, new weapons to unlock, magic powers, and zany bosses that will give players a run for their money.

Castle Crashers is built for co-op from top to bottom. It can host up to four players, and each player must pick a different character. On the bright side, there are over 20 characters, with most of them being unlockable throughout the game. Players will save the four princesses one by one. After the boss is defeated, players must fight each other to see who will get to steal the lips of the pretty princess. It's a fun, action-packed co-op game with an arcade-like feel, and there is an eagerly awaited DLC set to release in the summer of 2025.