The Best Couch Co-op Games for Nintendo Switch to Play With Friends

Welcome to Local Multiplayer Heaven! 🎮

There’s something magical about the Nintendo Switch’s abundance of local multiplayer titles! Whether you’re hosting game night with friends or enjoying a casual play session with roommates, the Switch offers wonderful experiences for gaming together. We’ve gathered some of our favorite titles that celebrate good old-fashioned couch co-op!

Local multiplayer creates special moments: friends helping respawn your character in challenging games, building something together in real-time like a farm in Stardew Valley, or causing delightful chaos with Untitled Goose Game’s mischievous honking. Sure, couch co-op sometimes means getting revived just to face another challenge in Spelunky 2 – but sharing those moments makes them memorable and fun!

For Two Players 👥

Cult of the Lamb

Ever dreamed about creating your ideal community? Cult of the Lamb lets you simulate forming a new religion through its wonderfully diverse game loop! This indie darling roguelike now features two-player co-op on Switch, letting you and a friend play as the lamb and goat together. Build your cult, explore dungeons, and create something unique!

Lego Horizon Adventures

Like all Lego video games, this adventure shines brightest when shared! This charming adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn made its way to Switch, introducing younger players to the Horizon franchise through accessible, family-friendly gameplay. Plus, that satisfying Lego-building ASMR is unbeatable!

Bread & Fred

These rope-bound penguins became internet sensations for good reason! Bread & Fred’s co-op gameplay requires teamwork to time jumps and precision moves through chaotic platforming sequences. Success requires coordination, and spectacular failures often create the most hilarious and memorable moments! Originally on PC, it found its perfect home on Switch in 2024

Pikmin 4

Pikmin 4’s couch co-op is wonderfully approachable, making it perfect for adults playing with young children or anyone new to gaming! While you control a single character together rather than two separate pilots (the main player controls movement while the secondary player handles the cursor and throws pebbles), it creates a different but equally enjoyable experience compared to Pikmin 3.

Stardew Valley

This modern farming sim classic takes inspiration from Harvest Moon, and running a farm with friends amplifies the joy! Work together planting and harvesting crops, or pursue different activities like fishing and mining. Local co-op supports two players—just remember to build an extra cabin! (Online multiplayer accommodates up to four players.)

Portal: Companion Collection

This excellent Switch remaster includes both Portal and Portal 2—seminal puzzle games worth experiencing or revisiting! Explore and solve mind-bending puzzles using portal guns, and experimenting with the game’s physics becomes even more entertaining with a friend. Plus, local co-op doubles the number of portals you can place!

Good Job!

Congratulations on your promotion to CEO! Your wisdom is needed to help employees complete their tasks. Good Job! shares a delightful spirit with Untitled Goose Game. You’ll receive objectives like “bring a projector to the conference room”—but nobody said you couldn’t launch it through the window like a projectile! Creative solutions encouraged!

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

This charming Wii U port brings delightful puzzle-solving to Switch! Play cooperatively as Captain Toad and Toadette, exploring and solving bite-sized puzzles. Each self-contained course features adorable nooks and crannies to discover, plus Koopas to navigate around!

Untitled Goose Game

It’s a lovely morning in the village, and you are a horrible goose! Cause delightful mayhem and honk to your heart’s content. With local co-op, you and a friend can both be mischievous geese, using teamwork to playfully terrorize the townspeople. Honk honk HONK!!

Spiritfarer

Play as Stella the ferrymaster, guiding spirits into the afterlife in this touching game. Meet wonderful characters and help them find closure. Spiritfarer beautifully combines sea exploration with management sim elements—build housing, kitchens, farms, and more! Player two controls Stella’s cat Daffodil, who can handle most management tasks (though she can’t trigger quests through dialogue).

Luigi’s Mansion 3

Time to be Mario’s taller counterpart! Luigi’s Mansion 3 offers local co-op with player two as Gooigi (a delightfully spooky goo Luigi) after the intro walkthrough. Platform through the haunted hotel together to save Mario, Peach, and numerous Toads!

Cuphead

This beautifully animated platformer features stunning vintage animation aesthetics! The art direction and soundtrack create a unique joyride from start to finish. Cuphead’s sibling Mugman can join for local co-op adventures, making the challenge more manageable and twice as fun!

Unravel 2

Play as adorable Yarnys (living balls of yarn resembling small sprites) and solve puzzles together using your spare yarn to pull, yank, and swing! This game emphasizes teamwork—unlike other co-op games where players can wander independently, Unravel 2 focuses on solving puzzles using each other’s momentum.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby games are perfectly chill and incredibly adorable, and Forgotten Land continues that tradition! Run, float, and explore 3D levels together. Beyond Kirby’s classic inhale powers, this game introduces “mouthful mode,” letting Kirby stretch over enormous objects like cars and lightbulbs. (Kirby Star Allies also offers wonderful local co-op!)

Nobody Saves the World

Play as characters named “Nobody” as you work together curing the world of poisonous blight while uncovering your mysterious past! Instead of traditional perk trees, you’ll unlock various forms—turtle, ghost, knight, ninja—each with unique moves. These forms can synergize beautifully, creating incredibly creative skill combinations!

Cat Quest 2

This delightfully underrated action game places you in the paws of a cat adventuring through the pun-filled land of Felingard—and player two gets to be a dog! This approachable, silly RPG offers straightforward fun. Fight through dungeons, meet necromancer cats, and try on lots of adorable outfits!

Unsighted

Play as an automaton racing against time to keep friends from becoming “unsighted.” This excellent Metroidvania features an intricate three-floor map and tons of Zelda-inspired puzzles. A couch co-op partner makes these challenges much more enjoyable and surmountable!

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove

This pixel art Metroidvania captures the feel of great NES games with retro aesthetics and excellent platforming. The definitive edition on Switch (including the original Shovel of Hope campaign) supports local two-player co-op!

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Lego games consistently deliver laughs and reliable couch co-op! They’re accessible, family-friendly, and give silly spins to recognizable films. The Skywalker Saga features Lego versions of nine movies from the franchise and 200+ minifigs to unlock!

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

This unexpected Nintendo-Ubisoft collaboration became a delightful sleeper hit! While local co-op is limited to five specific challenges, these tactical squad levels are especially fun. Working together changes the strategic dynamics beautifully!

Crypt of the Necrodancer

The perfect fusion of dungeon crawler and rhythm game, with fantastic tunes! Dancing through levels becomes even more entertaining with a friend, though you’ll both still need to stay on beat. Challenge and rhythm combine beautifully!

Escape Academy

Want escape room experiences in video game form? Escape Academy delivers! Up to two couch co-op players attend this school for puzzle enthusiasts, finding solutions and cracking codes to avoid perilous fates. Hints (and red herrings) abound—are you clever enough to escape each room?

For Two or Four Players 👥👥

Super Mario Party Jamboree

The latest Mario Party installment delights friend groups with welcome quality-of-life updates and fresh twists! Most importantly, it brings new minigames to the tried-and-true format of friendly competition. Perfect for groups who’ve memorized all the existing games!

WarioWare: Move It

Minigame heaven! Using Joy-Cons, you and friends can play hundreds of microgames taking mere seconds each. Expect delightful chaos! Story mode supports two players cooperatively, while party mode pits up to four players against each other in signature microgames.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Another beloved entry in Nintendo’s iconic franchise! Wonder brings together delightful platforming, silly power-ups, and map secrets. Best of all? Four people can play local multiplayer, choosing from classic characters: Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Toad, Toadette, and more!

Vampire Survivors

This deceptively simple roguelike bullet-hell becomes even better with multiplayer! Having more players fighting mob waves means everyone can experiment with unique weapon and buff combinations. Just stay on the same screen together!

Moving Out 2

While moving in real life is challenging, Moving Out 2 transforms it into a whimsical group experience! Play as F.A.R.T. moving crew members (yes, really!) attempting to move furniture through highly inconvenient spaces. Hilarious teamwork required!

Diablo 3

Over a decade old but still excellent for local multiplayer! This action RPG has evolved into a comforting grind game perfect for sharing with friends on Switch. The bombastic gameplay creates wonderful cooperative moments!

Spelunky 2

Not for the faint of heart, but incredibly rewarding! Work together excavating cave levels, avoiding dangers, and rationing supplies. In local co-op, find coffins to revive fallen friends. Ragdoll physics and creative mechanics add both challenge and humor to this outstanding platformer roguelike!

Rayman Legends Definitive Edition

This edition delivers all the platforming and hijinks the series is known for! Enjoy delightful levels, time trials, and collectibles. Multiple players particularly helps with respawning as difficulty increases in later levels!

Rocket League

What if you played soccer with rocket-powered vehicles? Rocket League answers this wonderfully bizarre question! Mashing racing and soccer together creates something unforgettable and endlessly entertaining!

Towerfall Ascension

The gold standard for 2D arena games! Players are archers fighting with well-placed arrows or stomping from above. Movement feels fantastic with dodging and dashing, making each character spry and agile. Different multiplayer variants keep rounds feeling fresh!

Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition

This bestseller is perfect for spending time with friends in a sandbox world! Mine, build, dig, fish, plant crops, protect yourselves from nighttime monsters—and most importantly, survive together!

Overcooked! All You Can Eat

This definitive remaster bundles both excellent Overcooked games into one delicious package! Prepare orders for hungry customers while facing ridiculous odds—cooking in hot air balloons or crossing busy streets. Teamwork and laughter guaranteed!

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Experience classic Super Mario feeling in a modern 3D world! (Or finally play as Mario in a cat suit!) Choose Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Toad—each with slightly different abilities. Luigi jumps higher, while Toad runs faster!

Nintendo Switch Sports

Wii Sports’ legacy lives on gracefully! Switch Sports includes classic activities like bowling, golf, and tennis, plus new additions like volleyball and chambara. Just ensure adequate space so you don’t accidentally hit your TV!

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

No Switch multiplayer list is complete without mentioning this racing series staple! Released in 2017, it still reigns supreme with ongoing new course additions, like Mario Kart 7’s Rainbow Road. Timeless fun!

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

Cooperate with friends to operate a spaceship hurtling through space! Each player controls one of eight control panels at any time. Expect to shout directions and work together intensely—but that’s half the fun!

Snipperclips Plus: Cut it out, together!

Simple but brilliant: Each player is paper, and you cut shapes from each other to accomplish tasks! Challenges involve creating specific shapes, shooting balls into hoops, or filling basins with water. Bring your most creative (or wonderfully chaotic) friends!

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Nintendo’s legendary brawler stocks all your favorite characters! Play with up to seven others and compete to be the last one standing. A stone-cold classic for good reason!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

A nostalgic return for TMNT fans and an excellent beat-’em-up brawler! Choose between the four Turtles plus April O’Neil, Master Splinter, or Casey Jones. Pure action-packed fun!

Your Couch Co-op Journey

The Nintendo Switch’s local multiplayer library offers something for everyone—whether you prefer cooperative adventures, friendly competition, puzzle-solving, or chaotic party games. Every game on this list creates opportunities for laughter, teamwork, and memorable moments with friends and family!

Remember:

• Couch co-op is about shared experiences
• Failures can be just as fun as victories
• Communication and laughter make everything better
• Every friend group has different preferences
• The best game is the one you’ll enjoy together

Grab your Joy-Cons, invite some friends over, and discover which couch co-op experiences resonate with your group. Happy gaming! 🎮✨