Top 10 Nintendo Switch Couch Co-op Games for Multiplayer Fun
By: Tobin Carlberg | April 2, 2022
If you love the classic gaming experience of hanging out with a friend, family member, or partner and powering through a game together, the Nintendo Switch is the best modern console for you. So many Switch games are designed with couch co-op in mind, often supporting up to eight players — as long as you have enough Switch controllers for everyone. And with the rise of indie titles and local multiplayer games in recent years, there are lots of options to choose from.
To help you navigate through the sea of multiplayer games on the Switch, we have put together a list of 10 fantastic couch co-op games you can play with your best buds on the same screen.
1. Enter the Gungeon (Max Players: 2)
(Image Credit: Devolver Digital)
For those who are curious about the roguelite genre, Enter the Gungeon is a great entry point. Getting through each dungeon is a big accomplishment — and once you start upgrading your weapons with every stage that you reach, you can feel yourself getting stronger. The aiming feels tight and responsive on all of the 200 guns you can find throughout the game, and the combat roll is a super helpful mechanic for evading enemies. However, this game doesn’t hold back on difficulty, so it’s much more enjoyable to bring a friend along.
When another player joins, they can play as a mysterious kid in a purple robe called the Cultist. He comes equipped with a Friendship Cookie, which can resurrect a co-op player to full health. Extra items and pickups will also spawn throughout the map. These bonuses are crucial, especially since enemy health is increased by 40% once two players join the dungeon. But despite the more intense foes, Enter the Gungeon is less treacherous when you can split up and tag team waves of enemies together. It’s also wise to have Player 2 distract the boss while you start blasting with whatever crazy weapon you picked up from the last floor.
2. Cuphead (Max Players: 2)
(Image Credit: Studio MDHR)
The amazing visuals alone make Cuphead worth playing. The game is entirely hand-drawn, with art heavily inspired by the Golden Era of 1930s animation. Just a warning: don’t be fooled by its silly cartoon style, because this is one of the hardest side-scrolling games you will ever play. The boss fights are brutal, which is why it’s better to have your ol’ pal Mugman to help you run and (finger) gun through over 20 levels.
Even though the bosses have enhanced strength in two-player mode, it’s still more useful to have another player in Cuphead. When you inevitably lose all your hearts, you transform into a floating ghost. Luckily, your co-op companion can revive you by performing a parry slap. Not only will you have more chances to survive, but parrying also increases your power level so you can finally rid yourself of the devil once and for all!
3. Unravel Two (Max Players: 2)
(Image Credit: Electronic Arts)
Unravel Two builds on its predecessor with even more dynamic platforming. This time around, you and a friend are joined by a string, so you have no choice but to stick together through all the challenging obstacles that come your way. By adding a second Yarny, you now have to collaborate by swinging, climbing, and jumping through a lovely collection of puzzles.
Each level is a journey through a variety of beautifully designed rural and urban environments from the perspective of a tiny yarn person. If you and your gaming buddy love the side-scrolling style of games like LittleBigPlanet and BattleBlock Theater, Unravel Two is the perfect game for you.
4. Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition (Max Players: 4)
(Image Credit: Ubisoft)
Rayman legends is a fast-paced side-scroller that will keep you on your toes. This game is perfect for co-op because you and three other players have to learn how to run and wall jump together over a variety of colorful stages. It even has levels that are synchronized with the soundtrack, so you and your friends can jam out to a mariachi cover of Eye of the Tiger together. It can feel chaotic at first, but once you master the rhythm you’ll feel like a parkour expert.
It’s also fun to replay each level so you can find all the collectibles — which are these yellow fireflies called Lums. As more Lums are collected, you can unlock up to 34 characters for you and your friends to customize.
5. Overcooked (Max Players: 4)
(Image Credit: Team17)
Overcooked is a chaotic cooking game that will require you and your fellow kitchen staff to collaborate or face the wrath of unhappy customers. Each player has to do their job perfectly or the entire kitchen will descend into chaos. Whether you're washing dishes, chopping food, or delivering orders, every role is essential. This is a great cooperative game because it relies on each of the four players to do their part. As you can probably imagine, it becomes frustrating when some people fall short — but also hilarious when the kitchen is in flames and everyone is rushing for the fire extinguisher.
6. Kirby Star Allies (Max Players: 4)
(Image Credit: Nintendo)
Kirby Star Allies is an update on the classic Kirby’s Return to Dreamland on the Nintendo Wii. Unlike its predecessor, it features a unique system where you can recruit on-stage enemies to join your crew. With these new allies at your disposal, there are so many fun powers that can help you mix and match. For example, as the picture shows above, Kirby can use his Blade Knight ability in tandem with Chilly to make an ice sword. Joining up with friends in Kirby Star Allies is a great way to enjoy a wholesome side-scrolling adventure together.
7. Brawlhalla (Max Players: 8)
(Image Credit: Blue Mammoth Games)
This is a great multiplayer fighting game that’s literally free to play. It’s similar to Super Smash Bros, though it fills the roster with viking-themed original characters. It’s also a bit faster than Smash, so it will take some getting used to, but once you master the combo system, it’s a blast. For a full party experience, Brawlhalla supports team battles with up to 8 players on one screen. If your friends bring their controllers from home, Brawlhalla is sure to get everyone involved in the fun.
But where’s the co-op, you ask? One of the most rewarding parts of Brawlhalla is the ability to play with two players on the same team in online competitive modes. It’s a great way for you and a friend or sibling to test your skills against fighters around the world. You can even take it to the next level with ranked matches and join tournaments for real money!
Brawlhalla also offers the best bang for your buck on this list — it’s completely free, so asking a friend to play with you doesn’t require any investment. However, if you’re willing to spend a little on optional cosmetic skins, Brawlhalla has a ton of unique crossovers. You can play as characters from Steven Universe, Kung Fu Panda, Adventure Time, and more!
8. Castle Crashers (Max Players: 4)
(Image Credit: The Behemoth)
Launched back in 2008 on Xbox 360 and ported to various other platforms since, Castle Crashers has proven itself as one of the best side-scrolling brawlers of all time. You and your friends or family can play as up to four brave knights fighting together against hordes of enemies and bosses. With nearly 100 weapons, several combo moves, and an expansive skill tree, it’s more in-depth than many other co-op games out there.
Plus, Castle Crashers’ replayability is phenomenal. Once you beat the game, you can relive the story again in the Insane Mode, which is considerably harder. If you’re a completionist and want to unlock every character, it’s much easier with a few skilled swordsmen by your side.
9. Pico Park (Max Players: 8 )
(Image Credit: TECOPARK)
Pico Park is an action puzzle game that lets you play as up to 8 pixelated cats. It will challenge every one of your friends to work together by collecting coins, grabbing keys, and stacking yourselves (see above) to reach the next platform. After finishing all 48 levels, you can play Endless Mode, which will test your teamwork skills for the highest score, or compete in Battle Mode to decide who is the coolest cat of the bunch.
10. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Max Players: 4 )
(Image Credit: Nintendo)
If you’re yearning for an island getaway, Animal Crossing: New Horizons may be the game of your dreams. Not all players know this, but you can play cooperatively with four players on one couch. It can be a little hectic because you all have to be in the same area as Player 1, but it’s so much more fun to scuba dive, collect bugs, and go fishing together than on your own. And with every additional player you have on the island, you get another house in town, so each of your friends can have a cozy home to decorate in their own style.
Everything's more fun with a friend!
We hope this list has inspired you to pick up a new game to enjoy with others. These are just a few of our favorites, but the Switch has plenty more to offer. And if you’re looking to grab a few controllers to play with your friends, NexiGo has just what you need. With a range of colorful Switch controllers of all shapes and sizes — plus some with unique functions like turbo mode and extra button mapping — everyone in your co-op party can find their perfect match with our NexiGo Switch Controllers.