The Nintendo Switch is arguably the best console ever made for playing together: detachable Joy-Con turn any sofa into a multiplayer setup, and a steady flow of Nintendo and indie games are built around sharing the screen. The best co-op games on Switch range from frantic kitchen chaos to puzzle adventures and loot-driven action, for couples, families and friends alike, whether as two-player couch co-op or coop games for a full living room.

1. Overcooked! 2#

Ghost Town Games and Team17 released Overcooked! 2 in August 2018, and it is the definitive couch co-op game on Switch. Up to four players run chaotic kitchens, chopping, cooking and passing plates while levels shift, split or sail away beneath your feet. Local and online play both work, and a pair of shared Joy-Con is enough to get started. It adds ingredient throwing and a wide roster of chefs to the original formula. Difficulty spikes in later stages can cause real arguments, so it suits groups that laugh at failure rather than demand smooth teamwork.

2. Super Mario Bros. Wonder#

Nintendo EPD launched Super Mario Bros. Wonder in October 2023, and up to four players can run through its bright 2D worlds at once. The Wonder Flower twists each level into something surprising, and the badges let everyone tweak how they play. Co-op is forgiving: a fallen player returns as a ghost and can be revived, so mixed-skill groups stay together. The flip side is that players can bump and block one another, which turns some precision sections into a scramble. It is a joyful pick for families, less so for perfectionists who want full control.

3. Luigi's Mansion 3#

Next Level Games released Luigi's Mansion 3 in October 2019, turning a haunted hotel into a floor-by-floor adventure full of inventive puzzles and ghost fights. A second player controls Gooigi, a gooey green copy of Luigi who can squeeze through grates and survive hazards, so the campaign works as two-person co-op on one console. Separately, the ScareScraper mode supports up to eight players online or locally across timed challenge floors. The weakness is that the campaign is designed around Luigi first, so the partner often feels like a helper, which suits a younger or less experienced player.

4. It Takes Two#

Hazelight Studios' It Takes Two arrived on Switch in November 2022, ported by Turn Me Up Games. It is a co-op-only adventure about a couple magically turned into dolls who must work together to undo it. Each chapter invents a new mechanic for the pair, from time manipulation to a giant toolbox, and it rarely repeats itself. You can play split-screen on one Switch, across two consoles, or online with a Friend's Pass so only one person needs to buy it. It cannot be played solo, and its story is sentimental rather than subtle, which some players will find heavy-handed.

5. Portal 2#

Valve's Portal 2 reached Switch in June 2022 as part of the Portal: Companion Collection, made with Nvidia Lightspeed Studios. Besides its famous single-player story, it has a separate co-op campaign for two robots, Atlas and P-body, who solve portal puzzles that demand precise communication. Split-screen and online play are both supported, and the gyro aiming option helps on Joy-Con. The co-op campaign is shorter than the main game, and it is a slow, brainy experience that will frustrate anyone who wants fast action, but it is one of the most rewarding ways to test a friendship.

6. Castle Crashers Remastered#

The Behemoth brought Castle Crashers Remastered to Switch in September 2019, and its hand-drawn cartoon style still looks excellent. Up to four knights fight through levels in classic beat-'em-up fashion, unlocking weapons, animal orbs and new characters along the way. Four-player local Joy-Con play and online co-op both work, and the humor makes every run a party. The combat is simple, and lasting depth comes from leveling up rather than complex moves, so players who want tactical fighting will find it repetitive. As a quick, silly evening with friends, it is hard to beat.

7. Kirby and the Forgotten Land#

HAL Laboratory's Kirby and the Forgotten Land, released in March 2022, took the series into full 3D. A second player can join as Bandana Waddle Dee, who carries a spear and has a simpler move set, so it works well for parent and child or for a newcomer. The copy abilities and Mouthful Mode, where Kirby swallows cars and vending machines, keep the adventure fresh. Co-op is limited to two players and the second character cannot use copy abilities, which makes it a helper role rather than an equal partner. The game is gentle, colorful and very accessible.

8. Stardew Valley#

ConcernedApe's Stardew Valley arrived on Switch in 2017, and a later multiplayer update added farms shared by up to four players. Each friend gets a cabin, and the group can farm, fish, mine and befriend townsfolk together, either online or by linking consoles locally. It is slow, relaxing co-op: one person can tend crops while another explores the mines. Split-screen was added to the Switch version in the 1.5 update in 2021, and playing on separate consoles, locally or online, is still the best fit for long-distance friends. Shared chores take some organization.

9. Trine: Enchanted Edition#

Frozenbyte's Trine: Enchanted Edition came to Switch in November 2018, a physics-based fairy-tale platformer for up to three players. Each player controls the wizard, the knight or the thief, and the heroes' skills combine: conjure boxes, swing a hammer, or shoot ropes. Local, local wireless and online co-op are supported, so three friends can use one console or several. Puzzle solutions are often open-ended and the art is gorgeous. It lacks the variety of its sequels, and the combat is basic, yet its cooperative puzzle design is still charming.

10. Cuphead#

Studio MDHR's Cuphead reached Switch in April 2019, and its 1930s cartoon boss fights look like a playable animation. Two players can team up locally, with one controlling Cuphead and the other Mugman. Sharing the challenge makes the demanding bosses more approachable, and the jazz soundtrack is wonderful. Co-op is local-only, and the game is very hard: a second player adds firepower but also more chaos on screen, and frustrated pairs may simply share the frustration. With patience, it is an exciting two-player run and among the most visually distinctive games on the platform.

11. Unrailed!#

Indoor Astronaut's Unrailed!, published by Daedalic, launched on Switch in September 2020, and it asks up to four players to build a train track faster than the locomotive can advance. Some players chop wood, others mine iron and craft rails, while the terrain is generated freshly for each run. Local and online co-op are supported, and the chaos encourages shouting. Its graphics are plain, and repetition can set in after several runs, but the tension is addictive with the right group. It is a great pick for friends who want a cooperative challenge that is easy to learn.

12. Minecraft Dungeons#

Mojang and Double Eleven released Minecraft Dungeons on Switch in May 2020, a streamlined action-RPG in the spirit of Diablo. Up to four players battle through levels, loot gear and use artifacts, in local and online co-op, with a story that is easy to follow for children. Its pace suits family sessions of an hour at a time. On Switch, local co-op shares a single screen rather than splitting it, and the loot system is less deep than in genre rivals, so veterans of the genre may tire of it. It remains an accessible entry point for younger players.

13. Children of Morta#

Dead Mage's Children of Morta, published by 11 bit studios, arrived on Switch in November 2019 after a short delay. It is a rogue-lite action game about the Bergson family, where each member has a different fighting style and the story weaves around their home. Two players can team up locally, and the narration gives each run emotional weight. Co-op is limited to two players, the repeated dungeons can feel grindy, and the pixel combat is less flashy than in some rivals. Still, it is one of the better story-led co-op action games on Switch, especially for parent and child.

14. Risk of Rain Returns#

Hopoo Games' Risk of Rain Returns, published by Gearbox, launched on Switch in November 2023, a rebuilt version of the original roguelike shooter released a decade later. Up to four players, online or on the couch, pick survivors with distinct abilities and snowball their items as the difficulty climbs. The item combinations create fun stories in every run, and cooperating makes the danger manageable. The pixel art is busy, and the game explains little, so new players will die quickly before things click. For a replayable, fast co-op roguelike, it is a strong choice.

15. Moving Out#

SMG Studio and DevM Games' Moving Out, published by Team17, launched on Switch in April 2020. Up to four players carry sofas, fridges and pianos from houses into a removal van, exploiting silly physics and throwing items through windows. Local co-op is the focus, and the levels are full of small ideas that keep each job fresh. It is built for the couch rather than online play, and the campaign is shorter than it could be, which limits its reach. It is the ideal pick for a relaxed evening with friends who like Overcooked but want something a little gentler.