When it comes to modern gaming, the Nintendo Switch is the king of couch co-op. Between Nintendo’s first-party lineup, a strong third-party library, and a ton of incredible indie releases, the Switch has more local multiplayer bangers than any modern console.
So here’s my personal list of the top 20 all-time best couch co-op games on Nintendo Switch, counting down from #20 to #1.
#20 — Castle Crashers Remastered
Players: 1–4 Local
Genre: Beat ’em up / Action RPG
Original Release: 2008 (Remastered on Switch 2019)
Best With: 3–4 players
Castle Crashers is the game that got me back into gaming. For a while I felt like couch co-op was disappearing, and then this throwback beat ’em up reminded me why I love games in the first place.
The combat is simple and satisfying, the humor is great, and the real magic is the four-player co-op. It’s chaotic in the best way, and it’s still one of my all-time favorites to play with friends.
#19 — Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Players: 1–4 Local
Genre: Action RPG / Dungeon Crawler
Switch Release: 2018
Best With: 2–4 players
A lot of people still consider this the peak of the Diablo series — and it’s easy to see why. You get drop-in, drop-out couch co-op for up to four players on one screen, and the whole game is built around constant forward momentum.
Between the story campaign, Adventure Mode, rifts, seasons, and endless loot grinding, there’s always something to chase. Every few minutes you’re upgrading gear, refining builds, or finding some ridiculous legendary item. It’s flexible too: you can run a quick rift or lose an entire weekend with friends.
#18 — Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Players: 1–4 Local
Genre: Action / Space Shooter / Party
Switch Release: 2017
Best With: 3–4 players
This is one of those indie games that feels like it was designed specifically for co-op. It’s best with four players, because you’re all managing different stations on a spaceship — engines, weapons, shields, map — and you constantly have to rotate roles to survive.
It looks cute and whimsical, but it gets frantic fast. Communication is essential, and when things go wrong, it’s hilarious… and sometimes extremely frustrating.
Players: 1–2 Local (Split-Screen)
Genre: Musou / Action
Switch Release: 2020
Best With: 2 players
Basically Dynasty Warriors with Zelda characters, and a full prequel story to Breath of the Wild. You can play the entire game in split-screen co-op, and it’s packed with fan service and character moments.
The one drawback: the frame rate can take a hit in split-screen, especially during massive battles. But if you can live with that, the gameplay is awesome — especially if you already like Warriors-style combat.
#16 — Overcooked
Players: 1–4 Local
Genre: Party / Simulation
Switch Release: 2017
Best With: 3–4 players
Overcooked became a co-op phenomenon for a reason. It’s the perfect party game… as long as you’re ready to argue.
You’re running a kitchen under pressure: prep food, wash dishes, serve orders, and try not to fall apart as a team. The chaos is the fun. I recommend 3 players minimum, but 4 is ideal.
#15 — Unravel Two
Players: 1–2 Local
Genre: Puzzle Platformer
Switch Release: 2019
Best With: 2 players
Unravel Two is a co-op puzzle platformer built completely around teamwork. You and your partner control two yarn characters tethered together, which means every obstacle becomes a communication challenge.
Sometimes one player swings while the other anchors. Other times you’re pulling each other up, timing jumps together, and solving puzzles that only make sense when you cooperate. It’s one of the best co-op platformers I’ve ever played — and it’s not overly long, so it’s easy to finish in a couple sessions.
#14 — Children of Morta
Players: 1–2 Local
Genre: Action RPG / Roguelite
Switch Release: 2019
Best With: 2 players
A heartfelt action roguelite RPG with some of the best pixel art you’ll see in modern games. The whole story supports local co-op start to finish — no unlocks, no gimmicks.
You play as members of the Bergson family, each with their own fighting style: ranged, melee, magic, brawlers, agile rogues. It’s also one of those rare roguelites that actually cares about story, with narration and emotional cutscenes that continue even after failed runs.
It’s difficult, but incredibly rewarding with the right co-op partner.
#13 — Cuphead
Players: 1–2 Local
Genre: Run & Gun / Boss Rush
Switch Release: 2019
Best With: 2 players
Cuphead is one of those rare indie games that truly took over the world. The hand-drawn 1930s cartoon art style is unbelievably good — but it’s not just visuals. The gameplay is rock solid too.
It’s basically a run-and-gun platformer heavily focused on boss fights, and it’s brutally difficult. I played it with my brother and we died an absurd amount of times. But beating it together is one of the most satisfying co-op experiences out there.
#12 — Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Players: 1–4 Local
Genre: 3D Platformer
Switch Release: 2021
Best With: 2–4 players
Super Mario 3D World is an all-time great 3D platformer, and it’s a blast in co-op — though it can get frustrating depending on who you’re playing with.
The camera can be unpredictable, and sometimes it follows one player while everyone else gets forced into bubbles. With younger players especially, that can cause chaos. Still: as a pure platformer, it’s one of the best ever made.
#11 — Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe
Players: 1–4 Local
Genre: 2D Platformer
Switch Release: 2023
Best With: 2–4 players
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland is one of the best entries in the series, and it supports up to four players. It’s classic Kirby: colorful levels, fun abilities, light puzzles, and boss fights.
It’s accessible for younger players without feeling boring for experienced ones. Kirby is always reliable for relaxed co-op, and if you want something you can enjoy without pulling your hair out, this is perfect.
#10 — Rayman Legends
Players: 1–4 Local
Genre: 2D Platformer
Switch Release: 2017
Best With: 2–4 players
Rayman Legends is a four-player platformer with some of the tightest movement and level design ever. The famous music-based stages are especially incredible — jumping and attacking in sync with the beat is some of my favorite platforming design of all time.
It’s easy to pick up, but later levels get tough. I can’t say enough about this one — it’s one of the best platformers ever made.
#9 — Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Players: 1–2 Local
Genre: Puzzle / Adventure
Switch Release: 2018
Best With: 2 players
Originally single-player on Wii U, the Switch version added co-op. This game is all about rotating 3D environments, finding secrets, and solving puzzles through observation and timing.
There are two co-op styles: Player 2 can use a cursor assist mode, or you can play with a second Toad for a more equal co-op experience. It’s slower-paced, clever, and genuinely unique.
#8 — Sea of Stars (Co-Op Update)
Players: 1–3 Local (Update)
Genre: Turn-Based RPG
Switch Release: 2023 (Co-op Update 2024)
Best With: 2–3 players
Sea of Stars was originally single-player, but the update/DLC titled Dawn of Equinox added three-player local co-op for the full story — which is exactly what I’d been waiting for.
It’s a gorgeous RPG with active turn-based combat, strong pacing, and a long story built for co-op. There still aren’t enough co-op RPGs, and this is one of the best modern ones on Switch.
#7 — Blazing Chrome
Players: 1–2 Local
Genre: Run & Gun
Switch Release: 2019
Best With: 2 players
If you love Contra, you need to play Blazing Chrome. It’s a 16-bit inspired run-and-gun shooter that feels like an homage to the Super Nintendo and Genesis entries — but it’s so tight it might actually surpass what inspired it.
Great art, great gameplay, great music. One of the best run-and-guns of all time.
#6 — Pikmin 3 Deluxe
Players: 1–2 Local (Campaign)
Genre: Strategy / Puzzle
Switch Release: 2020
Best With: 2 players
Pikmin 3 Deluxe is a fantastic port that added co-op, and it’s one of the best equal co-op experiences on Switch. It blends real-time strategy with exploration and puzzle solving, and co-op lets you split responsibilities: one player handles combat while the other manages multitasking and exploration.
It’s especially frustrating that Pikmin 4 didn’t keep this full co-op approach, because Pikmin 3 Deluxe absolutely nailed it.
#5 — TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge
Players: 1–6 Local
Genre: Beat ’em up
Switch Release: 2022
Best With: 3–6 players
I genuinely can’t think of anything they could’ve done to make this game better. It’s exactly what you want from a TMNT beat ’em up: beautiful pixel art, tight pacing, great soundtrack, and up to six players.
It’s the best TMNT game ever made — and alongside Streets of Rage 4, it set the bar for modern beat ’em ups.
#4 — Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Players: 1–4 Local
Genre: 2D Platformer
Switch Release: 2023
Best With: 2–4 players
Mario Wonder is the evolution of 2D Mario I’ve been waiting for. The art style finally feels fresh and expressive again, and the co-op design is a big step up too. It doesn’t feel like the game is constantly trying to sabotage your teammates.
You’ve got more playable characters, tight controls, tons of creativity, and Wonder effects that keep the entire game feeling surprising. I played this nonstop with my daughter until we beat it.
#3 — Streets of Rage 4
Players: 1–4 Local
Genre: Beat ’em up
Switch Release: 2020
Best With: 2–4 players
Streets of Rage 2 used to be my all-time go-to beat ’em up, and I still think it’s in the conversation for greatest ever. Streets of Rage 4 didn’t just bring the series back — it modernized it in a way that actually feels right.
Better combat flow, quality-of-life improvements, incredible co-op, and a soundtrack that rules. It’s the modern gold standard for beat ’em ups.
#2 — Portal 2
Players: 1–2 Local (Co-op Campaign)
Genre: Puzzle
Switch Release: 2022
Best With: 2 players
Portal 2 is one of the smartest games ever made — and the co-op campaign is one of the best two-player experiences of all time. It’s a fully fleshed-out separate campaign that forces real communication. You have to cooperate. There’s no brute forcing it.
The puzzles get more complex as you go, and the writing is still some of the funniest in gaming. It’s a masterpiece.
#1 — It Takes Two
Players: 2 Local Only
Genre: Action / Puzzle Platformer
Switch Release: 2022
Best With: 2 players
You can’t talk about co-op gaming without It Takes Two. It’s designed exclusively for co-op — no single-player option — and every level introduces new mechanics and genre twists so it never gets stale.
Each player gets unique abilities constantly, and nearly every moment requires coordination, timing, and teamwork. Until something surpasses it, It Takes Two is the gold standard for modern co-op gaming.
Final Thoughts
That’s my top 20 all-time best couch co-op games on Nintendo Switch.
There are plenty of other games I could’ve included, but these are the ones I keep coming back to. What are your favorites — and what do you think I missed?