Best two-player Switch games that let you team up with a friend or family member

Get ready for some co-operative goodness with our pick of the best two-player Switch games.

Yes, if you're looking to get stuck into a game on Switch that you can play with a pal or family member, then you've come to the right place. Here, I've brought together an assortment of excellent games in the Switch 1 library (which are also playable on Switch 2) that two players can enjoy, including some of the best Switch games and the Switch exclusives available.

Whether you're looking for something that will let you get competitive, or you're after a co-operative experience that encourages teamwork and camaraderie, I've made sure to include options across various genres so you can find something to dive into together. Further down, you can also check our our helpful FAQ section which will answer any questions you may have. So, without further ado, read on explore the best two-player Switch games you can play right now.

The best two-player Switch games to play in 2026

25. Luigi's Mansion 3

Luigi's Mansion 3 is one of the best two-player Switch games to come out in 2019. While you can play this as a single player, playing with a partner really amps up the fun as you and your player two explore a haunted hotel and bust a bunch of ghosts.

As Luigi or the green glob known as Gooigi, Luigi's Mansion 3 will have you working together to solve puzzles, fight boss fights, and search for your trapped friends that need your help. The game is cute, spooky, and has a ton of multiplayer features to dive into outside the main story as well. Whether it's the competitive mode of "ScreamPark" or the cooperative gameplay in "ScareScraper", you and your partner in ghost hunting will have hours of fun with this one.

24. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

Make up your ultimate Marvel team with a vast roster of superheroes from the comics in this brawling adventure. You can team up with your pal (or up to four players if you have more people who want to play) to work your way through the story.

In terms of ranking the best Marvel games, it's not quite as narrative-heavy as you'd like, but it's a fun romp that's best enjoyed with a friend. You can read our Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order review for more details!

23. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Not originally launched as a co-op game, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker added a two-player mode a little later, but it's a brilliant game to play along with a friend. Toad and Toadette can work together to unlock all the secrets and puzzles of each little boxy level, enjoying compact - yet intricate - worlds that need to be poked, prodded, and sometimes twisted to explore in full.

While we aren't massive fans of the price tag for this two-player switch game (read our Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker review for more information), we love how its cute gameplay brings players together.

22. Death Squared

If you don't want the adorable robots to meet an explosive end, you're going to have to work together. Death Squared is a co-operative puzzle game where you must guide your little droid to a color-coded goal, but along the path you'll find deadly hazards and traps that could cause you to meet a quick demise.

It's only with teamwork that you'll work your way through all 80 story levels, all of which can be played in two-player mode. There are also 40 party levels that support up to four players, which means this is easily one of the best multiplayer Switch games to play co-operatively.

21. Super Mario Party

In a world where getting your hands on a physical board game can be a little tricky, Super Mario Party has you covered. Taking the form of a board game, Super Mario Party delivers special events as you land on different spaces, including a range of interactive mini-games that you'll have to compete in against the other players. You can pick from 20 different playable characters from the Super Mario universe to play as, and you'll work through the various mini-games collecting coins.

You can spend these on Stars and other items, but at the end of the game, the one with the most Stars wins. It's a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, just be prepared to get competitive. If you still aren't convinced, check out our Super Mario Party review or you can read our list of the best Mario games.

20. Moving Out

Moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do, but this quirky co-op game brings you all the physics and flapping about, with none of the potential muscle strain or worrying about getting your deposit back. Up to four players have to move beds and couches into your moving truck. Can you be bothered to get that microwave down the stairs? Throw it through a window!

As your skills increase, so does the fiendish layout of the levels, with some taking to space or adding things you won't find in everyday homes, like jet streams or revolving cylinders of spikes. As we mentioned in our Moving Out review, the two-player Switch game is family-friendly with lots of customization options and is a spiritual successor to the massively popular Overcooked series.

19. Cuphead

Once your eyes are drunk on the incredible hand-animated 1930s style of Cuphead, you'll realize you're up against one of the toughest run-and-gun action games in recent memory, so having a friend to help out is a massive plus. Together, you play as the eponymous Cuphead and his pal Mugman, racing through levels that require perfect timing to get to villainous bosses that will test your reaction times and sanity.

You'll learn special moves like Smoke Bomb and get hold of weapons like the Peashooter and Chaser to increase your odds. Co-op is drop-in, drop out too, so no penalties if your chosen comrade has a bladder the size of a kumquat. Read our Cuphead review for more details!

18. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

If you're the passive type then screaming at people will probably be good for you, and if you are usually in a rage then at least this game will direct it in a positive way. One player is in a room with the bomb and can see all its nefarious mechanics, while the other players have the manual.

If you're the player with the bomb you'll need to describe what you can see to the players with the instructions, who will then relay what you need to do to defuse it. It's a simple concept that gets very tense very quickly, as the time counts down, and your friend insists there is no serial number on any side of the damn bomb even though you know there is.

17. Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition

There's no mistaking the dreamlike world of Rayman, and now you can share it with wireless local co-op for up to four players. In this adventure, Rayman, Globox, and the Teensies travel through various paintings to explore new magical lands.

The platforming is challenging, but at least you've got something pretty to look at when you fail to make that jump for the 24th time. But as with most co-op platformers, if there is a skill difference between you and player 2, keep in mind that you'll need to use some patience with this one.

16. Unravel 2

Brace yourself for this one, because there's nothing more gut wrenching than two little creatures made from yarn dying repeatedly as you fail to clear that jump. Again. But, at least this time around with Unravel 2, you can die over and over again with a friend or loved one.

As this pair of customizable cotton critters, you have to navigate through the human world that's full of dangers, whether it's birds wanting to unravel you thread by thread, or an unclimbable wall. Work together, solve puzzles, survive - and be adorable while you're doing it. If you are curious about the franchise, here is our Unravel review!

15. Super Mario Maker 2

Although the creation side of Super Mario Maker 2 is a solo endeavor, playing through either your own or the community's creations is much more of a two-player affair. It's not your traditional multiplayer game by any means, but some of the best fun comes from heading online to play the courses players from around the world have brought to life.

There are new stages being added all the time, so there's always something fresh to play through. And hey, you might even get some inspiration for your own courses, too. We unpack even more reasons to love this game with our Super Mario Maker 2 review.

14. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The game that got the world through a pandemic lockdown; there is a reason why our Animal Crossing: New Horizon review was almost a perfect score. This cozy title is a glorious multiplayer game that gently ticks away the hours. Solo, it's your goal to create the desert island paradise of your dreams.

Invite villagers to bulk out your population, plant trees and flowers, tweak river courses, add cliffs, and generally make your island exactly how you like it. From there, you can visit other people's islands, trade resources, sell turnips, or just frolic together, living out a life outdoors. New Horizons is a little slice of paradise to cultivate and share with others.

13. The Stretchers

Not some weird Stretch Armstrong spin-off but a game where two players work together to handle medical stretcher and rescue people who have a case of the "Dizzies." It's bright, loud and has the look of those toy towns we all had growing up. As well as carting people around on stretchers you'll be smashing your ambulance through fences and hedges to get to those in need.

Don't worry if the idea of anything hospital related feels a bit anxiety-inducing right now, this is totally tongue in cheek and packs in plenty of laughs and slapstick. There's lots of collectibles to reply for and customization options, and at least it feels like you're helping. Ish.

12. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Don't be fooled by the adorable combination of Mario and the rambunctious Rabbids, this is a true strategy game that takes some smarts. Battle through the Mushroom Kingdom with the help of a friend with local multiplayer, solving puzzles in candy-colored levels.

As well as Mario and the Rabbid, old favorites like Luigi, Princess Peach, and Yoshi make an appearance - all with their own special skills you'll need to use to take on puzzles and bosses - and there are plenty of nods to Nintendo nostalgia too. You can read our Mario+ Rabbids Kingdom Battle review for more details.

11. Diablo 3: Eternal Collection

Blizzard's huge dungeon crawler is an all you can eat buffet of monsters, loot and lore. Smash your way through the creatures and creepers of Sanctuary to face the Lords of Hell, using special weapons, items, and over 800 unique abilities, including a personal favorite, zombie dogs. There's local and online co-op so up to four of you can play together, creating a party that might just discover the real epic loot was the friends we made along the way.

The Switch version also packs in the Reaper of Souls expansion, and the Rise of the Necromancer expansions, so you'll have plenty of hacking and slashing to do. If you need more dungeon crawling in your life you can also read our list of the best games like Diablo to play right now.

10. Knights and Bikes

Go back to your childhood memories of make-believe and bombing around the streets on your trusty bike with this gorgeous picture book adventure. It owes its quirky look to Rex Crowle, who worked on LittleBigPlanet, and has that same mix of charm and cheekiness that made Media Molecule games so special.

The two main characters are Nessa and Demelza, and you and a friend can play together as the girls as they explore their town, facing foes with frisbees, water balloons, and the mighty toilet-plunger. A goose even makes an appearance, but this one is much more friendly than the infamous star of a certain Untitled Goose Game.

9. Overcooked 2

Sure, the graphics look cute and you've been known to whip up a decent omelet of an evening, but this sequel to the brilliant Overcooked seriously turns up the heat in the proverbial kitchen. As a team of chefs, you and your buddies have to work together to prepare and serve meals in increasingly chaotic kitchens.

We're talking outer space, sushi restaurants, magic schools, all with their own hazards and recipes. Gordon Ramsey wouldn't last five seconds before spontaneously combusting in rage in one of these kitchens, but he'd have plenty of fun before he did. If you are still unsure about adding this two-player Switch game to your menu check out our Overcooked 2 review!

8. Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

2.5D fantasy with added night terror. Amadeus the Wizard, Pontius the Knight, Zoya the Thief have to take on Prince Selius' nightmares, and that means exploring your way through fairytale lands, and using the wonders of fire, air, light, magnets and electricity to battle and solve fiendish puzzles.

There's local and online co-op for up to four players if you need company, and the whole thing never looks any less than supermodel stunning. If you are a fantasy fan, though, this Switch game will be right up your street.

7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Beware the blue shell! It's a Nintendo classic and is the perfect addition to your Nintendo Switch collection, whatever your age or driving abilities. There's plenty of fun to be had racing your nearest and dearest - with eight-player local co-op - or you can go online for 12-player racing.

There are 42 racers to choose from, and 48 tracks, and even a Smart Steering option to help out younger players compete on the tracks without tantrums. There is a reason we gave this game a perfect score in our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review. It's everything that made Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U a winner, but with an extra level of Nintendo Switch polish for a new generation.

6. Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes Mario's classic 2D side-scrolling platforming goodness and adds in a host of unexpected, playful (and often psychedelic twists). Sure, you may be used to seeing pipes on any given level, but what about if they came alive and started moving like worms? Heck, the cast of characters can even turn into elephants and shower flowers with water from their trunks, or crash through obstacles.

With lots of inventive platforming levels to work through, the joy of experiencing its surprising is made all the more memorable if you have pals or family playing alongside you. With local and online co-op support for 2-4 players, you can work together to collect Wonder seeds and progress through the core game, or even transform a level into a race and see who can reach the goal first. For more, check out our Super Mario Bros. Wonder review.

5. Yoshi's Crafted World

There was only one way Yoshi was going to get more wholesome, and that was if he was made out of your nana's crafting materials. Nintendo has made it happen, with an adventure made of household objects like cardboard and tape and cotton balls.

The goal is to collect gems from the Sundream Stone as you explore the world, solving platformer puzzles by moving through their layers. There's a Winged Yoshi mode for players that need a more chilled experience, and once you've completed a level you can try it again backward to collect the three hidden Poochy Pups. You can read our Yoshi's Crafted World review for more details!

4. It Takes Two

If you are looking for a Switch game to play as a couple, you’ll find none better than It Takes Two. During this whimsical title, you play as two parents who have decided to separate. However, after being turned into small dolls, this husband and wife duo must work together to change back and help their daughter together.

This game works on so many levels as a two-player experience. Not only is its story designed to highlight the values of partnership, but its gameplay is expertly made to ensure no person is left behind. Sure, there are some mini-games if you want to get a tiny bit competitive, but at the end of the day, this title is about teamwork and communication. In our It Takes Two review, we even dubbed it as “a co-op experience unlike any other.”

3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Nintendo made the genius decision to put all of its most iconic characters into their very own Fight Club way back in 1999, and it hasn't looked back since. This latest installment includes Animal Crossing's Isabelle, Bayonetta, Pikachu, and all your Nintendo favorites, and pits them against each other in combat.

The much loved classic modes of fighting are all here, along with new challenges like Smashdown, where each character can only be played once, and a 32 player tournament mode. We played the game extensively for our Super Smash Bros Ultimate review and trust us you'll never look at Jigglypuff the same way again.

2. Snipperclips

Paper crafting has never been this much fun, or at least this tidy. Snip and Clip are your heroes, and you solve puzzles by cutting them into different shapes. Not in a horrific surgical way, but a creative, cut and paste sort of thing.

Think of a nice little curve to catch a ball or something sharp to pop a balloon. Two players can share the main adventure, and up to four can cut and caper in the Party and Blitz modes. This is an ofter overlooked gem, so check it out if you have the time!

1. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

Whether you play solo or with a friend, prepare to be repeatedly punched in the feels. The mechanics are ingenious; the the two brothers are controlled by one thumbstick and one by the D-pad, and the story is one loaded with emotion. Your quest is to collect some Water of Life to cure your sick father, and there are perils and puzzles to face along the way.

It's short and bittersweet, but packs in more story and feeling than games three times its length. Play with a sibling and it might even bring you closer, or at least stop your arguing about that time she stole your favorite hoodie. You can read our Brotherhood: A Tale of Two Sons review for more information on this must-play two-player Switch game.

Two-player Switch FAQs

For more handheld fun, check out our guide on all the best Switch 2 games. Or if you are after fresh titles, you can read our list of all the new games heading our way.