The best Nintendo Switch games for both single and multiplayer

Key conclusions

• Nintendo Switch offers a variety of games that are suitable for both solo players and groups.
• Titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing, and Enter the Gungeon all deliver solid multiplayer experiences.
• Games like Cuphead, Portal 2, and Kirby's Return offer challenging gameplay in both single-player and co-op modes.

Nintendo has always been famous for its multiplayer offerings. Such large franchises Mario's party, Smash Bros.and Mario Kart often gather friends and family for an evening of chaotic fun. Of course, regular games with friends aren't an option for many fans, so single-player offers are also very valuable.

Some of the best games on the market offer the best of both worlds. These titles have solid support for both solo players and groups, and some even allow fans to seamlessly switch between modes, allowing friends to drop in mid-game whenever they're free. Here are ten of the best Nintendo Switch games with solid singleplayer and multiplayer deals.

10 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Struggle with the track

Nintendo's iconic racing series has come a long way since the early days of the SNES. last name, Mario Kart 8 Deluxereceived extensive post-launch support in the form of the Booster Course Pass DLC, which added new tracks and characters to the game's library. This makes the game one of the solid titles in the series and a great option for racing fans with access to the Switch.

From racing to battle modes, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers plenty of opportunities for fans to team up with their friends in multiplayer mayhem. However, solo racers also have plenty of options, including Grand Prix events and a time trial section. Players can race against their best times or challenge Nintendo's own records to gain a speed advantage.

9 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Video game vacation

Relaxing vacation on the island Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a resounding success for Nintendo when it launched in 2020, and remains an important part of the company's game library. This charmingly cozy game tasks players with building a community on an island, meeting cute new neighbors, and collecting decorations and creatures to add to their collections.

Robust multiplayer mechanics allow fans to band together to enjoy island life together. Local co-op allows nearby fans to move to an island and help decorate and build it, while online play allows fans to visit each other's islands and trade valuable items. Despite its simple, casual appearance, Animal Crossing: New Horizons there's plenty for players to do, and whether they're playing together or solo, they're sure to have a good time.

8 Enter the Gungeon

Chaotic cooperative

Enter the Gungeon is a well-known dungeon rogue infamous for his vast library of weapons. These increasingly weird and wacky firearms make for truly chaotic encounters with difficult bosses and punishing enemies roaming the title's procedurally generated halls.

Fans looking for help against this insurmountable problem can use it Enter the Gungeonlocal cooperative mode. A second player can join as an exclusive multiplayer character known as the Cultist, who has a special ability to resurrect an ally. Some fire support could prove invaluable, but thankfully the game's single-player mode is still great in its own right.

7 Spirit creator

A pack of guides

A magical boat control game Spirit creator stars a young girl named Stella who takes on the role of the mythical Charon as master of a ferry for departed souls on their journey to the afterlife. Stella is accompanied by her pet cat, Narcissus, and if players aren't ready to take on the Spiritfarer duties alone, they can designate a friend as the cat.

Narcissus is imbued with the same mystical power and responsibilities as Stella, and thus can fulfill all the same roles in the gameplay despite his feline form. Together, fans can build their ship, collect materials, and meet the magical spirits of the dead, who must eventually be delivered to their final destiny.

6 The wonder of Super Mario Bros

A new amazing adventure

The wonder of Super Mario Brosreinvented 2D Mario formula in a number of ways, most notably through the addition of the amazing Miracle Flower, which significantly changes the gameplay in unique ways for each level. The title's full co-op support means up to four players can experience this awesome new power together, and there are even characters with special, simpler rules so younger and less experienced players can join in on the fun.

Super Mario MiracleThe sophisticated online mechanics don't technically allow for full-on online co-op, but they do allow players to help each other online in a variety of ways. Players can place coasters as special checkpoints in the middle of a level and revive another player when they see them struggling. So even solo players can use some help in multiplayer.

5 Cup

Joint cartoons

Cup made a name for itself with its vibrant and nostalgic animation style and hand-drawn art that went into its incredible levels and bosses. This incredible feat of art combined with truly immersive and engaging gameplay to make an instant classic that continues to challenge fans to this day, especially with the introduction A delicious last course DLC.

Players can navigate Cuphead's demonic adventures alone, but the game also supports local co-op, allowing a friend to join as Cuphead's Mugman brother, and any player can swap for Miss Chalice if they have the DLC. Given the massive challenge Cupdifferent bosses, having a friend around can be invaluable, especially since fans can resurrect each other at a good time.

4 Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

A magical expedition

Replacing Mario's cocky, high-speed antics with Captain Toad, who can't run fast or even jump, might seem like an odd choice for Mario spinoff But Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker it's a great game nonetheless. Due to the title character's relative lack of mobility, more focus is placed on levels that can be freely rotated and interacted with like a puzzle to help Captain Toad overcome each obstacle.

This magical adventure also fully supports co-op; a second player can join as another frog with all the same abilities as the captain. While none of the game mechanics require a second set of hands, having another player think through the puzzles and tricks of the game can be extremely valuable.

3 Portal 2

Companion placement in the Companion Collection

Portal 2 and its predecessor are best known as powerful computer games, but thanks to Collection of portal companionsboth games are now also available on Nintendo Switch. Like its predecessor, Portal 2 offers an action-packed single-player campaign full of unexpected twists, brilliant humor and challenging puzzles based on the iconic portal gun.

however, Portal 2 also stands out in that it offers a complete cooperative company. Two players take control of a pair of test robots and run through a seemingly innocent series of AI GLaDOS test chambers. This campaign's puzzles are built around the combined potential of two players working together, and this creates some truly memorable moments.

2 Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe

Kirby and friends are back

Kirby's Return to Dreamland was a great co-op platformer when it launched on the Wii, and Lux the reissue expands its multiplayer potential even further. Individual players can still have fun guiding Kirby through the whimsical world of Dreamland, gaining powerful new superpowers along the way, but up to three other fans can also join in on the fun.

Each level in the game's campaign can be played with multiple people, and this greatly increases the options available to fans, for both good and bad. Players can inhale and launch each other, for example, or ride on each other's backs for increased speed and efficiency. Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe also introduces Merry Magoland, an amusement park full of PvP mini-games that players can compete in when they need a break from the main campaign.

1 Super Mario 3D world

Classic platformer

Super Mario 3D world represents a distinctive approach to art Mario franchise, combining 2D design elements with fully 3D gameplay. The result is a vibrant and creative game that's fun to play alone, but incredibly expandable with full four-player co-op support. A group of fans take on one of the Super Mario 3D worldThere are countless secrets and tricks to explore together in exciting levels.

Switch reissue 3D world also includes Bowser's Ragechallenging expansion that sends Mario to a vast lake region to quell the apocalyptic wrath of his nemesis Bowser. This expansion allows a second player to jump in as Bowser Jr., but it's just as exciting solo, giving fans plenty of ways to get up close and personal with this iconic title.