Switch

Grab the Joy-Cons. The best Switch group games.

By Stephen V., Founder & Editor · Last updated July 21, 2026 · How we pick

Quick picks

The short answer first. Tap any row for the full write-up; the price button goes straight to Amazon.

#	Game	Best for	Crossplay	Price
1	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Kart racing	A Switch group that wants instant, everyone-can-play racing.	No - Switch only	$59.88
2	Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Platform fighter	A Switch crowd that wants an 8-player couch brawl.	No - Switch only	$54.71
3	Super Mario Party Jamboree Party board game	A group of four that wants a full board-game-plus-minigames night.	No - Switch only	$52.20
4	Nintendo Switch Sports Party sports	A mixed-age room that wants get-off-the-couch party games.	No - Switch only	$48.99
5	Minecraft Sandbox / survival	A mixed group that wants to build or survive together, any devices.	Yes - Bedrock crossplay across all platforms	$29.83
6	Super Mario Bros. Wonder Platformer	Up to four on the couch who want the freshest Mario platformer.	No - local co-op (Switch only)	$53.30
7	Overcooked! + Overcooked! 2 Party co-op	A Switch household that wants both Overcooked games on one cartridge.	No - Switch bundle, same platform	$31.79
8	Stardew Valley Farming / life sim	A calm group on the same system that wants to build a farm together.	No - multiplayer is same-platform only	$34.00
9	Rayman Legends Platformer	Up to four on the couch who want a gorgeous, forgiving platformer.	No - local co-op only	$25.94
10	LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Family co-op action	A parent and kid, or two friends, on the couch.	No - local co-op only	$24.88

Grab the Joy-Cons

The Switch is the couch-multiplayer champion - a spare Joy-Con turns almost any of its best games into instant two-player fun, no extra controller to buy. The best games to play with friends on Switch lean local and party-first, which makes it the ideal system for a room full of people of any age. This list is ranked for exactly that: get everyone playing, fast.

Our top Switch pick is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - four-player split-screen, instant fun, and a pick-up-and-play curve anyone can handle. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate scales to eight local players, Mario Party Jamboree and Switch Sports are the party classics, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Rayman Legends are the all-ages platformers. Minecraft brings crossplay to the mix if some friends are on other systems.

One caveat: most Switch multiplayer is same-platform- great in one room, but it won't connect a Switch friend to someone on PS5 or Xbox. The exception is crossplay titles like Minecraft and Fortnite. For a mixed-console group, check the crossplay hub; for a family night, the family guide overlaps with this list.

One to skip

Stardew Valley is a lovely co-op farm sim on Switch, but its multiplayer is same-platform only- everyone has to be on Switch. If your group is mixed, it won't connect you, and it's a slow-burn game rather than an instant party. Pick it for a calm Switch-only crew; use Mario Kart for a quick room-filling night.

The picks, in depth

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

SwitchCrossplay: No - Switch only

Best for: A Switch group that wants instant, everyone-can-play racing.

1-4 local, up to 12 online · Kart racing

The easiest 'everyone grabs a controller' game on Switch - four-player split-screen locally and up to twelve online. Zero learning curve. Switch-only, so it does nothing for a mixed-console group.

Facts verified via Nintendo store page.

Also a top pick in Best Games to Play With Friends and Party.

$59.88 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

SwitchCrossplay: No - Switch only

Best for: A Switch crowd that wants an 8-player couch brawl.

1-8 local, online · Platform fighter

Up to eight players locally makes this the party fighter for a full room. Deep enough for veterans, button-mash-friendly for newcomers. Switch-only and online can be rough - it shines on the couch.

Facts verified via Nintendo store page.

Also a top pick in Party and Large Groups.

$54.71 · View on Amazon

$59.99-9%

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Super Mario Party Jamboree

SwitchCrossplay: No - Switch only

Best for: A group of four that wants a full board-game-plus-minigames night.

1-4 local, up to 20 in some modes · Party board game

The newest Mario Party with the biggest board and minigame set yet - a full evening's entertainment for four on one Switch. Some modes stretch to twenty players. Switch-only; expect a couple hours per board.

Facts verified via Nintendo store page.

Also a top pick in Party and Large Groups.

$52.20 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Nintendo Switch Sports

SwitchCrossplay: No - Switch only

Best for: A mixed-age room that wants get-off-the-couch party games.

1-4 local, online · Party sports

The spiritual successor to Wii Sports - bowling, tennis, and more that anyone can pick up in seconds. Perfect for a family gathering. Switch-only, and you'll want enough controllers for everyone.

Facts verified via Nintendo store page.

Also a top pick in Party and With Family.

$48.99 · View on Amazon

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Minecraft

SwitchPS5XboxPCMobileCrossplay: Yes - Bedrock crossplay across all platforms

Best for: A mixed group that wants to build or survive together, any devices.

1-8+ players, online + local · Sandbox / survival

The Bedrock edition plays crossplatform across phone, console, and PC, so it is the default answer when your group is on wildly different hardware. Endless, low-pressure, and works for kids and adults alike. Java edition (PC-only) does not crossplay with Bedrock - buy the console/mobile version for mixed groups.

Facts verified via Minecraft official site.

Also a top pick in Best Games to Play With Friends and Online.

$29.83 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

SwitchCrossplay: No - local co-op (Switch only)

Best for: Up to four on the couch who want the freshest Mario platformer.

1-4 local co-op · Platformer

Four-player local co-op Mario with a genuinely inventive bag of tricks - forgiving enough for kids, surprising enough for adults. Couch co-op only. One of the best all-ages picks on Switch.

Facts verified via Nintendo store page.

Also a top pick in Couch Co-op and With Family.

$53.30 · View on Amazon

$59.99-11%

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Overcooked! + Overcooked! 2

SwitchCrossplay: No - Switch bundle, same platform

Best for: A Switch household that wants both Overcooked games on one cartridge.

1-4 players, online + local · Party co-op

The physical Switch bundle of both games - handy if your group is all on Switch and you want couch co-op tonight. For mixed-platform groups, get All You Can Eat instead for the crossplay.

Facts verified via Nintendo store page.

$31.79 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Stardew Valley

SwitchPS5XboxPCMobileCrossplay: No - multiplayer is same-platform only

Best for: A calm group on the same system that wants to build a farm together.

1-4 players co-op (same platform) · Farming / life sim

Four-player co-op farming that is the antidote to competitive stress - everyone shares one farm. The catch: multiplayer is same-platform only, so everyone needs to be on Switch, or everyone on PC. Not a crossplay pick.

Facts verified via Stardew Valley official site.

Also a top pick in Best Games to Play With Friends and Mobile.

$34.00 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Rayman Legends

SwitchPS5XboxPCCrossplay: No - local co-op only

Best for: Up to four on the couch who want a gorgeous, forgiving platformer.

1-4 local co-op · Platformer

One of the best local four-player platformers ever made - drop-in co-op, instant respawns, and a killer soundtrack. Couch only. A great pick for mixed skill levels because nobody gets left behind for long.

Facts verified via Ubisoft official site.

Also a top pick in Party and Couch Co-op.

$25.94 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

SwitchPS5XboxPCCrossplay: No - local co-op only

Best for: A parent and kid, or two friends, on the couch.

2 players local co-op · Family co-op action

Drop-in, drop-out two-player couch co-op across all nine Star Wars films - genuinely all-ages and hard to get stuck on. It is local co-op only (no online), so it is a same-room pick.

Facts verified via LEGO official site.

Also a top pick in Couch Co-op and With Family.

$24.88 · View on Amazon

#ad · Price as of July 22, 2026 · Disclosure

Keep exploring

Couch Co-op

Same couch, same screen, no internet required.

Top pick: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe · from $59.88

With Family

Games the whole family can actually play together.

Top pick: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe · from $59.88

Party

A room full of people and one screen. Make it loud.

Top pick: Overcooked! All You … · from $23.75

Frequently asked questions

What are the best games to play with friends on Switch?+

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Party Jamboree, Nintendo Switch Sports, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder are the top Switch group picks - all easy to learn and built for a room full of players.

What Switch games have crossplay with other consoles?+

Minecraft, Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys support crossplay from Switch to PS5, Xbox, and PC. Most first-party Nintendo games (Mario Kart, Smash, Mario Party) are Switch-only.

What's the best local multiplayer game on Switch?+

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for four-player racing, or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for up to eight local players. Both need only the Joy-Cons the console comes with to get two players going.