Trying out all of the best online Nintendo Switch games can put you in many different situations. You might want to show off your skills against people from all over the world in an online group game. Maybe you’d rather have some lighthearted fun with friends sitting next to you on the couch. The games on this list cover both of these situations and more.
Some of the most popular social games in the world, like Super Smash Bros. or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, are only available on the Switch. Other games, like Fortnite or Rocket League, are available on many different platforms. Even though these are great games, don’t forget that smaller games like Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime and Overcooked offer just as much fun in new and interesting ways for less money.
Even though the Nintendo Switch OLED is the newest and best Switch, you can play these top games just as well on the original Nintendo Switch or the Nintendo Switch Lite. But without further ado, here are the best social games for Nintendo Switch that you should try.
The Best Nintendo Switch Multiplayer Games that You Can Buy Today
1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the best of Nintendo’s popular all-star fighting series. It has 74 characters and 100 stages, so you and your friends can make the most wild brawls you can imagine. The game’s huge cast of characters is a tribute to everything about video games, with new characters like Simon Belmont, Ken Masters, and Incineroar joining old favorites like Solid Snake and Ice Climbers.
Ultimate is full of ways to play with friends, whether you want to have crazy 8-player brawls with lots of items or get serious with 1-on-1 matches. And with local and wireless support for up to 8 players, compatibility with everything from single Joy-Cons to Pro Controllers, and a lot of online choices, you’ll be able to settle those Smash grudge matches anytime, anywhere.
2. Diablo III Eternal Collection
On Nintendo Switch, one of the most famous action RPGs of this age fits in better than ever. Diablo III: Eternal Collection includes all of the previously available content for Blizzard’s addicting loot-collecting hack-and-slash game. You and up to three friends can play through the core game and Reaper of Souls collection as one of seven different classes.
Speaking of working together, there are many ways to play Diablo III with friends. You can play locally on the same TV, over local wifi with up to four Switches, or online with demon hunters from all over the world. You even get some cool Ganondorf-inspired gear that is only available for the Switch.
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the biggest game in the series so far. It has a lot of characters, dynamic tracks, and cars that can be changed in a lot of ways. Choose your speed and power-ups, and then race with other people nearby or online.
Battle Mode is back, which is the best news. The fan-favorite game type that kept us all up all night at middle school sleepovers is back in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe after a short absence in the Wii U version, and it makes the game a much better party game.
4. Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle
The Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle is a must-have if you and your friends have happy memories of beating up hordes of bad guys at the arcade without thinking. This collection has seven famous Capcom arcade games. Some are well-known, like Final Fight and Captain Commando. Others, like The King of Dragons, Armored Warriors, and Battle Circuit, are not as well-known.
Every game in the Beat ‘Em Up Bundle has save states, an art gallery, and both online and local multiplayer. With all of these features, you can repeat the arcade experience on your couch or while you’re on the go, pausing when you need to.
5. Arms
Arms is a weird fighting game that uses motion controls. To get the most out of it, you need two sets of Joy-Cons. In this competitive game, you’ll be in charge of a fighter whose arms seem to stretch out of nowhere. And no, the context doesn’t make it any clearer.
As you move your own (hopefully not springy) arms around to punch, dodge, and block, you’ll find that the game has a surprising amount of detail. Will you play defensively or go all out with long combos and risky grapples? Arms is fun enough to play alone, but it’s a lot more fun with a partner.
6. Mario Tennis Aces
Mario Tennis Aces is a good tennis game if you like how Nintendo makes its tennis games. It can be played with up to three friends using the Joy-Con motion controllers, just like when Wii Sports was popular. It has a lot of characters, including Boo, who is sometimes called the best Mario character (Editor’s note: this is a very controversial claim). The best part is that it’s a lot of fun to play.
Mario Tennis Aces is a fun, simple tennis game with a few neat mechanical tricks, like trick shots and special shots that look like they came from Final Smash, that make it stand out from other tennis games. But don’t think that’s backhanded praise. Aces’ biggest strength is how simple it is, which is why it’s easy to throw it into a party setting and start playing right away.
7. Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Overcooked is a co-op kitchen simulator where you and up to three people work quickly to make food in a busy kitchen. It’s one of the most popular local multiplayer games on any platform. Overcooked meetings often fail in big, funny ways because there are so many things to do at once, but that’s part of the fun.
This “All You Can Eat” version of the game included both the first and second Overcooked, as well as all of their DLC and new add-ons. The images were also updated. If you want to play this game, this is the best way to do it.
