Nintendo Switch 2 Reviews: Best Multiplayer

Here’s the games I have reviewed so far on the Nintendo Switch 2 in each category, from best to worst. Note: If multiple games have the same score, they will be sorted alphabetically.

Best Games for Local Multiplayer (Co-Op)

Game	Genre	# of Players	Grade
Overcooked! 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Arcade / Party Game	1-4 Co-Op / Competitive (Local, Online)	A
tl;dr Overcooked 2, like the first game, is an Arcade/Party game where up to four players cooperate to try to prep and cook dishes to order in increasingly crazy kitchens. And like the first game, it’s a fast, frenzied experience that makes for one of the finest co-op experiences available on the Switch 2, with subtle improvements throughout that give it a slight edge over the original Overcooked, as well as multiple improvements over the Nintendo Switch version of the game.
Split Fiction	3D Platformer / Action	2 (Local Split-Screen, Local Wireless, Online), Game Share (Local Wireless / Online)	A
tl;dr Split Fiction is a 2-player Co-Op-exclusive 3D Platformer and Action game from the folks who made It Takes Two, and this game takes that formula and turns it up a notch with one great action set piece after another, and with an excellent story about two aspiring authors trapped in a simulation together playing out each of their works. This game gives players just about every possible way to play together, and it’s well-worth doing so – this is an outstanding game that you should absolutely play so long as you have someone to play it with.

Best Games for Local Multiplayer (Competitive)

Game	Genre	# of Players	Grade
Fast Fusion	Futuristic Racing	1-4 Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2 Competitive (Local Wireless, Online), GameShare (Local Wireless / Online)	A
tl;dr Fast Fusion is a Futuristic Racing game that has an absolutely phenomenal presentation, truly excellent gameplay that improves upon an already great series, and a shockingly low $15 price tag that makes this game an absolute steal. It’s slim on content and the online multiplayer seems limited, but even with these flaws I think this is absolutely a game that should be in your Nintendo Switch 2 library.
Mario Kart World	Open World Kart Racer	1-4 Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2-8 (Local Wireless), 2-24 (Online)	A-
tl;dr Mario Kart World is Nintendo’s premier major family-friendly game to kick off the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch, and while it doesn’t make great use of the Open World format, and isn’t as impressive a leap over Mario Kart 8 as players may hope for… and oof, that $80 price tag is nasty… but despite these flaws, it is still a wildly-creative, extremely well-crafted, delightfully varied, and immensely fun Kart Racer. As long as you can get it at an affordable price, I highly recommend it.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Kart Racer	1-4 Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2-8 Competitive (Local Wireless), 2-12 Competitive (Online)	B+
tl;dr Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a family-friendly Kart Racer with a gimmick that each lap has players teleport to a different course. The course design here is wonderfully creative, the racing feels great, and the graphical performance on Nintendo Switch 2 is on par with or even better than some other modern platforms. But the frustration of far too many “bumper car” moments and nasty rubber-banding AI opponents suck a lot of the fun out of this game. This is still an enjoyable Kart Racing game, but its flaws keep it from being a truly great one.
Super Mario Party Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV	Party Game / Minigame Collection	1-4 Competitive / Cooperative (Local / Online), 2-8 Cooperative (Online), 2-20 Competitive (Online), Game Share	B
tl;dr Super Mario Party Jamboree is, in my opinion, the absolute best that the Mario Party series of family-friendly Party Game and Minigame Collection titles has ever had to offer, and this is still true on Nintendo Switch 2. Unfortunately, just about every “upgrade” the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition has to offer is either a mixed bag or an absolute flop, from negligible graphical upgrades that don’t extend to the original game’s content, a terrible lack of new minigames, camera minigames that just don’t work right, and poorly-conceived mic minigames. At the very least the mouse mode minigames are quite good, but there’s only 14 of them, and to play them you have to ditch the original Mario Party Jamboree’s excellent Pro mode. Overall, this paid expansion is a major disappointment, and the fact that the original game is still truly outstanding is the only reason this is still being rated as highly as it is.
Kirby Air Riders	Racing / Misc.	1-4 Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2-8 Competitive (Local Wireless), 2-16 Competitive (Online)	B-
tl;dr Kirby Air Riders is a Racing Game that’s a bit like a Kart Racer, but is largely unlike anything else out there, thanks largely to its odd one-button (or two-button, for a few things) control scheme. Unfortunately, it is the game’s stubborn adherence to these overly-simple controls that takes what would otherwise be a spectacular game with a gorgeous presentation and tons of content and leaves it feeling like a flawed shadow of what it could have been.

Best Games for Online Multiplayer (Co-Op)

Game	Genre	# of Players	Grade
No Man’s Sky – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Open-World Action-RPG	1-4 Co-Op (Online)	A+
tl;dr No Man’s Sky is a universe-sized Open-World Action-RPG that is epic in scale and scope, and not only does the Nintendo Switch 2 present players with an uncompromised version of the game, but it does so with a free upgrade for anyone who bought the Nintendo Switch version of the game. Unless you’ve had your fill of this game on other platforms, this is an absolute must-buy.
Fortnite	Compilation / Open-World Third-Person Shooter	1-100 Competitive (Online), 100 Team Competitive (Online), 1-8 Co-Op (Online), 52 (Online)	A
tl;dr Fortnite’s early days may have been as a Free-to-Play online multiplayer-focused “battle royale”-style Third-Person Shooter, but it has since blossomed into a massive game platform with a wide variety of different game types to enjoy, and just about all of them are fantastic. It’s intimidating, poorly-organized, confusing, and not very user-friendly to newer players, but none of that changes that this is still a truly must-play game, and the Nintendo Switch 2 is a far superior way to play it compared to the original Nintendo Switch.
Overcooked! 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Arcade / Party Game	1-4 Co-Op / Competitive (Local, Online)	A
tl;dr Overcooked 2, like the first game, is an Arcade/Party game where up to four players cooperate to try to prep and cook dishes to order in increasingly crazy kitchens. And like the first game, it’s a fast, frenzied experience that makes for one of the finest co-op experiences available on the Switch 2, with subtle improvements throughout that give it a slight edge over the original Overcooked, as well as multiple improvements over the Nintendo Switch version of the game.
Split Fiction	3D Platformer / Action	2 (Local Split-Screen, Local Wireless, Online), Game Share (Local Wireless / Online)	A
tl;dr Split Fiction is a 2-player Co-Op-exclusive 3D Platformer and Action game from the folks who made It Takes Two, and this game takes that formula and turns it up a notch with one great action set piece after another, and with an excellent story about two aspiring authors trapped in a simulation together playing out each of their works. This game gives players just about every possible way to play together, and it’s well-worth doing so – this is an outstanding game that you should absolutely play so long as you have someone to play it with.
Core Keeper – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Open-World Top-Down Action-RPG / Survival Adventure	1-8 Co-Op (Online)	A-
tl;dr Core Keeper is an Open-World Top-Down Action-RPG with Survival Adventure elements that has players digging through a vast underground world, exploring and discovering new treasures, mysteries, and dangers. For players who enjoy games like Minecraft and Terraria, this should be considered a must-have, and fans of Action-RPGs in general should give this a look too – its well-crafted and varied gameplay and its wonderful presentation make for something truly special.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Top-Down Turn-Based RPG	1-4 Co-Op (Local Wireless, Online), 2 Competitive (Local Wireless, Online)	A-
tl;dr Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a Turn-Based RPG that had to sacrifice couch co-op and a lot of graphical fidelity to fit onto the Switch, but the game retains its massive, deep, well-told campaign, excellent strategic gameplay, absolutely beautiful soundtrack and superb voice acting and writing, and superb co-op play in local wireless and online. Plus, the Switch 2 version has exclusive cross-save support with the PC version on Steam. The result is a version of the game that is one of the best RPGs on the Switch 2, and a must-have for fans of the genre who don’t already own it on another platform.
Wild Hearts S	Action-RPG	1-4 Co-Op (Local Wireless / Online)	A-
tl;dr Wild Hearts S is an Action-RPG that takes the formula established by the Monster Hunter franchise and adds in a building mechanic. It doesn’t truly transform or revolutionize the formula, but it’s an excellent game all the same, with absolutely stunning visuals. If you enjoy this sort of game and missed Wild Hearts when it released on other platforms, now is definitely the time to give it a look.

Best Games for Online Multiplayer (Competitive)

Game	Genre	# of Players	Grade
Fortnite	Compilation / Open-World Third-Person Shooter	1-100 Competitive (Online), 100 Team Competitive (Online), 1-8 Co-Op (Online), 52 (Online)	A
tl;dr Fortnite’s early days may have been as a Free-to-Play online multiplayer-focused “battle royale”-style Third-Person Shooter, but it has since blossomed into a massive game platform with a wide variety of different game types to enjoy, and just about all of them are fantastic. It’s intimidating, poorly-organized, confusing, and not very user-friendly to newer players, but none of that changes that this is still a truly must-play game, and the Nintendo Switch 2 is a far superior way to play it compared to the original Nintendo Switch.
Mario Kart World	Open World Kart Racer	1-4 Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2-8 (Local Wireless), 2-24 (Online)	A-
tl;dr Mario Kart World is Nintendo’s premier major family-friendly game to kick off the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch, and while it doesn’t make great use of the Open World format, and isn’t as impressive a leap over Mario Kart 8 as players may hope for… and oof, that $80 price tag is nasty… but despite these flaws, it is still a wildly-creative, extremely well-crafted, delightfully varied, and immensely fun Kart Racer. As long as you can get it at an affordable price, I highly recommend it.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Kart Racer	1-4 Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2-8 Competitive (Local Wireless), 2-12 Competitive (Online)	B+
tl;dr Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a family-friendly Kart Racer with a gimmick that each lap has players teleport to a different course. The course design here is wonderfully creative, the racing feels great, and the graphical performance on Nintendo Switch 2 is on par with or even better than some other modern platforms. But the frustration of far too many “bumper car” moments and nasty rubber-banding AI opponents suck a lot of the fun out of this game. This is still an enjoyable Kart Racing game, but its flaws keep it from being a truly great one.
Super Mario Party Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV	Party Game / Minigame Collection	1-4 Competitive / Cooperative (Local / Online), 2-8 Cooperative (Online), 2-20 Competitive (Online), Game Share	B
tl;dr Super Mario Party Jamboree is, in my opinion, the absolute best that the Mario Party series of family-friendly Party Game and Minigame Collection titles has ever had to offer, and this is still true on Nintendo Switch 2. Unfortunately, just about every “upgrade” the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition has to offer is either a mixed bag or an absolute flop, from negligible graphical upgrades that don’t extend to the original game’s content, a terrible lack of new minigames, camera minigames that just don’t work right, and poorly-conceived mic minigames. At the very least the mouse mode minigames are quite good, but there’s only 14 of them, and to play them you have to ditch the original Mario Party Jamboree’s excellent Pro mode. Overall, this paid expansion is a major disappointment, and the fact that the original game is still truly outstanding is the only reason this is still being rated as highly as it is.
Kirby Air Riders	Racing / Misc.	1-4 Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2-8 Competitive (Local Wireless), 2-16 Competitive (Online)	B-
tl;dr Kirby Air Riders is a Racing Game that’s a bit like a Kart Racer, but is largely unlike anything else out there, thanks largely to its odd one-button (or two-button, for a few things) control scheme. Unfortunately, it is the game’s stubborn adherence to these overly-simple controls that takes what would otherwise be a spectacular game with a gorgeous presentation and tons of content and leaves it feeling like a flawed shadow of what it could have been.

Best Games for Online Multiplayer (Team Competitive)

Game	Genre	# of Players	Grade
Fortnite	Compilation / Open-World Third-Person Shooter	1-100 Competitive (Online), 100 Team Competitive (Online), 1-8 Co-Op (Online), 52 (Online)	A
tl;dr Fortnite’s early days may have been as a Free-to-Play online multiplayer-focused “battle royale”-style Third-Person Shooter, but it has since blossomed into a massive game platform with a wide variety of different game types to enjoy, and just about all of them are fantastic. It’s intimidating, poorly-organized, confusing, and not very user-friendly to newer players, but none of that changes that this is still a truly must-play game, and the Nintendo Switch 2 is a far superior way to play it compared to the original Nintendo Switch.
Apex Legends	First-Person Shooter	60 Team Competitive (Online)	A-
tl;dr Apex Legends is an online-focused free-to-play battle royale-style First Person Shooter where there’s an emphasis on coordinating with your 2- or 3-person team to survive. This is a game with a steep learning curve, so if you haven’t already played the game elsewhere, you’re likely to get killed extremely quickly. That said, the Nintendo Switch 2 release of this game is an absolutely massive improvement over the Nintendo Switch version, with excellent graphics and performance, albeit at a cost of a massive 78.5GB file size. However, if you’re looking for a solid First-Person Shooter that doesn’t have to be a hit to your wallet, this is an excellent choice.
Drag X Drive	Sports (Basketball)	1-6 Team Competitive (Online)	B-
tl;dr Drag X Drive is a 3v3 wheelchair Basketball game where players must use a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers in mouse mode to steer their wheelchairs. It’s a truly unique concept that more or less works here, but this game is woefully lacking in content, and dreadfully dull in its art design. The $20 price tag does help to mitigate some of the emptiness within this game, but it’s still disappointing that players aren’t given more game modes, options, and content to keep things varied and interesting. Still, for Sports fans looking for something unique, this is worth a look.

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