The holidays are a perfect time for couch co-op, and the Nintendo Switch offers several titles that let families and friends play together locally without internet. Below are eight Switch games that support local cooperative play, suitable for holiday gatherings.
Snipperclips — hands-on puzzle cooperation
Snipperclips centers entirely on cooperation. Players control paper characters Snip and Clip, cutting parts of each other to change shapes and solve puzzles. The main mode supports one or two players, while Party and Blitz modes expand options to up to four participants for both cooperative and competitive challenges.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder — four-player side-scrolling fun
Super Mario Bros. Wonder returns to 2D side-scrolling with classic platforming and new dynamic effects. The game features local cooperative play for up to four players on the same screen as Mario and friends try to save the Flower Kingdom after Bowser steals a magical flower.
Playable characters include Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Toad, Yoshi, Toadette and Nabbit.
Pico Park — teamwork for larger groups
Pico Park is a minimalist puzzle game built around cooperation. It supports 2 to 8 local players who must work together to collect keys, open doors and bring everyone to the exit.
Levels require precise teamwork, with mechanics that depend on stacking characters, balancing weight and pulling ropes to advance.
Kirby Star Allies — recruit and play together
Kirby Star Allies is a 2.5D action-platformer where Kirby can throw a heart to convert enemies into allies. Those allies can be controlled by the AI or by other players, enabling local cooperative play for up to four participants.
The story follows Kirby as he tries to stop Hyness from reviving a dark force that threatens the universe.
Super Mario 3D World — multiplayer in hybrid platforming
Originally released for Wii U and later ported to Switch, Super Mario 3D World supports up to four players locally. The game blends 2D and 3D platforming elements and includes power-ups such as the Super Bell, which turns characters into cats.
Playable characters are Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad and unlockable Rosalina. The plot involves rescuing the Sprixie princesses kidnapped by Bowser.
Yoshi’s Crafted World — two-player cooperative platforming
Yoshi’s Crafted World features handcrafted-style visuals resembling paper, fabric and plastic. The side-scrolling platformer uses 3D models and allows occasional movement into foreground and background planes.
Local co-op supports two players controlling Yoshis of different colors. Gameplay revolves around swallowing enemies and objects, turning them into eggs and throwing them to affect elements in both the front and back of levels. The goal is to recover Dream Gems before Kamek and Baby Bowser capture them.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze — two-player platforming teamwork
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, originally on Wii U and later released for Switch, is a 2.5D platformer in which Donkey Kong and his crew defend their island from Viking invaders.
The game allows two-player local co-op: the first player controls Donkey Kong, while the second can play as Diddy, Dixie or Cranky. Partner abilities are crucial to navigating stages and overcoming obstacles.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 — unique co-op with Gooigi
Luigi’s Mansion 3 offers a distinct local co-op experience through Gooigi, an ectoplasmic doppelgänger created by Professor E. Gadd. Gooigi can pass through grates and spikes but is vulnerable to water and fire.
In single-player, controlling Gooigi puts Luigi to sleep and requires alternating between the two. In local co-op, one player controls Luigi while the other controls Gooigi, allowing both to act simultaneously to solve puzzles and face ghosts together.
