GamingNintendoNintendo SwitchNintendo Games

What are the best Nintendo Switch games to play with your partner?

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Aug 10, 2018

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7 Options Considered

Best Nintendo Switch games to play with your partner	Price	Genre	Platforms
-- Rocket League	$19.99	Sports / Racing / Soccer	PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows, macOS, Linux
-- Overcooked	$38.88	Cooking / Simulation	Cooking / Simulation
-- Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime	$14.99	Shooter, Platformer	PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Linux, macOS
-- Super Mario Odyssey	$59.99	Platformer	Platformer
-- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	$59.99	Racing, Sports	Nintendo Switch

Rocket League

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Top Pro

Simple controls

Whether you use a controller or keyboard and mouse, the controls are fairly simple. You are driving a car pushing a ball around, with forward, reverse, boost, power-slide and jump as your only real abilities to learn. The difficulty comes in learning to use them at the right times. Doing this will allow you to perform in-air and off the wall maneuvers, making for breath-taking and unexpected plays. See More

Top Con

Minimal in features

While there may be more modes added with DLC in the future, currently there are only three unique game modes. This might be off-putting for players looking for more variety. See More

Specs

Genre:Sports / Racing / Soccer

Platforms:PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows, macOS, Linux

Co-Op:4 Player Online / 4 Player Couch

Controller Support:Full

Top Pro

Clear objectives keeps the focus on the gameplay

Get the ball in the net, soccer at it's simplest. This game is physics driven, using different cars as players, making it a fast-paced and exciting game with a basic underlying objective. Being easy to understand, just about anyone can get the hang of the game after a single play session. See More

Top Con

Match making can be slow at times

It can take a while to find an opponent, especially if you're a higher tier player, causing the queues to be even longer. See More

Top Pro

Great for quick play sessions

Each game has a time limit of 5 minutes, paused only when a team scores to reset the ball to mid-field. By keeping each session short, the game works well for people wanting to play a quick game without getting drawn into a long play session. See More

Top Pro

Moon-like physics give a delightful sense of exaggerated abilities

The physics in this game are slightly warped, making it seem like you're on the moon. This means that cars fly around if they collide or go up ramps, giving it a feel of superpowers. See More

Top Pro

Customization of cars is creative and fun

There are quite a few cars to choose from, including DLC cars such as the Delorean from Back to the Future. After picking a car, you can customized it with countless possibilities. You can change the paint scheme, color, paint type (gloss/flat, etc.), wheels, boost color, hat, and antenna toppers. This allows you to create a car that truly matches your style. See More

Overcooked

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Requires close cooperation

There is a lot of task handoff and delegation so it's not just multiple players doing the same thing, but requires actual strategizing, communication, and cooperation. Working together and communicating with your friends through couch co-op or online play is a constant stream of laughter and excited shouting as you mess up, learn, and hopefully get things done. See More

Top Con

No online multiplayer

Local multiplayer only. Can't play with friends online. See More

Specs

Genre:Cooking / Simulation

Co-Op:4 Player Local

Steam Rating:Mostly Positive

Top Pro

Lots of scenarios that require different strategies

Some levels in Overcooked are dynamic and greatly adapt the way you have to play in order to successfully complete a level. For example, at one point you and your partner(s) will be split up across multiple moving trucks and it requires quite some strategy to create meals together. See More

Top Con

Can be incredibly frustrating

Trying to work at such a fast pace with so much mayhem going on at once can wear on you after a while. There's a lot to keep track of at once, and it's easy for things to spiral out of control as your mistakes pile up. If your group isn't doing well and you're running out of time, you might find yourself losing your patience with your team and yelling at them. This might not be the game for you if you don't have a team that's willing to be patient and cooperative with each other, even when you're not doing so well during a particular round. See More

Top Pro

Play happens on a single screen

Everything in Overcooked happens on a single screen, meaning you won't have to deal with annoying split-screen modes where you view is limited. See More

Top Pro

Fast and frantic cooking action

Overcooked is really fast-paced and keeps you on your toes. You play as a chef in a crazy kitchen with a ton of things going on all at once, with you mixing, preparing, and cooking in between the chaos of moving platforms and environmental obstacles. There's a time limit constantly ticking down at the bottom of the screen; finishing your tasks on time or ahead of schedule earns you a better score in the end. It's such a manic yet well-done mix of many different genres and ideas that all come together in the best ways. See More

Top Pro

Simple to pick up and learn

Overcooked is easy to figure out right from the get-go. The recipes for each dish are familiar even if you're not much of a chef, so you can remember which raw ingredients you need as you make your way around the kitchen and work with your co-op partner(s). Once you play a few rounds, you should have a good handle on things, helping you focus on getting everything done as quickly as possible from there on out. See More

Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime

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Adorable aesthetic

Both the story and art style are beautiful and playful, encouraging a fun atmosphere even in difficult or complicated scenarios. The soundtrack carries you along with a light but fast-paced beat to maintain the balance between fun and focus. See More

Top Con

Co-op is local only

Unfortunately, online co-op is not an option. However, forcing the players to be side by side aids in coordination and makes for a more personal experience. See More

Specs

Genre:Shooter, Platformer

Platforms:PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Linux, macOS

Co-Op:4 Player Local

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Top Pro

Gameplay focuses on relying on the other player

Much like a good marriage the game focuses on having each player rely on the other in ties of need. This makes for an experience that when executed properly shows how much of a team two people can be. See More

Top Pro

Teamwork is demanded

As offense, movement and defense are entirely separate stations, you simply cannot beat the game alone in co-op mode, regardless of any single player's skill level. This holds true especially in harder difficulties where constant communication and coordination is critical. See More

Top Pro

Catchy techno soundtrack

Lovers has a very interesting and catchy soundtrack that goes great with its retro, neon-based aesthetic. See More

Super Mario Odyssey

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Really fun possession mechanic keeps the gameplay fresh

Mario can take control of enemies and objects by throwing his hat on top of them. Once controlled, an enemy retains all of its abilities, allowing you to use them. For example, you can take control of a frog, enabling you to jump up to areas that would be normally out of reach. Or you can take control of a T-Rex and go on a rampage, smashing rocks, enemies, and everything else in your way. You can even control a Christmas tree and hop around for no real reason. This gives the usual platforming gameplay a great amount of variation while also making exploration a tad bit more exciting. It's simply fun to discover and use new and interesting abilities. See More

Top Con

Motion controls can feel awkward at times

Some of Mario's special moves need motion control inputs to perform, requiring you to rotate or tilt the controller alongside precise button presses. While this is an attempt to make the gameplay feel more engaging, it's not implemented that well. It simply makes the special moves needlessly challenging to perform, which can considerably detract from the gameplay. This is especially the case when playing in the handheld mode of the Nintendo Switch, since you're also swinging around the handheld display. See More

Specs

Genre:Platformer

Platform:Nintendo Switch

Top Pro

Good level variety

There are 16 unique levels in SMO, including a large reddish desert, filled with colorful buildings and quirky skeletons, a gray kingdom built on the moon where enemies wear white top hats, and even a bustling metropolis where you can bounce off of taxis, swing on lampposts, and climb skyscrapers. There's a good amount of variation in the level designs and themes, so you probably won't get tired of exploring the levels that quickly, making even long sessions really enjoyable. See More

Top Pro

Tons of collectibles that encourage exploration

SMO is jam-packed with gold coins, purple coins, and power moons for you to collect. While collecting them all is completely optional, it can quickly become addicting to collect them. A couple of coins here, another dozen there, and another hundred there, all for that silly looking skeleton outfit. This can easily lead you to spend hours searching every nook and cranny in a level just to collect a bit more. See More

Top Pro

Incorporates old school 2D gameplay in a cool way

In some areas, Mario can enter the surface of a wall, shifting the gameplay to a 2D plane. This also reverts Mario to his 8-bit era pixelated self, allowing you to play through a mini level in the style of the original Super Mario games. While it could've been done just to bait nostalgia, the developers added new, fun mechanics to the old formula, making it as fresh and enjoyable as the main game. See More

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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Accessible to beginners and young players

Despite having a very high skill ceiling and 48 tracks to master, MK8DX makes it less intimidating for beginners by including the "Smart steering" and "Auto acceleration" options. The former option automatically prevents collision with walls and the latter option glues your foot to the gas pedal. These two options used in tandem basically auto-drive your kart while still giving you control over the on-screen action. This gives you comfortable training wheels to learn the ins and outs of the game while also allowing really young players to enjoy the game without feeling too frustrated. See More

Top Con

Unlockables might not feel that exciting

Every character (except Golden Mario) and race track is unlocked from the beginning, leaving you to only unlock new kart parts. While these are very good for improving/adjusting your kart's performance and looks, you probably won't ever use the vast majority of the parts. This can cause unlocking them feel pointless and tedious, making it really disappointing for players looking for a more meaningful progression system. See More

Specs

Genre:Racing, Sports

Platforms:Nintendo Switch

Top Pro

Excellent variety of race tracks

MK8DX features 48 unique race tracks, including tracks running through a haunted mansion, an airport, a medieval castle, and even outer space. Each track also has a completely different layout, providing its own set of twists, turns, loops, and shortcuts for you to enjoy and master. As a result, there's enough variety to keep gameplay fresh and exciting for a long time. See More

Top Pro

Fun battle modes

Other than MK8DX's 3 main racing modes, there are also 5 battle modes, focusing on battles in arena-like tracks. There's the Balloon Battle, where you have to pop or steal your opponent's balloons, Renegade Roundup, where racers are split into teams of cops and robbers, Bob-omb Blast, where you throw bombs at other racers to get points, Coin Runners, where you try to collect the most coins to win, and Shine Thief, where you have to hold a star for 20 seconds to win, but your opponents can steal it away from you. These 5 modes can be a great distraction when you get tired of regular races, keeping the game fresh for a long time. See More

Top Pro

Entertaining kart racing gameplay

Every race in MK8DX is a fast-paced battle for first place. You drive at high-speeds, drift to gain speed boosts, fly off ramps, and collect mystery boxes that give you random power ups. It can be one-use weapons to set back your opponents. Or it can be one-use items that boost you in some way. For example, if you get a banana peel, you can drop it on the track, so anyone who drives on top of it spins out, setting you further ahead of them. Or if you get Bullet Bill, you can transform into a massive bullet, gaining increased speed, automatically steering through the track, and knocking out any opponent you touch. This is very useful for catching up to other racers, especially because the effect's duration increases the closer you are to last place. The end result is a very enjoyable gameplay that is equal parts strategy and skillful driving. It can be very easy to spend hours playing and not notice the passage of time. See More

Splatoon 2

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Great multiplayer level design

While all multiplayer levels have gorgeous visuals, featuring very detailed urban landscapes, their most noteworthy aspect is their adequate size. They're just large enough that a match doesn't feel like a claustrophobic shootout that ends in less than a minute. And they're small enough that you encounter opponents very often, reducing time you spend purely on running to get back into action. It's a design choice that keeps the gameplay focused in most cases, making it a more enjoyable experience as a whole. See More

Top Con

The horde mode is on a schedule

Despite being the most popular multiplayer mode in Splatoon 2, Salmon Run is on a schedule, sometimes having gaps of up to 2 days between each appearance. It's not as bad as it was upon release, but it can still be quite aggravating when you can't play Salmon Run when you finally have the time for it. See More

Specs

Genre:Third Person Shooter, Multiplayer

Platform:Nintendo Switch

Top Pro

Excellent for short play sessions

Each multiplayer match in Splatoon 2 lasts only about 3 minutes, with about 1 minute of wait time between each match. This can be very useful in cases when you have some spare time, but can't afford to play a long match. It's a nice change in an era dominated by competitive multiplayer games that force you to commit more than 30 minutes per match. See More

Top Pro

A really fun co-op mode

Splatoon 2 has its own horde mode called Salmon Run, where you and up to 4 other players fight off waves of Salmons while collecting their golden eggs. It's fairly challenging, requiring you to properly utilize your weapons, learn salmon types and their abilities, and understand how to best cooperate to survive till the end. This can lead you to a lot of intense, sometimes unfortunate, and sometimes even funny moments throughout a match that might keep you wanting for more. See More

Top Pro

Family-friendly shootouts

Most modern shooters are all about lethal weaponry, gore, death, and getting the most kills, but Splatoon 2 steps away from this formula. You use paint guns and brushes to color the map and the opponents, but it's never about going just after the opponents. Even if you manage to take someone out, they're never killed, but turned into paint, which is a natural defense mechanism of the game's playable race – the inklings. As a result, Splatoon 2 is a friendly, but at times highly competitive, battle that's well-suited to any member of your family. See More

Top Pro

Highly accessible team-based gameplay

Even though Splatoon 2 rewards skillful play, having accurate aim is not as important as it is in most third-person shooters. This is mostly because it's a game about territory control, requiring you to recolor areas of the map to win, so you can contribute to your team's victory by just shooting the ground and walls, which is something most players can do without any practice. As a result, Splatoon 2 can be more accessible and less stressful for beginners and players that aren't very good at aiming, making the gameplay more enjoyable in the long run. See More

Overcooked 2

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Hilariously fun couch and online co-op for up to four players

Playing Overcooked 2 with friends is the best. There's so much going on at once in the kitchen, with barriers moving in your way, hazards popping up like cars in the middle of the road separating the two halves of your area, and ingredients, dishes, and half-prepared dishes to move from one place to another. Working together and communicating with your friends through couch co-op or online play is a constant stream of laughter and excited shouting as you mess up, learn, and hopefully get things done. If you don't have anyone to play with, then you can hop online for matchmaking instead. See More

Top Con

Can be incredibly frustrating

Trying to work at such a fast pace with so many obstacles and general mayhem going on at once can wear on you after a while. There's a lot to keep track of at once, and it's easy for things to spiral out of control as your mistakes pile up. If your group isn't doing well and you're running out of time, you might find yourself losing your patience with your team and yelling at them. This might not be the game for you if you don't have a team that's willing to be patient and cooperative with each other, even when you're not doing so well during a particular round. See More

Specs

Genre:Simulation, Action, Platformer

Platforms:PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows

Co-Op:2-4 Player Local / 2-4 Player Online

Top Pro

Fast and frantic cooking action

Overcooked 2 is really fast-paced and keeps you on your toes. You play as a chef in a crazy kitchen with a ton of things going on all at once, with you mixing, preparing, and cooking in between the chaos of moving platforms and environmental obstacles. There's a time limit constantly ticking down at the bottom of the screen; finishing your tasks on time or ahead of schedule earns you a better score in the end. Tossing ingredients to your teammates across the kitchen, or across the moving platforms or obstacles like bodies of water, is a fresh new addition in this game that wasn't in the first Overcooked, making things even faster this time around. It's such a manic yet well-done mix of many different genres and ideas that all come together in the best ways. See More

Top Con

Single-player isn't as fun as co-op

If you only want to play alone, then Overcooked 2 might not be the best game to pick. All the fast-paced fun from co-op mostly comes from communicating with your team and trying to pull off your task together before the time runs out. You control two characters at once while playing alone, but this still lacks the team-based chaos that makes the game so addicting. You could instead go online for matchmaking, though you might get paired with people who don't want to talk or work as an actual team. See More

Top Pro

Simple to pick up and learn

Whether you played the first Overcooked or not, Overcooked 2 is easy to figure out right from the get-go. The recipes for each dish are familiar even if you're not much of a chef, so you can remember which raw ingredients you need as you make your way around the kitchen and work with your co-op partner(s). Once you play a few rounds, you should have a good handle on things, helping you focus on getting everything done as quickly as possible from there on out. See More

Top Con

The controls are a bit sluggish

There's something about the controls that feels heavy and deliberate, and not necessarily in a good way. The feeling goes against the fast-paced nature of the gameplay that demands you in one place and then the next. If you played the first Overcooked, you may notice the difference right away. This change shouldn't be too much of a hassle, though it's still noticeable. See More

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