Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (Switch)
You can't go wrong with the classics, and there's 51 of them to enjoy in the appropriately titled Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics. With a wide variety of card games, board games and other games (including some golf and bowling), you're sure to find at least one activity that everyone will dig, whether you want a few rounds of poker or some target practice. It's not the most raucous of party games, but perhaps you're not throwing the most raucous of parties. Sticky floors and broken porcelain aren't prerequisites for a good time, you know! Crack out the (digital) cards, grab yourself a drink and enjoy.
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Cake Bash (Switch eShop)
A stand-out party game, Cake Bash deserves a place on your Switch menu. As with all games of its type, it benefits from having your friends alongside you, but online play with matchmaking (here called "matchbaking") works well, and you can play with bots if you really feel like you need to. It's only the eventual repetition that brings down Cake Bash, and that's really in the pie of the beholder. Far more than a mere trifle, Cake Bash belongs in the upper crust. Geddit?
Overcooked 2 (Switch)
Overcooked 2 is a fantastic sequel to a co-op classic, building on the gameplay ideas from before in meaningful new ways while polishing up what was already there. There is a lingering sense that this is more of the same, but it’s such a blast to play that you’ll hardly be focused on the lack of any major innovations; overall, this feels like a stronger execution of the original vision with the added benefit of some hearty DLC that's been added to the menu since launch.
The organisation and co-ordination required to run a kitchen effectively may be beyond the abilities of your guests if the party's been jumpin' for a few hours, but Overcooked 2 is bubbling over with personality and heart, and we’d recommend this one to anyone looking for a fantastic party game.
WarioWare: Get It Together! (Switch)
WarioWare: Get It Together! is a triumphant Switch debut for the subversive series that makes some daring changes to core gameplay, resulting in the best entry in the franchise to date. With a generous roster of playable characters, lots of solo and multiplayer modes to dig into, and stages that cleverly adapt to your choices on the fly, this is a superb compilation of hilarious microgames that delivers more ways to play than ever before.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll dodge bird droppings on a skateboard. So grab a few friends or family members, break out the controllers, and gather round the TV — WarioWare: Get It Together! is essential stuff.
Kirby's Dream Buffet (Switch eShop)
What do you get when you take a generous helping of Fall Guys, add a pinch of Super Monkey Ball, and then mix in a lovely big dollop of Kirby? Well, a great big dream buffet, that's what.
Kirby's Dream Buffet is a bright and breezy party game that sees a whole field full of Kirby characters roll at speed down sweet treat-laden tracks where the only objective is to get to the bottom first and lay claim to the largest mountain of strawberries when you get there. What results is a colourful and chaotic slice of slapstick party game action that's friendly to beginners, young gamers, and adults alike.
Just Shapes & Beats (Switch eShop)
The sheer verve of Just Shapes & Beats is infectious. It injects pure joy into the oppressive, pulsing panic of Super Hexagon and creates a celebratory explosion of the audio-visual in video games.
Grab three friends (plus more to watch in awe at your rhythm game skillz) and hook your Switch up to your sound system to turn this game from a good, fun time into a fantastic party atmosphere that your neighbours will definitely love.
TowerFall (Switch eShop)
Some party games — like Jackbox — are suitable for all audiences. Others — like Smash Bros. — are for the gamers. TowerFall falls (ha) into that latter category, but don't let that fool you. This precision fighting-platformer can support 6 characters, and the more chaotic, the better — it's an easy recommendation to anyone looking for a great party game for their Switch; the easy to understand mechanics and near-bottomless depth will ensure that this one will be a house favourite for years to come.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (Switch eShop)
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime caught us by surprise; we were expecting a great multiplayer party experience but ended up with something much more than that. If you have a great bunch of friends and the necessary controllers, be sure to gather everyone round for some challenging but hilarious teamwork.
But even when the party's over, load the game up anyway and enjoy an intense, strategically-minded campaign with a warm and welcoming exterior. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime deserves to be played and should most definitely be on your eShop wishlist – we’re in love, for sure.
Let's Sing ABBA (Switch)
As a group, Abba sits alongside only a handful of the world's biggest acts — The Beatles, Queen, and perhaps only a couple of others — with the cross-generational, mainstream appeal to support a multiplayer music game like Let's Sing Abba.
As a party game, it will work well whatever the enthusiasm levels of your attendees; unabashed karaoke lovers can get stuck right in belting out the classics, but there's also 'Jukebox' mode, which just slaps the videos to the songs you've unlocked on screen with the lyrics. This makes for perfect background noise at reserved British parties where nobody wants to stand with a mic in their hand, but they'll happily spend several hours staring at a screen while nursing a drink and realising how few Abba lyrics they actually know. Everyone's a winner!
Mario Party Superstars (Switch)
Mario Party Superstars is a love letter to the parties you remember attending 20 years ago. A disappointingly slim selection of boards takes the shine off things somewhat, but it’s hard to argue that this is the best Mario Party has been in over a decade.
No new ideas absolutely feels like a missed opportunity, but by the same token we’d much prefer to have all these classic ideas intact rather than potentially tainting them with unwanted and unnecessary inclusions only added for the sake of being new. Grab a can of Tango and a fistful of 10p Freddos — you’re going to party like it’s 1999.
The Venga bus is comin' and everybody's jumpin'... ahem. That's it for our picks of the best party games on Switch. Have you had a blast at your hip, sexy rooftop party with something that isn't featured here? Let us know below and we just might add it to the list. Until then, party on Wayne, Garth, and all you lovely people.
This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.
Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!
If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.
Comments (42)
1-2-Switch is one of my favorite party game.
And my favorite mini game from 1-2-Switch is ...
@RedderRugfish I agree. Great game
@Anti-Matter your joking right.
I suppose it’s fun with a group of friends
All great picks from the list
Wonder if that Tsum Tsum game will make it on here
@Luigi-number1
Remember, i can play 1-2-Switch by SOLO play, just with myself. 😜
Of course, i will try to play fair by depending on both of my hands. 😅
One of my hand can do faster than my other hand. 😉
Btw, i have ever made an exactly same shot time from Quick Draw SOLO Play.
Good list. Really enjoyed super Mario party at first. Played a lot with family at first. We need dlc. Free or paid. We need more. 4 boards only Nintendo. 4
@Anti-Matter I’m sorry. I don’t know if your joking or being serious but the main thing is fun 😉
@Luigi-number1
I'm serious.
I have ever played 1-2-Switch SOLO play, just with myself since i tend to play games alone.
And when i want to play 1-2-Switch Solo Play, i will try to play fair as possible.
How do i play in Solo? I grabbed both of my Joy Cons for playing Quick Draw / Wizard, i pulled both Joy Cons for playing Telephone, i moved around both of my Joy Cons on Mirror way to play Raise Flag (it also train my brain to do right and left side at the same time)
@Anti-Matter ok. sounds fun. I did try the game before the switches launch and I knew it wasn’t for me. Glad you enjoy it tho.
Can't believe Overcooked didn't make it tbh. Beside that, this list is pretty o.k.!
Puyo Puyo Tetris? Hello??
Minimum fuss? MK8 with 12 racers and wonky item balance? Lol
Definitely recommend Jackbox Party Pack 1. 2 and 3 get the next best mileage.
Don't sleep on a little game called Stikbold! My whole family plays all the time with 6 people!
SMM2. I make levels and force my kids to playtest them.
I think Runbow is as much fun as a group of people can have for a multiplayer platformer. Too bad the 3ds version never took off. Online contests are as hectic as local
No Overcooked?
@1UP_MARIO Totally agree on DLC for Super Mario Party
We did like the mode where you get more choice on how to move your pieces rather than just following a linear path with a few branches.
Thinking of 1-2 Switch makes me want a full Wario Ware title on Switch.
@Anti-Matter I think the safe cracking, guessing the # of marbles in the box, and unwinding the chain on the treasure chest are my favorite 1-2 Switch mini-games.
@Tandy255 If they dropped some Mario Party 2-esque DLC...
never bought jackbox becouse it's only in english
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe did prove a great game to pull out with a group of friends on a classroom projector when I was in college. Except for the fact that everyone hated the joycons for being tiny and having weird button placement. And the fact that the default setting always was motion controls and auto accelerate on and nobody ever wanted those controls, so that involved explaining how to turn those off every time to everyone...Once you got past that, the game was great fun, and almost nobody is "too cool" for Mario Kart.
Super Mario Party is not a good Mario Party. Just keep your Wii plugged in and enjoy 2,4,5,6, or 7. Super is not even close to being as fun as those games.
If you have a laptop, you can get the first 4 Jackbox games from humble bundle right now for less than one of them from eShop, then use an HDMI cable to connect it to your TV. Great investment for party play!
@koaeinferno
Your saltiness toward Super Mario Party was not even something fun to read.
Genuinely forgot 1 2 Switch existed.
Nice suggestions. I also like 1, 2, Switch. I'd include Party Golf, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, Worms, Super Mario Maker 2 (with the right levels, I've been with a group of friends where we ended up singing songs together because of awesome music levels), Towerfall, Namco Museum (PAC man VS), Mario Tennis, Taiko Drum n Fun (can be hilarious waving joy cons around to the beat), Horizon Chase, 12 orbits, Guacamelee (the second game is up to four players), n++ , Conduct Together!, Astro Duel Deluxe, Snipperclips, Duck Game, Beach Buggy Racing (better than Mario Kart because it always runs at 60fps, even in 4 player splitscreen), Retimed, Nidhogg 2, Screen Cheat (60fps 4 player splitscreen, maybe these programmers could be in charge of adding multiplayer to Turok 2!), and Oh Sir the insult simulator. Yep, that's enough games for a party!
I've got a heap of party games, unfortunately my crew is hard to get to play the Switch. They didn't mind Jackbox one night but pretty much turned their noses up at it after. The one and only game I can ever really get them to play willingly is... Flat Heroes... so I guess i'm going to have to recommend that one.
(I might add that they didn't mind Towerfall. And Nidhogg 2 kept them entertained for about 40 mins. Saying that, I doubt they would want to play them again unless I forced them to lol, which I don't do).
YOU FORGOT DUCK GAME
quack
Only got my switch back in march, and looked a lot into Mario Party.. But I just can't justify it
Only one I ever really played was one on gamecube, I think it was 7
But the boards in the switch Mario Party look dull as hell, also online MP is only a handful of mini games only I think?
Hope they make another Mario Party for switch but one that's good.
@skulltulips I'd love a physical version for this game
How is online community on Switch? I had this on PC since first came out and use to really dig it, got over 200 hours on that version play-time, might double dip sometime for switch version if its got a healthy playerbase
@Doktor-Mandrake tbf I've not had much joy with the online play. Last time I tried the game could only match me with one other player, if any.
Plus I'm a casual player and most people I matched with were insanely good at the game to the point where it can't have been much fun for either of us. Maybe others' experience is different but I'd struggle to recommend it.
As a local multiplayer game though, Duck Game is supreme.
Lol, party games? You think I have friends on the same half of the planet?
@Anti-Matter He wasn't being salty. He was explaining how in his opinion, the Wii Mario Party's are better than Super.
Just Shapes & Beats
Lovers in a dangerous space-time
Crawl
ARMS
@dartmonkey
Dear Gavin, if "Keep talking and nobody explodes" it's so good, why there's no Nintendo Life review?
It slipped through the net unfortunately - too many games! It's a winner though.
Overcooked 2 has been added to the menu
@dartmonkey
You guys plan to review Circle of Sumo at any time? I've watched the trailer on the eShop and have strongly considered purchasing it, but haven't done so yet. It looks like a very enjoyable party game.
@FiveDigitLP We won’t be reviewing Circle of Sumo, but it looks like a party would be the best context for that game
@dartmonkey That's really unfortunate. I know you guys have a limited amount of time (believe me, I understand completely!), but one of the things that originally drew me to this site was that I could find reviews for even the most obscure games on the 3DS. Likewise, I've always valued Nintendo Life's opinion over other sites like IGN.
@dartmonkey Overcooked should be in there So much fun yelling at everybody when everything goes on fire!
Tower of Babel no mercy too! that's a friendship breaker however but Ilove it
Some real fun times had by the family in many of those!
This list is missing Chompy Chomp Chomp Party! It's defo one of the best party games on Switch.
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