Killer Queen Black (Switch)

Killer Queen Black offers up a 2D multiplayer extravaganza that’s easy to pick up but devilishly tricky to master. The online multiplayer closed down in 2022, but the support for local multiplayer (through split Joy-Cons and/or wireless play) really sells this as a crazy couch play experience. The learning curve is steep, and it's chaotic to track when playing on anything other than a massive TV, but it'll become a mainstay for indie multiplayer aficionados.

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The Stretchers (Switch eShop)

The Stretchers was an unexpected, Nintendo-published delight from Tarsier Studios, which dropped onto the eShop without warning. Tarsier took all its experience working on the likes of Ragdoll Kung-Fu: Fists of Plastic and LittleBigPlanet and brought it together to deliver this ridiculously OTT ragdoll puzzle riot that works well in solo but is on another level when enjoyed with a friend in co-op. Missions are varied and lend themselves perfectly to moments of hilarious slapstick, and there are a couple of real standout moments scattered throughout that will have you laughing all the way to the end.

Monaco: Complete Edition (Switch eShop)

Monaco: Complete Edition offers a solid solo experience which benefits from some excellent storytelling and multiple perspectives, as well as brilliantly-constructed heist-based gameplay focused on putting each criminal's skills to the best use. However, it truly shines in multiplayer, whether couch co-op or online. As the servers are pretty quiet, grabbing a group of friends and forming your own motley crew is your best route into this explosive heist thriller.

ibb & obb (Switch eShop)

Playing Ibb & Obb on your own is an absolute no-go; it just won't work. But get together with a friend – preferably via local play – and you'll have an absolute blast with this game. Some of the puzzles can be excruciatingly challenging at first, but it's immensely satisfying when you finally figure out how to beat them together. Yet another fine co-op title to add to the Switch's library.

Luigi's Mansion 3 (Switch)

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is not only a graphical powerhouse and showcase for Next Level Games’ unrivalled mastery of video game animation, but also an immense helping of spooky fun. The amount of care and consideration poured into every facet of the game is abundantly clear, and it all results in one of the most enjoyable and attractive Switch titles. It's an excellent single-player experience, but you can also play the whole game with a friend, loved one, or sworn enemy in co-op mode. Player One controls Luigi with Player Two as Gooigi, which delivers a largely symmetrical experience. OG Luigi is definitely more at the helm overall, though, making this a perfect game to play with kids or a less experienced gamer.

Knights and Bikes (Switch eShop)

From stem to stern, Knights and Bikes is a delight to behold and a testament to the creative power of the talent at Foam Sword. Demelza and Nessa’s story is a compelling one that hits all the right emotional and comical beats, while the laid-back gameplay proves to be varied and interesting as the narrative continues. All of this is tied together by some stellar presentation to make for a couch co-op experience that you won't want to miss out on. It's great whatever way you choose to play it, though bear in mind that you’ll be getting the best and most fulfilling experience if you bring a friend for a ridealong.

Streets of Rage 4 (Switch eShop)

Streets of Rage 4 is the very best the series has ever been and offers top-tier co-op brawling. Its hand-drawn graphics breathe new life into Wood Oak City and its inhabitants, the soundtrack is outstanding, and the combat feels better than ever. Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games, and Dotemu managed to completely modernise the look and feel of Streets of Rage, expanding on the experience without losing sight of what made the original games so popular to begin with – and the handful of additions made to the action here serve only to enhance the classic core gameplay, resulting in one of the best side-scrolling beat 'em ups we've played in a long time.

Phogs! (Switch eShop)

Phogs! is a genuine dose of unbridled joy in a weird, physics-y, dog-tube package. It's hard to play this game without having a huge, goofy smile on your face. The Switch version has some minor to major issues here and there, but it rarely slows down the momentum of the puzzle-solving, dog-wiggling gameplay – this is another brilliant co-op experience for Nintendo's system.

Overcooked! All You Can Eat (Switch)

Overcooked! All You Can Eat is a time management simulator, in which you and up to three friends must work together to prepare a variety of orders before your grumpy customers storm out of the restaurant impatiently. Meanwhile, your restaurant is actively fighting against you. You might have to contend with gusts of wind while preparing food on top of a hot air balloon or have to navigate a spinning kitchen. It's frantic stuff, and the craziness only ramps up the more players you play with. No matter how you play it though, you'll have a crazy amount of fun cooking up the various dishes.

This is an absolute must-buy for anybody looking for a fantastic party game to play with friends. The wacky visuals and chaotic gameplay make it an ideal game for local co-op, and there’s plenty of content to work through with the entirety of Overcooked: Special Edition and Overcooked 2 — both incredible co-op games in their own right — to feast on. The only downside is that those who have already dipped into either title (or both) won't find a massive amount of new stuff here, outside of the exclusive "Peckish Rises" expansion. Still, very tasty.

WarioWare: Get It Together! (Switch)

WarioWare: Get It Together! was 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 if you're after a couch co-op laugh.

And if you can't get enough of Wario's wares, WarioWare: Move It! brings back the excellent motion-controller madness of the Wii entry, Smooth Moves. Everyone's a winner.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Switch)

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a fantastic experience on Switch, a great big celebration of everything Star Wars, and a fun family co-op experience to boot. The upgrades to the series' core gameplay here — the combo-focused combat, flashy space battles, boss encounters, over-the-shoulder shooting action, and cover system — all combine to make this the best Lego Star Wars has ever felt to play. Throw in a humongous open-world setting that's bursting at the seams with secrets and collectibles and you've got an absolute smorgasbord of all things Star Wars to dig into with a pal in tow, and perhaps the best Lego game ever. Yub nub.

ARMS (Switch)

The core fighting mechanics of ARMS are easy to grasp — especially when you're using the pleasantly intuitive motion controls — but they showcase the kind of depth which rewards dedicated players. The game's Versus mode is all about local multiplayer, and allows up to four fighters to take part in various battles. In cooperative terms, Team Fight is where it's at, with a 2-on-2 mode where you are tethered to your ally via an elastic rope. It's great fun, and although you may not want to shell out for the game just for this mode, we love ARMS around these parts and wanted to give it a nod here.

In the scheme of things, it might not have made much of a dent in the hallowed canon of Nintendo IP, but ARMS deserves a second look if it flew under your radar.