The best online co-op Switch games in 2025 combine smooth matchmaking, stable performance, and teamwork that actually feels rewarding, not tacked on. This guide focuses on games that are still active, easy to play with friends, and offer real replay value through progression, missions, or shared worlds. Rankings weigh how deep the cooperation feels, how reliable the online experience is on Switch, and how friendly each title is for different skill levels. Whether you want long-term RPG grinds or short, social sessions, these picks keep online co-op fun night after night.
This article is part of our guide on the Best Nintendo Switch Co-Op Games
How We Ranked These Games
Each game was evaluated on how satisfying its co-op feels over time, how reliably it runs online on Nintendo Switch, and how easy it is to squad up with friends. The table below breaks down the key factors and how much they shaped final placements.
Criterion | Weight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
Co-op depth | 30% | Measures how meaningful teamwork feels, including roles, mission design, and whether co-op is central rather than optional. |
Online stability | 30% | Looks at connection quality, matchmaking reliability, and how smooth gameplay stays during busy moments. |
Replay value | 20% | Considers long-term hooks like progression systems, seasonal updates, and varied mission or run structures. |
Accessibility | 10% | Reflects how easy it is to join friends, cross-play support, and how welcoming the game is to newer players. |
Performance polish | 10% | Accounts for how well the game is optimized on Switch, including clarity, responsiveness, and load times. |
Related reading: The 10 Best Couch Co-Op Nintendo Switch Games to Play Together
The Top 10 Best Nintendo Switch Online Co-Op Games (2025)
These ranked picks highlight the strongest online co-op experiences on Nintendo Switch right now, from deep RPG grinds to relaxed social sandboxes. Entries are ordered by overall co-op quality, long-term value, and how reliably they perform when played online with friends.
Monster Hunter Rise
“The ultimate online hunting experience with unmatched teamwork depth and endgame content”
Why We Picked This
Monster Hunter Rise is all about teaming up to track, fight, and carve enormous creatures in carefully planned hunts. It ranks first because its co-op systems go deep: every weapon plays like a different role, and smart teams coordinate traps, buffs, and positioning to bring monsters down efficiently. Long-term progression and the Sunbreak expansion give groups a huge ladder of goals to climb together, which drives replay for months. The only real drawback is a steep learning curve for new players. For committed squads who want intricate teamwork and stable online play, this is the standout choice.
Game Experience
Diablo III: Eternal Collection
“The definitive loot-driven co-op RPG with endless build variety and seasonal content”
Why We Picked This
Diablo III: Eternal Collection turns online co-op into a constant loop of flashy combat, loot drops, and build tinkering. It earns such a high rank because the whole design revolves around shared progression: groups pick complementary classes, tear through dungeons together, and chase better gear season after season. The Switch version offers smooth online play and includes every expansion, so there is always another difficulty tier or build idea to try. Its only real weakness is that the story can feel like a tutorial for the richer endgame. For loot-driven groups, it’s a long-term staple.
Game Experience
Warframe
“Free-to-play space ninja co-op with decade-spanning content and full cross-platform play”
Why We Picked This
Warframe is a fast, acrobatic co-op shooter where squads of space ninjas clear missions and chase ever-stronger gear. It ranks this high because it delivers a huge amount of free content, deep build crafting, and smooth cross-play, all centered on 4-player teams. Frames and abilities naturally push players into soft roles like crowd control, support, or burst damage, giving co-op runs real structure. The downside is a steep learning curve and dense menus that can intimidate new Tenno. For groups willing to learn, it offers years of shared goals without an entry fee.
Game Experience
Terraria
“2D sandbox with 500+ hours of co-op boss fights, building, and exploration”
Why We Picked This
Terraria is a sprawling 2D sandbox where friends share a world, build bases, and take on a long ladder of bosses together. It deserves this high spot because its co-op naturally encourages role specialization: one player mines, another crafts gear, and others focus on magic, melee, or summons during big fights. The amount of content, items, and enemies keeps groups engaged far past the credits, and the Switch version handles online play reliably. It can be confusing for total beginners and world hosting takes a moment to learn. For patient groups, it’s a deep, long-haul adventure.
Game Experience
It Takes Two
“GOTY-winning mandatory co-op masterpiece with constantly evolving interdependent mechanics”
Why We Picked This
It Takes Two is a story-driven adventure designed entirely around two players working together, from the first puzzle to the final boss. It earns its rank because every chapter introduces new mechanics that demand real coordination, whether you are manipulating time, swapping gravity, or piloting quirky vehicles. The online co-op is stable on Switch and highlights how well the game treats both players as equals. It does have limited replay once the story is done. For couples, best friends, or any dedicated duo, it’s one of the most inventive co-op journeys available.
Game Experience
Minecraft
“The ultimate creative sandbox with cross-platform co-op and infinite possibilities”
Why We Picked This
Minecraft turns online co-op into a shared canvas where friends can survive, build, and explore however they like. It earns its place by combining massive replay value with strong social play: groups can chip away at a castle over weeks, dive into survival runs, or try community-made maps together. Cross-play and Realms make it easy for families and friend groups to stay connected. On Switch, performance can dip in very busy worlds, but online stability is generally solid. For anyone wanting flexible, creative co-op that grows with their imagination, it remains a standout.
Game Experience
Stardew Valley
“Relaxing shared-farm life sim perfect for long-term co-op with friends or family”
Why We Picked This
Stardew Valley offers a cozy, long-term co-op experience where players share a farm, split chores, and slowly build a life together. It earns its spot for how easy it is to play with family or friends: different people can focus on crops, animals, fishing, or dungeon runs, all feeding into the same progress. Stable online play and low hardware demands make it a reliable pick on Switch. Co-op is more about parallel tasks than tight mechanical combos, so it feels calmer than action-heavy games. For relaxed, low-pressure teamwork that fits into busy schedules, it’s excellent.
Game Experience
Borderlands Legendary Collection
“Three full looter shooters with hundreds of co-op hours and class-based synergies”
Why We Picked This
Borderlands Legendary Collection delivers three full looter shooters built from the ground up for co-op gunplay and loot chasing. It earns its place thanks to sheer content volume and strong class-based teamwork, as different abilities and skill trees mesh well during firefights. Sharing quests and comparing loot drops keeps groups engaged across long campaigns. On Switch, performance is serviceable rather than slick, and there is no cross-play, which slightly limits its appeal. For friends who want FPS combat with RPG-style growth, it’s a value-packed option that can last months.
Game Experience
Risk of Rain 2
“Chaotic roguelike shooter where item synergies create wildly powerful co-op builds”
Why We Picked This
Risk of Rain 2 is a chaotic co-op roguelike where each run turns your team into increasingly ridiculous powerhouses. It earns its spot because item synergies make every session feel different, encouraging squads to experiment with character combinations and builds. Online co-op on Switch is generally solid, and the constant ramp in difficulty creates memorable last stands. The downside is that performance can wobble during extreme late-game chaos, and newcomers may feel overwhelmed. For groups who love fast-paced runs and discovering wild item combos together, it’s a thrilling pick.
Game Experience
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
“Six-player arcade beat 'em up nostalgia with modern online co-op polish”
Why We Picked This
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is a modern arcade-style beat ’em up where up to six players brawl through colorful stages together. It belongs on this list because its online co-op is smooth, welcoming, and built for quick, satisfying sessions. Different characters have distinct moves and team attacks, so even casual groups feel a sense of synergy during big fights. While its campaign is shorter than deep RPGs and doesn’t have endless progression, it’s easy to replay for high scores or with new characters. For nostalgic, low-friction co-op nights, it’s a great fit.
Game Experience
Related reading: Top 10 Nintendo Switch Co-op Games for Couples
Honorable Mentions
These honorable mentions offer strong online co-op on Switch but narrowly missed the main ranking due to shorter campaigns, niche appeal, or limited progression depth. They are still excellent choices if their specific style fits your group.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a bright, friendly 3D platformer where two players journey through colorful levels together. It stands out for polished, low-stress co-op: Kirby handles most abilities while Bandana Waddle Dee adds support with a distinct moveset, making it ideal for kids and mixed-skill duos. Online co-op runs smoothly and the full campaign is playable together, with extra side challenges for a bit more replay. Its main limitation is length and depth compared with longer RPGs. For families seeking approachable Nintendo-style online teamwork, it’s a near-miss for the main ranking.
Among Us
Among Us is a social deduction game where crewmates cooperate to complete tasks and identify hidden impostors. It earns an honorable mention because it delivers a unique form of co-op built on conversation, trust, and light strategy rather than combat or grinding. Cross-play and a huge playerbase make finding matches effortless, and sessions stay fresh thanks to new roles and maps. It misses the top 10 because its focus leans partly into deception and party chaos rather than pure cooperative progress. For voice chat groups and social nights, it remains one of the most entertaining picks.
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is a beautiful side-scrolling adventure where up to four players combine the powers of a warrior, wizard, and thief to solve physics-based puzzles. It excels at thoughtful teamwork: one player conjures platforms, another anchors enemies, and a third threads arrows through tight spaces. Online co-op is stable on Switch and the presentation is striking, making it a relaxing yet brainy option. Its main drawback is limited replay, since puzzles lose surprise after a full run. For small groups who enjoy puzzle-solving more than grindy progression, it’s a charming near-miss.
Don't Starve Together
Don't Starve Together is a harsh survival game where players share resources, build a base, and try to outlast brutal seasons and night terrors. It earns its place just outside the top 10 thanks to deep systems and character perks that make planning and role division essential. On Switch, online play is solid, and ongoing updates keep worlds unpredictable. However, the onboarding is unforgiving and the tone is far more stressful than most co-op titles here, which makes it less approachable for many groups. For hardcore survival fans with patient friends, it’s a standout challenge.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Overcooked! All You Can Eat is a frantic co-op cooking game where up to four players race to prep dishes in chaotic kitchens. It shines as a party game because clear roles, tight timers, and cross-play turn every level into a shouting, laughing exercise in coordination. The bundle includes both main games and all DLC, offering a hefty set of stages. Its drawback is finite content and the risk of frustration if players communicate poorly. As a short-session, high-energy option for groups that thrive on pressure, it almost cracks the main ranking.
Related reading: Best 4-Player Couch Co-Op Switch Games
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ covers common questions about Nintendo Switch online co-op, from matchmaking basics to choosing the right game for different group sizes and play styles.
Which Nintendo Switch online co-op game is best for long-term play?
For long-term groups, Monster Hunter Rise, Diablo III, and Warframe stand out thanks to deep progression, regular goals, and huge content pools. Minecraft and Terraria also offer near-endless play through shared worlds and open-ended building.
How many players can join online co-op on Nintendo Switch?
Player counts vary by game. Some, like It Takes Two, are fixed at 2 players, while others such as Terraria, Minecraft, and TMNT: Shredder's Revenge support larger groups. Always check the online player cap before planning a full party.
Can I play Nintendo Switch online co-op games without voice chat?
Yes. Many co-op games are perfectly playable using pings, emotes, or simple in-game cues, especially slower titles like Stardew Valley. For fast-paced games such as Overcooked or Borderlands, voice chat makes coordination easier but is not strictly required.
What is the easiest online co-op game on Switch for beginners?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Stardew Valley, and Minecraft on peaceful or normal settings are very welcoming to new players. Simple controls, forgiving difficulty, and clear goals make them great first steps into online co-op.
Do I need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for these co-op games?
Most online co-op games require an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to play with others over the internet. A few titles with separate online systems may handle accounts differently, so it is worth checking each game’s store page.
Conclusion
Finding the right online co-op game on Switch is really about matching your group’s time, skill level, and taste for challenge. From relaxed farming and building to intense hunts and roguelike runs, these picks deliver stable matchmaking and teamwork that actually matters. Use the rankings as a shortcut, but lean on the descriptions to spot what best fits your friends or family. Staying flexible and trying a few different styles is often the fastest way to discover a new staple for game night.
