This guide highlights Nintendo Switch co-op games where the story genuinely benefits from playing together—not just score chasing. We ranked entries using narrative strength, how tightly cooperation advances the story, replay value, ease-of-use features, and Switch-specific performance, with a small nod to indie innovation. You'll find our top 10 picks plus five honorable mentions. Each game entry features detailed reasoning for its score, along with technical and practical information to help you decide on your next game.
This article is part of our guide on the Best Nintendo Switch Co-Op Games
How We Ranked These Games
We weighted narrative quality and co-op design most heavily, then balanced replay value, approachability, and Switch performance. The table shows each criterion, its weight, and why it matters.
Criterion | Weight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
Story Quality | 30% | Puts authored narrative, character arcs, and emotional payoff first. |
Co-op Integration | 25% | Rewards games where cooperation meaningfully advances the plot or scenarios. |
Switch Performance | 15% | Prioritizes stable visuals and input responsiveness in handheld and docked play. |
Replay Value | 15% | Ensures your co-op sessions stay fresh beyond a single playthrough. |
Accessibility | 10% | Makes story experiences welcoming to mixed-skill pairs and families. |
Indie Status | 5% | Highlights innovation and risk-taking that can elevate unique co-op storytelling. |
Related reading: Best Educational Nintendo Switch Games for Kids
The Top 10 Best Nintendo Switch Story Co-op Games
Rankings run from No. 10 to No. 1. Each entry earned its place by combining strong storytelling with cooperation that changes how the story unfolds or is experienced on Switch.
“Family saga told through generations of roguelite dungeon crawling”
Why We Picked This
Children of Morta blends a family saga with roguelite runs, threading narrative moments between dungeons so both players witness the Bergsons’ story evolve. Distinct classes push you to coordinate in combat, and meta-progression means even failed runs move the tale forward. It places tenth because its storytelling is fragmented by design and the action can be demanding, though Switch performance is solid. If you want replayable co-op with meaningful, recurring story beats, this is a satisfying choice.
“Intimate relationship story perfect for couples to experience together”
Why We Picked This
Haven centers its narrative on a couple’s dynamic, and co-op lets both players inhabit that relationship in dialogue, exploration, and a lightweight combat system. The glide-based traversal and home-base routines create a relaxed rhythm suited to evening sessions. Its score is pulled down by modest replay appeal and some performance variances in busy scenes, but the writing and two-character focus make it a strong recommendation for pairs who value intimacy over spectacle. It’s a quiet, modern love story you genuinely play together.
“Wordless yarn-based storytelling through cooperative puzzle platforming”
Why We Picked This
Unravel Two tells a quiet story through environments and animation rather than long cutscenes, and its two-yarn mechanics reinforce partnership—tethering, catching, and boosting each other through hazards. On Switch, it’s a comfortable couch experience with generous assists, making it welcoming for families. It ranks lower because its narrative, while tender, is intentionally minimal and replay hinges on chasing collectibles or post-game trials. As tactile cooperative storytelling with smart accessibility options, it’s a lovely pick for short, shared sessions.
“Childhood adventure brought to life through imaginative co-op storytelling”
Why We Picked This
Knights and Bikes channels a heartfelt coming-of-age tale where co-op underlines friendship: each player gains complementary tools that solve environmental puzzles and gently paced combat. The nostalgia-laced presentation and approachable mechanics make it ideal for casual couch sessions, and the Switch port runs smoothly. It lands mid-list because replay appeal is modest and the arc is compact compared with heavier hitters. Still, as a cozy, character-focused journey that’s truly better with a second player, it earns its place.
“A beautiful meditation on death and friendship with gentle co-op support”
Why We Picked This
Spiritfarer’s story excels at intimate, character-led moments, and co-op supports that tone without overwhelming it. The second player acts as a helpful companion—gathering resources, platforming alongside you, and joining in small rituals—so both share in the emotional cadence. It’s approachable for mixed-skill pairs, short-session friendly, and performs well on Switch. The assistant role is less symmetrical than our top picks, which lowers its cooperative complexity score, but the writing, art direction, and gentle pacing make it a memorable shared narrative experience.
“Cinematic prison break that demands constant cooperation between two players”
Why We Picked This
A Way Out earns its spot for how the dynamic split-screen cinematography ties narrative tension directly to cooperation. Tasks often happen in parallel—one distracts, the other acts—making both players responsible for pacing and outcomes. The straightforward mechanics and clear direction make it welcoming, while the structure ensures you both witness key moments from different perspectives. It’s shorter and less replayable than others, and Switch performance is adequate rather than pristine, but as a tightly paced, cinematic co-op story, it remains a standout.
“The gold standard of story-driven cooperative puzzle solving”
Why We Picked This
Portal 2’s co-op campaign is authored specifically for two minds, with puzzles that demand communication, simultaneous inputs, and shared timing—ideal for story co-op where collaboration should shape the experience. The writing lands even in brief scenes, and GLaDOS’s commentary frames progress with narrative purpose. It’s shorter than some entries and less replayable once solved, but its clarity, performance stability on Switch, and tight integration between narrative beats and mechanics keep it near the top. Few puzzle games feel this much like a co-authored story of ingenuity.
“Build a farm and community together while uncovering character stories”
Why We Picked This
Stardew Valley’s story is quieter but persistent: relationships, letters, festivals, and character quests stitch a shared narrative over time. Co-op doesn’t just mean shared chores—players divide roles, pursue different social arcs, and still rejoin for key beats. It shines for replay because each farm plan and social path creates a different tone, and the Switch version runs smoothly in both handheld and docked. While it lacks a singular, cinematic plot, the town’s personal stories and long-tail goals make it a rewarding co-authored saga for small groups.
“The ultimate relationship therapy disguised as a magical co-op adventure”
Why We Picked This
Every level in It Takes Two retools its mechanics around collaboration, so story progress literally depends on shared problem-solving. That tight mechanical pairing with narrative themes about partnership elevates it in our ranking. The campaign is focused, varied, and rarely repeats ideas, making it accessible to non-regular players. Performance on Switch is serviceable, and the staging makes co-op communication essential without becoming stressful. It’s shorter and less replay-driven than our No. 1, but as a directed, story-first two-player experience with constant interaction, it’s exceptional.
“The deepest story co-op RPG where every choice matters for both players”
Why We Picked This
Divinity: Original Sin 2 leads because its story and systems actively acknowledge having more than one protagonist. Conversations can split, companions react to both players’ choices, and battles reward true cooperation rather than parallel play. The branching narrative and origin stories create meaningful replay paths, while the Switch port holds steady enough to sustain long sessions, especially docked. It’s less immediately approachable than lighter picks, yet difficulty options and clear combat readability help newcomers. Few games let two players co-author a tale at this depth, which is why it ranks first.
Related reading: Top 10 Switch co-op games for couples.
Honorable Mentions
These games excel at co-op but missed the top 10 due to lighter storytelling, shorter campaigns, or performance trade-offs specific to Switch. They’re still easy to recommend for the right players.
Minecraft: Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeons nails accessibility and drop-in co-op with clear loot progression, snappy missions, and scalable difficulty, making it ideal for families. It also performs consistently on Switch, with readable UI and short session loops. However, its narrative is mostly framing—fun, but light touch—so story momentum rarely drives play the way our top 10 selections do. Replay value is strong through gear chasing and DLC maps, yet the emotional stakes and character arcs are minimal. It narrowly missed the list because story texture and co-authored narrative moments are limited.
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince
Trine 4 offers clever, physics-based puzzles for up to four players, with character abilities that interlock elegantly in co-op. The fairy-tale presentation and chapter structure work nicely on Switch, and replay is decent thanks to alternative puzzle solutions. Its placement outside the top 10 comes down to story weight: the narrative is a pleasant backdrop rather than a driving force, and some Switch scenes show mild performance dips. When judged specifically on story-forward co-op, it’s excellent at collaboration but lighter on memorable character development.
Moon Hunters
Moon Hunters experiments with procedural myth-making across short, co-op-friendly runs, letting your choices seed a culture’s legends. That creative framing gives it strong replay hooks and a unique approach to story agency. It misses the top 10 for two reasons: the narrative vignettes can feel fleeting compared with fully authored arcs, and combat/co-op synergy is uneven across builds. Switch performance is fine, but readability and UI can feel sparse in handheld. It’s a fascinating idea-forward pick that just lacks the sustained, character-driven throughline of higher-ranked games.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
The Skywalker Saga is enormous, co-op-friendly, and highly accessible, retelling all nine films with trademark LEGO humor. It excels at local split-screen and pick-up-and-play sessions, with plenty of optional content for extended replay. As a story co-op experience, though, it’s more episodic than character-deep, and pacing is tuned for collectible hunting rather than sustained narrative focus. The Switch version is perfectly playable but can show performance and camera quirks in split-screen. Those factors kept it just outside the top 10 for this story-first brief.
Darksiders Genesis
Darksiders Genesis is a fun isometric action co-op entry with complementary kits for War and Strife, and its mission structure suits short sessions well. The prequel storyline clarifies series lore, but it rarely drives play moment-to-moment; combat and loot loops take center stage. On Switch, readability and frame pacing are acceptable yet not standout, especially handheld. It narrowly missed the top 10 because its narrative texture and co-authored story beats are comparatively thin, even though the cooperative action is reliably enjoyable.
Related reading: best Switch couch co-op games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are quick answers to common questions about story co-op on Switch, from couch setup to session planning.
What defines a “story co-op” game on Switch?
We look for authored or emergent narratives where playing together changes how the story progresses or is experienced—through shared choices, complementary roles, or bespoke co-op levels—not just a second controller added to arcade modes.
Is local couch co-op or online co-op better for these games?
It depends on the title. Games built around communication-heavy puzzles or parallel actions benefit from couch play, while longer RPG campaigns often shine online. Our blurbs note each game’s strengths and setup options.
Can we play using a single Joy-Con each?
Some titles support paired single Joy-Cons, but precision platformers and RPGs are more comfortable with Pro Controllers or full Joy-Con pairs. Check our setup notes and your in-game controller settings.
How long should we budget for a session?
Most picks accommodate 20–60 minute sessions with smart checkpoints. Longer RPGs are still manageable thanks to frequent saves; we provide typical session lengths per game.
Do any of these games support cross-save or cloud features?
Cloud saves depend on Nintendo Switch Online and the game’s implementation. Cross-save is rare on Switch; check the eShop page for the latest support details.
Conclusion
Story-focused co-op on Switch spans sprawling CRPGs, crafted two-player adventures, and relaxed sims you can grow into over weeks. We weighted narrative quality and how cooperation shapes that story, then balanced replay value, usability, and performance to find picks for different skill levels and schedules. Whether you prefer cinematic set pieces or slow-burn character arcs, each game placed where it did for clear reasons—story depth, cooperative integration, or accessibility—and you'll find who it suits best. Ready for more tailored picks? Try our Recommendations Engine for suggestions that match your play style.
