Pikmin 3 Deluxe

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is probably the most underrated co-op game on this entire list. Two players simultaneously managing different groups of Pikmin, splitting objectives, coordinating across a map without stepping on each other. It requires genuine communication and planning, which puts it well outside casual-drop-in territory. That is also what makes it one of the most rewarding co-op experiences on Switch for a pair that wants something with actual strategic weight. Narrowly missed the top ten because the onboarding asks more of new players than most games here, but if that description appeals to you, do not skip it.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is the most underrated co-op game on Switch and the one I most often feel guilty about leaving off a shortlist. The two-player campaign requires genuinely split attention, with both players managing different groups of Pikmin across the same map, and the coordination that develops over a few sessions is genuinely satisfying. It just asks more of new players upfront than most of the games in the top ten, and for a broad-audience recommendation that friction matters. If you and your co-op partner are comfortable with strategy and want something that rewards planning, this belongs on your shortlist immediately.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe landed here over Pikmin 4 specifically because the co-op design is more deliberate. In the main campaign, two players split responsibilities in real time, one managing the path forward while the other handles harvesting or combat. That split-focus structure makes cooperation feel purposeful rather than incidental. I find strategy games with natural role division easier to stay in than ones where both players are doing the same thing, which is part of why this game held my attention longer than I expected. The mission mode adds extra co-op content beyond the campaign if you exhaust the story. Local only, though.