The best split-screen Switch games

By Jesse Lennox Published January 17, 2025

The Nintendo Switch introduced many innovations when it was released, with the most prominent being the ability to play the console as a handheld or docked in a TV. What isn’t talked about as often is how amazing the Joy-Con controllers are for enabling split-screen play. Thanks to each one being able to function as a full controller, you can start playing the best Switch games with a friend without investing in more hardware. With such a deep library of games, many of which are multiplayer, you have an overwhelming number of options for the best split-screen games. If you’ve got a partner ready to play, we’ll help you pick the best split-screen games you can play today.

There aren’t a ton of upcoming Switch games left, but you should still browse that list for more options while we wait for the Switch 2.

Traditional Zelda games are all single-player adventures. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity isn’t a normal Zelda title, but a Musou game in a Zelda wrapping. For those unaware, Musou games were made famous by the Dynasty Warrior series a