{"id":116532,"date":"2020-08-08T04:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-08T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2020\/08\/feature_best_nintendo_switch_online_multiplayer_games"},"modified":"2020-08-08T04:30:00","modified_gmt":"2020-08-08T04:30:00","slug":"feature-best-nintendo-switch-online-multiplayer-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2020\/08\/08\/feature-best-nintendo-switch-online-multiplayer-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Feature: Best Nintendo Switch Online Multiplayer Games"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nintendo Switch is the perfect<\/em> console for local multiplayer – simply crack off those Joy-Con and start having fun with whoever happens to be in the room with you. However, the console has built up a solid portfolio of online<\/em> multiplayer games since launch, too, and we’ve picked out a handful – in no particular order – to help you get the most out of your online experience.<\/p>\n

Nintendo Switch Online is Nintendo’s paid subscription service and is required to play most Switch games online. However, this doesn’t apply to free-to-play games<\/a>, though (Fortnite<\/a><\/strong>, for example).<\/p>\n

While Nintendo’s online infrastructure has had a rocky reputation in the past, Switch has come on leaps and bounds since launch and, despite its foibles, Nintendo Switch Online is certainly worth the modest monthly or annual fee if you’ve got Switch friends in distant places (there are also ways to make that cost even more<\/em> reasonable<\/a> if you’re willing to share).<\/p>\n

The subscription also<\/em> gives you access to an ever-growing catalogue of lovely NES and SNES games<\/a> to play at your leisure, many with online multiplayer options courtesy of the service’s built-in framework, so in addition to the gems we’ve picked out below, you’ve always got the option to go retro if you fancy playing Double Dragon<\/a><\/strong> or Super Mario Bros. 3<\/a><\/strong> with a faraway friend.<\/p>\n

Our picks of the best couch co-op Switch games<\/a> might suit you better if you prefer multiplayer of the local variety, but let’s sit back and take a look at the best online multiplayer games currently available on the console.<\/p>\n

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\"Splatoon\"Splatoon<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Nintendo<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Nintendo Software Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>21st Jul 2017 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 21st Jul 2017 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Splatoon 2<\/a><\/strong> is just about everything you could ask for from a sequel. It builds on everything the original online team shooter set up and then some; almost every single major issue people had with the first game has been resolved, showing that Nintendo is genuinely listening and wants to deliver the absolute best experience possible. It maintains the freshness you\u2019d expect and throws in countless big and small changes and additions, every one of them for the better. The last Splatfest may have come and gone, but Splatoon 2 is still ink-redible.<\/p>\n

Please note that some links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

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\"Fortnite\"Fortnite<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Epic Games<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Epic Games<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>12th Jun 2018 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 12th Jun 2018 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Epic delivered the full fat Battle Royale experience of Fortnite<\/a><\/strong> on the \u2018homeheld\u2019. You\u2019re sure to notice the framerate difference if you\u2019re coming from other consoles, but performance-wise, it\u2019s steady and perfectly playable. Frequent updates keep the game feeling fresh and, crucially, that just-one-more<\/em> feeling survives the transition to Switch intact. Before you know it, you\u2019ll be eyeing the clock at 3:56 am thinking \u2018hmm, that\u2019s not a round number\u2019. The heart-pounding suspense of making it to the final two may not be healthy, but it sure is addictive. Fortnite is one of Switch’s most nail-biting online experiences, and with all the new features piling into the game every season, there’s no time like the present to parachute in.<\/p>\n

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\"Rocket\"Rocket<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Psyonix Studios<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Psyonix Studios<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>14th Nov 2017 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 14th Nov 2017 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

One of modern gaming’s true online multiplayer success stories, Rocket League<\/a><\/strong> is an essential addition to the Switch’s striking library. The spirit of the game has been transferred perfectly, with the added benefit of portable play which opens up the chance to host local matches with your Switch owning mates wherever and whenever you fancy. Developer Panic Button has done an utterly fantastic job with this port, but technical wizardry aside, what really matters is that the core game is so addictive, so compelling, so enjoyable and \u2013 perhaps above all else \u2013 so deep<\/em>. Don’t let anyone tell you that Rocket League is simplistic or lacks longevity; the vibrant community that has grown up around Psyonix’s masterpiece renders that viewpoint wholly incorrect. It rewards skilful play and perseverance, and new tactics and strategies seem to flow from each and every match you partake in. Only the occasional network niggle throws shade on this otherwise sublime release, but it’s still an essential online experience.<\/p>\n

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\"Tetris\"Tetris<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Nintendo<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Arika<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>13th Feb 2019 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 14th Feb 2019 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The complete oddball of the family, Tetris 99<\/strong><\/a> offers a truly unique way to play the tried-and-tested classic, even if the overall package feels a little lightweight. Playing live against 98 others is chaotic, and the action feels fast, precise, and wonderfully addictive. It\u2019s seriously difficult, too \u2013 we\u2019d fancy our chances in Fortnite<\/strong> over this any day \u2013 and we\u2019re impressed with the fact that it’s forced us to play the game with a completely different approach to our usual slow-and-steady ways. Signing up for Nintendo Switch Online just to play this game might be a bit of a stretch, but if you\u2019re already a member, what are you waiting for? It\u2019s free, and it might just become your next favourite time sink.<\/p>\n

Honourable Mention: Puyo Puyo Tetris<\/a><\/strong> – While Tetris 99 has stolen its limelight, Puyo Puyo Tetris is still a remarkable entry in the puzzle genre, combining two of the greats in one fantastic package with solid online play.<\/p>\n

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\"Diablo\"Diablo<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Blizzard<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Blizzard<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>2nd Nov 2018 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 2nd Nov 2018 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Diablo III: Eternal Collection<\/a><\/strong> is a lovely port of a classic RPG loot-a-thon that keeps its feet firmly in the past. The execution is wonderful, but its gameplay is not something that will appeal to everyone due to the high level of repetition. Local multiplayer is a beautiful addition, and even though the limitations of having to have all four characters on one screen can be mildly irksome, it\u2019s still excellent fun. Online is the absolute bee\u2019s knees<\/em> in contrast, allowing you to drop into any friend\u2019s game at a moment\u2019s notice provided they\u2019ll allow it, and continue grabbing loot and smashing evil in the face. Its visuals are clear and functional if not especially interesting, but performance is top notch to make up for it. If you\u2019re looking for a loot-driven grind-a-thon with more explosions of viscera than you can comfortably discuss with your mother, this is the game for you.<\/p>\n

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\"Mario\"Mario<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Nintendo<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Nintendo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>28th Apr 2017 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 28th Apr 2017 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe<\/a><\/strong> delivers a huge amount of racing goodness right out of the box; arguably the best Mario Kart release we’ve seen. Some will argue about where this entry stands in the pantheon of the franchise, but for our money it’s competing for top spot. It’s the definitive Mario Kart 8 experience, content-rich and a delightful feast of comedic, cartoonish karting action. You can play solo or in two-player split-screen online, with Global and Regional rooms for racing and battling. With a solid online setup that has the potential to keep you playing for months and even years to come, it’s a game that continually raises a smile and, occasionally, induces that trademark Mario Kart rage as shells strike and positions are lost. It’s addictive and unifying, unfiltered fun that draws in anyone daring enough to take up the wheel.<\/p>\n

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\"Paladins\"Paladins<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Hi-Rez Studios<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Hi-Rez Studios<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>12th Jun 2018 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 12th Jun 2018 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Hi-Rez Studios’ team-based shooter Paladins: Champions of the Realm<\/a><\/strong> is an easy sell. As exciting, tense and rewarding as Overwatch<\/strong>, it brings the cross-platform hero shooter to a new platform without sacrificing the moreish gameplay elements that made it such a hit with both gamers and pros. There\u2019s a definitive learning curve for those looking to play competitively, but it\u2019s nonetheless one of the console\u2019s best multiplayer games.<\/p>\n

Honourable Mention:<\/strong> SMITE<\/a><\/strong> – Also coming from Hi-Rez, this free-to-play MOBA is to League of Legends<\/strong> and Dota 2<\/strong> what Paladins is to Overwatch. It’s a textbook example of how to port an online-focused experience to a handheld-friendly console and is absolutely worth a look.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nintendo Switch is the perfect console for local multiplayer – simply crack off those Joy-Con and start having fun with whoever happens to be in the room with you. However, the console has built up a solid portfolio of online multiplayer games since launch, too, and we’ve picked out a handful – in no particular […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nintendo-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116532","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116532"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116532\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}