The best party games for Nintendo Switch

One of the forgotten launch games for the Switch was a little experimental party game called 1-2 Switch. This was a collection of minigames that were intended to inspire competition and fun that everyone could understand and enjoy. While it was not a bad game, it was a bit lacking in content and was quickly drowned out by the likes of Mario and Zelda. In a surprise move, Nintendo has released a sequel called Everybody 1-2-Switch! that adds some new flavor to the party game experience. Sure, some games may be a bit awkward, such as a sumo game where you hold your Joy-Con on your back and use your butt to try and bounce your opponent out, but that’s the joy of these games. This game can support up to eight players on a single device, or 100 using smartphones, so no party is too big to play. Just be wary of some technical hiccups that could spoil the fun.

In almost any other circumstance, golf would probably be the last type of game you’d think would make a good party game. However, once you add Mario into the mix, suddenly everything changes. Just like every sport or game Mario attaches himself to, this golf game only uses the basic framework of the sport and dumps a heap of Nintendo fun on top of it. Even the modes most similar to golf are more fun thanks to the colorful and creative courses and different characters with their own strengths and weaknesses. There is a little more of a learning curve with Mario Golf: Super Rush due to the timing-based gameplay of nailing your shot, but there are modes where even that isn’t too important. You could play a normal, turn-based run of golf in the Standard Golf mode, or get crazy and load up Speed Golf or Battle Golf. Speed Golf has everyone playing at once to try and get their ball in the hole as fast as possible. But, since everyone is moving and acting at once, you have the opportunity to sabotage other players on the way to the hole. Battle Golf is similar but adds new hazards to the course and just one hole everyone is trying to reach. Once one player sinks a shot, a new one opens up somewhere else. These are wild fun and chaotic enough that less skilled golfers won’t feel too disadvantaged.

Based on sales numbers alone, it’s more likely than not that you already own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe if you have a Switch. Mario Kart has been the king of the kart racing genre ever since, well, it invented it. Others have attempted to emulate the formula, but none can match the controls, items, characters, and perfectly designed tracks of the original. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe took the original game from the WiiU, packed in all the DLC, and made it run even better on the Switch. The result is possibly the best racing game ever made, bar none. Just like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, this game is tuned to be accessible for gamers of all ages and skill levels. At the most basic, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is about as easy to learn as any racing game can be. You have the gas, brake, steering, and button to use items, and that’s all you need to get going. If that’s too much, there’s even a mode that helps players steer and stay on the course. On the other hand, you can crank it up to 200cc for the most fast-paced experience possible. Aside from normal races and Grand Prix modes, you can mix things up with a Battle Mode that is all about popping the other player’s balloons with offensive items like shells and bob-ombs. The only reason we tucked this entry at the bottom of the list, despite it being arguable the number 1 choice, is because we suspect everyone either owns this game already or at least knows how perfect it is to share with friends.