If there's anything Nintendo's synonymous with - aside from its pasta-loving platforming plumber - it's the strength of its local multiplayer experiences.
From the 8-bit era of the NES, to the chaotic 8-player romps on the Switch, there's always been an abundance of fun, colorful split-screen multiplayer romps for friends and family to get lost in. Many of these intense, action-packed virtual experiences can set the stage for seemingly endless hours of enjoyment, laughs, and plenty of friendly ribbing.
Let's take a look back at the rich, dense history of Nintendo games and shine a spotlight on the best of the best; the 10 greatest games you can play locally with friends and family.
10 Overcooked 2 (Switch)
Nintendo has had its share of great competitive multiplayer games over the years and decades, but Overcooked 2 has to be, pound for pound, one of most solid co-op multiplayer romps. This game manages to make cooking feel like a thrilling, heart-pounding endeavor, as you and up to 3 friends scramble to throw together a list of requested dishes. These range from sushi to pizza to chocolate chip pancakes.
While the first Overcooked laid the foundation for an excellent, endlessly fun local multiplayer ride, this sequel fleshes it out and seasons it to delicious perfection. Tons of new recipes, chefs, varying scenarios, and split-screen online play help flesh out a succulent and rich co-op experience.
9 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch)
Much like our previous entry, this multiplayer game is the product of an already successful formula refined and expanded to near-perfection. While Rare's Donkey Kong Country was a true classic in its own way, the multiplayer - which forced players to take turns - doesn't quite compare to the simultaneous co-op in this game.
DKC: Tropical Freeze on Switch is simply the best way to play Retro's more recent DKC Returns series, with the amusing addition of Funky Mode, the cane-bouncing Cranky as a playable character, and a bunch of new content. This is one of the most fun, lavish co-op platformers you'll find, bar none.
8 Soul Calibur 2 (GC)
When it comes to traditional, competitive fighting games, it's hard to find a more consistently great example than the Soul Calibur series. The franchise has always been known for its satisfying and distinct lineup of fighters, each with their own style and set of satisfying moves. It's also managed to walk that tightrope between accessibility and complexity, making for some exciting split-screen duals.
This 2nd rendition of SC on GameCube is one of the best ways you can play the game - not just for its sleeker aesthetics, but also for the neat inclusion of Link as a fighter. This title also has a myriad of features, including a Team Battle Mode, Survival Battle, and Time Attack.
7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time (SNES)
It may seem questionable to place a game that doesn't allow for more than 2 simultaneous players on this list, but Turtles in Time is just that great. The chaos and insanity of 4-player Turtle battles are, unfortunately, limited to the arcade version of this game. Regardless, it's still a blast fighting your way through hordes of Foot Soldiers with a friend; and besides, the SNES version is almost unquestionably the superior port anyway.
This is simply one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences you can have with another player, offering tons of satisfying action that holds a level of depth without getting too complex. It's tough to match that rewarding feeling of you and a friend both heaving enemies directly into the screen or at a mechanized Shredder. This is just one of those timeless classics that never loses its luster.
6 New Super Mario Bros Wii (Wii)
Despite being the home of Mario, Nintendo surprised quite a few fans when it rolled out the return of the mustached man in a more classic 2D sidescrolling form. This was during a time when 3D was still all the rage - even for platformers.
NSMB on DS, and its even stronger follow-up on Wii, proved that classic platforming could still be a blast to play - especially when it featured the added chaos of simultaneous co-op. The split-screen implemented in NWMB Wii made for one of the most entertaining party games ever. All of this simultaneous action ensured plenty of laughs as players hopped and bashed into each other, stealing powerups, and knocking friends into pits.
Even solo playthroughs prove fun, as the game doesn't sacrifice in terms of its colorful, inventive level design. Yet, the multiplayer elevates NSMB to another level of enjoyment.
5 Goldeneye 007 (N64)
While this classic title from Rare hasn't aged amazingly with its jagged, blocky aesthetic, Goldeneye remains one of those all-time classic multiplayer games. It's still one of the best ways to duke it out with friends in a 3D arena.
Not only is there a surprisingly enduring campaign mode to tackle, but the multiplayer featured is impressively robust and exciting, even by modern standards. The plethora of game modes, characters, and unique weapons provides endless entertainment for groups of friends looking to engage in some adrenaline-laced fun. There's even an array of cheats, such as invisibility and no radar, that can alter the dynamic of the matches and invoke some laughs.
4 Mario Party 2 (N64)
It's no easy task to pinpoint a single Mario Party entry when it comes to terrific split-screen titles. Indeed, most of the games in this populated franchise at least deserve an honorable mention in terms of entertaining party romps. Yet, ultimately it's Mario Party 2 on N64 which shines through as the overall superior game.
The game minimizes the weird gimmicks, dials back the bloat, and focuses on pure, undiluted fun, while also providing a slew of delightful, captivating minigames. Perhaps the best part is its refinement and improvement of already great minigames featured in the first Mario Party, such as the thrilling Bumper Balls. On top of this, it contains some of the best, most inventive board games in the series, like Western Land and Pirate Land.
3 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)
Like our previous entry, the Mario Kart series has managed to be pretty consistently excellent in terms of its joyful, exciting split-screen gameplay. Still, the ultimate highpoint of this kart-racing hit is almost certainly the remastered, refined version of the already stellar MK8 Deluxe for Switch.
The slick and colorful visuals have been even further polished, the battle mode has been improved, and the game features a larger lineup of courses and drivers spanning tons of Mario games. Despite the glitz and action you're bombarded with throughout the rich maps, MK8 can rock up to 4-player split-screen impressively well.
2 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)
This exhilarating party fighting bonanza is quite appropriately titled. This is simply the ultimate way to play this classic arcade-style fighter on Switch. If you thought playing with 4 people simultaneously was intense, try a whopping 8 total, all wailing on eachother, tossing game-changing items around, and blasting Final Smash moves.
Ultimate provides expansive, spacious maps to accommodate the populated 8-player matches, adding to an already robust list of unique, dynamic stages.
Not only this, but players can now team up to engage in co-op battles against AI opponents in the game's Classic Mode, and can play around with a ton of other gameplay customizations and modes.
1 Wii Sports (Wii)
Wii Sports has truly made for a revolutionary experience with its immersive, accessible feel, helping to redefine how we understand split-screen gaming. Facing off against a friend or sibling in a virtual competition was now as simple as swinging around a Wii Remote in a simulated game of Tennis, or teeing up a thrown baseball with your imaginary bat.
There's a reason Wii Sports has become one of the most successful games of all-time; it provides a level of entertainment and intuitiveness that's simply unmatched, even by most games today.