The Nintendo Switch was one of those rare consoles that had local multiplayer in mind when the system was built. That’s why there are two controllers via the Joy-Cons. So it should stand to reason that the console should be home to some of the best multiplayer games of 2020.
This ranking is not a definitive list from top to bottom on Metacritic. It’s more of a gathering of the very best games rated throughout the gaming industry with a few exceptions. From co-op adventures to massive experiences, these games had friends playing frantically all year in a time when multiplayer games were sorely needed.
10 Cake Bash (74)
Cake Bash is a party game in the same vane as Mario Party. Players choose a delicious treat like a donut or cupcake and fight their way through various mini game in order to be one the top pastry. These mini games range from grilling the best marshmallow at a campfire to getting as many jellybeans as possible before a pigeon swipes down and tries to eat them. It’s simple to pick up and play for all ages.
9 Darksiders Genesis (74)
Technically this is a 2019 game but that was Stadia only. 2020 is the year of consoles. Anyway, this spinoff was actually better received than the last main entry.
It doesn’t hold a candle to the first two in terms of production value, but this top-down RPG is great for co-op. It had some problems at launch but most of these technical problems have been smoothed over.
8 Super Punch Patrol (75)
This is a small, cheap game that most probably didn’t even know came out. In a year where Streets of Rage made a return, other brawlers like this one helped break out the genre from the 90s even more. The notebook like visual style makes it really pop. It’s pretty basic as were a lot of brawlers of the time, but again for the price, it will be a good weekend run with a friend.
7 Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity (78)
As is the case with most Dynasty Warriors games and its spinoffs, they are best played with a friend in co-op. Some of these missions can take almost an hour to thoroughly complete. Things can go by faster if the mission allows for swapping between characters but it still doesn’t compare to the speed one can gain with a pal. This was not Breath of the Wild 2, but a game like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity could still be good for some mindless fun.
6 Neon Abyss (79)
This was a roguelike that played a bit like a 2D Borderlands. That is to say what made this game shine was its insane collection of guns. The rewards were far and few between so it’s definitely not the most accessible roguelike of the year. What was great, besides the neon colors and goofy guns, was the inclusion of co-op.
5 Fuser (80)
Harmonix made a name for itself as the party game creator thanks to Rock Band. Fuser probably isn’t going to be as big of a smash hit as that.
However, co-operating a DJ table and trying to create the best mix possible for a crowd creating one of the more unique multiplayer experiences of the year. It also has a versus mode.
4 Kingdom Hearts: Melody Of Memory (80)
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory has a similar multiplayer experience to Fuser. For those unaware, this is a rhythm action game where players run down colored highways to classic songs from the franchise and try to defeat enemies to the beat. These songs can be played with a friend in co-op. Players can also try to outrank their friends in versus matches. It's not the robust multiplayer out there, but fans of the series should get a kick out of it.
3 Huntdown (86)
This felt like a throwback to something from the Sega Genesis which may be odd to say for a Nintendo list but the point is it works. It is a level based bounty hunting game. Players can choose their Hunter and try to tackle a varying plethora of bounty bosses almost like in a Mega Man game. It’s a pretty straightforward 2D platform shooter but one solidly made. The addition of co-op made it better as is the case for many of these games.
2 Streets Of Rage 4 (86)
As mentioned earlier, Streets of Rage 4 was a longtime coming. The third game came out in the 90s for the SEGA Genesis so it has been over two decades. The wait was certainly worth it though because unlike another two decade sleeper, Battletoads, this one delivered the punches. The art style was fresh while the fist smashing action was a great throwback even if not much changed.
1 Animal Crossing: New Horizons (90)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the quintessential Switch game of the year. It came at the right time when everyone was starting to get held up at home. The multiplayer integration of allowing other players to visit one’s island could have been handled better but it was still fun to get visitors and to explore new islands. More so than the literal multiplayer, it was also a multiplayer game in the sense that everyone was playing it and discussing strategies and the likes online.