The Nintendo Switch is the Best Console for Couples
As a hardcore gamer and content creator, I get asked often—which is the best console for couples who want to game together? Based on expert analysis of each platform‘s offerings for local multiplayer and my own experiences, the Nintendo Switch stands above the rest to enable shared gaming.
According to a 2022 survey by gaming peripherals company PowerA, roughly 27% of Switch owners game with a significant other. This far exceeds couples gaming on PlayStation (15%) and Xbox (13%). The Switch‘s focus as both a living room and handheld device with a thriving couch co-op scene caters perfectly to gamer pairs.
Nintendo Rules the Local Multiplayer Domain
The Switch prospers thanks to Nintendo‘s long legacy emphasizing local social play on the couch. As VerticalPixels gaming site explains, "Nintendo consoles have always been about enjoying games together in the same place, and that idea reaches its peak with the Switch."
Over 75% of the top 50 best-reviewed cooperative games spanning the Wii U and Switch platforms are Nintendo exclusives, per Co-Optimus‘ analysis below:
| Console | Number of Exclusives in Top 50 Local Co-Op Games |
| Nintendo Switch | 19 |
| Nintendo Wii U | 10 |
| PlayStation 4 | 8 |
| Xbox One | 5 |
The diversity of the Switch‘s catalogfrom AAA Mario Kart 8 and Luigi‘s Mansion 3 to indie darlings Overcooked and Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetimeprovides endless options for pairs to play together. The console‘s signature shareable Joy-Con controllers make teaming up seamless.
Sony & Microsoft Priotize Power over Local Play
Without question, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X house more bleeding edge specifications, stunning graphics, and advanced online services than the Switch. However, these consoles focus less on same-screen multiplayer.
The PS5 offsets its lack of local co-op support with striking immersive single-player experiences like God of War: Ragnarok that couples can enjoy taking turns on. Xbox counters with Game Passan "Netflix for games" with hundreds of co-op friendly titles. Yet the requirement to own two consoles for online play limits access.
Furthermore, in a tear down comparison Digital Foundry concludes the Switch uses impressively efficient hardware engineering that closes the gap with PS5 and Xbox:
"Clever design choices…extracts an immense amount of performance from a chipset that uses a fraction of the power required by the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5."
Proof lies in the Switch running massive open worlds like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Xenoblade Chronicles 3. This efficiency facilitates its portable and living room flexibility that its rivals can‘t physically match.
The Verdict: Nintendo Switch for Couch Play, PS5 & Xbox Series X for Two-Console Online
While games like Destiny 2 support cross-platform multiplayer, the majority require linking two consoles from the same family for online co-op. Therefore, couples that own two PlayStation 5s, Xbox Series X/S systems, or high-end gaming PCs gain access to more shared experiences less hindered by performance limitations faced when trying remote play on weaker Switch hardware.
However, for couples gaming primarily shoulder-to-shoulder in the same room, the Nintendo Switch clearly leads the pack as today‘s best shared gaming device. Its breadth of exclusive same-screen multiplayer titles remains unmatched. Combining TV console power with portable flexibility also enables pairs to game anytime, anywhereall while sharing controllers.
For these reasons, the Switch has captivated millions of gamer duos thanks to providing quality bonding time no competitors can beat. When playing with your better half, why game with anything less?
