Gather Your Crew: How to Play 5-8 Player Switch Games in 2024
As a hardcore Switch gamer, one of my favorite things about Nintendo‘s hit console/handheld hybrid is its stellar support for local multiplayer. While Xbox and PlayStation focus mainly on big-budget online experiences, the Switch lets you game old-school style with a bunch of friends crowded around the same couch!
With the Switch‘s flexible Joy-Con controllers and Wi-Fi networking, you can connect up to 8 players on a single system for epic in-person party battles. And Nintendo‘s commitment to multiplayer goes even further – with multiple Switch consoles and some games, you can link together 12 systems for a 96 person LAN party extravaganza!
So if you want to level up your next get-together with some wireless local multiplayer magic, here are all the details on the Switch‘s best 5+ player games…and how to get your crew gaming in no time!
Nintendo Says "Play Together"
Gaming with friends on the couch has always been a part of Nintendo‘s DNA. And that focus on shared local experiences is stronger than ever with the Switch. Just look at what Nintendo‘s senior managing executive officer Ko Shiota said to The Washington Post:
"We believe that with games, it’s best when played together. The Switch being able to move between TV mode and handheld mode really enables people to play the way they want, even in groups."
Nintendo backs up that belief with award-winning multiplayer hits like the record-breaking Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (43 million copies sold!). They also crafted the Switch‘s hardware and OS with local wireless play at the front of mind:
- Up to 8 wireless controllers can connect to a single Switch
- Local wireless multiplayer supports up to 12 Switch systems linking together
- The easy-to-use interface makes joining friends‘ games simple
This innovation has helped the Switch become the best-selling video game console of all time in the US. And playing next to your friends is way more fun than playing alone online!
Top Games For 5+ Players
Now, let‘s get to the multiplayer madness! Here are the top picks for games that go beyond the usual 4 players. I‘ve included must-have Nintendo titles along with great options from other developers:
| Game | Max Players | Release Year |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 8 players (local wireless) | 2017 |
| Super Smash Bros Ultimate | 8 players | 2018 |
| Overcooked 1 & 2 | 4 players | 2016, 2018 |
| Jackbox Party Pack games | Up to 8 players per pack | Annual releases since 2014 |
And more! Over 30+ games support 5+ players. Click here for the full list.
Now let‘s dive deeper into the top options for big-crowd gaming…
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The latest Mario Kart adds all sorts of sharing functionality – you can wirelessly race against seven other Switch systems! This allows for a whopping 32 player Grand Prix with the right local setup.
Beyond the stellar breadth of tracks and racers, Mario Kart 8 also nails the local multiplayer experience:
- Quick interface for joining friends‘ races
- Support for vertical split-screen so everyone gets a good view
- Handles all connectivity transparently in the background
Throw in fan-favorite features like 12-player online races and the awesome gravity-defying courses, and it‘s no surprise Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has nearly outsold ALL other Switch games combined!
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Nintendo‘s signature mascot brawler lets up to 8 players Duke it out on one system! The complete insanity of 4v4 Smash battles takes this party fighter to another level of fun.
Some other great features that make Ultimate the definitive Smash Bros package:
- Over 80 playable fighters from across Nintendo history
- 100+ stages to battle on
- Deep RPG-style Single Player World of Light adventure
- Regular free DLC character additions
With so much content for both solo and group play, Super Smash Bros Ultimate earns its name as the ultimate Smash game!
Overcooked 1 & 2
These co-op cooking games serve up fun for 2-4 players. Work together to prepare dishes and get them to the serving hatch before customers storm out!
The strategic kitchen chaos plays beautifully with a full couch. You‘ll be shouting directions, barely keeping orders straight, and laughing the whole time.
Both games bring nice upgrades to the couch co-op recipe:
Overcooked 2:
- Throw/catch ingredients to optimize kitchen layouts
- New obstacle courses and moving stages
- Online multiplayer
Overcooked: All You Can Eat (2021):
- Includes all content from BOTH Overcooked games
- Smoothed visuals with 4K and 60 FPS (on supported platforms)
- Accessibility options
So grab some friends and get cooking – it‘s a guaranteed recipe for laughter!
Jackbox Party Pack Games
This inventive series turns phones and tablets into controllers for multiplayer mirth! Up to 8 people can play mini-games together per pack.
Some standout examples:
Quiplash – Players provide goofy answers to fill-in-the-blank phrases. Then you vote on your favorites!
Trivia Murder Party – Race to correctly answer questions or face zany consequences.
Drawful – Like Pictionary + Charades but with intentionally silly words and phrases.
With no traditional controllers needed, Jackbox tears down barriers for easy group gaming. The quick play sessions keep everyone engaged too. Over 15+ packs available with hundreds of mini-games!
And those are just a few must-plays perfect for parties, family game nights, dorm hijinks and more. Remember you can mix-and-match Joy-Cons, Pro Controllers and third-party gamepads to build up enough controls.
How To Play 8-Player Switch Games
Playing games that support 8 simultaneous Switch players requires just a few simple steps:
Gather your equipment – Make sure you have a monitor/TV to connect all systems to. A wired USB-Ethernet connection for each unit will ensure solid link quality during busy wireless battles. Here‘s Nintendo‘s recommended networking gear. Power strips and extension cords help with multiple TV/dock setups too!
Sync controllers – Power on each Switch and sync up your preferred controllers by pressing their sync buttons. Support 8 players on ONE system or split across multiple units.
Establish multiplayer connection – For wireless local play, one player hosts the game then others can find and join the session. Again WIRED networking helps ensure smooth performance for large groups.
Select game settings – Once connected, the host can pick desired game options like courses, rules, teams etc.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN! Have at it for some thrilling community competition! Be sure to capture some winner‘s circle (or epic fail) screenshots to share later!
Occasionally you may need to troubleshoot connections, but the Switch makes multiplayer super straightforward overall. Much easier than the complex LAN parties required on other platforms.
More 2023 Multiplayer Mania
And the future is bright for even more multiplayer magic headed to the Switch this year and beyond!
Nintendo has great first-party options and top indie ports coming up:
| Game | Release | Max Players |
| Pikmin 4 | 2023 | TBA |
| Sports Party | 2023 | 4 players |
| Shredder‘s Revenge DLC | 2023 | 6 players |
| Cuphead: Delicious Last Course | 2023 | 4 players |
I‘m particularly excited for Pikmin 4 which will hopefully build on the lush real-time strategy/adventure foundations of the earlier Pikmin games!
Plenty more digital fun for gathering with friends around the sofa. The Switch is prime for parties!
Why Local Multiplayer Matters
In closing, I just want to emphasize that the Switch‘s focus on in-person play is really special. Couch co-op brings people together in a way online games can‘t:
Share laughs reacting to each other‘s successes and fails
Friendly banter and trash-talk keep things light
Take a break easily to grab more snacks and drinks!
Experience the visual joy of gaming with someone side-by-side
Local just offers a wonderfully tangible social experience – no headsets required!
So there you have it friends – everything you need to know to take your Switch nights to the next level with 5-8 player local wireless wonder! Gather the crew, power on the PictoChat, and game on!
What other favorite multiplayer Switch games am I missing? I‘m always eager to hear about promising party-ready titles I might‘ve overlooked!
