The Best Free Multiplayer Games On Switch

Key Takeaways

• Free-to-play multiplayer games on the Nintendo Switch offer diverse and engaging experiences.
• Unique titles like Palia, Star Wars: Hunters, and Sky: Children of the Light provide fun multiplayer options from multiple genres.
• Popular favorites such as Fortnite, Tetris 99, and Dauntless offer free, quality multiplayer experiences with tons of action.

The Nintendo Switch has incredible games, from Super Mario Odyssey to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to smaller indie titles such as Dead Cells and Golf Story. While these premium paid games are worth your time and attention, what if you want to try out something less expensive, namely, free-to-play games?

Free-to-play games are in abundance on Switch, especially if you are a fan of multiplayer experiences. There are well over one hundred free multiplayer Switch games to start playing immediately, but not all are worth your time. The following free multiplayer Switch games can be played now and are best enjoyed with others.

Updated October 7, 2024, by Kyle Chamaillard: There are many excellent multiplayer games on the Nintendo Switch that you can experience without spending a dime. We’ve updated this list to include even more titles worth checking out.

16 Palia

Plenty of single-player games on the Nintendo Switch allow you to gather resources in an open world to build magnificent devices or grow delicious crops, but sometimes it’s better to explore with a friend or two. Palia is an MMO that allows you and your group to participate in different activities like mining and fishing to improve life in Kilima Village.

While it’s fun to hop into frantic action games like Call of Duty with a squad of friends, sometimes it’s nice to just sit back, relax, and catch up with something a little more lighthearted. Palia is still only available as an open beta, but there is already enough in the game to keep you busy for quite some time.

15 Star Wars: Hunters

Given the popularity of hero shooters during the late 2010s, it’s surprising that it took until 2024 for Star Wars to enter the arena with a free-to-play multiplayer experience. These 4v4 matches take place in iconic locations set between the events of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.

Though you can’t play as Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader, Hunters is full of unique characters with their own abilities to master. There are plenty of new skins and rewards in the battle pass that give you the incentive to keep playing even if nobody else is around to join you. If you have three friends who enjoy Star Wars and want to hop into a game without spending a dime, Hunters is an enjoyable time that may surprise you.

14 Sky: Children Of The Light

Sky: Children of the Light is a unique and artistic take on an online multiplayer Switch game that helps you unwind from the real world by moving through a heartfelt one. From the creators of the beloved indie hit Journey, Sky: Childen of Light is about connecting with other online players, bringing light and hope to those in need.

This free multiplayer Switch game is unique because it weaves fluid gameplay with personalized stories. You are encouraged to interact with other players in this free-roaming sky island paradise while being swept up in entrancing music, lovely visuals, and even some fun character customization.

13 Rocket League

What do you get when you combine soccer (football) with a demolition derby? Answer: one of the most competitive eSports of this console generation! Of course, we’re talking about Rocket League, the online multiplayer Switch game that has taken the world by storm.

One of the reasons Rocket League is one of the best free multiplayer Switch games is its Nintendo-exclusive content. Any Switch player who logs into the game receives a free Mario, Luigi, and Samus skin for their vehicle. And unlike Mario Kart, Rocket League is a skill-based game with no dastardly blue shells.

12 Super Bomberman R Online

The Bomberman games have covered various gameplay styles, from story-based experiences in Bomberman 64 to this unique battle royale. Super Bomberman R Online features the traditional arcade-style Bomberman gameplay but infuses it with an online, free-to-play competitive experience.

In this free multiplayer Switch game, you can battle up to 64 other players worldwide. Each mini-victory during a match means you can move on to face more formidable Bomberman opponents. While the game has purchasable cosmetic goodies, none are necessary to enjoy this online multiplayer Switch game.

11 Pokemon Unite

If you haven’t heard of Pokemon Unite, you’re missing out on an incredibly fun and accessible MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena). Unfortunately, MOBAs, by nature, are generally impenetrable to new players and often breed exclusive communities.

Fortunately, Pokemon Unite strays away from the traditional MOBA tactics by mixing the standard team versus team gameplay with Pokemon’s fun and lovable nature. In this online multiplayer Switch game, you play as your favorite Pokemon, attack and defend strategic points, level up, gain new abilities, and get stronger.

10 Super Kirby Clash

Super Kirby Clash is another free multiplayer Switch game based on Nintendo IP. This co-op boss raid game enlists you in four-player Kirby squads to fight enemies like Waddle Dee, King Doo, and Mr. Frosty. Each Kirby takes on a different role with unique skills, like Sword Hero or Doctor Healmore.

Super Kirby Clash is a fantastic online multiplayer Switch game because of its shallow learning curve. The control scheme is straightforward and familiar to anyone who has played a Kirby or Smash Bros title. Plus, the 4v1 format allows advanced players to cover for new players while they learn the game.

9 Fortnite

Fortnite is a cultural phenomenon and a free-to-play gaming juggernaut. Unless you live under a rock, you have likely heard of Fortnite’s success. This highly colorful, vibrant, and long-running online multiplayer Switch game continues to thrive year after year.

Of course, the game is known for its solo, duo, trio, and quads battle royale modes. However, if you eschew the battle royale gameplay, you can hop into a boatload of creative game modes. Likewise, multiplayer fans can jump into Fortnight immediately since the game is only monetized with optional cosmetic goodies.

8 Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

It’s impressive that Yu-Gi-Oh!, the card game, has been around for over two decades and continues to draw new players. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel ups the ante of the competitive card game with beautiful animations, hundreds of cards, and new ways to play.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is a great free multiplayer Switch game since it encourages players of all skill levels to enjoy its card game goodness. If you are brand new to Yu-Gi-Oh!, the online multiplayer Switch game provides in-depth tutorials to get you up to speed so you can gather more cards and take on other players.

7 Super Animal Royale

Do battle royale games turn you off? What about trying a fun and fierce multiplayer version of the genre where you play as adorable animals? Super Animal Royale is just that, a battle royale game where you play as a cat, a dog, a fox, a bird, or a dozen other characters as you duke it out across an expansive map.

On paper, Super Animal Royale isn’t that much different from other battle royales. You must avoid an ever-shrinking play area while defeating others in a match. However, this free multiplayer Switch game is more accessible, with smaller maps, condensed loot pools, and fast ten-minute matches.

6 Fall Guys

Have you ever wondered what being on a game show like WipeOut or the cult classic Takeshi’s Castle would be like? In that case, you’ll have a blast playing the free multiplayer Switch game Fall Guys. In this online party royale, you’ll compete in bizarre obstacle courses and minigames for the first-place crown.

Fall Guys is a fantastic free multiplayer Switch game for competitive and casual players. Public matches will keep you busy for hours as you attempt to reach the finals. Private games with friends are fun and whacky occasions encouraging silly showdowns, dramatic trash talk, and boisterous laughter.

5 Ninjala

Ninjala might be among the most underrated free multiplayer Switch games because it is hard to pin down its gameplay. The most obvious comparison when looking at gameplay or screenshots is Splatoon, where you play multiple rounds in third-person on smaller maps (minus the paint-splashing gameplay).

Ninjala is a multiplayer action game where you play as cartoony ninjas who lay the smackdown on opponents with gum-based weapons and special abilities. Your goal in each match is to KO opponents while getting the highest score for style and substance. It’s a wacky game with a great community and plenty of content.

4 Tetris 99

Who doesn’t love Tetris? The fast-paced puzzler has endeared fans since its inception in the ’80s. Recent versions include Tetris Effect, Tetris Beat, and the Puyo-Puyo Tetris crossover series. Still, only one version, Tetris 99, is Switch exclusive. The online multiplayer game is free for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.

Tetris 99 expands its gameplay to a massively multiplayer scale. You’ll compete against 99 gamers to become the last one standing, or you can join a faction in team battles. Both game modes offer a compelling experience of strategy and endurance, making Tetris 99 a fantastic free multiplayer Switch game.

3 F-ZERO 99

There are several standout games in the futuristic racing subgenre, such as Wipeout, Kinetica, and Redout. Before those racers hit the track, there was F-ZERO, Nintendo’s brutal intergalactic death race. Unfortunately, there was a 19-year period where the game’s only notoriety came from cameos in other Nintendo titles, like Captain Falcon in Super Smash Bros. or the Mute City track in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

F-ZERO 99 marks the series’ return with a new online multiplayer format inspired by other Nintendo Online exclusives, Tetris 99 and PAC-MAN 99. This iteration goes back to F-ZERO’s SNES roots with 16-bit graphics and a roster featuring F-ZERO’s original machines, Fire Stingray, Golden Fox, Wild Goose, and Blue Falcon. If you’ve never played F-ZERO or wish to revisit a Nintendo gem, F-ZERO 99 is a must-play.

2 Omega Strikers

What if air hockey became a MOBA? You’d likely get Omega Strikers. This online multiplayer Switch game puts you in three-on-three matches to score more goals than the other team. When you’re not scoring and guarding goals, you’ll beat the teeth out of your opponents with special attacks.

Omega Strikers is easy to learn but hard to master. The tutorial takes less than five minutes. Yet, the game offers plenty of depth, especially with its diverse cast of 17 characters with unique skills. But, even when you’re losing, Omega Strikers’ gorgeous art style and stellar voice acting will keep you engaged.

1 Dauntless

Dauntless is a unique monster-pummeling game that feels like equal parts Monster Hunter and Saturday morning cartoon. You and your party take on giant monsters across multiple biomes. While not as complex and nuanced as Monster Hunter, this free multiplayer Switch game rewards patience, teamwork, and weapon mastery.

Dauntless is the unsung hero of online multiplayer Switch games (or any free-to-play games, for that matter). Of course, you don’t hear too many people talking about how fun it is to smash giant monsters in the face with a team of players. However, Dauntless provides a deep, extensive, and gratifying experience.