Whether you’re gaming on a Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, or an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet, there are numerous titles whose two-player modes can be played without connecting to the internet at all. Some even support multiplayer gaming with up to 8 people.
Here are 11 of the best offline multiplayer video games worth playing on console and mobile.
Best Offline Multiplayer Racing Game: Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
In Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, gamers can race in family-friendly local multiplayer matches with up to four players on the same Nintendo Switch or eight players via a local wireless connection using multiple consoles.
Up to four players can play offline on the same console at the same time.
Lots of characters and courses to unlock and play.
Buying digitally will fill up a lot of the Nintendo Switch’s local storage space.
1080p resolution feels dated compared to other games’ 4K graphics.
This title features some of the best controls found in any racing game on the market and will appeal to fans of Nintendo franchises such as Super Mario Bros, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon.
Download Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch
Best Offline Multiplayer Platformer on Mobile: Badland
Badland is one of the most critically acclaimed platformer games on mobile and with good reason. Its touch controls are intuitive, its design is unique, and its four-player local offline multiplayer mode is incredibly fun and fast paced.
Four players can play with one smartphone or tablet.
Captivating design aesthetic.
Art style may not appeal to all gamers.
Younger players may be scared by the dark nature of the characters and levels.
In addition to the main game and the multiplayer mode, Badland also features a level creation tool which allows players to make and share their own platforming levels with others.
Download Badland for iOS
Download Badland for Android
Download Badland for Windows Phone
Best Offline Fighting Game for Kids: Super Mario Smash Bros Ultimate
Super Mario Smash Bros Ultimate, as its name implies, is the ultimate version of Super Smash Bros with every single character and stage from previous entries in the franchise plus a large amount of fresh content as well.
Over 74 popular video game characters to choose from.
Up to eight players can play offline on the same Nintendo Switch at the same time.
Casual gamers won’t recognize all of the Fire Emblem characters, many of which look too similar to each other.
Super Mario Smash Bros Ultimate fills up a lot of memory on the Switch when bought digitally.
Like previous Super Mario Smash Bros games, Ultimate is a fun fighting game which tasks players with weakening opponents enough so that they can be pushed off of the screen during a frantic free-for-all. The visuals are incredibly family-friendly and gamers of all ages will recognize playable characters from series such as Mega Man, Pokemon, Super Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing, Metroid, and more.
Download Super Mario Smash Bros Ultimate for Nintendo Switch
Best Offline Fighting Game for Teens: Injustice 2
Injustice 2 is a fighting game developed by the same studio behind the famous Mortal Kombat video game franchise and features a large roster of characters taken from popular DC Comics comic book series.
Ninja Turtles, Hellboy, and Mortal Kombat characters complement the DC Comics roster nicely.
An original story with stunning animation and impressive voice acting.
Too violent and graphic for younger players.
Characters are based on the comics so they don’t look like their TV and movie counterparts.
Household superhero and supervillains such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Arrow, and Aquaman are all playable as are a variety of lesser-known characters like Black Manta, Black Adam, Firestorm, and Swamp Thing. All four Ninja Turtles, Hellboy, and Sub Zero and Raiden from Mortal Kombat are also playable characters in Injustice 2.
This fighting game features an incredible story mode to power through for solo gamers but the main focus is the local multiplayer which allows two players to play against each other as any of the unlocked characters.
If you own an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, the original Injustice video game is a good alternative.
Download Injustice 2 for Xbox One
Download Injustice 2 for PlayStation 4
Download Injustice 2 for PC
Best Casual Local Multiplayer Game: Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu / Eevee
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee are modern remakes of the classic Pokemon Yellow Version video game that came out on the Nintendo Gameboy in 1998. The entire Kanto Region and its inhabitants from the original Pokemon game are present and have received significant visual upgrades to help them appeal to today’s gamers. All of the original story content is also used.
Seamless switching between solo and multiplayer gameplay.
A full Pokemon video game story and world.
Second player supports the first player rather than having their own experience.
Second player can’t carry any experience over to their own game.
Both Pokemon Let’s Go games feature connectivity with the super-popular Pokemon Go smartphone app which allows trainers to import the Pokemon they’ve caught in the real-world on mobile into the Nintendo Switch game. One of the best features of Let’s Go is its support for casual local multiplayer by letting a second player jump in and out of another player’s game and join them on their adventure.
Pokemon transferred to Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee from Pokemon Go cannot be returned to Pokemon Go.
Download Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee for Nintendo Switch
Best LEGO Game for Local Multiplayer: LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2
All LEGO video games feature solid local multiplayer for two players but LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 is one of the best due to its improved graphics and focus on story elements with extensive voice acting recorded for almost all of its 155 Marvel Comics characters.
Over 155 Marvel characters to play as and numerous Marvel movie locations to explore.
Two-player co-op mode is incredibly fun and flexible.
The four-player battle mode is incredibly boring and confusing.
No X-Men, Deadpool, or Fantastic Four characters.
LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 can be played as a single-player experience but a second player can jump in at any time and participate equally in both the Story and explorative Free Play modes. There is a four-player battle mode, a first for a LEGO game, but it takes a long time to load and isn’t a very rewarding experience.
Marvel fans will get the most out of LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 due to the number of major and minor characters used from the comic books and films but it’s also good casual multiplayer gaming fun for anyone really.
Download LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 for Xbox One
Download LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 for PlayStation 4
Download LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 for Nintendo Switch
Download LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 for PC
Best Offline Multiplayer Dance Game: Just Dance 2023
The Just Dance video games are essentially choreographed music videos that players are asked to dance along to. Up to six players can dance to a song at the same time and individuals’ dancing skill is judged using the Kinect sensor on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, the PlayStation Move camera on the PS3 and PS4, or the controller on the Nintendo Wii, Wii U, and Switch.
Very easy for first-timers to jump in and play.
Smartphones can be used for motion tracking if no Kinect (Xbox 360 and Xbox One) or PlayStation Move (PS3 and PS4) is available.
Dance moves aren’t taught to the player at all.
Song selection can be hit or miss depending on personal taste.
Every year, Ubisoft releases a new version of their popular Just Dance video game with around 40 new songs and routines for fans to experience. Almost all of the songs from previous versions can also be played from within the game via a streaming service that requires a monthly fee.
Download Just Dance 2023 for Xbox One
Download Just Dance 2023 for Nintendo Switch
Best Racing Game for Cartoon Fans: Nickelodeon: Kart Racers
Nickelodeon: Kart Racers is a racing game with a very similar look to Nintendo’s Mario Kart franchise. What sets it apart, though, is its roster of characters which features familiar faces from popular cartoon series such as SpongeBob Squarepants, Ninja Turtles, Hey, Arnold, and Rugrats.
Fantastic collection of characters from popular cartoon series.
Four-player multiplayer is great fun.
12 characters is a rather small roster despite them all being well-known.
No online multiplayer will disappoint some players.
Up to four players can play against each other at the same time on 24 courses based on locations from the same shows as the characters and karts can be customized and upgraded to improve performance or to simply add an individual creative flair to the vehicles.
Download Nickelodeon: Kart Racers for Xbox One
Download Nickelodeon: Kart Racers for Nintendo Switch
Best Offline Multiplayer Sim Game: Overcooked 2
Overcooked 2 is the sequel to the popular Overcooked video game and is very similar to its predecessor. Players are tasked with managing a chaotic restaurant by managing customers’ orders and cooking dishes within set time limits all while navigating surreal kitchen environments.
One to four players can participate in local offline multiplayer.
Teaches puzzle and problem solving to younger gamers.
The top-down camera angle and art style won’t appeal to everyone.
Not different enough to warrant buying if you own the original Overcooked game.
Up to four players can play at once and there’s enough variety in food and kitchen locations to keep most fans of sim and management games coming back for more.
Download Overcooked 2 for your platform
Best Offline Multiplayer for Retro Gamers: Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is the ultimate video game collection for fans of the Street Fighter franchise. This one bundle contains 12 Street Fighter video games including five versions of the popular Street Fighter II iteration.
All of the most-popular Street Fighter games are included in this bundle.
Loads of bonus content which will appeal to hardcore fans.
No offline tournament modes for larger groups of players.
Newer Street Fighter games aren’t included.
All games feature their original graphics but are complemented by a variety of digital frames showcasing artwork associated with the characters and series. Each Street Fighter game features local offline multiplayer for two players and each has also been given online functionality for those who want to challenge others around the globe.
Many of these Street Fighter games are also available to purchase individually on older gaming consoles.
Download Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection for your platform
Best Offline Multiplayer Game on Android: BombSquad
BombSquad is a collection of fun, casual, mini-games bundled into one Android app. All of the games feature the same visual style and quirky characters but there’s a decent amount of variety in the game modes to keep most players entertained.
BombSquad is available on Android TV.
Up to eight players supported in local multiplayer.
Each player needs their own Android device to play in multiplayer matches.
The graphics look a tad outdated by modern gaming standards.
Games range from running and flying races to mini-hockey and soccer matches and each event can be fully customized to suit the skill level and available time of those playing. Multiplayer matches can support up to eight players, however, each player must own their own Android smartphone or tablet to take part.
Download BombSquad for Android
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