If you're looking to get your multiplayer on, but don't want to fork out for a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, there are still plenty of big titles you can play.
When online Multiplayer began rising in popularity on home consoles in the early 2000s, Nintendo was pretty much one of the last major companies to implement its own software-based solutions into its games.
Fast forward to the present, and Nintendo will now charge you to access online games. When Fortnite spiked in popularity shortly after it launched in 2017 and became an inevitability that it would come to the Switch, it was only a matter of time before Nintendo would start charging for access to its games.
Thankfully, there are still quite a few games you can play online without having to pay any money. If you’re looking for something to play with friends, any of these games should do the trick. If you’re looking for some recommendations, check out some of the best multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch.
Play Splatoon and Ninjala online for free
If you love the aesthetic and lighthearted fun that Splatoon brought to the Switch, then you’ll adore its spiritual successor, Ninjala. This free-to-play game is overflowing with content and different modes to play, and it’s been receiving even more since it launched in late 2022. Each character uses close-range weapons like hammers and axes to attack opponents, but the most fun comes from maneuvering around the stage and trying to outwit your opponents.
If you’re looking for a shooter instead, then you can’t go wrong with Asphalt. The Asphalt series has been around since 2014, and while it might not be as well-known as Need For Speed or Forza, the latest entry is a fantastic free-to-play alternative to those bigger titles. Each race sees you using a variety of cars and weapons to race against other people and shoot at them. Since launching on the Switch in 2019, Asphalt 9: Legends has continued to receive even more content, proving that it’s here to stay.
If you’d rather spend your time strategizing and building the perfect deck instead of shooting or racing against other people, then Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is perfect for you. Unlike other games on this list, Master Duel requires you to contend with other players to a degree, but it’s not in a way that makes you feel like you’re being trolled.
Instead, you’re simply trying to reach the goal first while avoiding random encounters with other players. If you’re not feeling confident enough to challenge people online right away, Master Duel features a fantastic single-player mode that lets you practice and become more familiar with the rules of the game before you unleash your skills on the internet.
Play Overwatch for free
Overwatch 2 may not be the same as the original game, but it’s mostly the same while also being exactly what the game needed to stay fresh for both new and returning players. Much like Fortnite, Overwatch also jumped on the free-to-play bandwagon so more players can access it without having to pay any money.
Play Brawlhalla for free
Brawlhalla has an excellent roster of characters and great gameplay, and since it launched in 2017, it’s received new content every few months, making it one of the best Switch games to play online with friends.
Play Monster Hunter: Rise for free
Monster Hunter: Rise allowed Switch players to go on an epic adventure and defeat magnificent beasts. The only problem is that it required both you and your friends to subscribe to the online service in order to play it together. Luckily, Dauntless offers a very similar experience that doesn’t cost anything to download and play.
Play Sky: Children of the Light for free
Sky: Children of the Light is a lot different from the other games on this list because it’s much less competitive and more of a social experience. You and your friends will work together to complete quests in this MMO, interact with other players, and explore a gorgeous world.
Play Apex Legends for free
Apex Legends is one of the best battle royale games out there, and it’s pretty incredible that it’s even able to run on the Switch. Like Overwatch, Fall Guys initially cost money to purchase and an online subscription to play, but it eventually switched to free-to-play.
You can still play Fall Guys online by downloading it on the Switch eShop, but Apex Legends is arguably a better game, and it’s available right now on Nintendo’s console.
Play Rocket League for free
Some might argue that Rocket League is one of the best multiplayer games on the Switch because it’s one of the most riveting and unique experiences on the console by fusing fast cars with the sport of soccer. It’s not quite the same as the other soccer games on this list
