I saw [this post yesterday for couch co-ops where player 2 is not important](https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/y8k7pi/looking_for_any_couch_coops_where_player_2_is_not/) and I wanted an easy list I could reference for the next time I babysit a 5 year old. He always wants to play cuphead because he like’s the Netflix show, but that game is too hard.
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This is the list of most of the games listed in the comments of that post so it’s easy for me to find later:
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[Chicory: A Colorful Tale](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/chicory-a-colorful-tale-switch/)
There’s coop where the second player can control an additional paintbrush while player one controls the main character and their own brush
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[Child of Light](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/child-of-light-ultimate-edition-switch/)
Player 2 just controls a fairy that flies around the screen and can add small buffs or debuffs, but can’t directly control the main character or change the story.
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[Fall Guys](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/fall-guys-switch/)
is free, the colors and stuff might appeal to them as well
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[Good Job!](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/good-job-switch/)
It has split-screen coop where either player can help as much or as little as they want. Plus you can break a lot of stuff
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[Kirby and the Forgotten Land](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/kirby-and-the-forgotten-land-switch/)
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[Kirby’s Dream Buffet](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/kirbys-dream-buffet-switch/)
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[Kirby Star Allies](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/kirby-star-allies-switch/)
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[Lego City Undercover](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/lego-city-undercover-switch/)
It’s a fantastic open world game and the other player can just break stuff and get pulled along.
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[Luigi’s Mansion 3](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/luigis-mansion-3-switch/)
Gooigi can respawn infinitely. Although you will need his cooperation many times to solve puzzles so it might be a bad idea to give the control to a 3 year old.
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[Mario Kart 8](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/mario-kart-8-deluxe-switch/)
it has features like auto turning for kids even has motion turning too
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[Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/pokemon-lets-go-eevee-switch/)
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[Rayman Origins](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/rayman-origins-3ds/)
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[Rayman Legends](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/rayman-legends-definitive-edition-switch/)
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[Sonic Origins](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/sonic-origins-switch/) & [Sonic Mania](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/sonic-mania-switch/)
with the Sonic & Tails mode. The camera doesn’t follow Tails and he can just come back from anything.
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[Spiritfarer](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/spiritfarer-switch/)
Player 2 plays the cat, who can help collect items, etc, but there’s no combat or anything too difficult in the game. There’s platforming and some minigames, but Stella can solo them on her own.
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[Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/super-mario-3d-world-plus-bowsers-fury-switch/)
Play as Bowser Jr he checks places to find secrets, activate switches from far away and can defeat enemies.
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[Super Mario Galaxy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmN8DHZYNCg) but you have to get it from [Super Mario 3D All-Stars](https://www.amazon.com/Super-Mario-3D-All-Stars-Nintendo-Switch/dp/B08G3MN6KP?th=1) \- only physical copies available
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[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-shredders-revenge-switch/)
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[Timespinner](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/timespinner-switch/)
Player 2 is basically an invincible familiar.
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[Yoshi’s Crafted World](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/yoshis-crafted-world-switch/)
Set the difficulty to “relaxed”. Player 2 can fly and is invincible – so they can’t really mess up. You both have to beat the level, but it’s super EZ
by firestickmike
12 Comments
Most lego games
I‘d like to add Timespinner to that list. Player 2 is basically an invincible familiar.
Let’s go Pikachu/Eevee too.
Spiritfarer also has couch co-op. Player 2 plays the cat, who can help collect items, etc, but there’s no combat or anything too difficult in the game. There’s platforming and some minigames, but Stella can solo them on her own.
My daughter liked Animal Crossing a lot. She learned how to use the tools and liked to dress up the character in outfits. We weren’t allowed to shake trees because of bees.
All Mario games were a hit. Notably Mario Odyssey (pick a world without many pitfalls and let them control) and 3D world because she could be Princess – even if she wanted to go in her bubble a lot. As you said Mario Kart keeps them on track and accelerating so they feel like they are playing well.
Pokemon Snap was another good one because it’s easy to just take pictures.
Kirby Forgotten Land was another one she liked playing, even soloed a bit of it.
She is 5 now and absolutely loves Minecraft. I’ve never played it before but she came home from school and asked to play it. She spends a lot of time just laying blocks in creative and building “shelters” as she calls them. I think Minecraft is really good for them to get the two joystick control concept down as well plus even if they make some weird building, it’s very creative – feels like a good learning game.
Wait…fall guys added couch coop?!?
Why did nobody suggest Minecraft or Terraria… That’s always like the first 2 games you mention.
Yeah right you think the 5yo will stick with P2 in Kirby and the forgotten land?
I hope you enjoy being Bandana Waddle Dee
Jk aside it’s a great game and a great intro to 3D games/platformers even if you let the kid be Kirby. Waddle dee is limited to simple attacks but can handle everything by himself. You only need to keep reminding your Kirby to follow the path (to move the camera)
I can’t state it enough mario maker 2. Let them design the level (it can end up pretty crazy or stupid easy lol) and then beat it for them. Or vice versa make an easy level and then let them add big baddies in to make it harder. Worked like a dream for my 5 year old nephew ( at the time he’s now 8) he laughed so hard when adding like 30 bowsers to a map only to see me duck under all of them. Them he added giant spikes etc. Let’s them see cause and effect and can get pretty fun depending on how into games they are. Good luck mate!
Mario Odyssey. Second player is the hat and can capture things and be used for jumping platforms. Could be fun.
Having played the new Kirby and Animal Crossing I’d actually be interested in finding the opposite, 2 play coop games where the second player matters. Any advice would be much appreciated.
I just recently discovered Children of Morta. That and Rogue Heroes