Yes, you can play multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch Lite.
You can play two, three, and four-player games on Nintendo Switch Lite and larger online matches depending on what play modes the video game supports and how many controllers you have available. The Nintendo Switch Lite console supports both local and online multiplayer.
How to Play Multiplayer Games on Nintendo Switch Lite
There are many pros and cons to owning a Nintendo Switch Lite console. While it’s significantly less expensive than the main Nintendo Switch and features a number of fun colored models, it lacks support for the Dock accessory and thus can’t be played on a TV. The Nintendo Switch Lite also lacks support for tabletop mode.
This article applies only to the Nintendo Switch Lite model, a cheaper alternative to the Nintendo Switch console.
These limitations do unfortunately restrict the number of multiplayer video games that can be played on the Nintendo Switch Lite and how they’re played. The good news is though that any multiplayer game that supports handheld mode can still be played on the Nintendo Switch Lite and the number of such games is quite large.
The list of supported game modes for each title can be found on the back of Nintendo Switch game cases and within the product pages on the official Nintendo website and Nintendo eShop.
For starters, the majority of online multiplayer games can be played on the Nintendo Switch Lite as they usually just require each player to have their own screen or console anyway. Many local multiplayer titles can also be played on the Nintendo Switch Lite though the purchase of a new controller will be required for each additional player as, unlike the main Nintendo Switch console, the Joy-Con Controllers on the Lite are built into the device and can’t be removed.
Understanding Nintendo Switch Lite Multiplayer Requirements
The Nintendo Switch video game labelling can be a little intimidating at first but it’s actually pretty simple once you know what to look out for. Here’s an example of a game’s information taken from the Animal Crossing: New Horizons product page. The same information is also listed on its store page in the Nintendo eShop.
First up is the Supported Play Modes. This shows the variety of Nintendo Switch configurations that a game supports. The first icon represents the TV mode which is activated via the Dock, the second is for table mode, and the third is handheld mode. The Nintendo Switch Lite only supports handheld mode. Can you play Animal Crossing on Nintendo Switch Lite? The handheld mode icon is shown here so the answer is a definite yes.
Under Supported Play Modes is a variety of multiplayer options and the number of players that are supported. The first refers to the number of people that can play multiplayer at the same time on the same Nintendo Switch screen. In this case, the game will support up to four players at once on a single Nintendo Switch Lite console.
Number of Players (Local Wireless) refers to local multiplayer games where each player has their own Nintendo Switch console and are playing within the same physical location. Here, up to eight players with their own Switch consoles, Lite or regular models, can play together locally.
Remember that you’ll need three additional Joy-Con Controllers for the three additional players in this multiplayer mode.
Number of Players (Online), as you may have guessed, refers to online multiplayer games. Some Nintendo Switch titles, such as Fortnite, can support online matches with up to 100 other players but this listing tells us that Animal Crossing: New Horizons only supports online games with up to eight players.
Nintendo Switch Lite multiplayer gaming is completely possible. The feature is supported by the vast majority of Switch video games though players may have less options in regards to how they play. When in doubt, check the back of the box or the game’s product page to make sure what options are available to you.
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