Online may be the mainstay of multiplayer gaming these days, but there’s something you just can’t beat about sitting down in the same room with your mates for an evening of gaming. The hours-long Super Smash Bros. sessions of our childhood might have fallen by the wayside, but there are plenty of new games out there tailor made to fill that competitive party hole. If you’re planning on hosting a casual tournament, or just looking for an excuse to invite your pals over for an evening, here are the best couch party games available now.
TowerFall (Xbox One/PS4/Nintendo Switch/PC)
At this stage, TowerFall is basically the quintessential arcade party game, especially for those who prefer their social games with a sharper, competitive edge. A side-on, 2D archery free-for-all, TowerFall throws up to four players into a chunky arena, flinging arrows back and forth until only one is left standing.
There’s a definite element of skill to the game, and arcing shots from one side of the screen to the other feels especially satisfying. However, four players racing around with a range of powerups in the mix is just chaotic enough for even casual or inexperienced gamers to join in on the fun. TowerFall first launched in 2013, but has since been updated to almost every system imaginable (even the Ouya!) so there really is no excuse not to add it to your collection.
Nidhogg 1/2 (PS4/PC)
Wait did we say TowerFall was the quintessential competitive party game? For the uncouth, perhaps. Clearly the only choice for the true party game connoisseur is Nidhogg. The concept is simple, two players start on opposite sides of the screen, the first to kill the other is allowed to progress, racing to reach the next screen before their opponent respawns. Clear enough screens and the victor will eventually be rewarded by leaping into the mouth of a giant, flying serpent.
The offensive player can either kill his opponent, or simply try to dodge past, running away to the next arena. If the attacker is killed, the tables are flipped and they’ll now need to defend against their opponent who’s pushing the other way. The beauty of the original Nidhogg is in its elegant simplicity. Rendered in basic pixel-art, both players are equipped only with fencing swords, able to be held at one of two heights and poked at their opponent. There are a few extra abilities like a dive kick, a roll, and the option to throw your blade, but each fight is a short, sharp encounter that usually leaves one combatant in a pile on the floor.
Your opinion on Nidhogg 2 will largely depend on your reaction to its bizarre art style. Looking like a grotesque, plasticine nightmare, the sequel introduces a variety of weapons to the table, throwing out the simplicity of the original to shake up the gameplay. Whichever version you choose, Nidhogg is sure to have the whole room shouting whenever the words FINAL SCREEN appear above a heated battle.
Gang Beasts (PS4/PC)
Speaking of plasticine, Gang Beasts offers a far smoother take on the molded characters aesthetics, and a far more forgiving gameplay experience overall. Controlling your pudgy warrior in Gang Beasts can often feel like shouting instructions at a drunk man through a megaphone, but rather than frustrating, the game’s inventive levels will have you laughing as players stumble into trouble. Gang Beasts will have you throwing fists inside open-walled elevators, between the tracks of a subway station, or even on top of speeding trucks on a motorway filled to the brim with dangerously low overhead signs. Silly and simple fun, you’ll find it hard to stop going for just one more round.
Nippon Marathon (Early Access PC - Xbox One/PS4/Switch on release)
If you prefer your gaming parties on the utterly bonkers end of the spectrum, you can’t go far wrong with Nippon Marathon. Part Micro Machines, part Takeshi’s Castle, this madhouse title sets players racing through a range of wacky courses, jumping over hurdles and ducking under obstacles. You’ll also need to contend with enormous pineapples, melons and any other powerups your competitors can chuck out.
Anyone who falls too far behind is knocked out of the round until only one player is left or the finish line is reached. It’s hard to get across just how weird this game is on paper, so here’s Eurogamer’s lovely video team trying their hand at it. What do you mean all we had to do was mention that one of the racers was a humanoid dog? Seems perfectly ordinary to us…
Nippon Marathon isn’t officially out yet, with a planned release in Autumn 2018, but you can grab the Early Access release on Steam right now for a discounted price. The eventual full release is coming to Xbox One, PS4, Switch and PC.
SpeedRunners (Xbox One/PS4/PC)
Much like TowerFall, SpeedRunners has been around for some time now, but proved popular enough to warrant an updated release on the current generation of consoles. Following the same format as Nippon Marathon, SpeedRunners instead uses 2D, side-on perspective. Players race with grappling hooks around a simple course, with the camera tracking the leader of the pack. There’s no finish line here, however. Instead, the walls of the screen begin to close over time, requiring players to stick closer and closer to the front of the pack.
As the name suggest, speed is of the essence here, and experienced players will be able to pick up a ludicrous pace in their loops round. Much like Nidhogg, SpeedRunners is as much of a spectacle as it is a blast to play. Watching two experienced players soaring through a course in close competition is a thrill in its own right, so don’t be afraid to take this party game a little more seriously.
Overcooked (Xbox One/PS4/Switch/PC)
We’ve already included the superb Overcooked in our rundown of the best couch co-op games, but while the bulk of the title has you working together, Ghost Town Games’ indie hit also boasts a fantastic versus mode. Pairing up in a 2v2 battle of culinary prowess, you’ll quickly find out which of your friends are able work in synergy together, as everyone else will rapidly devolve into shouting over who should be chopping the lettuce right now.
Trying to meet order deadlines in Overcooked’s campaign is a stressful enough business, and watching your rivals deliver a dish early only ups the ante further. As with Nintendo’s Mario Party series, Overcooked’s versus mode is just as likely to leave you laughing as it is to have you at each other’s throats. We wouldn’t have it any other way.