Holiday Gift Guide – games you can all play together
30/11/2016
Where does the time go?! It’s that magical time of the year once again, when we gather ‘round with family, friends and loved ones, share gifts and play games. After all, the holiday season just wouldn’t be complete without nan wiping the floor with everyone in Mario Kart 8.
If you’re looking for games that’ll get everyone playing together and having a ball, check out our definitive list below and discover the top multiplayer titles on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family systems this festive season.
Nintendo 3DS family systems
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
Players: 1-3
Combine the powers of three Links in The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes! Buddy up with two other heroes online** or via Local Play, and work together as a dynamic trio to save the kingdom of Hytopia from a ghastly curse.
Mario Party: Star Rush
Players: 1-4
Dive into loads of manic multiplayer minigames in Mario Party: Star Rush! With the free** Mario Party: Star Rush – Party Guest software, up to four players can enjoy the full range of multiplayer modes with only one copy of the full game between them***.
Monster Hunter™ Generations
Players: 1-4
Hunters of all generations unite in Monster Hunter™ Generations! Join forces with up to three other friends for online** or local co-operative multiplayer – take up your weapon of choice, venture into the wild and do battle against an unruly roster of ferocious monsters!
Wii U
Mario Kart 8
Players: 1-12 (online), 1-4 (offline)
Go head-to-head with rivals near and far in Mario Kart 8! Get four players together for local multiplayer* in Grand Prix, VS Race or Battle modes, or jump into online races** for up to 12 drivers.
Also available: Mario Kart 7
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Players: 1-8 (offline), 1-4 (online)
Mario, Link, Kirby and other famous names from favourite Nintendo franchises come together in a high-definition fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U! Take on nearby challengers in local multiplayer*, or bring the battle to faraway friends and foes in online** matches.
Also available: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Splatoon
Players: 1-8 (online), 1-2 (offline)
It’s splat or be splatted in Splatoon, an ink-redible third-person shooter with a difference! Take to the turf in 4-vs-4 online** multiplayer matches, where your teamwork and tactics need to be as sharp as your shooting, or go head-to-head with a friend in the local 1-on-1 Battle Dojo*.
Nintendo Land
Players: 1-5
Explore 12 lively attractions, each inspired by a popular Nintendo franchise, and enjoy them solo or with others*, depending on the game. Each attraction is a standalone game with multiple levels, taking full advantage of the Wii U GamePad. It’s charming, entertaining and unique – it’s Nintendo Land!
SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD
Players: 1-4
Journey with Mario, Luigi and more to the Sprixie Kingdom in SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD, the first ever multiplayer 3D Mario adventure! Up to four people can play together* – work together to clear stages or compete to see who can get the highest score at the end of each level!
About multiplayer on Wii U
To play local multiplayer titles on Wii U, you may need to purchase additional controllers like Wii Remotes or Wii U Pro Controllers. You can find out which controllers a game supports by visiting its gamepage on this website, or by checking the back of the box in-store.
Wii U supports wireless internet connectivity out of the box, so if you have a wireless internet connection at home, you can play online in supported titles for free.
About multiplayer on Nintendo 3DS family systems
There are different types of multiplayer options available across Nintendo 3DS family systems, like Local Play and Download Play. For an explanation of these, and to see even more multiplayer titles, please visit the Multiplayer Hub.
Nintendo 3DS family systems also support wireless internet connectivity, so you can play online at home or any other place where there’s a wireless hotspot.
Where to buy
As well as being available at retail – though check with your local retailer for availability! – all of these games are available as downloadable versions in Nintendo eShop. If you can’t decide on a specific game, you could always purchase a Nintendo eShop Card, available from these retailers (PDF, 272 kB) in denominations of £15, £25 and £50.
You can also order games, systems and more directly from Nintendo at the Nintendo Official UK Store.
Looking for gifts for another gamer in your life? Head back to the Holiday Gift Guide homepage, where you’ll find a huge range of different gaming experiences and gift ideas.
Have fun this holiday season!
*Additional accessories required for multiplayer mode, sold separately.
**The registration of Nintendo Network ID and acceptance of the network related terms and privacy policies required.
***The registration of Nintendo Network ID and acceptance of the Nintendo Network Agreement and Privacy Policy are required. At least one copy of Mario Party: Star Rush is required to play multiplayer. It is not possible to play multiplayer using only Mario Party: Star Rush – Party Guest.
