This list has been a long time coming. All these years this now almost defunct website has been out, we have been playing indie co-op games on the Switch, and now finally I sit my ass down and write down our thoughts after almost 9 years playing on the Switch 1.
Of course we haven’t played ALL indie co-op games on the Switch, now that the gaming scene has exploded they way it has. It would be impossible. We still played most games we feel are somewhat high profile with the focus of the website in mind that it is a 8-64bit retro focused site.
Enjoy!

10. ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove

A funky, roguelike throwback that is best enjoyed with a friend like all the games on this list. Toejam and Earl go through multiple generated levels searching for spaceship parts so they can get back to their home planet, but not without some trouble from some pesky “earthlings” that hilariously try to block your path.
Back in the Groove modernizes the kind of clunky mechanics of the otherwise great Sega Mega Drive game “Toejam and Earl” in a way that anyone can enjoy it. 

9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Pure arcade nostalgia. It’s fast, chaotic, and supports up to six players for total screen mayhem. 
Shredder’s Revenge is the retro gamer dream come true and aesthetically hits the nail right on the head. The gameplay is also really good with a bunch of characters and moves, but what we feel holds the game back is how the gameplay modes are balanced. Playing through the stages one by one and saving in between was just a pedestrian, easy way to see all the game’s content, but we felt the harder modes were weirdly balanced and the arcade mode that we always want is way too long and exhausting. We aren’t even sure how tough it is but there are all sorts of tweaks or “cheats” you can apply to your playthrough so at least it is highly customizable.  It’s very robost, just not the well balanced retro style arcade action we had hoped for. 

8. ​Huntdown

Hunt Down is a hilarious, gritty cyberpunk run and gun shooter that sets it apart from other games with excellent cover mechanics and tough-guy banter. The art style and character designs here really stand out and is a tough but fair outing for you and a dedicated friend.

​7. River City Girls

A vibrant, funny,  neon-soaked brawler featuring awesome combos, RPG upgrades, and tons of personality.
River City Girls obviously takes its inspiration from River City Ransom, and does it in a real fresh way that builds on what made the NES original’s formula so revolutionary.
Take on the roles of Misako and Kyoko and plough through the jerks of River City to find your boyfriends.

6. Wulverblade

A weapon based beat-’em-up with a fun art style that surprises you with its robust controls and fun mechanics. 
Wulverblade is similar to Shredder’s Revenge in that it has many levels on a map you can clear one by one and save in between if you so choose. It differs however that it gives you one of the most satisfying old school 3 lives. 3 continues arcade mode that we have played on the Switch.

5. Blazing Chrome

The perfect homage to classic Contra games, offering fast-paced, side-scrolling run-and-gun action. 
Truly a modern Contra game in a world where Contra doesn’t really exist anymore,  Blazing Chrome lives up to that comparison and then some.

4. Xeno Crisis

A retro-styled, top-down arena shooter where you and a friend blast through hordes of aliens. 
Xeno Crisis has been released on pretty much any system you can think of, including the Neo Geo, Sega Mega Drive and N64 and it brings that hard nosed, punishing, old style gameplay that many developers are afraid of doing these days.
The gameplay is polished and the controls are slick so there is a lot of room to get good and clear this game, just don’t feel compelled to get the “good” ending. It could drive you insane.

3. Absolum

A brilliant “rogue-’em-up” combining stellar, heavy-hitting fantasy combat with unpredictable roguelite progression from the masters of the modern brawler genre.
Addictive gameplay loop with a lot of branching paths and different abilities of a total of four characters to master.

2. Streets of Rage 4

The ultimate modern beat-’em-up with fluid combat, an incredible soundtrack, and flawless multiplayer brawling.
Streets of Rage 4 is well optimized 2 player co-op beat-’em-up experience with multiple game modes, including a retro-styled arcade mode. The game has multiple characters, and a bunch of stages to the point that the arcade mode can kinda get too long.
However you choose to play Streets of Rage 4, you are going to have a blast. 

​1. Cuphead

A gorgeous, brutally challenging run-and-gun styled after 1930s cartoons. Perfect for two players who love a tough-as-nails boss rush.
Cuphead is an extremely well polished challenge that can frustrate you, but you still always come back for more. If you have a pal with the same pedigree for gaming, you can’t ask for a better game to take on. 

Some honourable mentions:
Final Vendetta
Fight ‘n Rage
Scott Pilgrim EX

Thanks for reading!