Does Super Mario Bros. Wonder have local and online co-op?

Modern Super Mario platformers have long had cooperative multiplayer, but being online isn’t a guarantee. So what kind of coop can we expect from Super Mario Bros. Wonder? The August 31st Nintendo Direct gives us the answers.

Local play is in, of course

First off, up to four players can dash through the game locally. There are a number of characters to choose from. If one player picks Yoshi, another can jump on their back and be carried through the trickier hazards. If a player gets knocked out, they will turn into a ghost. The other players then have a few seconds to reach and revive them. Failure to do so will cost the team a life.

Online play has some provisos

In terms of Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s online multiplayer, as long as you have a Switch Online subscription, you can create a room to get together with friends. There’s one huge caveat: You won’t be playing with them directly. It doesn’t work the same as local multiplayer.

Instead, you can see what course your friends are on and can join the same one. Inside the courses, you can see where the other player is, but can’t interact. You can also see their standees and revive them by touching them. Even if you aren’t playing in a room with friends, you’ll see other players roaming around the world map and can interact with them and their standees in the same way.

Online play not being simultaneous might be a bummer to anyone who wants to play with distant friends and family. If you want to carry someone on your back, you’re first going to need to get them on your couch.