Yes. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, two people can play local multiplayer on one Nintendo Switch using one detached Joy-Con each. Hold each Joy-Con horizontally and press SL and SR when the game prompts you to register the controllers.
How to set up two players with one Joy-Con each
- Start local multiplayer in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the console.
- At the controller-selection screen, choose the single-Joy-Con option for each player.
- Hold each Joy-Con sideways, horizontally, with the SL and SR buttons along its top edge.
- When prompted, press SL and SR on each controller to register it.
Nintendo’s instructions describe this as using “a single Joy-Con each.” A Joy-Con Wheel grip is an optional way to hold the controller, not a requirement.
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Does each player need a full Joy-Con pair?
No. For this local setup, each player uses one Joy-Con. That is different from one player using both Joy-Cons: Nintendo lists that arrangement separately, with the player holding both controllers vertically.
How many players can play on each console?
Nintendo lists local Multiplayer for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as supporting 2–4 players on Nintendo Switch and 2–8 players on Nintendo Switch 2. These are the game’s listed local player capacities; the one-Joy-Con-per-player instructions above describe the two-player controller arrangement.
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- Two Joy Con can be used independently in each hand, or together as 1 game controller when attached to the Joy Con grip
- They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy two player action in supported games
- Each Joy Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller, and each includes an accelerometer and gyro sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible
What if the game will not let you start?
Check that both controllers are registered in the horizontal, single-Joy-Con orientation. Nintendo also states that same-console multiplayer cannot be played in Handheld Mode, so use the console in a supported non-handheld setup for local play.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Joy-Cons are compatible?
Nintendo’s LAN play guidance says original Joy-Con controllers work with both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, while Joy-Con 2 controllers are compatible only with Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo UK’s local wireless guidance also specifies that two players sharing one Nintendo Switch can each use one left or right Joy-Con.
Quick Recap
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- Two Joy Con can be used independently in each hand, or together as 1 game controller when attached to the Joy Con grip
- They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy 2 player action in supported games
- Each Joy Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller, and each includes an accelerometer and gyro sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible
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