Does Mario & Luigi: Brothership have co-op multiplayer?

Mario & Luigi: Brothership allows fans to dive into a new RPG adventure from the minds at Nintendo. It is the latest in the Mario & Luigi spin-off series that leverages the teamwork between the Mario brothers to new heights with an all-new setting, mechanics, and more. That said, does it feature co-op multiplayer for its lengthy story campaign? Unfortunately, there is no such feature in the game.

A two-player setup where each player controls Mario and Luigi, respectively, would make for a truly immersive experience, but that would also work against the design foundation of the series. Here are the full details.

NOTE: Parts of this article are subjective and reflect the writer's opinion.

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Is there multiplayer co-op in Mario & Luigi: Brothership?

Mario and Luigi work together to overcome the hurdles in front of them. (Image via Nintendo)

The Mario & Luigi franchise has always been single-player and Brothership continues this trend. If players still have any doubts, the official Nintendo eShop store page for the game also confirms that this is a single-player title from start to finish.

Many modern games and entries to longtime series have introduced co-op and multiplayer features. However, this latest entry chooses to play things safe — for the better. Players control Mario's actions with the A button and Luigi's with B, which is used for performing actions both in and out of battle — this is how the formula has worked since the original Gameboy Advance entry Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.

It is this interactivity and the challenge that arises by juggling between the two heroes that form the basis of the gameplay for Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Topped by levels, environments, puzzles, and more that are made for a solo experience, a co-op feature would simply not work as it would either make the experience too shallow, too easy, or both.

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When does the game launch and for which platforms?

The world of Concordia awaits (Image via Nintendo)

Mario & Luigi: Brothership arrives on November 7, 2024. As with past entries, this is a first-party Nintendo title, so it is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch hybrid console. Unlike past installments, however, this title is developed by Acquire.

With the previous studio, AlphaDream closed down after filing for bankruptcy, Nintendo handpicked the Octopath Traveler studio to bring this new entry to life, which they have done with an all-new premise, artstyle, and more.