Nintendo Switch XLink Kai Setup (2024)

XLink Kai is a multi-platform and peer-to-peer LAN tunneling service which enables users to play system-link / LAN and ad-hoc multiplayer games on their consoles online with people all over the world. XLink Kai was first released in 2003, supporting the Xbox, PS2, and Gamecube at launch, with PSP, PS3, Xbox 360 and others support arriving soon after. Now, as of version 7.4.32, XLink Kai has added support for the PS Vita, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

XLink Kai Home Page - https://teamxlink.co.uk
XLink Kai Status Page - https://status.teamxlink.co.uk/
Popular on XLink Twitter Bot - https://twitter.com/PopularOnXLink
Team XLink Official Discord - https://discord.gg/UyyjNpa
Supported Games List - https://www.teamxlink.co.uk/supported-games

Getting started & required hardware

A Nintendo Switch console
One of the 22 supported games with the LAN feature
A PC/Mac/raspberry Pi
1 or more network cables depending on your setup
Some form of internet connection

Creating an Account

To begin, you'll need to register for an XLink Kai account and download the program. Click on 'Sign Up' at the top of the XLink Kai home page and fill in your details, then click Submit. You then need to verify your email address and consent to the XLink Kai data collection policy (GDPR compliance). Please be sure to read the Acceptable Use Policy.

Installing XLink Kai

Follow the installation guide for your Operating System:

Installing XLink Kai on Windows XP
Installing XLink Kai on Windows 7
Installing XLink Kai on Windows 8
Installing XLink Kai on Windows 8.1
Installing XLink Kai on Windows 10
Installing XLink Kai on Windows 11
Installing XLink Kai on macOS
Installing XLink Kai on Linux
Installing XLink Kai on Raspberry Pi
Installing XLink Kai on ChromeOS

Supported Games

Nintendo Switch games are divided into two groups; games with LAN support, and games with Local Wireless support. There are different requirements and rules for the two types.

LAN Games

LAN games are the most widely supported and can be played on unmodified Nintendo Switch consoles, Switch Lite consoles, modded "CFW" Nintendo Switch consoles, and on emulators like Ryujinx.

There are 22 games with LAN support for Nintendo Switch.


Title	Versus Mode	Co-op Mode	Game version must match	Total players	Per console	Versus mode	Co-op mode
Title	Versus Mode	Co-op Mode	Game version must match	Total players	Per console	Versus mode	Co-op mode	Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers	✔
Air Conflicts: Secret Wars	✔
ARMS	✔	✔		4	2
Bayonetta 2		✔		2	1		2
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour		✔		8			8
	✔			4
Mario Golf: Super Rush	✔			4	2	4
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	✔		Yes	8		8
Mario Tennis Aces
Nintendo Switch Sports				8		8
Pokémon Shield
Pokémon Sword
Pokkén Tournament DX
Quake II
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
Saints Row: The Third
Serious Sam Collection
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Splatoon 2			Yes
Splatoon 3
Super Mario Maker 2
Titan Quest

Local Wireless Games

Local Wireless games more restrictive and cannot be played on XLink Kai with an unmodified Nintendo Switch. However if you have a modded "CFW" console please follow our CFW Nintendo Switch guide or you can play using the Switch emulator Ryujinx.

Unmodified "OFW" Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite systems are not supported.

There are 103 games with Local Wireless support for Nintendo Switch.


Title	Versus Mode	Co-op Mode	Game version must match	Total players	Per console	Versus mode	Co-op mode
Title	Versus Mode	Co-op Mode	Game version must match	Total players	Per console	Versus mode	Co-op mode	20XX
Ace of Seafood	✔			4	1	4
Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp	✔			4	1	4
Alice Gear Aegis CS: Concerto of Simulatrix
All-Star Fruit Racing	✔
Among Us				8
Animal Crossing: New Horizons				8
Art of Balance	✔	✗		1		1
Attack on Titan 2
Bloody Zombies
Borderlands 2: Game of the Year Edition				4	1
Borderlands: Game Of The Year Edition				4	1
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Ultimate Edition				4	1
Brawlout
Broforce				4
Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle				4
Capcom Fighting Collection	✔			8
Chiki-Chiki Boxy Pro Wrestling	✔			6	1	6
Chiki-Chiki Boxy Racers	✔			8	1	8
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
Cruis'n Blast
DAEMON X MACHINA
Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Disc Jam	✔
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Duck Game	✔	✗		8		8
Dying Light: Platinum Edition			Yes	5
Easy Come Easy Golf	✔			4	1	4
Fast RMX			No
FIFA 19
Fishing Fighters				8
Flip Over Frog	✔
Flip Wars				4
Football Heroes Turbo				2	1
FREECELL BATTLE KING				2	1	2
Full Metal Furies				4
Gang Beasts
Girls und Panzer Dream Tank Match DX	✔
GoonyaFighter
Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness				4
GRID Autosport				8		8
Hammerwatch
HARDCORE MECHA
Hotshot Racing	✔			8	2	8
Human: Fall Flat	✔			8		8
Hyper Jam
It Takes Two		✔		2	1		2
		✔
Kamen Rider Climax Scramble
Kirby's Dream Buffet	✔			4		4
KORG Gadget
Luigi's Mansion 3
Mantis Burn Racing
Mario Party Superstars
Mario Strikers: Battle League				8	2
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Monster Hunter Rise
Morphies Law
Ms. Splosion Man				4	1
NAMCO MUSEUM
Nine Parchments
Overcooked! 2	✔	✔
Payday 2
POISOFT's 'Thud'
Portal Knights				4
Puyo Puyo Champions
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Ragtag Adventurers				4
Rayman Legends Definitive Edition	✔
Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Risk of Rain 2
Rocket League			Yes
Sniper Elite V2 Remastered	✔					4
SOLITAIRE BATTLE ROYAL	✔			2	1	2
Spelunky				4
SpinTires: Mudrunner				4
Stardew Valley		✔
Super Beat Sports	✔			4	1	4
Super Bomberman R	✔			8		8
Super Mario Party	✔			4	2	4
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Tennis	✔			2	1	2
Terraria
THE Bass Fishing				8
Torchlight 2				4	1
Trine 2 Complete Story				3	1
Trine Enhanced Edition				3	1
Trivial Pursuit Live!				4		4
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers	✔
UNO	✔			4		4
Vagante				4
Voice of Cards: The Beast of Burden	✔			4	1	4
WarioWare: Get It Together!				2
Windjammers	✔			2	1	2
Word Search by POWGI	✔
Worms W.M.D
Xenon Racer	✔
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution	✔
Zombie Army 4: Dead War				4
Zombie Army Trilogy				4

Connecting your Nintendo Switch

Wired Connection

The best way to play Nintendo Switch LAN on XLink Kai is with a fully wired set up. You will get the lowest latency (ping) to other players and the most stable connection possible.

Using a USB ethernet adapter connected to your Switch Dock (or the built in connection for OLED docks!) connect your Switch and computer to your router with ethernet cables.

If you're using a third-party ethernet adapter, you may need to add it as a Custom Console Mapping:

On your Nintendo Switch, select System Settings, then select the Internet tab. Ensure your console is connected via your wired connection. You can find the MAC address of your ethernet adapter next to LAN MAC address.
From the XLink Kai website, sign into your account, then click on your username and click edit profile.
Scroll down to the bottom, and under Custom console mappings, enter your Switch ethernet adapter's MAC address.
Select Nintendo Switch under the console dropdown menu and click Submit to save.
Restart Kai, and check if your Switch is detected under metrics after performing the connection test.

Wireless Connection

If a wired connection is not possible then wireless can be used at the cost of stability. Connect your Nintendo Switch and computer to the same wireless network.

Switch Network Settings

Every console on XLink Kai needs to be using a unique IP address to avoid conflicts. To accomplish this we use last 4 digits of your console's MAC address to create a unique IP address.

To set the correct IP address on your Nintendo Switch:

Power on your Switch and go to the main home menu. Select System Settings
Scroll down and select Internet
If your Switch is already connected to your network the MAC address is listed on the right under System MAC Address
Write down the last 4 digits of the MAC address
Open the IP address calculator at http://www.teamxlink.co.uk/ipcalculator/ and select Nintendo Switch
Enter the last 4 digits of your MAC address and click Calculate IP Address
Follow the instructions on screen.

Playing a game on XLink Kai

Start XLink and log in
Power on your Nintendo Switch and load a game with LAN support
Click Game Arenas at the top of the screen
Navigate to the game's arena using the directory on the left
In the game search for/try to join a metch then click Metrics and scroll down a little. Your Nintendo Switch should be shown along with 'Configured OK'. If not check your network setup!
You're now ready to go! Join a match and play! Happy gaming!

Finding players

If you are having trouble finding other players to game with please join our Discord chat and use the various game-specific channels. There are also several fan-run discords that host regular game nights.

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