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Kirby and the Forgotten Land co-op is local play on one Nintendo Switch: Player 1 controls Kirby, and Player 2 joins as Bandana Waddle Dee. Choose a save file to start, or open the Pause menu and select Play Co-op. If Player 2 cannot join or the controls seem wrong, first register the second controller in the grip you intend to use, then check its charge and connection.
Start co-op in the game
After Player 1 selects a save file, Player 2 can join. If you are already in a stage, open the Pause menu and select Play Co-op. Player 2 controls Bandana Waddle Dee and can join or leave during play. This is same-system co-op, not online multiplayer, so an internet connection, router, or Nintendo Switch Online subscription is not required to add Player 2. Nintendo’s co-op guidance for Kirby and the Forgotten Land describes the mode and its entry points.
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Pair the second controller and select its grip
- From the HOME Menu, open Controllers, then choose Change Grip and Order.
- On the controller you want to use, hold the SYNC button for at least one second. Once paired, the player LEDs should remain lit.
- Register the controller in the orientation you will use. For a single Joy-Con held sideways, press SL + SR. For a paired Joy-Con grip, press L on the left Joy-Con and R on the right, or press ZL and ZR.
- Return to the game and try joining co-op again.
Nintendo explains the pairing sequence and grip confirmation in its Joy-Con pairing instructions. A controller can be paired but still registered in an unintended orientation. The grip expected by a game depends on its multiplayer options; after the system wakes from sleep or is powered on, the holding position can revert to the dual-controller grip. If the same sideways Joy-Con worked before sleep but now has incorrect inputs, repeat the grip setup.
Use the player LEDs to check connection status
- No player LEDs lit: the controller is disconnected or its connection was cut.
- LEDs flashing in sequence: the controller and console are trying to connect.
- One or more LEDs solid: the controller is connected.
- LEDs flashing: the controller has very low battery charge.
Nintendo’s controller pairing FAQ describes these indicators. If you intentionally disconnected a wireless controller by holding SYNC for at least one second, press any button to reconnect it.
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Fix intermittent response or dropouts
If Player 2 joins but the controller becomes unreliable, check these causes before assuming it is faulty:
- Custom button mapping: if you changed the Joy-Con button mapping, restore the standard mapping and test again.
- System software: install the latest Nintendo Switch system update.
- Charge: charge the Joy-Con and retry.
- Distance and placement: move closer to the console. Keep the console in the open rather than behind a TV, inside or under metal, or pressed against a cluster of wires.
- Wireless interference: move nearby wireless devices away from the console where possible. Nintendo lists speakers, access points, headsets, printers, phones, microwaves, and some USB 3.0 devices as possible sources, and suggests keeping them about three to four feet away where possible.
These checks follow Nintendo’s advice for Joy-Con that respond incorrectly or lose connection wirelessly. If the problem persists after them, Nintendo recommends service for the affected Joy-Con.
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If a Joy-Con works attached but will not pair wirelessly
- Press the Joy-Con’s SYNC button once, then press another button to try pairing again.
- If it still will not register, clear and recreate its wireless pairing using the console’s controller settings.
- Confirm the Joy-Con is charged, move it closer to the console, and reduce nearby wireless interference.
- Check that the controller arrangement and number of players are supported by the game.
If wireless pairing still fails after those steps, Nintendo says the affected Joy-Con needs service. See its Joy-Con wireless pairing troubleshooting.
Choose a controller setup that fits Player 2
Player 2 can use a single Joy-Con held horizontally or a supported paired-controller arrangement. A single sideways Joy-Con uses SL and SR to register its grip; a paired grip uses the shoulder-button confirmation described above. Use Change Grip and Order to verify how the console recognizes the controller rather than assuming that a pairing alone selected the intended setup. Nintendo’s Joy-Con holding-position guidance explains why the software’s player options and the console’s grip registration both matter.
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When to request controller service
Request service for the affected Joy-Con if it remains unreliable after you have confirmed the co-op flow and grip, checked its LEDs and charge, updated the console, reduced distance and interference, and restored standard button mapping if needed. A connection or orientation problem is not, by itself, proof that the controller is defective.
Quick Recap
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