Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, launching exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 this Thursday, October 22, offers a well-rounded and expanded take on the motion-controlled sports series, earning a 4/5 rating. Nearly 20 years after Wii Sports first got families moving, this return to Wuhu Island bundles classic sports, new Leisure activities, and character customisation, coming close to recapturing the original's slapstick fun.
Classic Sports Return with New Twists
While some notable sports like Baseball, Chambara, Frisbee, and Canoeing are absent, the game launches with a solid collection. Tennis, Boxing, Golf, and Bowling return in top form with rule twists, alongside off-kilter options like Thumb Wrestling. The 12 sports at launch include a 100-pin bowling challenge and an Archery mode where you score points in specific target regions to avoid giving rivals your points.
The Joy-Con 2's increased sensitivity and improved motion accuracy enhance returning sports. Tennis and Table Tennis feel gratifying with backhands and chops, Boxing remains a thrill with bobbing and weaving, and Archery feels as accurate as in Wii Sports Resort. Thumb Wrestling, the only truly new mainline sport, is a welcome addition, even if it requires vigorous Joy-Con shaking.
Leisure Sports Offer Island Exploration
Three sports are categorised as 'Leisure': Skateboarding, Prop Plane, and Power Cruising. These allow you to roam Wuhu Island by land, sea, and air using unique motion controls. Skateboarding tasks you with collecting wheelie collectables across the island map in under five minutes, using the Joy-Con to build momentum, turn, jump, and grind rails. Prop Plane and Power Cruising similarly involve seeking out Spocco Photo pickups, encouraging exploration of new paths, areas, and times of day.
These Leisure sports are more games than actual sports, but they up the competitive nature between families while letting you relax and explore at your own pace. They serve as a good use of the Joy-Con 2's unique control functionality and are categorised separately, suggesting Nintendo's acknowledgment that they're for letting your hair down.
Customisation and Progression Add Depth
A new built-in economy awards Spocco points for most actions in standard sports, Leisure sports, and the single-player Island Crown mode, where you work your way up from 20th to 1st in all nine major sports. These points can be spent on customising your character, with tops, face markings, and accessories available for Sportsmate avatars from 2022's Nintendo Switch Sports. The ability to switch between Sportsmate and Mii styles offers nostalgia for OG Wii Sports alumni.
Unlocking outfits for both styles rewards your efforts, though Spocco points work as randomised drops from rotating themed store categories rather than being spent on specific cosmetics. Overall, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is the culmination of what the franchise has been leading towards. Some sports mini-games are better than others, but all encourage you to get moving in ways only the Nintendo Switch 2 allows, alone or with friends. With a rewarding customisation and progression system, madcap ways to engage in familiar sports, and new ones that let you soak in Wuhu's island vibes, this is the closest Nintendo has come to recapturing the Wii Sports magic two decades after the phenomenon took over the world.
