Nintendo’s New Switch Sports Combines the Best of Wii Sports, Wave Race, and More

When Nintendo launched the original Wii Sports in 2006, it introduced motion-controlled gaming to a global audience through one of the most accessible titles ever created—largely anchored by its intuitive yet compelling bowling mechanics. Following an astounding 82 million sales, the company naturally sought to recapture that lightning in a bottle through successive iterations across the Wii, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch. The latest chapter, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, stands as the most expansive anthology of physical-action games to date, seamlessly blending casual, pick-up-and-play mechanics with heartfelt tributes to Nintendo’s rich heritage.

Bowling makes a welcome return in Switch Sports Resort—a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive and direct successor to 2022’s Nintendo Switch Sports—alongside beloved mainstays like golf and tennis. However, this fresh installment also holds distinct appeal for enthusiasts of classic franchises such as *Wave Race*, *Pilotwings*, and *Punch-Out!!*, while even nodding toward the golden era of skateboarding titles.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort plays like a greatest hits collection

During a recent hour-long hands-on session with Switch Sports Resort, the experience resonated as a veritable greatest-hits compilation designed to captivate every demographic of Nintendo devotee. The package encompasses both competitive showdowns and cooperative pastimes, alongside tranquil opportunities to sightsee across the sun-drenched expanse of Wuhu Island. Revamped classics like bowling and table tennis retain their timeless appeal—highlighted by the return of 100-pin bowling and a frantic split-screen table tennis mode that injects fresh energy into the court. Yet, every activity feels noticeably sharper and more responsive, courtesy of the heightened precision engineered into the new Joy-Con 2 motion peripherals.

Nintendo further demonstrates the robust capabilities of its refined hardware through novel additions like skateboarding. Navigating the skateboarding experience via a relaxed, cooperative sightseeing mode allowed me to carve across Wuhu Island, gathering collectibles and uncovering scenic photo opportunities under an unhurried, pressure-free timer. Controlled entirely in mouse mode with the right Joy-Con 2 turned on its side, pulling the peripheral backward initiated acceleration, tilting it steered left and right, and a swift upward lift executed Ollies and aerial maneuvers. It serves as a brilliant proof-of-concept for how seamlessly a title like *Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater* could thrive on the Switch 2.

Equally delightful and delightfully low-stress are the Power Cruising and Prop Plane modes, which successfully channel the spirit of *Wave Race* and *Pilotwings* onto the Switch 2 platform. Power Cruising seats players atop a personal watercraft controlled by gripping both Joy-Con 2 units horizontally like handlebars; leaning them dictates direction, while a sharp wrist flick launches the craft over ramps to snare tokens scattered across Wuhu’s coastal waters. Meanwhile, Prop Plane delivers a wonderfully serene aerial adventure. By holding a single Joy-Con 2 aloft like a paper glider, players tilt the device to climb, bank, and dive, experiencing a genuine sense of wonder while navigating through floating rings and bursting stray balloons.

Far less engrossing was Thumb Wrestling, a head-to-head diversion pitting oversized digital thumbs against one another in a quest for miniature supremacy. While it certainly ranks as the least substantial activity on offer, its sheer silliness guarantees it will function as an instant icebreaker at parties.

The event’s standout experience that successfully lured me back for extended rounds was Archery. Competing in a foursome comprising two human participants and two CPU combatants, we traded precision shots at a collective target. The design forces players to focus strictly on their designated quadrant, with any stray arrows infiltrating rival territory inadvertently rewarding opponents with bonus points. Archery effortlessly embodies the “easy to learn, difficult to master” philosophy, promising incredible long-term engagement for competitive players.

I also spent time testing the updated boxing module against computer-controlled opposition. Much like its peers in Switch Sports Resort, the fighting mechanic gains immense benefit from the advanced sensitivity of the Switch 2 hardware. While it may not replicate the distinct, high-intensity drama of classic *Punch-Out!!* entries, it remains an undeniably fun option for quick, lighthearted showdowns with friends and family.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort launches for the Nintendo Switch 2 on October 22.

Sure, the original’s compatible with old Joy-Cons, but also… give us Ring Fit 2

Source: Polygon