Nintendo Switch Sports Resort arrived on October 22, and it is built for exactly one kind of evening: the kind where the coffee table gets pushed against the wall and somebody’s grandmother wins at bowling. The new game for Nintendo Switch 2 sends you back to Wuhu Island, the sunny resort from the Wii era, with 12 motion control sports you play by swinging, twisting and flicking your Joy-Con 2 controllers. It costs $49.99. Here is how to turn launch week into a living room game night that everyone, from first timers to old Wii Sports champions, can jump into.
Why Switch Sports Resort feels like a Wii night again
If you were around in 2006, you remember Wii Sports turning living rooms into bowling alleys. The 2022 game Nintendo Switch Sports tried to recapture that, but reviewers felt it launched thin. This time the early verdict is warmer. Nintendo Life, adapting a review by Jim Norman, gave it 9 out of 10 and called it “everything Switch Sport should have been at launch and more,” pointing to the 12 sport lineup, extra game modes, better character customization and a surprising amount to do alone. Alex from Nintendo Life added that he only gave the 2022 game a 6 and called this one “a massive step up.”
Jesse Vitelli of the gaming site IGN is a little more measured. He finds some sports thin and says the collection can feel like “a wide ocean rather than a deep-diving pool,” but he lands in the same happy place: it “still brings out the same childlike joy.” Nintendo’s own overview trailer, which walks through every sport, passed 1.5 million views on YouTube in its first two weeks.
The sports to start your game night with
Not all 12 sports land equally, so lead with the crowd pleasers and save the rest for later in the night.
- Thumb Wrestling. The surprise of the lineup. You pin your opponent’s thumb for three seconds to win, and holding your thumb down makes it grow bigger and stronger. Nintendo Life calls it “an instant party hit” with “unexpectedly deep tactical potential.” IGN’s Jesse Vitelli says it is “extremely silly, but actually makes for some competitive matches.”
- Archery. You hold both controllers out in front of you, press a button and draw one back to your chest like a real bow. Vitelli calls it “easily the best sport” in the game, and it has four courses plus hidden targets to hunt down together.
- Bowling and Golf. The familiar classics, and the easiest way to hand a controller to someone who has never played. In Nintendo Life’s words, they “still absolutely slay.” Twist the controller as you release to put spin on a bowling ball, and stop your golf swing at the right moment for backspin.
- Skateboarding. The other new sport. You lay a Joy-Con 2 flat on the table and use it like a mouse, pushing it to ride and flicking it for tricks. IGN’s crew ended up racing each other, “constantly pushing for faster times” as the rivalry grew.
- Table Tennis. Fast and responsive. Nintendo Life says it “provides a great sense of ball control,” which makes it a good pick for competitive pairs.
The rest of the list is Boxing, Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, Power Cruising (a jet ski in all but name) and Prop Plane, plus a Jump Rope warm up. Reviewers were cooler on a few of these when played alone. Vitelli found Volleyball boring in single player, then watched it turn into “electric back-and-forth rallies that lit up the room” once his roommates joined. That is the whole point of the game.
Set up your living room before friends arrive
- Count controllers. Up to four people can play on one system, and every player needs a compatible controller. Skateboarding uses mouse controls, so Nintendo Life notes you need extra Joy-Con 2 controllers to skate with two or more friends.
- Play on the TV. The game supports TV mode and tabletop mode, but not handheld mode, and Nintendo Life points out you cannot play local multiplayer in tabletop mode. Plan on the big screen.
- Clear some space and use the straps. Nintendo’s own advice is to be aware of your surroundings, wear the wrist straps and leave room around each player. Vitelli says the best sessions get so lively “you need to remind everybody to keep the Joy-Con wrist strap on.”
- Decide on online play ahead of time. Friends who live far away can join a room online, and the ranked Pro League pits you against players around the world. Online play requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership.
A simple game night plan
- Warm up with Jump Rope. It gets everyone moving and gives first timers a feel for the motion controls.
- Run a short tournament. Pick three sports, such as Thumb Wrestling, Bowling and Archery, and keep a paper scoreboard. Vitelli says the game’s “quick snappy menus” keep people from zoning out between rounds.
- Use the gentler modes for mixed ages. Nintendo’s trailer highlights a Laid-back Match that plays at a slower, more relaxed pace and a 100-Pin Game in Bowling that is a fun pick for younger kids.
- Cool down with a Sightseeing Tour. In Prop Plane, Power Cruising or Skateboarding you get five minutes to explore Wuhu Island and collect photo spots. Vitelli calls it “an excellent bite-sized adventure,” and it is easy to pass the controller after each flight.
- Shop together at the end. Every sport earns Spocco Points for outfits, hairstyles, face paint and equipment. Items come out at random from a weekly set, which both reviews found a little odd, but it makes for a fun reveal around the couch.
When it is just you
Switch Sports Resort has more to do solo than the last game. The new Island Crown mode has you climb the ranks against tougher and tougher opponents until you face the Island Champion in nine of the 12 sports. Nintendo Life says Jim Norman met his match in Table Tennis, where the champion gave him such a hard time that he “ended up needing to change his shirt.” Vitelli was less hooked and found his enthusiasm fading before long, so think of solo play as practice for the next party. There is also a free roam mode with no timer for simply exploring, and Alex from Nintendo Life calls the island itself “an absolute slam dunk.”
Make it a weekly ritual
Motion games work best as a standing date, the way a weekly card game does. Pick one evening, keep the scoreboard on the fridge, and let the youngest player choose the first sport. If you live near Nintendo’s stores in New York or San Francisco, both are hosting launch play sessions on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., first come, first served. And if your household is in a Nintendo mood this fall, our guide to learning the Ocarina of Time songs before the November 5 remake makes a fun follow up. You can find more ideas in Screens and Leisure.
Watch: three looks at Nintendo Switch Sports Resort
Nintendo of America’s overview trailer tours all 12 sports, the Island Crown mode and Wuhu Island exploration.
Nintendo Life’s review, adapted by Alex from Jim Norman’s written review, explains why the sequel earned a 9 out of 10.
IGN’s Jesse Vitelli reviews the game as a party pick, from Archery and Skateboarding to the weaker sports.
