Nintendo Switch Sports Resort review: get in better shape without breaking a sweat
, by Enzo
Unsurprisingly, Nintendo is once again pulling the same obvious move with a family-friendly sports franchise on its new handheld console, aiming to make the most of its capabilities in a laid-back atmosphere. After a timid Nintendo Switch Sports (2022) release—which was technically lackluster and relied heavily on the legacy of its Wii predecessor—it’s time to truly show what this franchise has to offer players. Has it risen to the challenge?
A worthy successor to Wii Sports Resort?
An entire generation of gamers was thrilled to learn that the famous Wii Sports franchise would continue into the Switch era with adaptations like Switch Sports and now Switch Sports Resort.
This new game features 12 different sports… or rather 12 and a half, for those who want to count jump rope (the daily warm-up) as part of the lineup. Of course, it marks the return of classics like tennis, bowling, and even golf for those who love revisiting them in every installment. A few slightly more unusual sports are also included: archery, boxing, and even volleyball, and some new exclusives make their debut, such as skateboarding and thumb wrestling.
On paper, the sports seem quite diverse. In reality… only two are exclusive, and the other ten are simply carried over from previous installments. Another point of comparison: Wii Sports Resort (2009) also featured 12 sports on the home console, and they weren’t necessarily any less fun or any less technically challenging to perform than those available in Switch Sports Resort.
It’s now the end of 2026: given the capabilities, power, and impressive versatility of the Nintendo Switch, it’s high time to release a game that features more sports than its predecessor, which came out 16 years ago. The priority should have been, above all, to include all the sports that have existed in this franchise in Switch Sports Resort, before attempting to create two exclusive titles that, while enjoyable, don’t make up for the eight missing sports.
Baseball has completely disappeared since the Wii era, as have Frisbee, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, and even wakeboarding. Furthermore, badminton, the very fun soccer, and especially fencing—all three of which are featured in Switch Sports—would have truly benefited from being included in this new installment. Another possible alternative would have been to release an enhanced version of the game on the Nintendo Switch 2, to take advantage of the performance boost and 60 FPS.
A slightly more comprehensive package
But not too much either—it would be a shame to take the fun out of surprising players. For starters, some sports feature small variations in how they play out. For example, tennis can be played on different surfaces, which changes the ball’s characteristics: faster, slower, bouncing more or less… and that’s an interesting detail.
Another interesting point is that certain sports feature fun alternative game modes that are a joy to discover. For example, standard table tennis can turn into a can-shooting challenge, basketball matches let you play speed challenges, and volleyball trains you to perform rhythmic movements.
The three activities that allow for free exploration—the seaplane, skateboard, and jet ski—enable you to traverse the archipelago and also feature alternative game modes, as well as « missions ». The goal is to collect a whole set of points of interest, organized by zone, in order to complete a logbook.
The other real new feature lies elsewhere: a single-player mode, a full-fledged « campaign » called « Island Crown ». The goal is to face 20 consecutive opponents—each one increasingly difficult—in each of the available disciplines. The goal is to earn the title of Island Ace. It’s a unique opportunity to go head-to-head with Matt, the legendary Mii from the boxing days of Wii Sports who left a lasting impression on a generation of players.
However, a rough patch marred our quest to become the Island Ace. After 19 consecutive tennis matches—winning every match in straight sets to reach the final against the Aces—that final match proved to be far more difficult than we ever expected. It took us more than 20 attempts to finally claim the crown. Every time we pulled ahead, the opposing bots would systematically ramp up their skill level, unleashing a barrage of smashes and powerful shots until they secured the victory. Or maybe we just needed more coffee…
Technical: from the Switch to the Switch 2
Graphically, we see some improvement thanks to the Nintendo Switch 2’s better performance. And thank goodness! The island is relatively well-modeled, the vegetation looks decent, and we have no complaints about the water and wave animations either.
The lighting looks better, the background environment is more dynamic than in the previous game, but above all, the most important aspect of this graphical leap is the smoothness. What a pleasure it is to be able to track fast-moving balls at 60 frames per second, instead of the 30 offered by the standard Switch.
As for motion detection and reliability, it’s hard to say if there’s been an improvement. Some sports, like thumb wrestling, feature relatively polished and satisfactory tracking, while others, like basketball, exhibit truly inconsistent accuracy when aiming.
Furthermore, in this same activity—to name just one—the mechanics of movement and actions might need reworking, as the character moves erratically and isn’t always in sync with the Joy-Con’s movements. In other sports, the character sometimes positions itself in unexpected ways, which doesn’t help—quite the opposite, in fact.
Online content
Unsurprisingly, the online mode is once again available, allowing you to face off against opponents from around the world. However, there are some differences compared to its predecessor.
First of all, only 9 of the 12 disciplines are available; those that allow for free-roaming—seaplane, skateboard, and jet ski—are not included. So we’re left with the same old sports we’ve known for ages, with no real new additions, except for thumb wrestling, which is definitely included.
It’s now also possible to play PvP against players from around the world in a game mode that no longer involves competition. You no longer gain or lose ranking points during these matches. There are several reasons for this choice: first, the frustration of encountering players who aren’t very fair, but also of facing opponents whose skill level is drastically higher or lower than your own.
Since the community isn’t particularly active over the long term in this type of game, this is one of the situations you might face after a few months. The standard online game mode is also available via the selection menu for each sport.
A palpable sense of disappointment
While Nintendo Switch Sports Resort remains an entertaining offering that finally takes full advantage of the console’s capabilities and its Joy-Con controllers, it may appeal to new players but is less likely to win over veterans and regulars, who already know nearly all of the activities featured here by heart.
The new features, such as single-player mode and free exploration with collectibles, look pretty good on paper, but in reality they mainly change the approach—not the experience itself. The vast majority of players will likely have given up on the game before completing the 20 qualifying matches for each sport and filling out the entire discovery log.
We’re torn between the sense of fun cooperation that’s been missing from the gaming landscape for a while and the disappointment that this installment doesn’t fully fill the void left by its predecessor, Nintendo Switch Sports, and its glaring lack of content.
The publisher has a tendency to rest on its laurels with this franchise and never seems to offer a complete package. More than 16 years after its predecessor, Wii Sports Resort, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort has the audacity to offer only 12 sports, more than half of which were carried over from that older title… for a price of €59.99 for the physical edition.
Tested on Switch 2. See our rating policy here.
6.5/10
It’s hard to say that Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is a bad game because it delivers on its promises: bringing family sports back to life with a game that’s accessible, colorful, and fun—even if the technical execution isn’t always perfect. The addition of a single-player mode is a welcome new feature, allowing players to continue the adventure without needing an internet subscription or dealing with the uncertainties of online player-versus-player matches.
Nevertheless, the lack of real surprises, the technical performance that’s still a bit shaky at times, and the inexplicable absence of certain sports weigh heavily in the balance. It’s time to release a truly comprehensive installment—one that will stand the test of time and bring together the vast majority of activities players have enjoyed since the franchise’s inception. The next installment, if it happens, will face the daunting task of truly driving the franchise forward, and that promises to be a challenge.
- + More to do thanks to a solid single-player mode and an online mode without rankings
- + Fun side game modes
- + Free exploration to roam the island at sea, on land, and in the air
- + As accessible and colorful as ever
- + Finally, a family-friendly game that takes full advantage of the console’s capabilities
- - Few real surprises; fans of the series might get bored
- - Technical and content disparities between certain activities
- - A glaring absence of disciplines that are well-known and/or have been featured in the past
- - No accessories—an unprecedented step backward since **Wii Sports Resort**
- - Movement reliability that can be inconsistent at times