Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Review

I have some pretty fond memories of the original Wii Sports. It was one of those games that seemed to find its way into just about every household, regardless of whether the people playing it considered themselves gamers. I spent countless hours bowling, playing tennis and occasionally getting a little too competitive with friends and family. Then came Wii Sports Resort, which took that winning formula and expanded it with even more activities, introducing Wuhu Island and giving us one of the most enjoyable collections of motion-controlled games Nintendo has ever produced. So, when Nintendo announced Nintendo Switch Sports Resort for the Nintendo Switch 2, I was immediately interested. The return to Wuhu Island, a larger selection of sports and the promise of more ways to explore the island sounded like exactly what the series needed.

At its core, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is all about getting people moving and having fun. Featuring 12 different sports, a selection of familiar activities and some interesting new additions, there’s a surprising amount to get stuck into. Whether you’re looking for a quick game of bowling, want to challenge someone to a competitive game of tennis or simply fancy exploring Wuhu Island, there’s something here for just about everyone.

One of the biggest strengths of the package is the variety on offer. Returning sports include Tennis, Bowling, Golf, Volleyball, Basketball, Boxing, Table Tennis and Archery, while new additions such as Skateboarding and Thumb Wrestling help keep things interesting. There’s also Power Cruising and Prop Plane, which offer something a little different from the traditional sporting activities.

Each sport makes use of the Joy-Con 2 controllers in different ways, and generally speaking, the motion controls work extremely well. Swinging a racket, throwing a bowling ball or pulling back an imaginary bow feels intuitive, and most activities are easy enough for anyone to pick up within a few minutes. That’s always been the appeal of this series, and I’m pleased to see Nintendo hasn’t lost sight of it.

The returning sports are where I found myself spending much of my time. Tennis remains one of my personal favourites, offering straightforward but enjoyable matches that reward good timing and positioning. Table Tennis is another highlight, with faster exchanges and a greater emphasis on choosing the right shots. Bowling is just as addictive as ever, and I can easily see it becoming the activity that keeps everyone coming back for another round.

Boxing is another sport that benefits from the more responsive controls. Throwing punches, guarding and looking for opportunities to counter your opponent makes for some entertaining encounters. It’s also one of the more physically demanding activities, particularly when matches start getting competitive. I found myself getting surprisingly invested in some of these bouts, even when I probably should have taken a breather.

The newer sports are a welcome addition, too. Thumb Wrestling is a particularly amusing inclusion, turning something incredibly simple into a surprisingly competitive little activity. It won’t necessarily keep you entertained for hours, but it’s the sort of thing that can generate plenty of laughs when playing with friends.

Skateboarding is another interesting addition, making use of the Nintendo Switch 2’s Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. It’s a different approach to the usual motion-controlled activities and provides a nice change of pace. I enjoyed the idea of having another way to interact with Wuhu Island, although I would have liked to see a little more variety in the available skateboarding challenges.

Power Cruising and Prop Plane are perhaps the most relaxing activities in the collection. Rather than competing against someone in a traditional sporting event, they allow you to explore the surrounding environment from the water or air. They’re a nice reminder that there’s more to this experience than simply winning matches, and they help give the game a stronger sense of place.

Of course, the real star of the show is Wuhu Island. Anyone who spent time with Wii Sports Resort will immediately recognise the location, and I absolutely love seeing it return. There’s something incredibly nostalgic about revisiting the island, particularly when you consider how memorable it was in the original game.

This time around, there’s more reason to explore. You can travel around the island using Power Cruising, Skateboarding or Prop Plane, discovering sightseeing locations, hidden items and various little surprises along the way. Sightseeing Tours also encourage you to seek out specific locations, complete challenges and collect Spocco Photos. It’s a relatively simple addition, but it gives you something to work towards outside the individual sports.

Another welcome inclusion is Island Crown mode, which provides a more structured single-player experience. Here, you work your way through a series of sporting challenges, taking on increasingly difficult opponents as you attempt to become the island’s champion. There are nine different sports represented, with familiar faces from the series making appearances along the way.

I particularly enjoyed having something meaningful to work towards when playing alone. While the individual sports are entertaining enough on their own, having a progression-based mode gives the experience a little more direction. Defeating tougher opponents feels rewarding, and earning additional customisation options along the way provides another incentive to keep playing.

Character customisation also makes a welcome return. You can choose between creating a Sportsmate or using a traditional Mii character, which is a nice touch for anyone who prefers the classic Wii-era aesthetic. There are plenty of hairstyles, outfits and accessories to experiment with, and I enjoyed being able to create a character that felt a little more personal.

Playing different sports earns you Spocco Points, which can then be spent on additional cosmetic items. New collections arrive regularly, giving you another reason to return even when you’ve already spent plenty of time with the available activities. It’s a straightforward progression system, but it works well.

Multiplayer is, unsurprisingly, where Nintendo Switch Sports Resort really shines. There’s something timeless about getting a few people together and competing in a collection of ridiculous sporting challenges. Whether it’s a heated bowling match, a particularly competitive game of basketball or trying to knock someone out in boxing, the experience is at its best when shared with others.

Local multiplayer supports up to four players on a single system, while online options provide additional ways to compete. Friend Lobbies allow you to get together with other players, while Casual Online Play and the Pro League provide opportunities to test your abilities against people around the world. The Pro League is particularly welcome for those who want something a little more competitive, offering skill-based matchmaking and a reason to improve across the different sports.

Visually, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is a pleasant-looking game, although it doesn’t necessarily push the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware particularly hard. Character models are colourful and expressive, the environments are bright, and Wuhu Island looks lovely when exploring its various locations. There’s a nice sense of familiarity throughout, and the overall presentation captures the relaxed holiday atmosphere that made the original Wii Sports Resort so memorable.

The soundtrack and sound effects also do a good job of bringing everything together. The familiar presentation makes it easy to jump between activities, and the menus are straightforward enough that even less experienced players shouldn’t have any trouble finding their way around.

Performance has been smooth throughout my time with the game, with the motion controls generally feeling responsive and reliable. It’s worth noting that this is a game designed around playing with the Joy-Con controllers detached from the console, so handheld play isn’t supported. That’s understandable given the nature of the experience, but it’s something worth keeping in mind if you were hoping to play while travelling.

There are a few things I would have liked to see improved, though. While 12 sports is a healthy selection, not every activity is equally entertaining, and some of the newer additions feel a little less substantial than the returning favourites. I also would have liked to see a few more activities carried over from previous entries, particularly Badminton and Chambara from the original Nintendo Switch Sports.

There’s also the question of longevity. The individual sports are incredibly easy to return to, especially when playing with friends, but those primarily interested in playing alone may eventually find themselves repeating the same activities. Island Crown helps address this, although I would have liked to see an even more substantial single-player offering.

Ultimately, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is a really enjoyable return to a formula that Nintendo has always done exceptionally well. The expanded selection of sports, the return of Wuhu Island and the additional exploration activities make this a much more complete package than its predecessor. While not every activity is equally memorable, there’s enough variety here to keep things entertaining, and the multiplayer experience is as enjoyable as ever.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t really need to. Sometimes, all I want is a collection of fun, accessible activities that I can jump into without having to worry about complicated mechanics or lengthy tutorials. This is exactly that, and I can see it becoming a regular fixture whenever friends and family come over. Welcome back to Wuhu Island. It’s been a long time, but it’s good to be home.

A Nintendo Switch 2 review code was provided by Nintendo for the purpose of this review.

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