The Nintendo Switch Sports Resort preview experience was a blast from the past, reminiscent of the Wii era when motion controls were all the rage. I had the chance to play eight of the twelve games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on October 22, 2026, and I was impressed by the variety of ways the Joy-Cons are utilized. From the nostalgic Bowling to the new Thumbwrestling, each game showcased the versatility of the Switch 2’s hardware.
The original Wii Sports was a phenomenon that introduced gaming to a whole new audience, and its sequel, Wii Sports Resort, brought even more excitement to the table. Now, almost a decade later, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is set to revive the series, and I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek. The new iteration features twelve games, including Tennis, Bowling, Archery, Boxing, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Basketball, Golf, Thumbwrestling, Prop Plane, Skateboarding, and Power Cruising.
A New Era of Sports Games
Nintendo’s Holiday Preview event provided me with an opportunity to play a ton of great Nintendo titles, but the behind-closed-doors session with Nintendo Switch Sports Resort was the highlight of my day. I was able to try out eight of the twelve games, giving me a well-rounded look at what the game has to offer. The 2026 version has switched things up a bit, saying goodbye to Swordplay, Wakeboarding, Cycling, Frisbee, and Canoeing, and introducing new games like Boxing, Volleyball, and Skateboarding.
Hands-On Impressions
I was pleasantly surprised by Archery, which has players take control of both Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons. The game features a fun multiplayer mode where four players can compete against each other, aiming for their own colors on the target. I happened to be pretty good until I accidentally started hitting another color, which gave that player points instead of me. It was fun nonetheless. Skateboarding, on the other hand, uses the Nintendo Switch 2’s mouse controls, which took some getting used to, but I was starting to get the hang of it near the end.
Exploring Wuhu Island
Prop Plane, Power Cruising, and Skateboarding were the games that allowed us to explore Wuhu Island, and each offered different collectibles while playing. We could collect Spocco Photos, wheels for skateboarding, balloon popping for Prop Plane, and life preservers for Power Cruising. All collectibles and points go toward the main player’s progress, so we could split up and grab everything we could. It was easy to get lost on the island and forget about the collectibles altogether, since I was busy bouncing giant balls in Prop Plane and chasing dolphins in Power Cruising.
In conclusion, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is shaping up to be a fantastic addition to the Switch 2 library, offering a variety of fun and engaging games that showcase the hardware’s capabilities. With its release on October 22, 2026, I’m excited to see how the game will perform and whether it will live up to the hype. One thing’s for sure, though – my arms are still sore from all the bowling and boxing I did during the preview, and I’m looking forward to doing it all again when the game launches.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
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