Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Review - 12 Sports For The Whole Family

First Released October 22, 2026

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Published Oct 20, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort includes 12 games to keep you engaged and active, even if the new additions aren't quite as fun as returning favorites.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort ​​​​​​is a perfect encapsulation of the Nintendo Switch 2 era: It leans into nostalgia while offering something new, encourages teamwork and exploration, and has a ton of replay value. It also happens to be immensely fun. Even if you played Wii Sports Resort, which happened to be one of the best-selling games on the entire system, back in 2009, this new and improved version is worth checking out.

At 12 sports in total, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort has something for everyone to enjoy. From golf and bowling to tennis and archery, Nintendo's latest exclusive is bringing back iconic sports games that will feel familiar to anyone who played the Wii original, but it also makes some nice adjustments to those returning favorites. It also includes two new activities at Spocco Resort — thumb wrestling and skateboarding — alongside a rewards system that increases replay value.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Is As Fun As Ever

If you've never played a game like this before, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort uses the motion controls of the Joy-Con 2s to read your movements. You essentially act out the sports, watching as your avatars compete on the screen. Each sport is cleverly designed so that you're using the controllers in a way that feels like you're really doing the activities.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is all about having fun in whatever way you want. While you can play through every single activity solo, everything is arguably more fun with a group. I played through every sport with my family, and while I was personally nostalgic for fan-favorites like golf and bowling, my kids adored table tennis, boxing, and archery.

We also spent a ton of time flying the prop plane around the islands, looking for photos to collect and balloons to pop. This also was a nice respite from standing up and moving around, so we tended to play this one whenever we wanted to sit for a bit. And in addition to the 12 sports, there's the "Warm Up" option where you can jump rope, which one of my daughters absolutely adored and said was her favorite activity in the game.

Playing sports and completing objectives earns you in-game currency called Spocco Points, which you can spend at the Item Center, which refreshes weekly and monthly. You can purchase new outfits and accessories, as well as new titles and more. It's a fun incentive that really encourages everyone to keep playing, but since it's all secondary to the games, you can also just ignore it if you'd rather play sports and do nothing else.

New Sports Just Aren't As Good As The Returning Ones

The 12 sports included in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort are:

• Power Cruising
• Archery
• Bowling
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Boxing
• Prop Plane
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Golf
• Thumb Wrestling
• Skateboarding

Those last two are new, and while thumb wrestling was enjoyable and authentic, it also begged the question: Why not just play this IRL if the person you're playing against is on the couch beside you? Both swordplay and frisbee golf in Wii Sports Resort (two activities that didn't make the cut here) were more fun. Other than the power-up that allows you to make your thumb larger, it's just regular thumb wrestling.

I was admittedly most excited to try skateboarding. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is one of my all-time favorite series, and while I knew this would be different, I was eager to skateboard around the island, hunt for collectibles, and try out tricks. Skateboarding also requires you to use the Joy-Con 2 controller as a mouse, which was a feature I hadn't experienced much beforehand.

Sadly, it just doesn't really work all that well. While I had no issues in any of the other games with the Switch 2 reading the motion controls, skateboarding just never quite gelled. Steering also isn't all that great, and the entire activity is clunky. The good news is that out of the 12 sports included here, this is the only one that none of us really wanted to replay. 11 out of 12 is still an extremely good success rate.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Is Well Worth The Price Of Admission

I'm most impressed by how well the motion controls read our movements. Except for skateboarding, none of the sports feel clunky. Tutorials and practice runs help newcomers get the feel of the sports before actively competing. The result is a collection of sports games that fit whatever mood you're in. And since each sport has multiple modes, boredom is never a factor. It always feels like there's something new to discover or a new way to compete against friends and family.

At $49.99, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is well worth the price of admission. My family and I have enjoyed our time together, and we're still playing it daily. Even once the shine wears off a bit, it's like Wii Sports Resort or a favorite family boardgame: This will be something we pull out at family gatherings and holidays for many years to come.