Nintendo was present at PAX Aus again this year. It’s always a delight to see the Big N make a presence at these big expos, drawing in the crowds to play their wide range of games on display. This year’s showcase was quite different to 2025, with fewer upcoming games and more reliance on the solid lineup of titles already released on the Switch 2. These included games like Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (admittedly a recent release), and Tears of the Kingdom.
This suite of games allowed Nintendo to focus on their next big release, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. This marks the third entry in the Sport series, bringing the multiplayer goodness of mixed sports to the Switch 2 for the first time.
What that meant for PAX visitors was hands-on time with the game. Not just that, but players were perched on a stage while their efforts were displayed on a big screen for the crowd to see. Being a competitive game, there was even an MC hosting bouts with guests as they tried to outdo each other in the likes of bowling and archery. The consistent crowds throughout the weekend indicated a healthy interest in the title. And why not? The recent trailers have been great, whetting our appetite for more.
Even better, this reporter had the chance to spend a full hour with the game in a special media session with Nintendo.
Archery
This was the sport I was most interested in trying, simply because it’s something quite different to the usual tennis and bowling. Here players hold a pair of Joy-Cons in front of them, pulling one back to draw the string. The game asks which is your dominant hand, making it easy for lefties to play, too. While it felt a little clunky at first, after two or three shots I was slinging arrows faster than a certain Lord of the Rings elf.
We tried two versions of this game. Firstly, we were tasked with hitting a relatively normal set of targets. You know the one, it has a series of concentric circles. The closer you are to the center, the higher the score.
We played several rounds, with each target placed a different distance from us. There’s also a wind factor to consider. It was fun attempting to take these factors into account to make the best shot.
Next up was a special event using a colored target. This allows four players to shoot at the same time. The target is divided into section; the aim is to hit your own section, highlighted in your specific color. If you hit another section, the points go to your opponent. Ouch!
This was a super-fun way to play, with several rounds and various challenges creating a close contest with my opponent.
Bowling
Bowling is back! For me, this is the most iconic game in the set. I’m instantly transported back to 2006 when Wii Sports was thrust upon the world. In Switch Sports Resort, things look and feel just as I remember, albeit with much more detailed visuals. There is one key difference, though: the controls.
Yes, my muscle memory was my worst enemy here. In the original game, you had to hold down the B button, releasing it as you ‘release’ the virtual ball. That’s no longer a thing. While you still hold down a button (I think it was the ZL/ZR button), you no longer need to let it go. Wow, that was hard to get my head around!
Letting go of the button drops the ball. The good news is that it doesn’t roll down the aisle and result in a gutter ball. Instead, you get to try again. It’s a strange change, but one I did eventually get used to.
We played the special version of bowling, which features 100 pins. I can vouch that smacking over 100 pins in one shot for a strike is nothing short of satisfying. See? I wasn’t too bad with those controls after all.
Thumb wrestling
Yes, thumb wrestling. This is one of the new games, and clearly, it’s also the quirkiest addition. It also happens to be quite fun.
In thumb wrestling, your character sports oversized hands (are they gloves or did we have an allergic reaction of some kind?). What I love about this minigame is that it’s a quick session that’s simple to learn. This also makes it very replayable since it’s so easy to jump in for another round.
Your goal is to hold down your opponent’s thumb for three counts. You can waggle your thumb back and forth. You can also place your thumb down to power up after a few seconds. When your thumb is down, though, it’s obviously vulnerable to attack, so you need to weigh up the pros and cons. It doesn’t take long to power up, and you could both do it at the same time of course.
The tricky part is that, once you pin your opponent’s thumb down, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll win. The trapped player can waggle their controller furiously in an attempt to escape; and for the first few rounds, it’s almost guaranteed that you will be let free. Eventually, the more times a thumb is pinned, the less likely an escape is possible. It’s a tense way to play, for sure.
Oh, and for the record, I won this one.
During our hands-on session, we also flew a plane through the skies and raced across the waters to collect photographs. This was a lovely, relaxing way to complement the competitive aspects of the game.
All in all, it was a lot of to try Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. Many thanks to Nintendo Australia for organizing this session with us. We’ll be sure to give our thoughts on the full game once it’s released in our upcoming review!
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort will be released on 22 October. Check out the latest overview trailer below. And let us know which sport you’re most excited to play!
