Nintendo Switch Sports Resort seriously ups its predecessor’s content, but has it upped the fun also? Yes. Admittedly, Pure Nintendo enjoyed 2022’s Nintendo Switch Sports more than most critics. But while it was a bestseller, it seemed to lack legs. Resort, with a much more balanced approach that doesn’t sacrifice solo play for online focus, aims to delight critics and keep fans coming back. It will likely pull this off, though expectations shaped by past entries in the Wii and Switch Sports series may ultimately determine whether it’s a very good experience or an outright great one.

This review will spend more time covering what’s brand new while still briefly highlighting everything on offer. The reality is that the bulk of this content is fan favorites, recycled from popular past entries. I could nitpick and say that bowling seems more challenging, tennis still forces me to play with a clone in doubles, and golf has sensitive putting and a hole count stuck in the 20s. But in the end, we have a trio of classic games, nostalgic for fans and fun for newbies. And eagle-eyed gamers will notice some tweaks for the better. Tennis, for instance, no longer assigns courts randomly; you can choose your playing surface.

Boxing also returns (for its third time). This is somewhat surprising, given that boxing was generally regarded as the worst of the original sports. Has time altered this perception much? Slightly, if only because holding two Joy-Cons are more comfortable than a Nunchuk tethered to a Wiimote. But when the tutorial couldn’t recognize my third dodge, I knew this wouldn’t keep me engaged long. It still feels slightly ill-fitting, and I wonder why they chose this for inclusion while overlooking baseball, last seen in Wii Sports Club over a decade ago.

Some Resort favorites are back for the first time in 17 years: archery, table tennis, basketball, and power cruising. Of these, archery and table tennis have gotten the most replay from the Gould household, thanks to intuitive, responsive motion controls and overall general enjoyment. Volleyball is also back from Switch Sports. While an overly long event (even playing to just five points), it’s enjoyable enough. Prop Plane is largely a name variation of Air Sports from Wii Sports Resort (Island Flyover is now called Sightseeing Tour). I’ll talk more about this—and power cruising—alongside one of the outright new sports in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, skateboarding… 

These three events offer island exploration, something I’ve desired for years. Skateboarding’s issue is the mouse controls. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve no gripe with an event highlighting this mechanic, and they actually work fine. But the steady flicking for movement can prove tiresome in practice. I’m still waiting for a first-party effort that makes mouse controls positively shine. When covering Power Cruising as part of his Wii Sports Resort review, Justin said, “I found it a little more fun to spend the practice time going around and exploring the island.” I agree. Prop Plane controls the best and is the most fun among this trio of exploratory events. 

This open-world approach is overdue, though you could argue Nintendo didn’t think it through completely. They would’ve been smart to take a page from Bandai Namco’s Go Vacation (a game 15 years its senior), but with more vehicles, on-foot exploration, and collectibles spread across four resorts to find at your leisure, minus restrictions. The untimed mode here takes away things that hold your interest. Without a purpose, how long before it starts becoming dull? Still, I’m glad it’s here, and no offense to Spocco Square, but Wuhu Island is where it’s at, even if it feels smaller than you remember.

Did I forget thumb wrestling? It had an awkward debut, and that impression carries over into the game. Well, less awkward and more “why is this here?” It’s a fun enough novelty, but it’s just that: a novelty. It feels out of place among the main sports, good for a quick chuckle and some achievements. Two thumbs sideways.

It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: this game shines in multiplayer. If you have someone to play it with, Switch Sports Resort might be considered a must-have. Save for the mouse-controlled skateboarding, you can even use your original Switch Joy-Cons. While designed with local multiplayer in mind, I dabbled with online play, and it seems active and smooth in every sport I tried. This is Nintendo’s third go-round taking the Sports series online, after all. 

I’m a bit indifferent to Nintendo’s Sportsmates. While these characters are prioritized, you can still use your Mii in this entry, thankfully. I want to look like Trev, not some androgynous, generic, skinny teenager. Shopping can help add a bit more defining features, but once again, it’s random buys, which is silly and hard to defend. Whether these avatars partially take you out of the experience may depend on your age, but as half the time you don’t even see them, it’s ultimately minor. 

Island Crown, a new single-player mode, gives this installment legs that its predecessor lacked. Moving through the ranks to challenge these “Legends” gives the game a purpose that boosts replay value. It may not engage you at length, but ducking in and winning a few matches feels rewarding as you get closer to taking on the island champs, especially with a daily play bonus. A smart inclusion.

A very good (if pretty safe) installment, Switch Sports Resort should enjoy a fun honeymoon period and endure through family gatherings. Perhaps Nintendo will even add a few more great, innovative events for those of us who feel like we’ve been playing the same sports for years. But even if this entry sacrifices bold innovation for conservative safety, its sheer fun redeems its familiar personality. Its low learning curve and unlockables not tied to online play make it an appealing choice for parents with younger kids, an audience less likely to care that it doesn’t take long to see everything on offer. Buy it, enjoy it, and dream of a Bandai-Namco-collaborated follow-up to give Wuhu Island a Go Vacation makeover.