Nintendo Switch Sports Resort has arrived, bringing with it a robust collection of motion-controlled minigames. The title features 12 main sports, many of which offer distinct modes, complemented by a well-designed single-player campaign and open-island exploration. This makes it the series' most impressive collection of minigames to date.
After extensive play, some sports clearly stand out, while others fall short of the mark. The following ranking aims to provide a guide for players who might feel overwhelmed by the options and wish to focus on the most engaging experiences.
Basketball
Generally, the complexity of translating real-world sports into motion-controlled minigames correlates with their success. Basketball, a sport inherently reliant on nuanced movement, struggles in this transition. It reduces the game to a sequence of timed actions for shooting, blocking, and passing. While free-throwing offers a decent experience, standard multiplayer matches become overly complicated.
Volleyball
Volleyball shares many of the same issues as Basketball, with its reliance on predictable maneuvers that disrupt the game's flow. While it performs slightly better due to less emphasis on player movement, it ultimately feels like a less refined version of Tennis.
Tennis
It is a testament to the overall quality of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort that the best game from the original Wii Sports is a weaker entry here. Tennis is not inherently bad, though its motion controls feel less precise than before. However, it is overshadowed by the more polished Table Tennis. While still offering novel fun, more creative games are available within the collection.
Golf
The primary critique of Golf is its lack of innovation. It remains largely unchanged from its previous iterations and still provides enjoyable gameplay. However, imprecise motion controls hinder consistent shot execution, and putting proves particularly challenging.
Boxing
Boxing can be somewhat unpolished, with motion controls sometimes making precise uppercuts and hooks difficult while dodging and blocking. Despite this, the sheer enjoyment of delivering rapid punches to an opponent's head makes it a compelling experience, serving as a strong potential foundation for a new Punch-Out!! title.
Thumb Wrestling
As a new addition, Thumb Wrestling is a remarkably clever inclusion. It functions well as a one-handed game that avoids demanding large gestures. The deceptive strategy involved in luring opponents into lowering their thumb, while simultaneously preventing them from charging their own, makes for engaging gameplay. Despite its relative shallowness, it is a sharply designed adaptation that consistently draws players back.
Power Cruising
Three of the leisure activities in Switch Sports Resort allow for open-world exploration of Wuhu Island, and Power Cruising is among the best. The mechanic of holding the Joy-Cons like handlebars and twisting them to boost is ingenious and tactilely satisfying. However, water exploration is more restricted compared to Prop Plane and Skateboarding.
Table Tennis
Table Tennis surpasses Tennis by simplifying the experience. By removing large physical movements, it focuses on precise shot timing, offering a tighter version of Pong. Successfully spiking a lobbed ball after a lengthy rally against a skilled opponent is particularly rewarding.
Archery
Archery stands out as an elegant game utilizing two controllers. The motion controls for drawing the bow and aiming are a satisfying representation of the real sport. With elements like wind and target distance to consider, each round offers enough depth to create tense, high-stakes matches.
Skateboarding
Skateboarding may be the most compelling showcase for motion controls in the Switch Sports series. Players place a Joy-Con on a table and drag it backward to push off, tilting to steer and lifting to jump. These controls function remarkably well, allowing for smooth skating. The addition of ramps and grind rails across Wuhu Island enhances the sense of immersion, making the island feel like a natural skate park.
