Casual gaming, often dismissed as superficial, can encompass real beauty, as seen in games like PopCap's Bejeweled or the Jane Austen-themed Regency Solitaire. However, the term also brings to mind 2006's Wii Sports, a monumental success that sold 100 million consoles and reshaped the gaming landscape, a period that now feels like a distant memory for Nintendo. The company, once a pioneer in attracting new players with intuitive motion controls and minimalist aesthetics during the Wii and DS eras, has since shifted its focus back to its core fanbase with the success of the Switch.
This shift has left a void for players who enjoyed Nintendo's more casual offerings, such as the in-laws of one reviewer, who enjoyed games like Tekken and played Royal Match on their phones but whose Wii gathered dust. The term 'casual' now often refers to a vibe—relaxed, upbeat, and accessible—a constituency largely abandoned to the smartphone app stores.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort aims to reclaim this space, returning to the idyllic setting of Wuhu Island, the backdrop for the original Wii Sports Resort. This time, Wuhu is not just a setting but an explorable open world, reminiscent of a 3D Mario level, complete with secret areas and challenge runs. This expansive approach is one of the compilation's most significant additions.
The game introduces three new vehicle-based "leisure sports": prop plane, skateboarding, and power cruising (jet skis). In these modes, players can freely explore the island, hunt for collectibles, complete challenges in Sightseeing Tour, or engage in races and battles. This free-roam exploration enriches the Switch Sports experience by creating a cohesive world with its own atmosphere, offering satisfying gameplay, especially for solo players, and fostering a more relaxed social dynamic.
The controls for these leisure sports are particularly noteworthy. Skateboarding, in particular, is praised as the best application yet for Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, offering intuitive steering, tricks for speed boosts, and satisfying braking. The tactile and inventive control schemes are highlighted as a signature strength of Nintendo's designers.
Beyond the leisure sports, the compilation features nine other non-leisure sports. Tennis, basketball, and volleyball return from Nintendo Switch Sports, alongside classics like bowling and golf. Archery and table tennis are back from Wii Sports Resort, boxing makes its return from the original Wii Sports, and a new mode, thumb wrestling, is introduced. While some beloved sports like chambara sword fighting and badminton are absent, and thumb wrestling is considered to lack depth, the returning sports offer refined experiences.
Boxing, for instance, has been reimagined to favor strategic jabs over frantic movements. Archery is also lauded for its control and a unique multiplayer variant where players compete for sections of a target, creating an elegant balance of risk and reward. Many sports include engaging variants, such as 100-pin bowling, the volleyball rhythm game Bump to the Beat, and table tennis' Return Challenge. These variants serve as excellent tools for mastering the games' deceptively simple control schemes.
A substantial addition is Island Crown, a robust single-player mode that provides meaningful progression. Players ascend leaderboards in each of the nine non-leisure sports, facing increasingly skilled AI opponents who also serve as a tutorial for different playstyles and techniques. This mode, along with achievements and extensive "Sightseeing" logs, transforms the minigame compilation into a dense and rewarding experience, particularly for solo players.
Local multiplayer supports up to four players, with extensive online options available for the non-leisure sports. Casual Online Play and a ranked Pro League are offered, and golf and bowling support up to eight players. Leisure sports can be played with friends in lobbies that allow groups to split into smaller sessions before reconvening.
Character customization has also been significantly expanded, with points earned through all types of play (not just online) unlocking outfits, titles, nameplates, and custom equipment, featuring a humorous and stylish aesthetic. This, combined with Island Crown and other activities, creates a rich ecosystem of content.
Despite its complexity, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort remains breezy and simple to navigate, embodying Nintendo's skill in making intricate designs feel effortless. The game offers a world where enjoyment, discovery, and challenge multiply over time, yet it remains welcoming to all players, allowing them to engage with its possibilities at their own pace. The reviewer concludes that the game is a masterpiece, noting that the in-laws who visited while the game was being reviewed purchased a Switch 2 on their way home.