Nintendo Switch Sports Resort review: is it worth buying in 2026

Verdict: If you have fond memories of Wii Sports Resort, this is worth picking up, but reviewers are split on whether it's a real step forward or just a prettier version of what you already played.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort launches October 22, 2026 for the Nintendo Switch 2, bringing the party back to Wuhu Island with 12 sports and the Joy-Con 2's enhanced motion tracking. The original Nintendo Switch Sports came out in 2022, but this one takes the series back to the island setting fans remember from the Wii days.

What's new

The big additions are Skateboarding and Thumb Wrestling. Skateboarding uses the Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode, which is either a neat trick or a clunky gimmick depending on who you ask. Three Leisure Sports round out the package: Power Cruising, Prop Plane and Skateboarding.

The new Island Crown single-player mode has you climb ranks to challenge island champions in nine of the 12 sports. Sightseeing Tour mode gives you five minutes to explore Wuhu Island and collect items, which sounds like a nice break from competition if you just want to mess around.

What reviewers say

Some reviewers call this the best in the series. Others say it doesn't clear the bar set by the original Wii Sports, which is still the gold standard for this kind of game.

Volleyball gets mixed reactions. One outlet calls it sluggish. Another says it's boring in single-player but electric in multiplayer, which tracks with how these games have always worked.

Basketball takes heat for feeling too choreographed and lacking freedom, according to multiple reviews. Power Cruising's controls are another sticking point, with one reviewer calling them clunky gimmicks while another says they translate nicely.

Visuals are a toss-up too. One review praises the crisp 4K visuals on Switch 2. Another says the visual style is slightly lacking in character, which is fair: these games have never been about pushing polygons.

The bottom line

If you're buying a Switch 2 and want something the whole family can play, this is a safe bet. The motion controls are the main draw, and the Joy-Con 2 reportedly improves the tracking that made the 2022 version frustrating at times.

But if you're looking for a huge leap over what came before, you might be disappointed. This is Wii Sports Resort with better hardware, which is enough for some people and not enough for others.

The Radazoid take

For those of us who spent hours on Wii Sports Resort at family gatherings, this hits the same spot, but it doesn't quite recapture the magic of the first time we swung a Wii Remote and watched a bowling ball actually curve. The original Wii Sports was lightning in a bottle because it made your parents and grandparents pick up a controller for the first time. That novelty is gone now, and no amount of 4K polish brings it back.

Still, if you've got kids or you're hosting game night, this is a solid pickup. The Island Crown mode gives you something to do solo, and the sports that work have always worked. Just don't expect it to feel revolutionary, because we've been here before, and the second time around is never quite the same.