Nintendo is expanding the familiar Wii Sports formula with Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, a new entry that combines motion-controlled sporting events with a much larger area to explore. The game brings the series back to Wuhu Island, but this time players are not limited to individual sporting venues.
The upcoming title builds on the accessible, family-friendly design that has defined the series while introducing sightseeing activities and additional ways to interact with its resort setting. Alongside sports such as bowling, archery, volleyball, golf and basketball, players can explore the island using several different forms of transport.
Wuhu Island becomes a major part of the experience
The return to Wuhu Island represents one of the biggest changes in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. Previous entries largely focused on separate sporting activities, with each challenge functioning independently. The new game instead gives players an environment they can explore between sporting events.
Players can travel around Wuhu Island by plane, skateboard or power cruiser, allowing them to discover different areas and points of interest. The sightseeing activities do not appear to be built around conventional competitive objectives. Instead, exploration rewards players with items such as Spocco Points, which they can exchange for cosmetic customisations for a player’s Mii.
Exploration can also reveal Spocco Photos, which unlock additional starting points around the island. This gives players more reasons to return to areas they have already visited and gradually discover more of the resort.
The island is considerably larger than you might initially expect. During a hands-on session, more than 15 minutes could be spent travelling between different locations using the available vehicles, while still leaving plenty of the environment unexplored. Hidden routes and markers are scattered around the island, while additional activities can appear naturally as players travel.
Another island also appears visible from Wuhu Island. Although it couldn’t be reached during the limited hands-on time, the area appeared to contain another settlement, suggesting the game may have more to discover beyond the main resort.
Familiar sports return alongside new activities
While exploration is a major addition, the traditional sports remain at the heart of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. Returning activities such as volleyball and archery continue to provide the straightforward motion-controlled gameplay that made earlier entries popular.
Boxing is another returning-style activity that makes strong use of motion controls. Its fast movements and emphasis on timing give it a feel reminiscent of a motion-controlled version of Punch-Out!!, while other sports continue to rely on simple Joy-Con gestures.
Bowling and tennis remain particularly well suited to Nintendo’s motion-control system. Throwing a virtual bowling ball or swinging a racquet feels intuitive, helping the games stay accessible even for players unfamiliar with the series.
Nintendo is also adding variations to established sports. One example is 100-pin bowling, which dramatically increases the number of pins and places them on an unusually large lane. The result is a more chaotic version of the familiar bowling experience that could work particularly well during multiplayer sessions.
New activities also introduce different types of motion-based competition. Thumb Wars, for example, initially appears simple but has a strategic element. Players can slam their thumb down to attack, but a miss lets the thumb stay in place and grow larger.
A larger thumb can be an advantage because it provides greater strength and reach. However, it also creates a larger target for an opponent. Players therefore have to decide whether the potential advantage is worth the risk of giving their opponent an easier opportunity to strike.
The mix of returning favourites and new activities helps Switch Sports Resort stay accessible while giving experienced players something new to learn.
A larger resort leaves room for more possibilities
The expanded Wuhu Island environment also highlights potential Nintendo could explore in future updates or additional activities. The ability to fly a plane, ride a skateboard and operate a power cruiser already introduces movement beyond the traditional sports included in the series.
The hands-on experience suggests these activities could potentially support more substantial competitive modes. Plane races with checkpoints or rings, downhill skateboard competitions, and time trials for power cruisers could build on systems already present in the game.
That potential makes the resort environment feel like more than simply a backdrop for the sports. The open setting allows Nintendo to experiment with activities that sit somewhere between traditional sports and arcade-style exploration.
Players can also experience the sightseeing elements at different times of day. Travelling around Wuhu Island in the morning or at night changes the atmosphere and gives the environment more life. The mix of exploration and motion-controlled activities echoes older Nintendo experiences like Pilotwings and Wave Race, even if the activities aren’t as fully developed as those dedicated games.
For players who approach Nintendo Switch Sports Resort primarily as a collection of mini-games, the expanded exploration may feel like an unusual addition. However, the hands-on experience suggests that the relaxed nature of sightseeing can complement the competitive sporting events.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is available to pre-order for US$50 on Switch 2, with the official release scheduled for 22 October. The larger setting, expanded exploration and mix of returning and new sports could make it a more substantial experience than earlier entries while retaining the simple controls that helped establish the series.
