| Ars Technica |
Sam Machkovech |
Not Recommended |
05-03-2022 |
NSS bowling doesn’t yet include its “challenge” lanes in online matchmaking, but I hope these come in a patch because they’re the exact twist that the Wii Sports formula needs. As played in either local multiplayer or online friends-only matches, these include static and moving obstacles in lanes, and they randomly rotate in each frame. I like how they force players to shift their throwing position and wrist rotation to get different kinds of strikes, instead of doing the same wrist-waggle “cheese” moves repeatedly. The default bowling mode is fine, but the challenge mode is where it’s at for consistently refreshing virtual bowling. |
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| Atomix |
Sebastian Quiroz |
68 / 100 |
04-27-2022 |
Although the foundations of the experience are quite solid, the lack of content and restricting the progression in the online component are Nintendo Switch Sports’ biggest mistakes. |
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| AusGamers |
Kosta Andreadis |
6 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports lives up to its namesake in that the sports are both the star of the show, and the entirety of the experience. |
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| Checkpoint Gaming |
Edie W-K |
6.5 / 10 |
05-01-2022 |
As much fun as Nintendo Switch Sports games are, it’s hard not to feel as if Nintendo didn’t exactly push the boat out on the game. 6 games might have been enough for a new game in 2006, but not these days, and not for a full-priced game. That and the lack of extra modes and options make it feel like it’s a half-game, something that should have been bundled in with Nintendo Switch Online instead of sold at full price. It’s still a fun distraction, perfect for engaging the non-gamers in your family… as long as you’ve spent enough hours unlocking some accessories first. |
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| COGconnected |
James Paley |
70 / 100 |
04-27-2022 |
All of these games are great in short bursts. It’s only over repeated play sessions that they start to falter. To that end, your enjoyment is tied to your playstyle. Will you bust out Nintendo Switch Sports whenever friends drop by or log on? Perfect. You’ll get months of use out of this game. But if you lean too hard on these activities all at once, you’ll be burnt out in a couple of days. |
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| Cubed3 |
Jorge Ba-oh |
7 / 10 |
05-03-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is a fun sequel that does online right. Those looking for that throwback Wii Sports feel with solid online play will fit right at home. It’s great with friends and family in the living-room, too. The main drawback, however, is the lack of content |
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| Cultured Vultures |
Ryan Stevens |
7.5 / 10 |
05-06-2022 |
While some new aspects feel undercooked and the online multiplayer’s reward economy feels imbalanced, Nintendo Switch Sports still has that undeniable charm and endless replayability that we remember. |
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| Daily Star |
Tom Hutchison |
4 / 5 stars |
04-27-2022 |
All in, a wonderful title that brings back a lot of memories for those of us who have been gaming for a while, while creating a whole new ‘this is cool’ feel for newcomers. Either way, it brings friends and family together and will spark as many laughs in your living room as frustrated yelps when you’re beaten into submission by a five-year-old. |
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| DarkZero |
Ian Howarth |
6 / 10 |
05-11-2022 |
I’m aware that this review may come off as particularly negative even though I’ve really had a lot of fun with the game so far. |
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| Destructoid |
Chris Carter |
7 / 10 |
05-02-2022 |
Solid and definitely have an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun. |
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| Digital Trends |
Giovanni Colantonio |
3.5 / 5 stars |
04-27-2022 |
Even with a few duds in the pack, Nintendo Switch Sports’ highlights make it a must-own multiplayer party game. |
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| Easy Allies |
Daniel Bloodworth |
3.25 / 5 stars |
05-16-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is as fun as the Wii Sports games before it, but for it’s asking price, it comes up a bit short on content. |
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| Eurogamer |
Christian Donlan |
Recommended |
05-03-2022 |
Ultimately, though, these games are so refined, and delivered with such odd, coffee-shop-and-library charm, that it doesn’t matter how you play. My daughter is of the age where she completely missed the Wii, so when this new game arrived and we started moving the furniture around, she didn’t have a clue what we were up to. But that afternoon we must have played together for hours, with breaks for when a diving header animation made her laugh so much she needed her breath back. The whole thing was intoxicating. |
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| Game Informer |
Jason Guisao |
7.5 / 10 |
05-04-2022 |
Switch Sports’ singleplayer is bafflingly hollow. All six events are available, but the reward system is absent. Gratification might come from defeating the CPU on the inconsistent “Strong” or “Powerhouse” difficulties, but don’t expect to receive anything flashy in exchange. As of right now, there are no incentives in place to keep casual players invested in returning to their favorite sports, which is a disservice to a sizeable percentage of the fanbase. |
Read review |
| Game Revolution |
Jason Faulkner |
3.25 / 5 stars |
05-17-2022 |
Nintendo has been criticized for porting Wii and Wii U games to the Switch and selling them at a high MSRP. However, in this case, I feel like we’d have gotten a better deal if Nintendo had just updated Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort to use the Joy-Cons. Nintendo Switch Sports has a weird emphasis on online play, a frustrating unlock system, and is sadly underwhelming compared to its predecessors, which launched over a decade ago. |
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| Gameblog |
Tiny_Ellie |
7 / 10 |
04-29-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is the worthy heir of Wii Sports. With a tasty mix of nostalgic and innovative disciplines, the game capture the magic of the first two games in the series. |
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| GameSkinny |
Joshua Robin |
6 / 10 |
05-07-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is a great way to satisfy any urge to play motion control games. Unfortunately, it doesn’t make any effort at being more than that. |
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| GameSpew |
Kim Snaith |
7 / 10 |
05-05-2022 |
Frustrations aside, there’s plenty of fun to be had in Nintendo Switch Sports, no matter how you choose to play. It’s a valiant nod back to Wii Sports, slightly more grown-up and refined this time around. Perhaps it’s not quite as fun – though maybe that’s just because we’re older and more world-weary than we were back in 2006 – but it’ll undoubtedly still be a game to pull out at any family gathering. It’s just a shame that earning new cosmetic items is locked to online play. |
Read review |
| GameSpot |
Kurt Indovina |
7 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo’s latest motion-controlled sports game resparks the magic of playing with others, but not without a few fumbles along the way. |
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| GamesRadar+ |
Sam Loveridge |
4 / 5 stars |
04-29-2022 |
A well-thought-out online mode lifts Nintendo Switch Sports from being a sheer nostalgia trip, to an experience well worth the investment. |
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| GameXplain |
Unknown |
Recommended |
04-27-2022 |
Video Review |
Read review |
| GamingTrend |
David Flynn |
60 / 100 |
05-07-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports has moments of fun, but they’re buried under forced, inaccurate motion controls and lacking minigames. Only 2 and a half of the six sports on offer here are really fun or engaging, character customization is shockingly sparse, and the novelty wears off in minutes. This feels more like a cheap imitation of Wii Sports, which was free, than anything close to worth the price of entry. |
Read review |
| Geek Culture |
Jake Su |
8.6 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
With a good selection of sports and robust motion controls that just work, Nintendo Switch Sports has everything to become an all-star, that is, if the online play holds up to the modern standards. |
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| God is a Geek |
Adam Cook |
8.5 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is all about multiplayer action. With more to come in the future, it truly is excellent to have Sports back for the latest generation of Nintendo console. |
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| GRYOnline.pl |
Michał Grygorcewicz |
4 / 10 |
05-04-2022 |
This game should have been released 5 years ago as a free bonus to the console itself, just like Wii Sports years ago. As a stand-alone game for a full price, Nintendo Switch Sports simply doesn’t cut it. |
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| Guardian |
Keza MacDonald |
4 / 5 stars |
04-27-2022 |
It’s been a while since a video game got us up and moving like this, and happily it’s as entertaining as ever |
Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer |
Sam Spyrison |
4 / 5 stars |
05-08-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports doesn’t revolutionize motion-controlled gaming, but instead brings it back at its peak with six enjoyable sports that play great locally or online. |
Read review |
| Hey Poor Player |
Andrew Thornton |
3.5 / 5 stars |
05-22-2022 |
You can have a lot of fun with Nintendo Switch Sports, whether online or in person with friends. If you’re playing alone, though, its severe lack of content won’t keep you busy for long. Of course, that would be forgivable if it were a pack-in like the game that spawned this series, but as a game you have to actually purchase, players should expect more. |
Read review |
| Hobby Consolas |
Daniel Quesada |
82 / 100 |
04-27-2022 |
Its simple and direct formula still works as a charm and the selection of sports is attractive. It’s ideal for a quick multiplayer fun at home, although the concept is not as groundbreaking as it was 16 years ago. |
Read review |
| IGN |
Colin Stevens |
7 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports successfully recaptures the party game magic of Wii Sports, but quickly falls victim to a lack of depth that holds it back from achieving greatness. |
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| IGN Italy |
Mattia Ravanelli |
7.9 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is a funny game for the whole family. Sports selection could have been wider and bolder, just like Wii Sports Resort, but as a light-hearted party game, it still works fine. |
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| IGN Spain |
David Oña |
7 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports aims to bring back one of the most iconic Wii experiences, and it achieves this thanks to several implementations that improve some of the classic proposals of the series, and the presence of new sports that, football aside, have been very well interpreted. The negative note is given by a content that, despite having a pending update that will include golf in the autumn, is far from the most complete instalment of the franchise. However, it is still a safe value as a party game and comes at a reduced price. |
Read review |
| Impulsegamer |
Alex Prakken |
3.3 / 5 stars |
05-05-2022 |
A motion control party game that’s best in couch co-op, but doesn’t possess the same revolutionary novelty as its predecessor. |
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| Merlin’in Kazanı |
Ersin Kılıç |
75 / 100 |
05-17-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports has been a fun party game despite its limited game mode. Playing alone is boring, but when you are in a large group as intended, the enjoyment of the game increases exponentially. |
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| Metro GameCentral |
GameCentral |
6 / 10 |
04-29-2022 |
A muddled reimagining of the groundbreaking Wii Sports, with an unwarranted focus on online play and new game additions that are never as much fun as the originals. |
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| New Game Network |
Alex Varankou |
55 / 100 |
05-10-2022 |
Despite the prospect of fun multiplayer moments, there’s just too little content in Nintendo Switch Sports, and the minigames that it does offer have been done better elsewhere in Nintendo’s own library. |
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| Niche Gamer |
Fingal Belmont |
6 / 10 |
05-10-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is an overpriced compilation of mini-games aimed for children. It is also very polished but also sorely lacking content and even with golf, it won’t be enough to justify the lack of effort in this product. It is amusing to go online and to rob children of getting a victory, but even that becomes hollow when there are so few ways to make it compelling. |
Read review |
| Nintendo Life |
Alex Olney |
6 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
We’re hoping that as soon as the online functionality is live Nintendo Switch Sports will make a lot more sense, but as a purely local game there’s a lot to be desired to make this a worthwhile purchase. If you’re keen on simply playing some motion-controlled Wii Sports-like games on your Switch then Nintendo Switch Sports might bring you a good bit of enjoyment, but if you’re looking for something a little deeper and with a bit more variety than the game you first played on Wii, you’ll probably be left somewhat disappointed. |
Read review |
| NintendoWorldReport |
Neal Ronaghan |
Recommended |
04-27-2022 |
Switch Sports will be adding golf in a future update, so there will be more than the six sports available on launch day in the future. While the online could sway the eventual review score one way or the other, I’m extremely positive on Switch Sports and look forward to playing it more with friends and family locally as well hopping online and unlocking new gear and equipment and trying to join the Pro Leagues. We’ll be back soon with a final verdict on Nintendo Switch Sports. |
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| NoobFeed |
Asura Kagawa |
70 / 100 |
04-30-2022 |
While Switch Sports’ liberal difficulty levels help it seem more approachable than its predecessors, having additional methods to customize the experience would go a long way in this case as well. Nintendo Switch Sports is undoubtedly a worthy successor, but it doesn’t come for free because of how quickly the world has evolved since Wii Sports. |
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| Paste Magazine |
Charlie Wacholz |
7 / 10 |
05-06-2022 |
The Wii games felt so revolutionary because they did something deeply innovative with the medium. Switch Sports effectively does the opposite. It’s still incredibly fun, especially if you’re feeling nostalgic for the halcyon days of motion controls, but in trading content out for accuracy and immersion, it feels empty-even compared to games from 16 years ago. |
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| Polygon |
Chris Plante |
Recommended |
04-27-2022 |
I do hope younger folks give this game a shot. I think they might once the game’s online mode is available, a place where people under the age of 35 are far more likely to play games. Until I can try those features, though, I’m happy to think of this as Nintendo’s love letter to the old and the old at heart. The company took over a decade to make the game, but maybe they were waiting for folks like me to age into it. |
Read review |
| Post Arcade (National Post) |
Chad Sapieha |
7 / 10 |
05-04-2022 |
Nintendo’s latest sports compilation is too simple to be much fun alone, but shines when played with friends and family. Read our review. |
Read review |
| Press Start |
Shannon Grixti |
8 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports feels familiar, yet still remains fun after all these years, especially when played with groups of friends. Whilst the offline offering is a little bit basic, we’re hopeful that what’s on offer online will take advantage of the easy to play, hard to masters gameplay mechanics. |
Read review |
| Reno Gazette-Journal |
Jason Hidalgo |
7.5 / 10 |
05-20-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is a modern take on one of Nintendo’s beloved classis from the Wii era, complete with the motion controls and burning muscle soreness that veterans of the series know very well. The game boasts improved visuals compared to its predecessors and playing with or against other people remains a hoot. Limiting multiplayer to docked mode is a bit of a bummer, though, especially since playing solo feels like a more lonely and less fulfilling experience. It’s a game best enjoyed with others for sure. |
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| Screen Rant |
Cody Gravelle |
4 / 5 stars |
04-27-2022 |
Ultimately, however, Nintendo Switch Sports thrives in its gameplay, which is captivating despite its simplicity and remains a huge selling point for anyone interested in the title. It’s easy to lose hours of a night to burgeoning competitive rivalries among friends in one specific game, and the motion controls get people active enough that it feels like a productive use of time on top of the entertainment. There’s some valid criticisms to be made over the shallow game roster and even shallower character customization, but at its core, Nintendo Switch Sports is an absolute blast and is simple enough for anyone who wants to give it a try. |
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| SECTOR.sk |
Matúš Štrba |
6.5 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports keeps the spirit of Wii Sports alive, but there are some compromises in its design that hold back its potential. But still, multiplayer is fun as ever. |
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| Shacknews |
Ozzie Mejia |
8 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
As an offline package, Nintendo Switch Sports is a hoot just for Bowling and Chambara alone. The other games are worth trying at least once. Volleyball might even grow on some people. Unfortunately, Badminton, Tennis, and Soccer lost steam with me after a while, but half a package that I’ll return to again and again is certainly nothing to sneeze at. I hope this is a collection that will continue to grow, because I had forgotten what a crowd-pleaser the Wii Sports era was. It’s good to have that spirit back. |
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| SpazioGames |
Silvio Mazzitelli |
Recommended |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is a good heir to the beloved Wii Sports. |
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| Sports Gamers Online |
Curtis Russell |
8 / 10 |
05-05-2022 |
Besides the absences of baseball and boxing, the six sports on show here are smooth, responsive, and fun. While Nintendo Switch Sports could do more for the players that play solo, the game is at its best when you play locally with friends. |
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| Stevivor |
Steve Wright |
8.5 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
As per usual with any Nintendo title, this comes complete with a catchy, earworm-producing soundtrack and oodles of clean, wholesome fun. Those looking to rekindle a family gaming session akin to ones enjoyed in the past with Wii Sports will find this a sure winner. |
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| TechRaptor |
Dan Rockwood |
8 / 10 |
05-02-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports delivers on what it promises while leaving the door open for more updates in the future. Despite some control hiccups and occasional network disconnections, Nintendo Switch Sports is an excellent entry in the Switch library. |
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| Telegraph |
Tom Hoggins |
3 / 5 stars |
05-05-2022 |
Nintendo’s manic revival of Wii Sports could use more variety, but its lively appeal is a joy for the whole family |
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| The Games Machine |
Daniele Cucchiarelli |
Recommended |
04-27-2022 |
Another generation of the Nintendo Sports series, that once again delivers a truly enjoyable and entertaining experience. Still, the singleplayer experience could use some love. |
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| TheSixthAxis |
Jason Coles |
Recommended |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is a fun reminder of the Wii Sports craze, bringing back some classic sports and adding some new ones that make use of the Joy-Con and motion controls in more advanced ways. It’s all just a bit shallow, though, and difficult to wholeheartedly recommend unless you expect to play online a lot or constantly break it out for local head-to-head battles. |
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| Thumbsticks |
Daniel New |
4 / 5 stars |
05-09-2022 |
Familiar but refreshed, Nintendo Switch Sports is an excellent party pastime with the promise of more fun to come. An unfussy online implementation also improves the experience for solo players. |
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| TrustedReviews |
Gemma Ryles |
4 / 5 stars |
04-29-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports has been one of the biggest nostalgia throwbacks for me in a long time, and I can’t believe how far Nintendo has come since Wii Sports way back in 2006. The motion-control gameplay is still just as fun as ever, although its simplicity may limit appeal and longevity. |
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| Twinfinite |
Rebecca Stone |
3 / 5 stars |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is not a bad game, but it definitely doesn’t offer anything radically new or revolutionary, and it doesn’t provide much to keep me playing for more than a couple of hours on occasion. I think there’s a lot of potential here, though, so I hope that Nintendo plans to update it with additional content regularly in order to keep players coming back for more. |
Read review |
| Unboxholics |
Γιώργος Πρίτσκας |
Not Recommended |
05-12-2022 |
Unfortunately, although Nintendo has teased added content (with Golf coming first this summer), at the moment Switch Sports seems to offer only the essentials. The absence of even a simple single-player campaign hurts the game, depriving it, among other things, of a little personality that seems so much in need. For now, I would highly recommend it only as a party game that really comes to life and shows its quality with friends, whether online or not. In other words, it is closer to Wii Sports than to Wii Sports Resort. |
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| VG247 |
Alex Donaldson |
Recommended |
04-29-2022 |
When Nintendo gets these sort of lifestyle ‘event’ games right, they’re always a slam dunk. Sometimes, the accuracy of MotionPlus is missed. One can see how Nintendo could’ve done more new, and included more all-new stuff. And yet… Nintendo Switch Sports is pretty much exactly what I wanted. I can see how it’d be one of my absolute favourite games of the year. That’s Nintendo’s magic power. |
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| VGC |
Chris Scullion |
4 / 5 stars |
05-03-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports really is a game of two halves. Offline the game is sorely lacking in features but may still be enough for ‘casual’ families looking for some simple fun. Solo players, however, will want to head online, which is where the game’s progression system (and its real longevity) can be found. |
Read review |
| VGChartz |
Paul Broussard |
3 / 10 |
05-23-2022 |
The price point is unreasonable, the games on display don’t have nearly enough new content, and what is new has some charm but ultimately lacks staying power. |
Read review |
| Video Chums |
A.J. Maciejewski |
7.6 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is a worthy successor to Wii Sports. With lovely new character models, a solid collection of sports, plenty of multiplayer modes, and a fun-filled atmosphere, you’ll enjoy competing with chums and chums-to-be alike. |
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| Washington Post |
Mikhail Klimentov |
Not Recommended |
04-27-2022 |
At the highest level, the AI puts up a genuine fight; I’ve lost more than I’ve won in that difficulty tier. But because the game’s rules are so simple, every win feels earned (I’m was in control, there’s one thing I had to do and I did it right) and every loss can be traced back to the source (I was in control, there was one thing I had to do but I did it wrong). Tennis is probably the best mode to start playing — and the one I know I’ll stick with the longest. |
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| Wccftech |
Nathan Birch |
6.5 / 10 |
04-27-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports is a fun and nostalgic romp that offers nicely-upgraded visuals and well-implemented motion controls, but there simply isn’t enough of it. With a meagre six sports (only two of which bring anything truly new to the table) and very few extras, this one probably won’t compete for your attention for long. |
Read review |
| We Got This Covered |
Ryan Galloway |
3 / 5 stars |
05-05-2022 |
While everything appears like an improvement, at its core, Nintendo Switch Sports fails to evolve the series. |
Read review |
| Worth Playing |
Cody Medellin |
7.5 / 10 |
05-06-2022 |
Nintendo Switch Sports shows that the company still knows how to make simple but extremely satisfying experiences intended for everyone. The simplified representation works wonders for old and new sports, and the controls are easy enough that anyone can become good at their favorites in no time. Solo players who don’t go online will be disappointed at the lack of content, but those looking to play against others either locally or online will have a blast. Be sure you’re a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber if you want to squeeze the most out of those unlocks. |
Read review |
