Nintendo Switch Sports

What to Know
54%
- Apr 29, 2022
- Nintendo
- Action, Sports
- Users Interact
- Apr 29, 2022
- Action, Sports
- Users Interact

Critics Consensus
# Reviews: 37
Nintendo Switch Sports is a nostalgia trip, successfully recapturing the magic of Wii Sports. But its lack of depth makes it difficult to wholeheartedly recommend.
Rate and Review
Critic Reviews for Nintendo Switch Sports
Critic Reviews
37
Reviews
Distribution
Skip It
Solid and definitely have an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
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.
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.
Chris Carter (Destructoid)
7/10 - (Read Review)
Solid and definitely have an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Christian Donlan (Eurogamer)
Recommended - (Read Review)
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.
Chris Scullion (VGC)
4/5 stars - (Read Review)
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.
Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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 | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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. | 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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
GameXplain | Unknown | Recommended | 04-27-2022 | Video Review | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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 |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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 |
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. | 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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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 |
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 |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
SpazioGames | Silvio Mazzitelli | Recommended | 04-27-2022 | Nintendo Switch Sports is a good heir to the beloved Wii Sports. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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. | Read review |
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 |
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. | Read review |
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 |
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. | Read review |
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 |
Game Info




Get moving in Nintendo Switch Sports with Soccer, Volleyball, Bowling, Tennis, Badminton, and Chambara (swordplay) using Joy-Con controllers! Controls are intuitive, so you can hit the court (or lanes, or field, or arena) and get started. With controlled motions you can curve your bowling ball, add spin to a tennis shot, or even use a Joy-Con with the included Leg Strap accessory to kick the ball in a Soccer Shoot-Out. Family and friends can join in on the fun on the same system or online. Plus a seventh sport is planned to be added via a free update this fall; get ready to Golf!
RELEASE DATES:
DEVELOPER(S):
- Nintendo
PUBLISHER(S):
- Nintendo
GENRES:
- Action, Sports
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- Wii Sports
GAME MODES:
- Multiplayer, Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- -
DLC:
- -
BUNDLED IN:
- -
DIRECTOR(S):
- Yoshikazu Yamashita
PRODUCER(S):
- Kouichi Kawamoto, Takayuki Shimamura
DESIGNER(S):
- Hirotake Otsubo, Yoji Kamikawa, Koji Kitagawa, Kazuhiro Yoshikawa, Atsuto Yagi, Ryosuke Suzuki, Sota Omiya, Ikki Niwa
PROGRAMMER(S):
- Yuki Onozawa, Hideyuki Tatsuta, Kenji Iwata
ARTIST(S):
- Junji Morii, Gurihiru
WRITER(S):
- -
COMPOSER(S):
- Haruko Torii, Takuhiro Honda
GAME MODES:
- Multiplayer, Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- n/a
DLC:
- n/a
BUNDLED IN:
- n/a
DIRECTOR(S):
- Yoshikazu Yamashita
PRODUCER(S):
- Kouichi Kawamoto, Takayuki Shimamura
DESIGNER(S):
- Hirotake Otsubo, Yoji Kamikawa, Koji Kitagawa, Kazuhiro Yoshikawa, Atsuto Yagi, Ryosuke Suzuki, Sota Omiya, Ikki Niwa
PROGRAMMER(S):
- Yuki Onozawa, Hideyuki Tatsuta, Kenji Iwata
ARTIST(S):
- Junji Morii, Gurihiru
WRITER(S):
- n/a
COMPOSER(S):
- Haruko Torii, Takuhiro Honda
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