Switch Sports Resort Previews Praise Open World Exploration and New Sports

A final wave of previews for Nintendo Switch Sports Resort are landing ahead of its October 22 launch, and the vibe is surprisingly positive, per multiple outlets. The Switch 2 exclusive promises a return to Wuhu Island with 12 motion-controlled sports, six of which are new or returning from the 2009 Wii Sports Resort.

IGN's preview notes the game appears to be solving the shortcomings of 2022's Switch Sports. The reporter was stunned by how much the open-world exploration of Wuhu Island added to the experience, calling out the Power Cruising (Jet Skiing) activity where players can race, take a sightseeing tour, or freely explore to find collectibles and landmarks.

Eurogamer highlighted the variety in the sports lineup, which includes traditional events like table tennis and archery, as well as more exploratory Free Play modes. The outlet singled out skateboarding, which uniquely uses the Switch 2's mouse controls by dragging a Joy-Con on a table surface to simulate a foot pushing off the ground.

According to Nintendo Life's roundup, previews from Game Informer and Polygon were also optimistic, with the latter calling it the most comprehensive collection in the series. A common thread is praise for the single-player Island Crown mode, which offers 20 ranked boxing opponents without requiring online play.

The game is set to be bundled with the Switch 2 this holiday season, a move IGN calls a smart one for reaching the casual audience.