# Nintendo Switch Sports Resort review: what IGN found

> IGN scored Nintendo Switch Sports Resort 7 out of 10: a great party game with a few weak sports and a thin solo mode. The Guardian liked it more.

By Subhajit | 2026-10-25 | Reviews | Savvy VibeZ
Web page: https://savvyvibez.com/post/nintendo-switch-sports-resort-review-what-ign-found

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, the Switch 2 exclusive that came out on October 22, is a very good party game and a so-so solo one, according to IGN's review. IGN gave it 7 out of 10. That score and the verdict belong to IGN, not to Savvy VibeZ. The Guardian reviewed it too and was warmer, calling it an effortlessly appealing collection.

## What IGN found in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

IGN describes a collection of 12 motion-control sports set on Wuhu Island, from Table Tennis to piloting a prop plane. The reviewer says the quality swings a lot from sport to sport. Archery is the standout, with four courses and hidden targets, while Basketball is mostly unchanged from the earlier game and still feels too choreographed. Power Cruising, the jet ski game that uses two Joy-Con like handlebars, comes across as a gimmick with clunky controls. Thumb Wrestling, meanwhile, is silly but surprisingly competitive.

Alone, the game wears thin, per IGN. The Island Crown mode, which has you climb the ranks in nine of the 12 sports, adds some structure, but the reviewer's enthusiasm faded before long. Add friends and it changes. IGN says even sports it found dull on their own, such as Volleyball, turned into lively rallies once roommates joined in.

## Where it gets awkward

IGN's gripes are specific. Some sports repeat the same single location, which got old by the 30th Thumb Wrestling match. There is no way to spectate online, and the shop sells random items for Spocco points rather than letting you pick. The review also raised a worry about needing two Joy-Con per player for Boxing and Power Cruising, then added a correction on October 20: Power Cruising can use one Joy-Con per person in multiplayer, and older Joy-Con from the original Switch work for every sport except Skateboarding.

## The Guardian's take

The Guardian's reviewer, writing from a family perspective, says every sport is fun and that the game is exactly what you want from a family video game. Archery and boxing are singled out, and the paper adds that the resort setting, with its sunny music and tiny crowds, gives the package a holiday feel. The one sport it faults is Basketball, which it says swaps real-world speed for methodical turn-taking. The Guardian lists the price as $49.99, £41.99 or €49.99.

## Our take

This is analysis, not reporting. Both outlets land on the same idea: the game works best with other people in the room, and the party use is the reason to buy it. The disagreement is mostly about how much that matters. If you mainly play alone, IGN's 7 is the more useful number. If your house is full of people who want to hold a controller for ten minutes, The Guardian's enthusiasm is probably closer to the mark.

Picture credit: Nintendo