Nintendo Switch Sports Resort: Which Sports and Modes Are Included (and What’s New vs. Nintendo Switch Sports)

Quick start: pick your sport and mode in 7 steps

The fastest way to get going in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is to choose a sport, warm up, then pick between offline Island Crown, local play, or online. Here’s the shortest path:

• Confirm you’re on Nintendo Switch 2. The game is exclusive to that system and launches October 22nd.
• Warm up with Jump Rope before jumping into the bigger sports.
• Play any of the 12 sports to earn Spocco Points.
• Spend those points at the Item Center on outfits, hairstyles, face paint, and sports equipment.
• Try Island Crown mode offline to climb ranks and eventually face Island Champions.
• Pass a Joy-Con 2 controller to a friend for local team play or head-to-head matches.
• Go online: make a room for friends, play Pro League for ranked climbing, or use Casual Online Play with no rank pressure.

What you need before playing Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

You need a Nintendo Switch 2 system and a copy of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, which is available exclusively on that console. Pre-orders were offered through the Nintendo eShop ahead of the October 22nd release.

For local play, a Joy-Con 2 controller can be passed between players, so a single pair can support team-ups or friendly battles. Several sports rely on specific motion inputs, so keep these in mind:

• Bowling: twist the controller to add spin to your throw.
• Power Cruising: twist the controller for an instant speed boost, and steer with handles.
• Prop Plane: tilt the controller to fly.
• Skateboarding: uses mouse controls to ride the course.
• Thumb Wrestling: hold down your thumb to power it up.

Optional but helpful: an online connection if you want Pro League, Casual Online Play, or friend rooms. Island Crown is playable offline, so you can enjoy a lot without one.

All 12 sports in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, grouped by what you do

Switch Sports Resort includes 12 sports spread across land, sea, and sky on Wuhu Island, plus Jump Rope as a warm-up activity. Think of them in four clusters: combat and duel sports, net and ball sports, precision sports, and exploration sports.

The flow of a typical session: warm up, pick a sport, earn Spocco Points, and spend them on gear that changes your look.

Every sport in Switch Sports Resort and how it plays

Boxing: use different punches to get the knockout

Boxing is a heated fist fight where you mix up punch types to land the knockout. Variety is the point: repeating one punch is easier for an opponent to read.

Table Tennis: quick, simple shots into a smash

Table Tennis rewards fast, simple shots that keep your opponent on their toes. Build pressure with the rally, then finish with a smash.

Archery: aim for the center and read distance and wind

Archery asks you to aim at the target’s center and let the arrow fly. Check the distance and the wind before every shot, since both affect where the arrow lands, then shoot for a high score.

Tennis: doubles rallies with topspin, backspin, and lobs

Tennis is played as doubles matches built around long rallies. You can hit topspins, backspins, and lobs to change the pace and placement of your shots.

Volleyball: bump, set, and spike

Volleyball follows the classic bump, set, and spike sequence. Outmaneuver opponents with quick spikes and good timing.

Bowling: roll the ball and twist for spin

Bowling has you roll the ball and knock down pins, with a twist of the controller adding spin to the throw. The game also features a 100-Pin Game variant where you try to knock all of them down.

Basketball: dribble, pass, shoot, and dunk when open

Basketball covers dribbling, passing, and shooting to score. If you’re open, go for a slam dunk.

Golf: fewest strokes wins, and swing timing shapes the shot

Golf is about completing each hole in the fewest strokes. Your swing changes the ball’s trajectory, and stopping your swing at the right moment produces a backspin.

Thumb Wrestling: hold to grow your thumb

Thumb Wrestling lets you hand your opponent a defeat by holding down your thumb to power it up. The bigger it gets, the stronger it is.

Skateboarding: grind, slide, and trick through the course

Skateboarding uses mouse controls to ride through the course. You can grind rails, slide around, and perform aerial tricks. It’s also one of the three sports that supports free exploration of the island.

Power Cruising: steer with handles and boost with a twist

Power Cruising has you steer with handles and coast along the waves. A controller twist gives an instant speed boost. It also supports free island exploration.

Prop Plane: tilt to fly, roll, and shoot balloons

Prop Plane lets you tilt the controller to fly freely, speed up, roll in the air, and even fire at balloons. Like Skateboarding and Power Cruising, it supports free exploration.

Jump Rope: the warm-up

Jump Rope is positioned as the warm-up for the other sports, so use it to loosen up before a match.

Game modes in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort: Island Crown, minigames, and exploration

Switch Sports Resort offers Island Crown ranked-style progression, a set of minigames and rule variations, and open exploration in three sports. Each mode serves a different mood: competitive, casual, or relaxed.

Island Crown: climb ranks offline to reach Island Champions

Island Crown is a brand-new mode that can be played offline. You defeat increasingly harder opponents to raise your rank. Keep going and you can challenge the Island Champions, the top-ranked opponents in certain sports. You might even square off against Island Legends.

Minigames and rule variations: Return Challenge, Laid-back Match, and 100-Pin Game

Beyond standard matches, there are several alternate rule sets. The ones named are:

• Return Challenge: hit a ball back at empty cans.
• Laid-back Match: play at a slower, more relaxed pace.
• 100-Pin Game: try knocking all of the pins down.

There are plenty of other minigames with different rules beyond these.

Free exploration of Wuhu Island in Skateboarding, Power Cruising, and Prop Plane

Skateboarding, Power Cruising, and Prop Plane let you roam the island freely. You can ride along the coast, chase dolphins across the ocean, and soar toward distant islands. You can enjoy these outings at different times of day.

While exploring, look for Spocco Photos scattered across the island. They give info on sightseeing spots. Named locations include:

• Wavelet Bridge: a unique bridge with arched roofing sections and a wooden deck.
• Windchill Cave
• Lava Monument

There may be something new to discover every time you play.

Spocco Points and the Item Center: how rewards and customization work

You earn Spocco Points after playing sports, then exchange them at the Item Center for outfits, hairstyles, face paint, and sports equipment. What you get is a surprise, and rare items can show up.

These items let you customize your appearance and build stylish looks, so every session feeds into your character’s wardrobe.

Multiplayer options: local play, friend rooms, Pro League, and Casual Online Play

Switch Sports Resort supports local play, private online rooms, a ranked Pro League, and an unranked Casual Online Play mode. Pick based on whether you want to team up, compete, or just practice.

Local play: pass a Joy-Con 2 and team up or battle

In local play you pass a Joy-Con 2 controller to a friend to team up, or you battle friends and family in a lively competition.

Online rooms: play with friends far away

Create a room to play online with friends who aren’t nearby.

Pro League: climb the global ladder

In the Pro League you challenge players around the world. The more wins you get, the higher you climb in the league, so aim for the top.

Casual Online Play: random sports, no rank changes

Casual Online Play serves up random sports from the ones you’ve selected. Your rank won’t change, so it’s the place to test your skills as much as you like.

5 mistakes to avoid when exploring Switch Sports Resort’s content

• Assuming it’s playable on Switch 1. It’s exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. Fix: confirm your hardware first.
• Skipping Jump Rope. It’s the designated warm-up. Fix: loosen up there before ranked play.
• Ignoring exploration. Only Skateboarding, Power Cruising, and Prop Plane offer free roaming. Fix: use them to find Spocco Photos.
• Spamming one move in combat sports. Boxing rewards using different punches. Fix: vary your attacks.
• Entering Pro League just to practice. Wins and losses affect your rank there. Fix: use Casual Online Play for practice.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Nintendo Switch Sports vs. Switch Sports Resort: which sports and modes are included FAQ

Source & credit

This guide draws on the excellent video walkthrough by Nintendo of America — watch it for the full visual run-through, and give the creator your view: