The best Switch multiplayer games excel at bringing friends and family together of all gaming backgrounds. Whether you're competing for glory in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or making jokes in any given Jackbox Party Pack, there are a lot of Switch multiplayer games to play. Here are the best Switch multiplayer games on the Switch: just keep in mind a few of ??them require a Switch Online subscription?!

13. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

It's super satisfying to show your accomplished settlement in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You can show off the designs of your village, the lovely villagers you have, and how immaculately themed each room is. It's also a relaxing way to hang out with friends as you clean up the island and fish with them. Some have even been married in the game during the COVID pandemic. This? is a game that came just at the right time as it cooled down many gamers in a stressful situation. However, it's still fun to this day.

12. Rocket League

Football + cars is a simple concept but works incredibly well. Now available as a free-to-play title, you can use fast cars to shoot balls or stop a shot from getting in the net. There are also a ton of adjustments you can make to the car like the patterns, flag, body shape, and paint of your vehicle to make it stand out among the crowd. There are micro-transaction elements to be aware of, but you don't need to spend a penny to enjoy the intense sports action of Rocket League. 

11. Minecraft

There's a reason why Minecraft is so popular, despite the many popular content creators still making videos about it more than a decade later. Building a home or even a grand statue with your pals is a wonderful premise. You can also adventure through caves, get precious resources, and then escape the various scary enemies who stand in your path. The Creeper will get you eventually. It's also a relaxing game to partake with a calming soundtrack and ??strangely blocky, yet gorgeous views ??of the world around you.

10. Runbow

Runbow is a hidden gem to the nth degree.

This party-platforming hybrid has you trying to survive quick platforming levels that constantly fluctuate. Nine players compete to be the first one to the flag at the end, and the wild colorful visuals truly pull you into the game. In fact, the platforms camouflage and blend with the constantly switching colors and disappear, adding an extra amount of challenge. While playing Runbow at an Extra Life event, I was shocked to pass through a tough section, getting so much fun fro??m the chaotic nature of the game. This is a surprisingly entertaining Switch multiplayer game ??that you should pick up.

9. Nintendo Switch Sports

Nintendo Switch Sports does what it says on the tin. Like Wii Sports, you get a bunch of entertaining physical recreation activities to play. The Joy-Con does a great job of replicating the Wii remote, but unlike Wii Sports, this game supports online play, adding more replayability??. You can compete to be the very best and unlock new costumes for your c??haracters along the way.

You can play Badminton, Golf, Soccer (football), Volleyball, Bowling, and one of my personal favourites Chambara. Read our review of the game if you aren't sold yet!

8. Ultimate Chicken Horse

I've never laughed so hard at a game than Ultimate Chicken Horse. The goal is simple: You need to head to the exit of the level. Howe??ver,? with each passing turn, you place obstacles in the way.

The action gets chaotic as rotating spikes are stuck to honey and pucks fly towards you at lightning speed. The fun revolves around the idea of making the level as difficult as possible for your rivals, but at the same time, easy enough to finish the stage. It can get so intense t?hat your jaw drops.

7. Splatoon 3

One of the best Switch multiplayer games is Splatoon 3. The goal is to cover each area with as much ink as possible. If your ?team expands its ink more than the other, you win. That's it! Kind??a.

You're using all manner of different weapons like a bow and arrow, a paint roller, and even katanas to win. The clothes you unlock throughout the game give you different abilities as well. The concept is simple, but Nintendo's maps and unique take on a third-person shooter with ink-splitting makes Splatoon 3 stand out. The co-op-focused Salmon Run is engrossing as well. "You jump into a match, ink some turf, kill some enemies, see who wins in dramatic fashion (sigh or cheer), and repeat," said Chris Carter in his Destructoid review. "It’s?? a loop that works even? better than before because of all the aforementioned wrinkles in the formula, with some gameplay smoothing as well."

6. Jackbox Party Packs

The Jackbox Party Packs are perfect for friends and family. The games are relatively easy to understand, and the only controller you need is your phone (or another device that has internet and browser access). You'll be surviving in Trivia Murder Party by answering out-of-the-box questions, trying to come up with the funniest one-liners in Quiplash, and even trying to get the most dates amongst yourselves in Monster Seeking Monster. 

Jackbox Games has so much creativity within its game design, and its Party Packs will help create mem?orable ??experiences for everyone in your immediate vicinity.

5. Mario Party Superstars

While the Jackbox Party Packs can create memorable experiences, Mario Party Superstars might be infamous for your friends?hips. The board game-like title has you competing to get the most stars. You're exploring the board, finishing entertaining mini-games for coins, and then by the end of the game, you'll be ranked by the number of stars and coins you own.

It gets really competitive too, as you can steal coins and stars from other players. If you've played a Mario Party g??ame before, you may recognize some of the boards Mario, Luigi, and the like play on. Memorable mini-games also return to the classic series like Mushroom Mix-??Up and Bumper Balls.

4. Fortnite

This may get a lot of flak, but Fortnite is an absolute blast. This battle royale has impeccable controls, a stunning Unreal Engine 5-powered world, and extremely cool weapons that are added each season. It's constantly being updated, adding new surprising gameplay elements. Teaming up with friends, completing missions, and then winning the match is so much fun within Fortnite. The game is far more accessible now f??or those who don't want? to build; there's a zero-build option that is solely focused on shooting and world exploration.

It's also wild to see Kratos, Master Chief, Goku, and Spider-Man all at the same party. With Fortnite, anything can happen. You don't want to miss out.

3. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Excellent game design? Check. Fun four-player multiplayer? Check. Gorgeous visuals? Check. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is the full package. This previous Wii U exclusive excels on Switch with the addition of? faster movement speed and the addition of online play. The music is also stellar from the start, especially for the introductory world of Super Bell Hill. I still listen to covers of that track regularly!

The cat forms in 3D World also let you crawl up walls, adding momentum to the already stellar Mario platforming format. It's one of the best multiplaye??r Switch games you can play on the hybrid system.

2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is an incredible achievement. The character list is huge with heroes and villains from all over gaming history. Third-party characters like Final Fantasy's Cloud, Metal Gear Solid's Snake, and Castlevania's Simon Belmont fight against the likes of M??ario, Link, and Fox in epic battles.

Tallying up your opponent's health meter to high percentages with your arsenal of attacks and then launching them into the stratosphere is super fulfilling. There's a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competitive scen?e for a reason as many love the simple, but deep com??bat of the game.

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The best Switch multiplayer game is undoubtedly Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The tracks are absolutely stunning with plenty of detail and gorgeous artistic visuals. Driving in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feels perfect as you drift around corners an?d get a successful boost.

Additiona?lly, the music keeps up the exciting tone with a big orchestra performing the score. This is a game you can set up in a living room, and four peopl?e will quickly grab a controller and play. It's simplicity at its best. Hopefully, you can avoid that annoying blue shell!

The post Top 13 best multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Version 1.3.0 is out now

Nintendo Switch Sports is still trucking, and Nintendo just gave us a brand new game to p?lay: Golf.

As promised earlier this year, the update is finally out that adds Golf to Switch Sports for free. It's not a particularly massive patch (we've gotten several that tweak or patch prior issues), but it ??adds the activity all the same, and highlights that it can be played in every mode (onli?ne, locally, or with friends). It also comes with a "shot assist mode," which can make the game easier to learn (or play in general): though it only works locally.

LAN play is fully in, and you can match up with local Switch owners (just like the recently released Pokemon Scarlet & Violet). You can find the full patch notes here, or below!

Switch Sports patch notes - Ver. 1.3.0 (Released November 28, 2022)

Golf

• Golf has been added. It can be enjoyed in all modes: Play Globally, Play Locally and Play with Friends.
• We added a Shot Assist mode in Golf to make it easier for beginners to play. To use it, go to Options â†?User Settings â†?Other.
  • This setting only applies to Play Locally and Play with Friends.
  • Please be aware that even if you have Shot Assist mode on, your setting will revert to Normal in Play Globally mode.

Play with Friends

• LAN play is now compatible. For more information, please see How to Use the LAN Play Feature of Nintendo Switch Sports.

Overall

• Several issues have been fixed to improve the gameplay experience.

The post Switch Sports just got its big free Golf update appeared first on Destructoid.

Fore Play

Nintendo has announced that will be adding golf to its sporting compendium Nintendo Switch Sports next week. The game enjoyed by rich capitalists and corrupt officials the world over will find itself ??added �free of charge �for all players on Monday, November 28.

The golf update will feature an adaptation of the much-enjoyed Wii Sports golf effort, complete with all of that title's 21 holes. Also included is a new "Survival Golf" tournament mode, which will support up to eight players online in a knockout competition to c??omplete holes in the fewest strokes possible.

Of course, casual local play with pals will also be available, so you can probably get your ??relatives up off of the sofa this Holiday season. Spi??rit of '09 is back in action, baby.

Nintendo Switch Sports i??s avail??able now on... Nintendo Switch, naturally.

//twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1594858249123143682?s??=2??0&t=-Onj5lYKiXdnUc0MbHBZzw

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The 1.2.1 update introduced a new issue and Nintendo is looking into it

[Update: Nintendo has outlined its plans for a fix this week, rolling out two updates detailed on its site, as spotted by VGC. The Google translation of the text says one version will roll out on October 18, restoring online p??lay, with a second to follow on the 20th.

Our or??iginal story on the outage from October 14 follows.]

Nintendo has taken the servers for Switch Sports down, suspendi??ng online play and save data backup while it investigates a new i??ssues causing crashes.

As shared across the different Nintendo social accounts, a bug has been found in the latest Ver. 1.2.1 update of Nintendo Switch Sports. It'??s been causing ?crashes during the pre-match loading screen, affecting both online and offline play.

While Nintendo has suspended the roll-out of the update, it's also taki?ng servers down temporarily while it investigates. Online play will not be available, obviously, and save data backup will be suspended ??as well.

//twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/15809393??63797504000

A quick pause in play

Ver. 1.2.1 for Switch Sports was released earlier this week, on October 12. Its goal was to strengthen measures against disruptive behaviors. That entails any violations of Nintendo's Community Guidelines, includi?ng fraudulent behavior, including s??ave data manipulation.

The previous update, Ver. 1.2.0, added a fair bit to the Wii Sports successor. One-on-one and four-on-four soccer got leg strap support, v??olleyball received a new slide attack move, and some nice features were added for online play.

In our review of Nintendo Switch Sports, ??it sounds like while the single-player progression wasn't the most rewarding, it still had a good bit to offer for multiplayer ??gatherings. And honestly, who doesn't have fond memories of bowling?

Hopefully the online sees a fix soon. Meanwhile, Nintendo Switch Sports is still due to receive its golf update, which was pushed out of September but should arrive sometime in the holiday season.

The post Switch Sports servers are c??oming back onli?ne [Update] appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo has delayed it a bit

The Nintendo Switch Sports golf update has been delayed, according to Nintendo via their Nintendo Direct stream this morning. As a reminder, golf was touted as a free addition to the game shortly after launch, but ??now it'll arrive "this holiday."

We did get a detail though! Eight players can play online in the same course at the same time �and folks can get kicked out. You can also "hit the fairway across 21 holes from the Wii Sports series."

So far, the post-launch support for Nintendo Switch Sports has been fairly low-?key, as it came with a lot of featur??es at launch to begin with. There's still a wishlist from fans to be sure (including more long-term rewards), but Golf should nicely round out the long-term impact of the game.

The big July update ??pretty much took care of a lot of those aforementioned wishlist items, including the shoring up of soccer (which thankfully now has full, rather than partial, leg strap support), and a general cleanup in terms of the ?overarching control scheme. Online play was also tweaked, including an indicator that informs players if someone has a weak connection.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAD4f0MWuCk

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Version 1.2.0

Nintendo just rolled out Switch Sports update 1.2.0, and there's a lot to unpack. Here are the big parts with a full patch note rundown. So we already knew this update was coming, b?ut I don't think I was ready for how massive it is.

Here are the quick bites:

• One-on-one and four-on-four soccer have leg strap support
• You can access a new camera mode via the options, user settings, other menu
• Jump height has been fixed/normalized to avoid too much variance
• Volleyball now has "slide attack" mechanics (move the stick left and right after a bump)
• Bowling physics were adjusted
• Global play is in
• Playing with friends has been enhanced, with Room IDs
• Unstable online connections will now be more visible via a wifi icon in the lower right-hand corner

It's good stuff! While single-player progressi?on was arguably the most egregious sin the game commits, all of this makes the entire game that much smoot??her, especially if you play with other people. You can read the full notes below.

Switch Sports update Ver. 1.2.0 (Released July 26, 2022)

Soccer

• One-on-One and Four-on-Four Soccer can now be played using the leg strap.
  • Play Globally On the sport-selection screen, highlight Soccer and press the X Button.
    Play Globally sport-selection screen
  • Play Locally On the screen showing how to hold the Joy-Con controllers, press the + Button.
    Play Locally Joy-Con demonstration screen
  • Play with Friends On the screen showing how to hold the Joy-Con controllers, press the + Button.
    Play with Friends Joy-Con demonstration screen
• A new camera mode has been added. To use it, go to the sport-selection screen, then Options →Â?strong>User Settings →Â?strong>Other (for Two-Hand Mode only).
• The camera can now be reset during play by pressing the X Button.
• Players will no longer jump too high when kicking repeatedly, and it should also be easier to jump to the maximum height (for Two-Hand Mode only).

Volleyball

• You can now perform Slide Attacks, a coordinated move where a player crosses the court before leaping to spike the ball.
  • To do a Slide Attack, move the Stick left and right after bumping the ball. This move is great for catching opponents off guard.
  • To block a Slide Attack, quickly start moving toward the opponent who is getting ready to spike the ball by using the Stick to get into position.
• You can now perform Rocket Serves.
  • When serving, toss the ball high and hit it at its apex to do a Rocket Serve.

Bowling

• Adjusted how the pins fall.
  • It is now slightly harder for the pins to fall when bowling straight.
  • It is now slightly easier for the pins to fall when bowling with a curve.

Play Globally

• S Rank and âˆ?Rank (Infinity Rank) have been added to the Pro Leagues.
  • Those at ranks A30 through A39 before the software update will be moved to ranks S0 through S9.
• Added a setting to turn off the display of opponent nicknames and titles.
  • This setting can be found on the sport-selection screen. Go to Options â†?User Settings â†?Other.
• Strengthened measures against disruptive behavior.

Play with Friends

• When creating a room, you can now choose to give it a Room ID. This will let you play online matches even if your opponent is not a Friend.
  Creating a Room with a Room ID
  • Host In Make a New Room, check the Room ID (Invite Anyone via ID) option. Make a note of the Room ID you see, then select OK.
    Note: Your Roo??m ID will a??lso be shown on the Member Reception screen.
    Creating a room to play with friends.

    Give the Room ID to those you want to invite to the room, then wait at the Member Reception screen.

  • Invitees Press the + Button in Join Room, then enter the Room ID.
    Join a room by pressing the + Button in Join Room.
• A new difficulty option called Auto Select is available for Bowling when in Play with Friends. This option measures the average skill of participating players to set the overall difficulty.

Overall

• An icon will now appear if the connection to a player becomes unstable during online play.
  • If an opponent’s connection becomes unstable, the icon will appear on your own screen as well.
  • If you see this icon often, please see our troubleshooting for online latency issues.
    Highlighted icon indicating a poor connection quality while playing Tennis in Nintendo Switch Sports.
• A message will now appear when Joy-Con controller connection becomes unstable during play.
  • If this message appears often, please see our troubleshooting for Joy-Con connection issues.
• Several issues have been fixed to improve the gameplay experience.

The post Nintendo just dropped a huge Switch Sports update: her?e are the patch notes appeared first on Destructoid.

Be sure to lock that leg strap on tight

The summer is here, with plenty of sun to go around. But if you'd rather play some indoor sports, Nintendo Switch Sports is getting a free update next week that adds some new moves to its various games. Keep cool and annihilate the competition.

A new update arriving July 26 at 6 p.m. PT will add some new features to Nintendo Switch Sports. The big one is more leg strap integration with Soccer, allowing you to u??se real-life kicks full Soccer matches.

Thi??s should add a little more activity to Soccer, which previously used a mixture of Joy-Con presses and other motions. This option will let you really juice up your kicks with ??real-life motion. Just make sure your strap is on tight, as you don't want to kick-fling a Joy-Con across the room.

But if Soccer isn't your jam, there are some other updates coming?? to other modes. Volleyball gets a few new moves for players to execute, like the Slide Attack and Rocket Serve.

Join the league

The Nintendo Switch Sports update will also add new ranks to the Pro League modes. Joining Friend Matches using Room IDs will also make it easy to connect wi?th others looking to launch soccer balls across the pitch with massive leg swings.

Nintendo Switch Sports is the Switch's take on the classic Wii Sports set-up, mixing motion controls and sporting activities for a family party game experience. It had its ups and downs, as you can read in our review; while mainstays like Bowling and Tennis stay mostly strong, other modes h???ad some struggles.

Hopefully the new moves add a little extra oomph to everyone's virtual Soccer and Volleyball matches. The Nintendo Switch Sports free update goes liv??e with these new changes on July 26, 2022.

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Coming soon

[Update: The Switch Sports towel is now live as a reward for 550 Platinum.]

My Nintendo has been ramping up its physical reward selection as of late, and the next one in line is a Switch Sports towel.

As revealed by a news post promoting the game, the new My Nintendo reward is slated to arrive ??soon:

"Spocco Square is a sprawling complex where all the sports matches are held! This towel is inspired by Spocco Square from the Nintendo Switch Sports game. Handy for keeping your head in the game, wicking away sweat, o??r cooling off during your next match or wo?rkout!"

The lead time from an announcement to a release for a My Nintendo reward varies, but generally it can be anywhere from one to three weeks until it's up for sale. Expect it to arrive in mid-May at the latest, most likely. Based on prior reward structures, it'll probably be around 500 Platinum or more: but the Japanese Switch Sports towel reward (which is a different design) is 400.

As a reminder, if you want physical rewards, you can find our full Platinum Point guide here, which has been updated with details on weekly missions: bookmark it for when you need quick points for a reward. A handful of points is incredibly easy to get, as that’s basically just 15 minutes with Super Mario Run, or a quick sign-on to the 3DS or Wii U 3Shop. Also remember that any shipments are bundled together, so you can pay a flat rate for multiple items instead of paying it each time. Just know that items go out of stock on My N??intendo frequently, and ?some are never restocked.

There's free shipping on orders of $50 or more, and you can bundle cash products with the Platinum ?rewards if you want. You can also buy multiple My Nintendo reward??s with Platinum and pay one flat rate shipping fee.

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Just something to take note of

Nintendo Switch Sports p?rogression is a bit confusing, an??d we demystified it a bit in our review. However, there's a few other wrinkles to be aware of.

You need two online subscriptions for dual Switch Sports progression

It's not something I'd normally think about as my household has a family plan for Switch Online, but as Reddit user Helmmeimathrowaway points out: you'll need two Switch Online subscriptions to progress both accounts for Nintendo Switch Sports.

So breaking that do?wn, you are able to play online with two people on the same console. But both accounts need to be paying for the premium Switch Online subscript?ion to actually earn rewards. If only the primary account is a paying member, the secondary account won't earn rewards. Given that playing online is the only way to actually earn anything in-game, it's an important thing to keep note of.

These types of limitations are present in some games, and not in others, dating as far back as the original Xbox or PS2. I've seen every combi?nation of "both players can play for free," or "only one of them can," or "both players can earn rewards," and?? so on. With Nintendo, it's always a grab bag in terms of what you're going to get with online play.

Also, remember to read this if you plan on playing Switch Sports on a Switch Lite, or in tabletop mode.

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A hole in one? Well that comes later

I have a mixed set of memories with the Wii Sports franchise. As an onboarding tool for the Wii as a whole, the original game was clearly a success; but my interest in it quickly waned. Slowly but surely that bonus demo disc became a series, with Wii Sports Resort and Wii Sports Club doing their best to iterate. And now we've come full circle with Nintendo Switch Sports, the first in the series to drop the "Wii" moniker. Not a whole lot has changed since the debut of the Nintendo Sports line, but it's still a fun time provided that you ca?n temper your expectations.

Nintendo Switch Sports (Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: April 29, 2022
MSRP: $39.99 (digital), $49.99 (physical with leg strap)

Soccer (1-2 players locally)

Soccer�by far the most polarizing minigame in my household �operates a lot like Rocket League. Not just in terms of the comically oversized ball, but the physics system as a whole. Unlike Rocket League though you're running from place to place on foot (via an analog stick), with a very short sprint meter that governs how quickl??y you can traverse. I was immediately put o??ff by the fact that it feels like the least active sport available: since most of the action (running) is done via an analog stick.

Online with more people involved, it's a bit more exciting. There are more players on the field, which leads to more action and constant striking (read: swinging your arms), as well as some gasp-worthy "is it going to go in, no it just missed it!" moments. You also real?ly get an extra strategic layer by knowing when to sprint, and when you can reach a destination through regular limitations. Locally, with a forced double Joy-Con control setup and restricted to two players,? it's a bit more of a bore.

Interestingly, you need the leg strap accessory to properly play the "Shoot-Out" mode, which we were provided with (and comes in the physical edition). It's $10 more than the digital version to buy the right to use it "officially" in the box, but there are third-party solutions, and you may even have a Ring Fit Adventure leg strap left over.

All that to say: Soccer is arguably one of the weaker Nintendo Switch Sports experiences available, and that includes Shoot-Out mode. Shoot-Out is rote in that it only features one way to play; and tosses a ball at you in the same fashion over and over in a short "best score" sequence. The "take turns" setup is also antithetical to the party nature of the game, on top of requiring players to potentially pass and play the leg strap every time you swap.

This is s??omething that could be patched in the future to add more variety, but probably w?on't be.

Volleyball (1-4 players locally)

Following the "bump, set, spike" foundation of real-life volleybal??l, this one is more of a blast with a full party.

It's a bit finicky to figure out the "optimal" timing that the game wants you to ??use at first (which is conveyed in the tutorial), but once you do, it gets a little more exciting. It's also one of the easiest games to teach kids, as the motions are basic and still operate as normal even if you aren't?? using an exact science. The intense moments that should be present in a motion-controlled group game are front and center.

As a sport that's part of a greater c??ompilation, it gets the job don?e as a "party game," and it only requires one Joy-Con per person at maximum to get the full effect.

Bowling (1-4 players locally)

Bowling is the game that I felt like I needed to acclimate the most to in terms of Nintendo Switch Sports' motion? controls �and I wasn't alone. My family had issues coming to terms with letting go of the ball and getting a good roll. With the Joy-Con though, like most motion-based games, that experience doe??s come with practice (including nuanced moves like hook shots).

Bowling benefits from a very relaxed setup that lets you either take turns traditi??onally, or all bowl at once with up to four players via split-screen. In that sense, it's the most freeing game of the entire collection, as the number of options available should suit every group. One thing I do have on my wishlist is a more advanced "special" mode. This one claims that you'll need to "overcome obstacles" that "change every time," but ultimately it mainly comes down to putting a few bumpers in your way.

With that in mind, it can serve as a decent icebreaker for folks who want to s?witch things up: I could just go for more off-the-wall and truly va?riable ways to alter the experience.

Tennis (1-4 players locally)

As one of the original motion mi??nigam??es, tennis still holds up.

It's really hard to screw things up here, and the Joy-Con controls are fun, active, and responsive. Tennis follows suit with volleyball and forces doubles, no matter the player count, which is really annoying if you're loo?king to enjoy a 1v1 match. On the player's same team each double partner is filled in by a mirror image of the player itself (swinging your Joy-Con controls both of them): which is a fine option, but it would have been ideal if you could opt for true singles play.

Badminton (1-2 players locally)

On the f?lip side, badminton forces 1v1 for a different experien?ce.

If you're in the mood for doubles with a group, you could opt for tennis, and swap to badminton for 1v1 showdowns. Like tennis, the same tight motion controls are present, and badminton is arguably the most chill of all of the selections on offer in Nintendo Switch Sports.

There isn't a whole lot I can say about badminton, because like a rock, it just is. It's become one of the staple modes when my family feels like squaring off, and I wish there were a??t least one more minigame like it on top of what we already have.

Chambara [swordplay] (1-2 players locally)

Well, there is one other mode like badminton, at least!

Chambara returns yet again as one of the more overtly exciting Nintendo Switch Sports minigames; as you can enact easy digital violence on family members. Two people (max) will sq??uare off in a circular arena, where they'll sen??d their opponent into the dunk tank if they lose their footing. To push opponents off in a sumo-like fashion you'll swing when they're not blocking, or subsequently block their attacks and put them in a dizzying state for a moment.

Aiming the Joy-Con in a specific direction like a sword will block with a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal orientation, provided that?? you hold down the block button. Slashing in any of those directions, in turn, will constitute an attack. It sounds basic but there's plenty of nuance involved, and you can either flail wildly with family members and have fun, or strategically attempt to best?? a master digital swordsman.

Chambara also offers up three variations of swords: standard, charged (where you can absorb blocked shots and eventually send them ??back with a power attack), and dual blades (with two Joy-Con). Each player can select a different playstyle, which puts chambara up there with bowling when it comes to diversifying the play experience. It's still one of the best activities any game with motion co??ntrols has to offer.

Online and overall

Like all minigame-based affairs, there are sports I can see myself playing time and time again, some on occasion, and one (soccer) that I'll only play in certain exact conditions. But one thing that worries me about Nintendo Switch Sports for some players is the longevity aspect, depending on the type of person you are and how many playe?rs you have access to. While CPUs are generally available for sol??o play, you'll want to go online for multiple reasons.

The connective tissue here is that Nintendo really wants you to play online. Like, to the point where all of the game's long-term reward systems are directly linked to online play. Random matchmaking modes (where you can play solo or with one other person on the same system online) grant you gear and cosmetics, as well as extra characters. For a game that made its money on ?local play, this seems like a bummer, right? If you're the type of person that craves progression (and we've been trained to do so in the past decade), you might have an understandable problem here.

Because this is a post-launch review, we were able to try out the online component??. It does work. Well, actually! Given the simple nature of the game as a whole, it's easy enough to dive into a match, get in, and get out without too much trouble on a strong connection, in our experience. You'll go into the hub just like local play, select a game, then you'll quickly enter a matchmaking sequence. Since minigames are on the short side, I've generally encountered very little in the way of AFKers or leavers. Again, soccer highly benefits from online play, as it feels more active as a result: with online play for soccer secured, every game is in my rotation.

The unfortunate side effect of all this is that rewards are fairly drip-fed in nature. A victory bonus for playing online might award 40 points, with 100 needed for a rank up. But said rewards might not even be something you ever want to use, so your mileage may vary. The "sometimes X, sometimes Y" nature of Switch Sports muddies the water of what each individual person might get out of the?? game, and it didn't need to be that way.

Nintendo Switch Sports, as-is, at $40, can be a blast for certain households??. If you have at least three people to play with readily (as I do), I can see booting it up on a regular basis, powering through some of the restrictions with modes and player counts. If you don't, you might toss it into the backlog sooner than expected: especially if you don't buy into the idea of playing online. Before you pick it up, carefully weigh your options! For me, it has just enough packed in to work, though I hope we see some updates that improve it for everyone.

The post Review: Nintendo Switch Sports appeared first on Destructoid.

To some this makes perfect sense, to others, it doesn't

Juuuuuust in case you're going to try and attempt Nintendo Switch Sports multiplayer wit?h friends on a Switch Lite, or on the go in tabletop mode, there's somet?hing you should probably know first.

As Twitter user Akfamilyhome points out, you cannot use tabletop mode or the Switch Lite to play Nintendo Switch Sports via local multiplayer. In fact, when you attempt to do so, the game brings up a screen, stating, "when two or more people are playing, you'll need to use TV mode: Please insert the Nintendo Switch console into the Nintendo Switch dock." This notification pops up even for a Switch Lite. Note that this setup also involves owning separate Joy-Con, because you need to have detached controllers to even play Nintendo Switch Sports.

So this is the same exact format as Mario Tennis Aces, which also had a similar philosophy with tabletop local multiplayer. You can still play solo in tabletop mode and/or with the Switch Lite (including onl??ine play), but not locally.

??Nintendo clearly, without overtly stating it, does not want folks swinging their arms or feet into each other in close proximity. However, some fans want Nintendo to implement tabletop local multiplayer for motion-co??ntrolled games anyway; and provide a sufficient enough warning on-screen to waive any responsibility.

It's ??a tough decision either way. The game ??can clearly handle it, but Nintendo probably wants to avoid any liability.

The post PSA: Nintendo Switch Sports must be played docked for local?? multiplayer appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm back to bowl another 300

The star of the Nintendo Wii will live on in the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Sports is a new iteration of the Wii Sports series, bringing Bowling, Tennis, and more to Nintendo's h??andheld on April 29, 2022.

Revealed during today's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo Switch Sports is a six-pack of motion-controlled sports. It very much carries the spirit of its Wii Sports predecessors, with the classics o??f Tennis and Bow??ling included. And also, Chambara.

New for the Switch pack are Soccer, Badminton, and Volleyball, which have some pretty cool motion control options. Soccer in particular makes use of the Ring-Fit Adventure thigh strap, so you can kick like your favorite football player in real life and the virtual world. (The thigh strap will also be included in a physical version of Nintendo Switch Sports.) Golf is also set to be included in a free upda??te this fall.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTvpV2pBFvw

It's the simple things in life that spark true joy. That is to say, I'm very excited to play some Bowling and Tennis on my Nintendo Switch. The original Wii Sports was practically a unifying past-time and was the number-one reason to own a Nintendo Wii. Putting these games on the Switch should, hopefully, be a grand slam. (Sorry, no baseball in this p?ack at the moment.)

An online play test will be hosted for the sports suite on Feb. 18 through 20. You can head over to the main site for Nintendo Switch Sports here for info on whether you're eligible for that or not, and for what times it will be open. Either way, I can't wait for the incredible videos and good times that will be created by a new generation of Wii Sports-alikes.

The post Wii Sports gets its revival in Nintendo Switch Sports th??is April appeared first on Destructoid.