SALTZMAN: Get up, game on, geek out

Hands-on with the upcoming Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

Published Oct 03, 2026  •  Last updated 22 minutes ago  •  5 minute read

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, a motion-controlled sports party game for the Nintendo Switch 2 console, is scheduled to be released Oct. 22, 2026. Photo by Supplied /Nintendo

Circle Oct. 22 on the calendar, as that’s the day you get up off the couch and move in front of your television.

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Harkening back to the ‘ol Nintendo Wii days – yes, 20 years ago! –Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is a motion-controlled sports party game for the Nintendo Switch 2 console.

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Tough gig, I know, but I had a chance to play several of the dozen sports and activities packed into this sequel to 2022’s Nintendo Switch Sports, which also may be considered the successor to the tropical open-world setting of the classic Wii Sports Resort (2009).

If you’re able, most (but not all) minigames require you to be active in front of your TV, with wireless Joy-Con 2 controllers in hand, to rack up as many points as possible, and outperform whomever you may be playing with beside you (read: sibling rivalry).

Spoiler alert: kids and kids at heart are going to love it.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, a motion-controlled sports party game for the Nintendo Switch 2 console, is scheduled to be released Oct. 22, 2026. Photo by Supplied /Nintendo

First impressions of the new ‘Sports Resort’

Taking advantage of the extra horsepower of the Nintendo Switch 2 and supporting the more advanced Joy-Con 2 controllers (with sensitive motion sensors and even mouse-like features), you’re whisked back to Wuhu Island, a spacious resort getaway, to explore the grounds, interact with characters and wildlife, and, of course, dive into one of 12 unique activities.

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In true Nintendo fashion, there are plenty of secrets, Easter eggs, and other family-friendly rewards for surveying and experimenting.

Without giving away too much, a few sports highlights:

Archery – Utilizing both Joy-Con 2 controllers, this game simulates a real bow-and-arrow experience. Holding the controllers vertically outstretched in front of you, if you’re right-handed your left hand acts as the body of the bow, which you can move and aim at the target (adjusting for distance and maybe wind). Then you’ll pull back with your right hand, so that it passes your chest/shoulder, to mimic the drawstring of your bow, before letting go and hopefully hearing the gratifying thump of a successful shot. If you hold your shot for too long your character may get fatigued and your aim may suffer.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort includes an assortment of games including archery. Photo by Supplied /Nintendo

Power Cruising – With visually impressive water effects (and physics), Power Cruising is about racing jet skis to complete in various tasks, steering through waves, hitting targets, and avoiding obstacles. You’ll hold the two Joy-Con 2 controllers horizontally in front of you, like handlebars, to maneuver your jet ski, and twist the right controller like a throttle for a temporary speed boost. Players compete in timed races or point-based challenges, like collecting photos or hitting jumps. It was just as fun to explore around the island to see what’s there, along with some hidden surprises.

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Nintendo Switch Sports Resort includes an assortment of games including power cruising. Photo by Supplied /Nintendo

Thumb Wrestling – Anyone remember locking hands with a childhood friend and chanting, “One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war?” Well, Nintendo has brought this classic one-finger fighting game into the 21st century. While some mechanics will be familiar – quick strikes, fake-outs, and tug-of-war jockeying – the videogame version also has “power ups” when pressing down at the right moments that has your thumb grow and sparkle to supersize your strike. Simply hold a single Joy-Con 2 controller completely upright in one hand, tilting it from side to side to control your character’s attack angle, before pinning an opponent by pressing and holding the ZL or ZR button shoulder button for a few seconds (unless they wiggle free in time).

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort includes an assortment of games including thumb wrestling. Photo by Supplied /Nintendo

Bowling – Oh yes, my favourite of all the sports so far – in part because of nostalgia, as bowling was included with every Nintendo Wii console back in the day, as part of Wii Sports, along with baseball, golf and boxing. In fact, the new Bowling found in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort includes classic (10-pin) modes, special lanes and crazy variations – even 100-pin setups. Use a Joy-Con 2 controller held vertically in your dominant hand to position yourself and toss the ball, but unlike the older game you don’t need to release any buttons. If you’re good enough, curve the ball by twisting your wrist at just the right moment during release. Really, I didn’t want to stop playing this game – especially after I found my groove and pulled off a “six bagger” (a half-dozen consecutive strikes).

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Nintendo Switch Sports Resort includes an assortment of games including thumb bowling. Photo by Supplied /nintendo

The other sports you can play are Boxing, Tennis, Table Tennis, Basketball, Golf, Volleyball, Skateboarding, and Prop Plane.

Rated “Everyone 10+,” Nintendo Switch Sports Resort will cost $69.99 for the digital download or $84.99 if you prefer a physical game card. If you don’t yet own a Nintendo Switch 2, there’s also a Nintendo Switch 2 + Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Bundle for $724.99 (a savings of almost $37 compared to buying them individually).

Released in 2025, Nintendo Switch 2 is a sought-after video game system that lets you play on the device itself in handheld mode or can be docked to play on a big-screen TV. It boasts a massive library of beloved Nintendo exclusives and major third-party titles.

Photo illustration of a cyber attack. Photo by NicoElNino /Getty Images

RBC’S ‘BE CYBER AWARE’ CAMPAIGN

October isn’t just a month for fun – like the abovementioned new video game releases – it’s also a time to go over ways to protect yourself ahead of the busy shopping season.

Officially “Cybersecurity Awareness Month,” several organizations are warning against the latest scams designed to separate you from your money.

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RBC’s Be Cyber Aware campaign is alerting Canadians to be more alert because cybercriminals are leveraging AI to make fraudulent tactics more difficult to spot.

For example, AI is used to create fake voices and even faces, and so it may sound or look like someone you know. Similarly, AI is helping cybercriminals craft more convincing text messages and emails because spelling mistakes and poor grammar are a thing of the past.

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Any unsolicited correspondence that pushes you to act fast without thinking is also a red flag.

acked with easy-to-follow tips, the Be Cyber Aware portal suggests you always verify before you act. If you receive a call or message that claims to be your bank, hang up (or disregard the text) and then call the number on the back of your card or pop into a branch to confirm it was sent from them (chances are, it wasn’t).

Protect yourself by enabling two-step verification for an extra layer of security, which not only requires your password to log into your online accounts but also pushes a code to your phone that’s required to confirm it’s really you.

Stay vigilant to remain one step ahead of the scammers.

– Marc Saltzman is the host of the Tech It Out podcast and is the author of the book, Apple Watch For Dummies (Wiley)

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