The best sports games exclusive to Switch

Key Takeaways

• The Nintendo Switch relies on exclusive sports games featuring Nintendo characters, lacking major licensed sports titles.
• Some sports games, such as Sports Story and Soccer Slammers, have been disappointing due to gameplay glitches and lack of content.
• Mario-themed sports games like Mario Tennis Aces and Mario Golf: Super Rush shine on the Switch, but can lack depth and content.

Whenever you want to play sports games alone or with friends, the Nintendo Switch might not be the first console you think of for its great graphics and Triple-A titles. Most licensed sports games, like NHL and Madden, aren't even released on Nintendo's hybrid devices.

But Nintendo has never relied on third-party support for its success. Despite not having the industry's most successful titles on the platform, the company usually circumvents this problem by releasing its own sports games starring Mario and his companions. The Nintendo Switch has more exclusive sports games than the PS5 and Xbox, but they can't all be holes-in-one.

Updated on October 16, 2024 by Kyle Chamaillard: There hasn't been a sports game exclusive to the Nintendo Switch in a while. Sorry to those waiting for the official Mario Lacrosse. But I decided to come back to this list to make sure it was up to date and organized. .

8 soccer slammer

The most exclusive sports game featuring Switch star Nintendo characters compete against each other for glory. Soccer Slammers is one of the few exceptions, and it seems like it could have benefited from a cameo or some kind of twist.

This arcade-style soccer game features 2-on-2 matches with boring gameplay and a monotonous environment. The content is also incredibly light. This is disappointing, as director Jools Wattsham, the creator of the excellent Mutant Mudds series, was unable to bring that game's charming aesthetic and engaging gameplay to Soccer Slammers.

7 Sports Story

Golf Story was one of the many great games available on Switch in its first year, and has become one of the best examples of why independent developers should bring their games to the console. A sequel was announced in 2019 with the promise of including more sports and activities, but Sports Story failed due to disappointing gameplay and structure.

After numerous delays, Sports Story was eventually shadowed into the final weeks of 2022 without any marketing. It was strange to see one of the Switch's most anticipated games come out like this, but it turns out the game was full of glitches and bugs that hindered the overall experience. While these issues may be addressed over time through updates and patches, Sports Stories should have been given more time to fix them before they were released to the public.

6 Mario and Sonic 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Mario and Sonic began their duel at the Wii Olympics, and the rivals still meet every few years for their next showdown. The two mascots, along with friends and foes, take part in events including baton twirling, boxing, gymnastics, and more to see who can take home the gold medal.

Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 does an excellent job of offering a variety of playable characters and events, but doesn't offer enough depth to be truly challenging. The game is best played with a friend, as the single-player mode is very dry and playing against the CPU is equally mind-numbing. The inclusion of 16-bit events is fun for a while, but loses its appeal after a few plays.

Mario, Luigi, and the rest of the team didn't spend as much time playing soccer as they did tennis or golf. Most Mario sports games originated on the NES or N64, but the first Mario Strikers game was released for the GameCube in 2005, with a sequel coming to the Wii just two years later.

After over a decade, Mario Strikers is back. While it's interesting to see it return, Battle League doesn't bring anything new to the series and has far less content than its predecessor. The biggest change is the introduction of the equipment system, which allows you to customize your character with new clothing that affects your character's stats. Next Level Games has hit the ground running with the last two Luigi's Mansion entries, so it's surprising to see them drop the ball with Mario Strikers: Battle League.

4 Mario Golf: Super Rush

Golf is generally a slow sport that many people enjoy playing with friends to relax and have a good time. The Mario Golf series has always been able to emulate a similar feeling from the comfort of your own home. A colorful roster of characters and dozens of creative courses have long defined the series, and Mario Golf: Super Rush largely continues to carry that torch.

As with other Mario sports titles on Switch, one of the main criticisms of Super Rush is the lack of content at launch. A year later, the game is still getting new content, but that wasn't the only problem. Super Rush introduces a new mode called Speed ​​Golf. In this mode, players compete to see who can get the ball into the hole the fastest. It's an interesting gimmick that quickly loses its appeal after just a few rounds.

3 mario tennis ace

When he's not rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser or making movies, Mario can usually be found partying, driving a race kart, or playing tennis with his friends. The first time we saw Mario on the court was in 1995's Virtual Boy, and almost 30 years later, his backswing has never looked better.

After Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash for Wii U failed to captivate audiences, Mario Tennis Aces came under a lot of pressure to restore the brand's reputation. Fortunately, Aces fixes many of the problems of its predecessor, including tighter controls, fewer special effects, and a fun single-player campaign. It's still missing some of the multiplayer modes that helped make the N64 and GameCube versions infamous, but it's still a great game to play alone or with a friend.

2 nintendo switch sports

It's hard to believe that it took Nintendo five years to release a spiritual successor to Wii Sports on the Switch. The original is one of the most popular games of all time, and Joy-Cons are perfect for replicating the simple, intuitive controls that were essential to the success of Wii Sports.

Nintendo Switch Sports includes familiar sports such as tennis and bowling, while also introducing badminton, soccer, and more. Unlike Wii Sports, you can compete against other players online and collect new clothing items and emotes for your avatar. There are more sports coming in the future, and if these sports are as fun as the current crop, Nintendo Switch Sports has the potential to become a must-have game for every Switch owner.

1 Golf Story

Golf Story was originally scheduled for release on Wii U. It was delayed several times, and with Nintendo's help, it was finally released on the Switch in 2017. Golf Story is not only the console's first exclusive sports game, it's still the best and most engaging game in the lineup.

Golf Story is ultimately more than a sports game. It is also an RPG full of attractive characters and a fantastic story. It's refreshing to mingle with locals between rounds and spend your hard-earned cash on new gear and technology. Golf is a great game even for people who are unfamiliar with the sport because it is intuitive. Golf Story is often compared to Stardew Valley for its innovation in the simulation genre and aesthetic. The unique concept makes this game not only one of the best sports games exclusive to Switch, but also one of the best games included in its incredible library.