The Nintendo Switch has slowly amassed a massive library of great games, potentially making it one of the best portable consoles of all time. The third-party support for this console has been truly brilliant and shows just how Nintendo has matured with its stance in this context. That being said, most people got the Nintendo Switch because of the amazing first-party games that are churned out for this console, with the various sports games being a highlight in this regard.
While many people felt like Nintendo's release cycle has been fairly slow and frustrating, the truth is that there are actually several great games on the console that the legendary developer has played a major role in. This applies to the various sports games as well, and here's a look at all of the first-party sports titles developed and released for the Nintendo Switch.
6 Mario Strikers: Battle League
It's a shame that Mario Strikers is placed so low on this list. This football game was something that fans were coveting for quite some time, and it's easy to see why the internet blew up after its announcement. However, upon release, fans were disappointed at the notable dearth of content in this game.
Aside from a few minor gameplay additions, there's really not a lot to talk about when it comes to this game. It's a shame, and fans can only hope that Nintendo releases some major updates for this title to make it well worth the price of admission, which is pretty steep right now given the current scenario.
5 Mario Golf: Super Rush
Mario Golf is another title that was released with little to no new updates or content. The story mode was pretty decent but largely forgettable, focusing more on the new Battle Golf system instead of actually letting players take their turns one at a time.
It didn't help that the normal golf mode had little to no changes apart from upgraded visuals and gameplay tweaks. That being said, updates have added new courses and characters, but the game is still pretty far away from being a finished product by any means.
4 Nintendo Switch Sports
Nintendo Switch Sports is a title that was awaited for quite some time. After all, Wii Sports is the highest-selling game on its respective console, and it's easy to see why Nintendo would capitalize on the massive popularity of the Switch to realize a definitive sports title for this console too.
The end result is Nintendo Switch Sports, which is a great game to play with friends and family. That being said, the innovations in this game are pretty lacking and a major reason why many people don't rate this game as highly as its legendary predecessor, with post-launch updates being the only way to improve this decent but slightly disappointing experience.
3 Mario Tennis Aces
Mario Tennis Aces is a quick and easy-to-play title with responsive controls and smooth gameplay. It helps that the story mode is surprisingly fleshed out and adds a lot to the overall experience.
Of course, the real allure of this title is playing against friends, with each victory feeling all the more satisfying in this scenario. With the gameplay loop being pretty deep and engaging despite its initial simplicity, it's easy to see why both beginners and pros have a ton of fun playing Mario Tennis Aces.
2 Ring Fit Adventure
Ring Fit Adventure doesn't really fit the criteria of being a sports game, given that it's an action-adventure title at its core. However, the immense quality of this game coupled with the fact that it actually makes the player exercise makes it a fun game indeed.
Ring Fit Adventure is the only game on this list to actually make the player sweat through sheer physical activity alone, which makes it worth a shoutout. The engaging gameplay and the fun exercise routines that this game makes the player do is pretty neat and surprisingly fun, especially during some of the tougher encounters in the game.
1 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Go-karting is technically a sport of its own, with many F1 drivers starting off from these humble beginnings. So, it should be easy to see why Mario Kart 8 Deluxe qualifies as a sports game... and the very best for the Nintendo Switch as well! The fact that many people consider this title to be the very best in the Mario Kart series shows just how excellent this game really is.
Competing against friends and trying to secure victory in this chaotic title makes for a great time indeed, with the gameplay never feeling stale at all. Players who want to buy a fun and fast-paced party game should look no further than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.