TORONTO — Nintendo has a good track record of using sports to show off its latest innovations.
For the Nintendo Wii, it was "Wii Sports," a suite of casual sports simulations that showed off the console's motion controls and became widely popular among gamers and grandparents alike.
Earlier this month, Nintendo released "Drag x Drive" as it continues to build its catalogue of exclusive titles for its Switch 2 console. Based on wheelchair basketball, "Drag x Drive" makes extensive use of the new mouse functionality built into the Switch 2's two Joy-Con controllers.
The result is a game that will not endear itself to the masses as "Wii Sports" did, due to a high barrier of entry based on its demanding controls. Still, there is the core of a good multiplayer game in "Drag x Drive" for those willing to stick with it.
"Drag x Drive" games take place in an arena that combines a basketball court with a skate park. Teams of three robots in wheelchair-like vehicles compete against each other.
The controls are unique, but difficult to master. The mouse sensors in the Joy-Cons are on the flat side of the controller that connects to the unit. Both of these need to be placed on a flat surface (or, failing that, your legs) for the controls to work.
Each Joy-Con is responsible for controlling one wheel of the vehicle. Pushing both together along a surface will accelerate the wheelchair; pushing just one forward will cause it to turn, and so forth.
It can be difficult to initially gauge the sensitivity of the mouse controls, causing your wheelchair to careen all over the place as you learn the basics. And it can be tiring constantly pushing the Joy-Cons forward as you fly down the court, making extended playing sessions difficult for those not prepared for the game's physical demands.
Another detriment to the control scheme comes in the lack of portability. The Switch 2 is meant to be enjoyed on the go, but playing "Drag x Drive" in handheld mode is difficult since the controllers need to be detached from the unit.
Still, when everything is clicking, games are competitive and enjoyable. Slamming into a competitor to dislodge the ball, setting up a teammate for a dunk or reverse beyond the three-point line before firing a shot all feel great.
Those who have mastered the advanced controls can take the game to the next level, racing up the ramps that border the court and launching at the hoop for a dunk. Scoring with a trick play is more than just showing off. It will also add a little bit more to the value of the bucket, which could be a game-changer in close contests.
While the basketball action can be quite deep in "Drag x Drive," other elements of the game are not. There is only one drab arena type. There are limited customization options for the players. There are mini-games such as sprints and rebounding competitions between games, but not much else.
The lack of customization and the stiff learning curve may be a turnoff to some. But if you put in the time, "Drag x Drive" is more than a tech demo for the Switch 2's mouse functionality. Mastering the demanding controls can allow you to play in some enjoyably intense multiplayer games, and the relatively modest $29.99 price tag might also encourage curious gamers to give "Drag x Drive" a try.
If nothing else, Nintendo has created the bones of a good wheelchair basketball game that hopefully will be built upon in the future.
"Drag x Drive" has an ESRB rating of "E," meaning suitable for all players. A digital copy of the game was provided to The Canadian Press for review purposes.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2025.
Curtis Withers, The Canadian Press
