Nintendo Switch Sports Resort just gave Wii Sports veterans one more reason to get excited. Nintendo confirmed that 100-Pin Bowling is officially coming back, putting an end to years of its absence from the series. The confirmation arrived quietly through an update to Nintendo’s Japanese website, and it’s one of the most requested fan-favorite modes from the original Wii Sports Resort era finally making its return.
- 100-Pin Bowling is officially confirmed for Nintendo Switch Sports Resort after being absent from Nintendo Switch Sports.
- The game launches October 22, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Nintendo Switch Sports Resort will include 12 sports at launch, up from Nintendo Switch Sports’ starting lineup of 6.
- The game costs $49.99 digitally and $59.99 for the physical edition.
- Local and online multiplayer support up to 4 players, with Nintendo Switch Online required for online play.
- Players can use Sportsmate or Mii characters as their avatars on Wuhu Island.
100-Pin Bowling Is Back After Years Away
The confirmation came through an update to Nintendo’s official Japanese website, where a screenshot was posted showing 100-Pin Bowling in action. It’s a welcome sight for longtime fans who noticed the mode’s absence when Nintendo Switch Sports launched back in 2022 with only standard ten-pin bowling on offer.
100-Pin Bowling works exactly as it sounds. Instead of the familiar ten-pin setup, players face a massive triangular formation of 100 pins and try to knock them all down. The maximum possible score is 3,000 rather than the usual 300, and achieving a perfect game is a serious challenge. That said, the original Wii Sports Resort had a legendary shortcut baked in: rolling the ball carefully along the left gutter rail would hit a hidden button behind the pins, sending all 100 crashing down for an automatic strike. Whether Nintendo is bringing that secret back in Switch Sports Resort remains unconfirmed, but it’s one of the most discussed questions in the community right now.
Full Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Sports Lineup
100-Pin Bowling is one piece of a much larger package. Nintendo Switch Sports Resort launches with 12 sports at launch, a significant step up from Nintendo Switch Sports, which started with 6 and expanded to 8 through free updates over time. Here’s the complete confirmed lineup:
- Boxing — throw punches with motion-controlled Joy-Con 2 controllers
- Table Tennis — precise paddle control using Joy-Con 2
- Archery — account for wind direction when drawing and releasing your bow
- Tennis — Joy-Con 2 transforms into a racket
- Volleyball — team-based play returning from Nintendo Switch Sports
- Bowling — standard ten-pin bowling plus the returning 100-Pin mode
- Basketball — dribble, pass, and shoot with motion controls
- Golf — drive down the fairway and sink putts with Joy-Con 2 as your club
- Thumb Wrestling — one-handed battling with one Joy-Con 2
- Skateboarding — the Joy-Con 2’s mouse controls are used to ride through the course
- Power Cruising — grab the handlebars and cruise along the waves
- Prop Plane — tilt the controller to fly around Wuhu Island
There’s also a Jump Rope warm-up activity available as a bonus outside the main sports lineup. Skateboarding and Thumb Wrestling are brand new to the series, while Prop Plane and Power Cruising are fan favorites returning from the original Wii Sports Resort that never made it into Nintendo Switch Sports.
How Joy-Con 2 Changes the Experience
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is built specifically around the Joy-Con 2 controllers introduced with the Switch 2. Each sport takes advantage of the hardware in a different way. Skateboarding uses the Joy-Con 2’s built-in mouse functionality to steer through courses, a control method that has no equivalent in older entries. Archery, Golf, and Bowling lean on the improved gyroscope for more precise motion tracking than the original Wiimote or standard Joy-Con could offer. The combination of mouse mode and enhanced gyroscope gives the game a wider range of control options across its 12 sports than any previous entry in the series has had available.
How Does Switch Sports Resort Compare to Earlier Games?
Nintendo Switch Sports, the direct predecessor, ended up selling over 18.32 million copies on the original Switch as of March 2026, making it one of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games ever despite landing with mixed reviews at launch. The criticism at the time largely centered on the smaller starting lineup and the perception that it was a step back from Wii Sports Resort’s variety. Nintendo appears to have taken that feedback seriously with Resort. Starting at 12 sports rather than 6 directly addresses the most common complaint, and bringing back beloved modes like 100-Pin Bowling, Power Cruising, and Prop Plane covers a lot of the nostalgia that Switch Sports failed to tap into.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Price and Pre-Order Details
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is priced at $49.99 for the digital version on the Nintendo eShop and $59.99 for the physical edition. That’s a slight premium over the original Nintendo Switch Sports, which launched at $39.99, but given the larger sport count and the Switch 2 hardware it’s built around, the bump isn’t surprising. Physical pre-orders recently received a $10 discount through select retailers, so it’s worth checking before paying full price. The game supports 1 to 4 players locally and in online multiplayer, with an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription required for the online component.
For the full official details and pre-order links, the Nintendo Switch Sports Resort official store page has everything, and the Nintendo Switch 2 site has more on the hardware that powers it.
More Gaming News Worth Checking Out
There’s plenty else going on across gaming right now too. Valve just explained why the Steam Machine costs over $1,000 and why it refuses to subsidize the price. Lords of the Fallen 2 just got delayed to Q1 2027 citing extra polish and avoiding the GTA 6 holiday window. Resident Evil fans should also check out the new leak claiming Resident Evil Veronica and Zero will connect to Requiem. And the viral indie hit Meccha Chameleon just hit 7 million sales in under two weeks with zero marketing.
