Drag x Drive

“The unique control scheme of Drag X Drive is more than just a gimmick, but ends up feeling more like a prototype.”

“Drag X Drive shows flashes of Nintendo's trademark creativity with its motion-based wheelchair basketball concept. But shallow content and bland presentation leave it feeling more like a $20 tech demo than a must-play experience.”

“Drag x Drive is a barebones sports game that makes great use of the Switch 2's mouse controls.”

“Trickier plays, while cool to witness and to pull off, often don't feel worth it.”

“The multiplayer-focused sports game from Nintendo has a novel control scheme but is tiring and feels imprecise.”

“Drag x Drive may lack options with regards to online modes, and its controls take a bit of getting used to. However, if you can give up some time to engaging with this one, if you can get past the barriers in terms of controls and the early frustrations as you find your rhythm, you'll be rewarded with a unique and very well-made sports game that deserves to find an audience of dedicated fans. Add in some pals, and you've got a solid bit of fun for the price.”

“Drag x Drive is another one of those crazy Nintendo bets that works really well and becomes fun as you understand and overcome its difficulty curve. A bold and inclusive, and above all innovative gamble. The Joy-Con 2 response in mouse mode is a delight, and its mechanics are fun for passing time with casual matches. It can become frustrating if you run into experienced players, but the foundation and learning are there.”

“Unfortunately, Drag x Drive just doesn’t deliver the joy and excitement that I expect from a game developed by Nintendo. Not only is the gameplay just fine, it lacks the charm and style that usually makes up for those faults. It’s still a neat way to test out the Switch 2’s Mouse mode, but perhaps it would’ve been better suited for an IP spin-off or Switch Sports sequel.”

“Drag x Drive makes good use of the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls for a simple game of wheelchair basketball, but it lacks the charm and personality you'd expect from a Nintendo game.”

“Drag x Drive is a lovely little multiplayer game let down by a dearth of content. As long as you get get to grips with its control scheme you'll have a great time on the court and will likely get your $20's worth, but Nintendo needs to update this game with new features or modes if it doesn't want to see the community moving on after a couple of months.”

“With minimal offline content and few incentives to return online, it risks being overshadowed by stronger competitors. Without significant expansion to its bare-bones structure, the game may struggle to hold onto its player base.”

“A futuristic wheelchair basketball game that nods to Rocket League. The idea isn't bad and the foundation is there, but currently Drag x Drive is more of an experimental title that needs some tuning and, above all, desperately needs new content in the months immediately following its launch.”

“Ultimately, this will be at the mercy of two things: how Nintendo supports the title (and its online experience), and how quickly players learn and adapt to its meta. In the case of Rematch, it’s been quite rocky. I hope that Drag x Drive goes otherwise.”

“Drag x Drive is an arcadey wheelchair basketball game, one that seemingly has been built from the ground up to take full advantage of the Joy-Con 2 controllers.”

“Drag x Drive has some fun and unique core mechanics that take great advantage of one of the most distinctive features of the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. But after a few matches and the novelty has worn off, A game can only be so fun until you've played all its cards, and unfortunately, Drag x Drive is not quite playing with a full deck.”

“With Drag x Drive, Nintendo's latest multiplayer jaunt is both the things we hoped for and the things we feared. It feels immersive and thrilling in the middle of matches to be giving it your all as you speed across a court and try to sink shots as best you can, being one with the chaos. Similarly, it's a concept and control scheme that we haven't seen before in games, one that deserves credit. In the same breath, though, this hyper-specific control scheme and skill ceiling will leave a lot of players, both casual and lesser-abled, behind with how demanding it can be. It doesn't help that the Nintendo charm isn't quite there, nor is there enough substantial side content. Fun in controlled doses, Drag x Drive remains a game I will eagerly keep an eye on, hoping and praying it gets the post-launch support, quality of life and updates it needs to be the hallmark of quirky and accessible multiplayer game design it is so clearly desperately trying to be.”

“With the proper setup, Nintendo’s take on wheelchair basketball is a lot of fun and controls surprisingly well, but Drag x Drive sadly lacks enough content, variety, and personality to build around those fundamentals.”

“Drag x Drive isn’t destined to be the next big Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, but it remains one hell of a compelling case for its underused mouse controls and is a truly original sports title.”