Even though Wii Sports hasn't been around for years, Nintendo Switch Sports will revive Nintendo's own sports brand in its own way. Nintendo Switch Sports has a very different aesthetic from its predecessor, thanks to its playable Sportsmates and the setting of Spocco Square. Nevertheless, its blend of old and new sports looks like classic Wii Sports fare. At the moment, Nintendo Switch Sports' roster of playable games is relatively small, especially compared to its predecessor Wii Sports Resort, but Nintendo's plans to add Golf in the future suggests that the company will support the game long-term with additional games for fans to enjoy.
It's hard to say what games Nintendo will prioritize when developing Nintendo Switch Sports updates and expansions; Golf is a Wii Sports classic, but Nintendo might want to focus on new games in the long run. Nevertheless, if there's one Wii Sports event worth bringing back, it's boxing. Even though boxing wasn't part of the highly successful Wii Sports Resort, it was a core part of the original Wii Sports, so bringing this sport back would give the new Switch title a much stronger connection to its roots. What's more, boxing would open the opportunity for a wealth of fun Nintendo character cameos.
Possible Boxing Cameos in Nintendo Switch Sports
In the original Wii Sports, players battled through a gauntlet of Miis in pursuit of victory, but Nintendo Switch Sports could take a different approach. While single-player boxing would likely focus on Sportsmate NPC opponents, players might come across famously brawny Nintendo characters along the way. For instance, Little Mac from Punch-Out!! Seems like a perfect guest character for a boxing mode in Switch Sports, thanks to his legacy within Nintendo's classic boxing franchise. Also in the style of Punch-Out!!, Switch Sports could offer Donkey Kong as a secret opponent unlocked late into the single-player challenges.
Above all, though, a single-player boxing series in Nintendo Switch Sports would be a great opportunity to bring back the most iconic Mii of all: Matt. In Wii Sports, Matt was the final boxer that players would face, and he was an extraordinarily tough opponent. Beating Matt proved to be such a task that he later spawned memes reminiscing about his power. Matt appeared in Wii Sports Resort as the final Swordplay opponent in two different game modes, suggesting Nintendo was well aware of his reputation. If boxing makes the cut into Switch Sports, then it would be a brilliant opportunity to let the fan-favorite Matt show his face again.
The Wii Sports Legacy
Aside from bringing in some fun Nintendo cameos, though, adding boxing to Nintendo Switch Sports would be a great way to give it a stronger connection to its most distant ancestor. Wii Sports was foundational to Nintendo's highly successful Wii era, and to this day, it's a major point of nostalgia among longtime Nintendo fans. Nintendo Switch Sports already has quite a few of Wii Sports' core games, but it would be great to see Switch Sports complete the set. If boxing makes the cut in an update, then only baseball would be missing from Nintendo's Wii Sports revival.
Boxing certainly seems like a simple addition to the Nintendo Switch Sports lineup. If the Wii could simulate boxing with a Wiimote and a Nunchuk, then two Joy-Cons can easily deliver the same motion control experience. Considering the simplicity of the game, its history in Wii Sports, and the potential for broader Nintendo engagement, boxing seems like an ideal Switch Sports expansion. For now, golf remains the only sport confirmed for a future update, but hopefully Nintendo will reveal broader plans to support Nintendo Switch Sports post-release. Nintendo Switch Sports deserves long-term support on the Switch, especially if that support taps into its Wii Sports roots.
Nintendo Switch Sports releases April 29, 2022, for Nintendo Switch.