Drag x Drive review – wheelchair basketball that might give you wrist cramp

Nintendo Switch 2; Nintendo
Nintendo's latest sports game showcases its Joy-Con upgrades but sacrifices playability in the process

When a new console is released, you can always expect at least one first-party game designed specifically to showcase its novel features. The PlayStation 5 had Astro's Playroom, the Steam Deck had Aperture Desk Job, and for the Nintendo Switch 2 there's Drag x Drive. Here, you play competitive wheelchair basketball with the Joy-Con 2's new mouse mode (which lets you control a game by pushing it along a desk like a computer mouse) - rolling, jumping and shooting in hectic three v three bouts. A solid exhibition of a controller upgrade, to be sure, but Drag x Drive struggles to harness the high-octane nature of the real-world sport, instead delivering a shallow impersonation.

As a basketball game, Drag x Drive demands that you spend the majority of your time shooting hoops and racing around the court, each Joy-Con controlling a single wheel on your avatar's chair. Additionally, you can press the triggers to lift your wheels and jump, or raise each Joy-Con and flick to shoot your shot or pass the ball to a teammate.