The inaugural fully mouse-controlled game for the new Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be released on Aug. 14, and you’ll be able to grab it for $20. You won’t be able to get a physical copy of Drag x Drive, however, because the game is limited to the Nintendo eShop.
The pricing for Drag x Drive reflects the scope of the game, as this is a low-stakes party title spotlighting an underrepresented sport with quick pickup matches. But compared with the pricier Welcome Tour, Drag x Drive seems like a much more economical (and entertaining) purchase to highlight the Switch 2’s new features, though it remains to be seen if this will be one of the best Switch games.
The game takes up 1.8 gigabytes and can be played in the Switch 2’s TV or tabletop configurations, but not in handheld mode.
You can play with up to 12 players in online matches, but Drag x Drive supports only a single local player. To play online, you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
In Drag x Drive, you’ll participate in thrilling games of wheelchair basketball, moving around by dragging your Joy-Cons across the table. The game can’t be played on the original Switch because Drag x Drive is fully built on the Switch 2’s mouse control feature.
CNET Nintendo expert Scott Stein called Drag x Drive the Switch 2’s «wild-card game,» writing that it has similar appeal to the original Switch’s Arms. Still, he tired quickly while playing Drag x Drive and is skeptical about its staying power due to how physically demanding the game becomes.
One thing is for sure: You’ll need a lot of flat surface area to take a crack at playing this Switch 2 game.
The reception of Drag x Drive could play a role in determining how many game developers choose to implement mouse controls in their future titles. Mouse controls are also a core feature in Welcome Tour, the Switch 2 edition of Mario Party Jamboree and Metroid Prime 4 Beyond.
