Software:Drag x Drive

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Short description: 2025 video game

Drag x Drive
Developer(s)Nintendo EPD[1]
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Yoshinori Konishi
Producer(s)Hisashi Nogami
Programmer(s)Yoshinori Konishi
Artist(s)Takahisa Ikejiri
Composer(s)Sayako Doi
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch 2
ReleaseAugust 14, 2025[2]
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a 2025 sports video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch 2. The game resembles wheelchair basketball and has players compete in 3v3 matches. The game was designed to take advantage of the Joy-Con 2's mouse mode, with players using motion controls to mimic using a wheelchair to move.

Drag x Drive was one of the first titles revealed for the Nintendo Switch 2 during its debut Nintendo Direct. It released on August 14, 2025, to mixed reviews.

Gameplay

A player raising their arm to signal their teammate to pass the ball

Drag x Drive is a sports video game centered around wheelchair basketball. The player controls a robot in a wheelchair-like vehicle[lower-alpha 2] with the goal of shooting a basketball into the opponent's basket.[6][7] Matches are split between two teams of threes with the goal of scoring more points than the other team by the end of the match.[7][8] The player controls the robot using the Joy-Con 2's mouse mode to mimic the motions of using a wheelchair. Each Joy-Con controls one wheel; moving both Joy-Con moves the wheelchair forward, whereas moving only one turns it.[9][10][11] Due to the Joy-Con 2's haptic feedback, performing this motion imitates surfaces such as concrete through vibrations.[4][7] Shooting the ball requires the use of motion controls, with the player required to raise their arms and flick the Joy-Con whilst aiming at the hoop.[8] Depending on how far the player throws the ball, the more points earned when scoring.[7] Additionally, the player can raise their arms in order to signal teammates to pass the ball as well as clap.[11] Players automatically grab the ball if it's on the ground, or they can ram into their opponents to make them lose control of the ball.[10] In addition, the player may hold their hands out when the opponent is taking a shot to block the ball from making it to the hoop[12]

Matches are set within dark arenas fitted with bright, neon lights.[13] The perimeters of the basketball court are fitted with half-pipes,[14] allowing players to perform tricks on them as well as slam dunk the ball into the hoop.[15]

Development and release

The Joy-Con 2 being used in mouse mode

Drag x Drive was first announced at a Nintendo Direct about the Nintendo Switch 2 in April 2025,[16] with a release date scheduled for Summer 2025.[17] According to Nintendo, Drag x Drive is expected to only be released digitally.[18] The game was made available to play to both journalists and the public during the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience playtests between April and June 2025.[19] It was announced to release on August 14 on the Nintendo Today! app.[2]

A live demo was held between August 9–10, for Nintendo Switch Online members to test the game before the final release.[20]

Reception

Pre-release

Upon the announcement of the game, some critics praised the game for representing disabilities in a positive light,[15] with Alana Hagues from Nintendo Life writing how it was a fantastic spotlight of wheelchair sports, as well as disabilities in sports as a whole, due to a lack of wheelchair sports representation within video games.[10] However, Video Games Chronicle's Chris Scullion noted how he thought it was strange Nintendo avoided calling them wheelchairs in favour of vehicles, believing Nintendo was "being overly squeamish about a future scandal that will never happen, instead of embracing the game’s disabled representation".[5]

Feedback on the gameplay overall was mixed, with some journalists who attended Nintendo Switch 2 preview events recount feeling aches and pains after playing,[21][22] with Hagues reporting it as "a workout for your arms".[10] However, other critics responded more positively to the gameplay, with Kate Kozuch from Tom's Guide praising the controls as feeling immersive, mentioning the game having "serious competitive potential".[4] Writing for Nintendojo, Robert Marrujo described the controls as feeling natural and easy to learn, noting that the controls felt "arcade-like".[13] Many critics compared Drag x Drive's aesthetics and gameplay to the 2015 video game Rocket League,[4][10][11] with GamesRadar+'s Rollin Bishop characterising the gameplay of Drag x Drive "something akin to Rocket League combined with Wii Sports Resort's basketball and wind-up cars".[9]

Post-release

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic60/100[lower-alpha 3][23]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid6.5/10[25]
Famitsu31/40[27]
Game Informer6.75/10[28]
GameSpot5/10[29]
GamesRadar+2.5/5[1]
IGN6/10[31]
Nintendo Life7/10[32]
Shacknews6/10[34]
The Guardian2/5[36]

Drag x Drive received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[23] On OpenCritic, the game received a "Weak" approval rating from critics.[39] In Japan, four critics from Famitsu gave the game a total score of 31 out of 40.[27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Pronounced "Drag and Drive"[3][4]
  2. ↑ According to Nintendo, they are called "vehicles".[5]
  3. ↑ Score based on 76 reviews
  4. ↑ Score based on 62 reviews

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Taylor-Kent, Oscar (August 13, 2025). "Drag x Drive review: "I'm left craving Arms' sauce from Nintendo's twitchy yet shallow basketballer, which feels like a tech demo"". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sports/drag-x-drive-review/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Romano, Sal (June 24, 2025). "Drag x Drive launches August 14". https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/drag-x-drive-launches-august-14. 
  3. ↑ Parrish, Ash (3 April 2025). "I'm not sold on the Switch 2's mouse-like controls". https://www.theverge.com/games/642493/nintendo-switch-mouse-controls-metroid-prime-4. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Kozuch, Kate (4 April 2025). "I played over a dozen games on the Switch 2 — and I have a surprise favorite so far". https://www.tomsguide.com/gaming/nintendo/i-played-over-a-dozen-games-on-the-switch-2-and-i-have-a-surprise-favorite-so-far. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Scullion, Chris (22 April 2025). "Drag x Drive controls well enough to be a Switch 2 gem, but there are still too many unknowns". https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/drag-x-drive-controls-well-enough-to-be-a-switch-2-gem-but-there-are-still-too-many-unknowns/. 
  6. ↑ Bailey, Dustin (2 April 2025). "Nintendo shows off Switch 2 mouse capabilities with a 3-on-3 basketball game that's basically Rocket League with robot wheelchairs". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/nintendo-shows-off-switch-2-mouse-capabilities-with-a-3-on-3-basketball-game-thats-basically-rocket-league-with-robot-wheelchairs/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Lada, Jenni (3 April 2025). "Preview: Drag x Drive May Be the Switch 2's Blast Ball". https://www.siliconera.com/preview-drag-x-drive-may-be-the-switch-2s-blast-ball/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Abou-Nasr, Adam (6 April 2025). "Nintendo Switch 2 Experience New York". https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/hands-on-preview/70652/nintendo-switch-2-experience-new-york. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bishop, Rollin (16 April 2025). "I was a Drag x Drive skeptic, but playing the Nintendo Switch 2's wheelchair basketball game using two Joy-Con as mice made me a believer". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sports/drag-x-drive-hands-on-preview-first-impressions-april-2025/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Hagues, Alana; Lane, Gavin (16 April 2025). "Hands On: 'Drag x Drive' Is Fantastic, But Is It Destined To Be Switch 2's ARMS?". https://www.nintendolife.com/previews/hands-on-drag-x-drive-is-fantastic-but-is-it-destined-to-be-switch-2s-arms. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Shea, Brian (4 April 2025). "Drag x Drive Rolling Start". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2025/04/04/rolling-start. Retrieved 17 April 2025. 
  12. ↑ America, Nintendo (2025-07-30). "Drag X Drive - Overview Trailer - Nintendo Switch 2". https://youtube.com/watch?v=-Ls_NtQ0s8k. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Marrujo, Robert (16 April 2025). "Hands-On Preview: Drag x Drive". https://www.nintendojo.com/games/hands-on-preview-drag-x-drive. 
  14. ↑ Stewart, Marcus (2 April 2025). "Drag X Drive Is A Mouse-Controlled Basketball Game Coming To Switch 2". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2025/04/02/drag-x-drive-is-a-mouse-controlled-basketball-game-coming-to-switch-2. Retrieved 17 April 2025. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Nightingale, Ed (2 April 2025). "Switch 2's first dual-mouse mode game is wheelchair basketball Drag x Drive". https://www.eurogamer.net/switch-2s-first-dual-mouse-mode-game-is-wheelchair-basketball-drag-x-drive. 
  16. ↑ Cogswell, Jessica (2 April 2025). "Nintendo Announces Drag X Drive, A Switch 2 Game That Relies On Mouse Controls". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-announces-drag-x-drive-a-switch-2-game-that-relies-on-mouse-controls/1100-6530555/. 
  17. ↑ O'Reilly, PJ (2 April 2025). "Drag x Drive Is Nintendo's Switch 2 'Mouse Mode' Showcase, Puts The Rocket League Into Wheelchair Basketball". https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/drag-x-drive-is-nintendos-switch-2-mouse-mode-showcase-puts-the-rocket-league-into-wheelchair-basketball. 
  18. ↑ "Ask the Developer Vol. 16, Nintendo Switch 2 – Chapter 2". 3 April 2025. https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/News/2025/April/Ask-the-Developer-Vol-16-Nintendo-Switch-2-Chapter-2-2787952.html. 
  19. ↑ Liao, Shannon (4 April 2025). "In Search of The Perfect Pair of Pants to Game On". https://www.inverse.com/gaming/nintendo-pants-gaming-switch-2-joy-cons-mugler-drag-x-drive-jeans. 
  20. ↑ "Nintendo Announces 'Global Jam' Demo Event For Switch 2 Online Members" (in en-GB). 2025-07-16. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07/nintendo-announces-global-jam-demo-event-for-switch-2-online-members. 
  21. ↑ Purchese, Robert (11 April 2025). "How good are Switch 2's mouse controls? Eurogamer's verdict from the big reveal event". https://www.eurogamer.net/how-good-are-switch-2s-mouse-controls-eurogamers-verdict-from-the-big-reveal-event. 
  22. ↑ Parrish, Ash (3 April 2025). "I'm not sold on the Switch 2's mouse-like controls". https://www.theverge.com/games/642493/nintendo-switch-mouse-controls-metroid-prime-4. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Drag x Drive reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/drag-x-drive/. 
  24. ↑ "Drag x Drive Reviews". August 13, 2025. https://opencritic.com/game/18802/drag-x-drive. 
  25. ↑ Duwe, Scott (August 13, 2025). "Drag x Drive review – Not quite a Switch 2 slam dunk". https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/drag-x-drive-review/. 
  26. ↑ Lennox, Jesse (August 13, 2025). "Drag X Drive review: a successful experiment with no long term legs". https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/drag-x-drive-review/. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Romano, Sal (September 3, 2025). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1913". https://www.gematsu.com/2025/09/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1913. 
  28. ↑ Hilliard, Kyle (August 19, 2025). "Drag x Drive Review Functional, But Shallow". Game Informer. https://gameinformer.com/review/drag-x-drive/functional-but-shallow. Retrieved August 24, 2025. 
  29. ↑ Watts, Steve (August 15, 2025). "Drag X Drive Review - Kind Of A Drag". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/drag-x-drive-review/1900-6418394/. 
  30. ↑ Quesada, Daniel (August 13, 2025). "Análisis de Drag x Drive, una muestra de la originalidad de Nintendo a la que le falta sustancia" (in es). https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/analisis-drag-x-drive-muestra-originalidad-nintendo-falta-sustancia-1477823. 
  31. ↑ Plant, Logan (August 13, 2025). "Drag x Drive Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/drag-x-drive-review. 
  32. ↑ O'Reilly, PJ (August 13, 2025). "Drag x Drive Review (Switch 2)". https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch-2/drag-x-drive. 
  33. ↑ Minor, Jordan (August 13, 2025). "Drag x Drive A ho-hum b-ball game that isn't as fun as its concept". https://uk.pcmag.com/nintendo-games/159556/drag-x-drive. 
  34. ↑ Erskine, Donovan (August 13, 2025). "Drag x Drive review: Mousing around". https://www.shacknews.com/article/145474/drag-x-drive-review-score. 
  35. ↑ Cucchiarelli, Daniele (August 13, 2025). "Drag x Drive – Recensione" (in it). https://www.thegamesmachine.it/drag-x-drive/drag-x-drive-recensione/. 
  36. ↑ Thwaites, Sarah (August 19, 2025). "Drag x Drive review – wheelchair basketball that might give you wrist cramp". https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/aug/19/drag-x-drive-review-nintendo-switch-2. 
  37. ↑ Padoan, Harry (August 13, 2025). "Drag x Drive is a decently entertaining hooping experience – but bland visuals and tiring controls mean it's not the slam dunk Nintendo hoped for". https://www.techradar.com/gaming/drag-x-drive-review. 
  38. ↑ Scullion, Chris (August 13, 2025). "Drag x Drive review: A great multiplayer game let down by a lack of features". https://www.videogameschronicle.com/review/drag-x-drive/. 
  39. ↑ "Drag x Drive Reviews" (in en). https://opencritic.com/game/18802/drag-x-drive. 



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