Back when I first tested out Drag x Drive, I likened the 3v3 wheelchair basketball game to the 3v3 Blast Ball mode in Metroid Prime: Federation Force. At the time, I felt like it was more of a proof of concept for what the Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 mouse controls are capable of, but worried it might not go beyond a novel tech demo type of title. After spending about a week playing, I find I appreciate the concept and think it can work well, but it’s largely unimpressive and too dependent on a playerbase I doubt it will find unless Nintendo decides to make it a Nintendo Switch Online incentive.
The idea behind Drag x Drive is fairly simple, as it is a fairly straightforward 3v3 wheelchair basketball game. Once you start the game, you’re taken to a park that features two courts, a track around them, a “pool” for messing around with tricks and experimentation, and a random assortment of features like constantly rotating, giant jump ropes, bumps in the road, and bowling pins. When you first join, you’ll be in a Public Park with up to 12 people. It is possible to go into a Friend Park with only people you know. You can start a game with bots. However, if there are enough people in a public park for games, then two will automatically start. (Bots can be subbed in if there aren’t enough for 3v3, and 2v2 games are also possible.) In a Friend Park, the person hosting can make game decisions. It’s also possible to set things so you can just spectate other games, opt out of automatically joining, or avoid minigames.
The wheelchair basketball games are the main attraction and they’re quite short. Each one lasts only three minutes. Which is something of a blessing, given the unique control scheme and wear it might inflict on a player. You’re automatically on teams of three, and your goal is to score baskets in the opponent’s hoop like in actual basketball. You can get extra points for performing tricks, such as shooting from the three point line or using the wall to get some air or even dunk. (Those +0.2 can make a difference!) Once one team scores, anyone who isn’t on the opposing team gets “blasted” out of the area of that basket to hand over control of the ball.
I sort of feel like Drag x Drive is in the weird place of being both merciless and a little too forgiving, as the wheelchair driving part does demand perfection and precision and the basketball part seems like it’s a little too willing to be gracious with bad shots. The opening tutorial runs through controls, and they demand exact inputs. Hitting top speed involves long “strides” with each Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode. It’s something easier on a desk or table. However, I found playing on my legs was far more comfortable and natural due to the angles. But since my legs weren’t long enough, I wasn’t getting top speed. That kind of power and force is also needed for running into an opponent to knock a ball out of their hands, so it’s frustrating when your environment keeps you from the strides you need. Quick turns can be executed by moving one at a time or holding the brake on one controller abruptly. But you really need to get accustomed to the controls to make tight turns.
As for the shots, I felt like a minimum of 30% of the ones I actually made “shouldn’t” have gone in. Drag x Drive is incredibly forgiving. I wonder if that is due to the fact that the camera actually ends up obscured or not showing the hoop due to the positions I’d get into with the mouse controls. When I would drive up the wall for the halfpipe air trick shot, I’d basically flick my wrist and hope for the best. It pretty much always went in. In the case of more standard shots, it seemed like that because everyone was in the “learning the ropes” situation, I had more time to make shots. But even then, if it didn’t feel right to me, it seemed like it would still go in as expected.
Minigames Circuit Sprint and Rebound Scramble are also available for between-match excursions or triggered minigames in a Friend Park, and there are optional challenges on the edges of the park to play solo. The former puts everyone currently in the park into a race through the track along the outside of the two courts. It’s fine, though some random obstacles are more of an issue than others. (That robotic jump rope is my arch enemy.) Rebound Scramble involves the ball being dropped from the sky and bouncing around the court, with the first person to get underneath it to “catch” it being the winner. These both are about speed and really knowing the controls. Again, they’re okay. I found Rebound Scramble the more enjoyable of the two.
As for the extra challenges, you can try and jump rope, race, or perform shots. I sort of felt like these were more like advanced tutorials in a way. They definitely feel designed to teach someone effective techniques or help a person get comfortable with the mouse-based controls. I appreciated anything that helped with my movement, since responding and turning quickly were things I had most issues with in matches.
The problem with Drag x Drive is that it isn’t very exciting and there’s very little motivation to stick with it. Once you play a few rounds, it doesn’t feel like there’s much incentive to keep playing. Yes, you get a decorative ring for winning. But it’s only a cosmetic for that session and you lose it if you lose a match or leave. There are additional helmet cosmetics you can unlock for playing and winning games. However, I liked the cat helmet available at the outset so much that I didn’t feel a need to every change out of it. There are tricks you can perform, such as a bunny hop or going up on one wheel. But getting 0.2 to 0.3 added to a shot isn’t a big deal and didn’t feel worth the extra effort to me.
I’m also concerned about what the Drag x Drive community is going to look like at and a few weeks and months after launch. There are bots here. All of the ones after Standard level 05 difficulty are very good. (You get nine levels, with three at Easy, three at Standard, and three at Hard.) But the real excitement comes from facing other people. Considering that will rely on both people spending $20 on the game, subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online, then also choosing to play this over something like Mario Kart World, I’m not quite sure Nintendo will secure an audience with it.
I think Drag x Drive is interesting, and this wheelchair basketball game really highlights Joy-Con 2 mouse controller capabilities. It can be fun if you get a group of people who are invested together. Unfortunately, I don’t think it offers enough of an incentive to get invested. Maybe if Nintendo included some sort of campaign, more customization options, or some sort of league features, I’d feel differently. But as is, it feels like a lot like Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Drag x Drive is a technical showcase and experiment for what is possible, but it doesn’t offer a strong reason to stick around.
Drag x Drive will come to the Nintendo Switch 2 on August 14, 2025.
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Drag x Drive
The next generation of 3-on-3 sports is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 system! Hold each Joy-Con 2 controller like a mouse for tight control of both your wheels as you speed around the court. Raise your hand and flick your wrist to shoot… and score! Team up with—or take on—friends and other players from near and far online in fast-paced 3-on-3 matches. Switch 2 version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.
I think Drag x Drive is interesting, and this wheelchair basketball game really highlights Joy-Con 2 mouse controller capabilities.