Will Drag x Drive become the next big basketball game?

Just when you think sports games have settled into a comfy, if uninspiring, status quo, something like Sloclap’s Rematch appears, proving that soccer can be reimagined. Similarly, Nintendo’s Drag x Drive game is a wheelchair basketball title that takes preconceptions about which sports can make fun gaming experiences and suggests we reconsider. 

For this unusually innovative basketball title, there’s some clear potential ahead. But whether that translates into a fun experience remains to be seen. Below, we’ll reveal everything there is to know about the Switch 2’s Drag x Drive, and assess if it’s on track to be the next great basketball game on Nintendo Switch 2. 

The Escapist recaps 

• Drag x Drive is the first representation of wheelchair basketball in video gaming.
• A 3v3 mode is joined by additional mini-games alongside local and online multiplayer.
• Each player needs to dual-wield a Joy-Con 2 to control movement.
• Drag x Drive is priced at $19.99 and releases on August 14.
• It is digital only and requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription and an Internet connection.

What is Drag x Drive? 

On the face of it, Drag X Drive is an exciting basketball game that takes cues specifically from real-life wheelchair basketball. Nintendo refers to “wheelchair-like vehicles” in its product description, and the beings driving them are referred to as ‘drivers’. 

The Drag x Drive release date is August 14, 2025. Ostensibly, it’s a family-friendly basketball-focused title where you choose your driver’s position as either Guard, Forward, or Center, and will need to use and master both Joy-Con 2 controllers to maneuver and shoot. You can also edit your driver’s armor color, texture, and number, and engage in mini-games. 

Outside of the main 3v3 mode, Drag x Drive features Circuit Sprint (up to 12 players), Rebound Scramble (up to 12 players), Shooting Contest, and Time Trial mini-games. Nintendo states that some game modes will require an Internet connection as well as a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. 

Keep that additional cost in mind if you’re considering the Drag x Drive price of $19.99 – it’s digital only, too; there’s been no Drag x Drive physical edition confirmed by Nintendo. 

Will motion controls make a comeback?

You may have already guessed that one element core to Drag X Drive gameplay is motion controls. Mastering your vehicle is essential for navigating the court smoothly. That makes sense since the game was specifically designed to use the Joy-Con 2 controllers’ mouse mode.

If you want to move, you’ll need to get familiar! Interestingly, as tricky or intuitive as dual-wielding Joy-Con 2 controllers may be (you’ll need two separate Joy-Con 2s for two local players), Nintendo’s movement tutorial in the Drag x Drive trailer does appear to be a great help to new players. It also suggests that the thought put into the movement mechanics is logical, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy for players to master.

To move your vehicle forward or back, you’ll need to slide both controllers in the same direction; each moving in an opposite direction to the other applies a turn to your vehicle. Meanwhile, shooting requires a lift and flick of a controller. This is easy in theory, and an approach that may be a sign of things to come in future Switch 2 titles.

How does Drag x Drive compare to other basketball games? 

Could Drag x Drive take basketball by storm? Well, the jury is still out based on the footage that’s been shown so far. It may also struggle to compete with triple-A sports games like NBA2K26. This is especially true when Drag x Drive has more in common with conceptual sporting underdogs like Rematch or Rocket League.

While Drag x Drive will likely provide an enjoyable wheelchair basketball experience, along with various modes beyond the simplified 3v3 matches, the game’s enjoyment may be hindered by the steep learning curve it asks players to engage with.

The complicated controls and time to master its movement may be an issue when appealing to players. Initial feedback appears to be ‘this really is fun’ or ‘this really isn’t’, although it’s also hard to get away from a lack of engaging visuals and its humdrum, predominantly industrial metallic backdrop. 

Is this a Switch 2 basketball game? Yes, but it appears to require patience and a focus on a simpler, mechanical-focused sporting joy, reminiscent of Wii Sports. How does it compare to other titles? It doesn’t directly. 

How has wheelchair basketball been represented before?

No, which makes Drag x Drive quite an achievement and a major win for representation. It’s not for me to speak on behalf of a sport I don’t take part in, but it’s wonderful to see gaming catching up with real life and celebrating wheelchair basketball in a way that everyone can enjoy – even if the game exists in a sci-fi sports setting.

Whether or not an officially licensed wheelchair basketball title arrives on any platform in the future, having a Switch 2 title that’s priced at Drag x Drive’s cost feels like a positive step. It also feels quite the reveal for players to have to work hard, when that’s likely the case in the sport in real life, too. 

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References

1. Get ready to experience a whole new ball game in Drag x Drive for Nintendo Switch 2! (Nintendo)
2. Drag x Drive – Overview trailer (Nintendo Switch 2) (YouTube)