Despite some concerns from early previews of Drag x Drive, the 3V3 wheelchair basketball game is a solid start to a fun Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. As someone who casually enjoys Rocket League and is a full-time wheelchair user, Drag x Drive seemed like a game that I was destined to get my hands on. Priced at a reasonable $20 USD/$29.99 CAD, Drag x Drive offers players the foundation of a great party sports game that utilizes the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons to their fullest.
For those who may not have been following the launch lineup and early previews regarding Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives, Drag x Drive is an arcadey wheelchair basketball game. It seemingly has been built from the ground up to take full advantage of the Joy-Con 2 controllers.
Ironically, this reliance on the Joy Con 2 mouse control mode may also limit the broader appeal of Drag x Drive, and more importantly, create a barrier to entry as it is an accessibility concern for those who have limited dexterity or, at the very least, prefer using a traditional controller. Saying that, however, Nintendo has done an excellent job in creating a game that uses all the gimmicks of the Joy-Con 2 controllers in a way that feels both intuitive and natural to play.
“Drag x Drive does an excellent job of creating a control scheme that approximates moving around in a manual wheelchair.”
Upon booting up Drag X Drive for the first time, players are immediately placed into the tutorial mode of the game. The tutorial does a good job of guiding players through the basics of the game, which revolve around mastering the use of both the left and right Joy-Con 2 controllers in mouse mode, which the game exclusively uses for movement. Dragging the controllers up and down allows the player to move, while sudden sharp turns with either the right or left controller result in making it easy to turn on a dime and make micro adjustments. Pressing the L and R buttons simultaneously allows players to pass the ball, while lifting and doing a swinging motion with your hand to swing the Joy-Con 2 controller(s) will result in a throw.
In other words, Drag x Drive does an excellent job of creating a control scheme that approximates moving around in a manual wheelchair. Another cool aspect of Drag x Drive that is inherent to its design is the court, which, like Rocket League before it, features a skateboard park-style curved design, which promotes and allows some fun trick shots with enough momentum.
Games in Drag x Drive never drag on (excuse the pun) and last only a couple of minutes, which is a good thing, as the game can really get tiring from having to slide around the Joy Con 2 controllers constantly. Thankfully, the controls work well on most surfaces and never felt truly gimmicky or unresponsive. Menus in Drag x Drive also take advantage of the cursor functionality inherent to the Joy Con 2 controllers, which makes it easy to quickly click around and get to where you need.
In terms of different play styles or character types, Drag x Drive features three distinct character types to choose from, which include Guard, Forward and Center, which allows for just the right amount of strategy to make games enjoyable but never overly complicated for a 3V3 scenario.
Outside of the online, private and bot lobbies, there isn’t a whole lot to do in Drag x Drive, outside of some time trials around the lobby, a bowling pin minigame and another where the player must run after a ball within a time limit. The minigames are decent, but are more there to give new players a good way of learning how to get faster using the motion controls present in the game, or to simply kill time while waiting for the lobby to populate.
Completing games with the bots will unlock in-game trophies, which in turn unlock a small selection of cosmetic items for the player avatar. Cosmetics include fun and quirky helmets that help differentiate and add some personality to the game. On the topic of cosmetics, there is a weirdly sterile feeling that Drag x Drive exudes, perhaps due to the amount of grey present in the game, but something that ultimately feels strange for a first-party Nintendo game. At the very least, the limited cosmetics and the option to change the material and colour of your wheelchair do allow for a little bit of flair in the otherwise grey game.
“Drag x Drive offers players the foundation of a great party sports game that utilizes the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons to their fullest.”
Actually sitting down and playing a few rounds of Drag x Drive is a lot of fun and immensely satisfying to nail dunks or do trick shots in a way that feels wholly unique in an otherwise familiar game of basketball. That being said, this won’t be a game for everyone, with its limited content and exclusive use of motion controls. Still, what is there all feels polished and well-realized, setting the foundation for a great arcadey sports game that feels tailor-made for the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.
Outside of a weirdly drab aesthetic and limited game modes, Drag x Drive is a fun game and the best use case of the Joy-Con 2 controllers yet, making it a must-try for those who enjoy some of the Nintendo Switch 2’s unique capabilities.
Drag x Drive will be available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch on August 14, 2025, for $20.99 USD/$29.99 CAD.
