Developer: Imagineer
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Switch 2
Tested on: Switch 2
Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Review
If you’d ask us which Switch 1 games we’d like to see getting a Switch 2 version, Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer wouldn’t even be close to the top of the list. As such, we were surprised to see Imagineer’s latest workout title get just that. We’re not disappointed, mind you, as we liked the game when it first launched back in late 2024, but we’d at least expected Super Mario Maker 2 to take advantage of the Switch 2’s mouse controls before Fitness Boxing 3 got a frame rate bump. As is the usual case for upgrades like this, we’ll refer you to our original review first, before getting into what’s new and what’s improved here.
What a difference a year and a half makes. The original Switch version of Fitness Boxing 3 looked surprisingly good given the hardware’s limits, but the Switch 2 version really takes advantage of the improved specs of the console. Visual performance sees a noticeable bump, delivering sharper resolution with up to 4K support, alongside a smooth 60 FPS framerate. In a rhythm-based exercise game where visual cues dictate your timing, the extra fluidity makes combinations feel much snappier and character movement considerably cleaner. Not only that, but the game’s UI has improved as well, with faster menu navigation. It isn’t a total visual overhaul, mind you, but it still feels like a sleeker, higher-end presentation overall.
Where the Switch 2 Edition really makes its mark is in the new features and modes that have been added to the base game. The standout addition is called CameraPlay. As its name implies, this allows you to hook up a compatible USB-C camera to your Switch 2. In turn, this lets you project a live video feed of yourself right beside your digital trainer on-screen. It’s more than just a gimmick: unlike standard workout routines, where you have to guess if your stance is correct, seeing yourself side-by-side with your instructor makes it easy to catch form mistakes, adjust your guard and correct your punch technique in real time. We’ve used one of Nintendo’s official screenshots to show you how the feature looks in practice, as we’re not quite confident enough to show you our own form in this review, but rest assured, we’re working on it!
If you’re looking for a more demanding challenge than what the Switch 1 version provided, the Switch 2 Edition has you covered as well. Two new modes add some serious intensity here. The first of these is called Advanced Scoring Mode. It measures not just when you hit the beat, but also how fast and forcefully you throw your punch, rewarding sharp execution with an all-new Perfect+ rating. Meanwhile, Boost Up Mode, which you can find in Free Training, offers an arcade-style challenge that ramps up the music’s tempo round after round. If you miss three beats, it’s game over. This mode delivers an exhausting cardiovascular push that will even the fittest players soaked in sweat… and having neglected Fitness Boxing 3 for quite some time, we can tell you we’re not a part of that illustrious group. The final new addition to the Switch 2 Edition is more of a social one than a gameplay one. The game introduces GameShare support, allowing up to three friends on their own consoles to join in on a workout session together, using a single copy of the game. It’s worth noting that this isn’t compatible with GameChat, so if you were hoping to work out together online, you’re out of luck, although given the general lagginess of GameChat, this isn’t a huge loss.
Unfortunately, the Switch 2 Edition doesn’t fix our biggest gripe with the original release: the music. The game’s unlockable licensed music covers remain minimalistic instrumental renditions that sound like cheap keyboard demonstration tracks. Another lingering quirk is the game’s motion tracking. Because Fitness Boxing 3 relies on motion controls, it remains easy to “cheat” the game by flicking your wrists from the couch rather than committing to working up a sweat. As before, the game can’t force you to maintain good form and relies heavily on your own willingness to put in genuine effort. Then again, if you’re cheating in Fitness Boxing 3, you’re only cheating yourself.
Conclusion
Quirks aside, is it worth upgrading Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer to the Switch 2 Edition if you already have the base game? We’d say it is, although for the €9.99 upgrade cost, that yes isn’t a resounding one. While it’s a definite improvement over the original, it feels more like a refinement rather than an overhaul. Of course, given the inherent simplicity of Fitness Boxing 3’s proven concept, it didn’t need fixing in the first place.
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