Jump Rope Challenge is Nintendo’s return to weird games. It’s out now — and free!
Skip skip skip.
Nintendo have released the latest in the weird and otherwise out there games tonight on Switch: Jump Rope Challenge.
It’s described as a game meant to encourage an “active break” in your day, Nintendo tweeted, and was started “by a few Nintendo developers while working from home in Japan to add quick and fun physical movement into their daily life.”
The download is tiny and the game boots quickly–just a warning to strap your Joy-cons into place!–encouraging players to use their controllers like they’re holding a skipping rope while they hop in place. A small goal of 100 jumps is in place for the first day though you can increase your daily goal to up 900 jumps a day.
While you skip rope the game cheers you on with celebratory squees and applause. It’s very cute and very weird. You’re able to change your jumping rabbit’s outfit with variously coloured hoodie/short combos, dresses, smocks, and more. A second player can jump in too. It seems likely challenges of some kind scaffold into the experience past the first day though it isn’t clear.
Of the 129 words on the game’s eShop page, an astonishing 90 of them, or some 70%, comprise what we’d describe as “health and safety warnings”, reminding you to stretch and avoid the experience altogether if you may be pregnant.
This is an experience that’s really meant for your TV. Playing it in tabletop mode isn’t all that enthralling. Handheld mode isn’t supported–for obvious Joy-con related reasons–meaning Switch Lite owners can safely skip this one.
Top image: Nintendo.
