Japanese developer ITL is returning to one of its DSiWare titles, Handy Hockey, and bringing it to the Switch 2 in just two days — on 31st July 2025 — for the bargain price of £5.00 / $7.00.
The original game launched as a DSiWare title back in 2010 and is a simple, neon-coloured air hockey game. However, it was exclusive to Japan. This version looks to be a polished-up version of the original, making it the first time it's available in the West.
On the official website, ITL confirms the game is entirely playable in Mouse Mode, and players can take one Joy-Con 2 each and use the mice to play against one another. Even cooler, you can place the Switch 2 screen on the table and play the game as though it were a real air hockey table.
Up to four players can take part in a match, and the game will also run at 120fps, making it one of the first games on the system to reach that cap.
Handy Hockey launches later this week on Switch 2. Will you be grabbing this one? Aim for the goal in the comments.





Comments 28
I’ve known about it for a few days. Instant download on the 31st.
Pretty cool, will definitely get it now that it's coming to Switch 2 (most likely on release also considering its low starting price) - unfortunately I missed most DSiWare titles back in the day even when they weren't exclusive to Japan like this one!
Releasing on Thursday, the same say day as Nintendo's planned network maintenance and the rumoured Direct... One day before Nintendo's Friday shareholders meeting.
I'm not saying it's definitely looking like a "out on Nintendo eShop... Today!" Direct game but just saying they haven't left themselves a lot of time to promote it in the normal channels given it just quietly slipped on to the eShop a few days ago. Hmm...
AND I've just seen "Dear me, I was" is coming out on Thursday too according to the eShop... a game where we haven't even seen any gameplay footage as yet, but it's out in two days.
Yea I’ll pick this up. I really like the air hockey minigame in jamboree tv
I’ve got to say, this looks really fun
Okay! Simple and fun! Day one.
For $7? Hard to say no to that...
Reminds me that Snipperclips has an air hockey mini game and you can still snip and clip each other. Playing offense and defense has an added level of tactics. 😂
Wish it had online but for £5 it’s hard to complain!
Cool, but hopefully when EA Sports reveals NHL '26 in a few weeks here, they'll announce it's also coming to Switch 2.
@larryisaman Same, online play would've sealed the deal for me.
I loved this game back in the day. Sadly no switch 2 yet.
This actually looks really cool! Since it's only $7, I'll definitely purchase it if I ever get a Switch 2!
this is so cool. i honestly might get it since i miss playing air hockey. and mouse controls!!!!
@SleeplessKnight I’m hoping this happens so much. I was so excited for a console quality NHL game on a handheld when the Switch first launched- I wouldn’t have even cared if it was based on last gen versions at the time.
They don’t even make them for PC so even when I got a Steam Deck my portable hockey dreams were squashed again
Seems like a simple yet fun game.
@SleeplessKnight This. I need a GOOD port of The Show and NHL for Switch 2. I’m happy Madden is coming though.
Hopefully more DSi Ware games come back, to Switch 2.
Noice. Very cool idea. Would be awesome to get some more games based around the mouse feature. Arkanoid type games are an obvious choice. MS dropping AOEII on switch would be awesome.
This isn’t the only DSIware game that’s coming to switch since they’re also bringing
GO! Series: Earth Saver to the switch. Is there some sort of DSIware renaissance or something?
Fair to offer, if only we got other DSiware titles to modern systems.
Well at least PS Minis are still on PS3/Vita storefronts.
Rumors: "Nintendo is being very stingy with dev kits, saving them for only devs that absolutely need them for games that are not possible on Switch 1."
The games not possible on Switch 1:
So I just got this, but how do you use mouse controls?? It doesn’t seem to work with them?
@tapdancingtommy Same here. It works on the strap usage screen but as soon as the game starts it won’t work.
I have just figured it out. When it asks you to to press L + R just press it on the joycon you want to use and not both of them.
@LPB I figured it out after about an hour- You have to start the game in joycon solo horizontal mode, and then it will trigger mouse mode.
Very janky, but that’s how to do it.
@tapdancingtommy
@LPB
How are you both finding this game so far, especially with mouse controls?
I'm definitely interested in this game!
Thanks 🙂
@ATMVF Mouse controls work well! Not quite as smooth as the switch dashboard menu, but they work.
There just isn’t much “game” to speak of here, it’s almost more like a tech demo, but for $7, it’s whatever.
Here’s a video I just uploaded that shows them off:
https://youtu.be/BzzCj0ZI4eU?si=R60GsPAgujxJZWgs
@tapdancingtommy
Thank you very much for your reply, and the video you uploaded!
Ha, I actually stumbled upon your video and gave it a thumbs up before I initially wrote a comment here tagging you. That was a helpful video, and your comment is helpful.
I'm still a bit on the fence, because I'd mainly use this for two players, and I also just saw your response to somebody on your YouTube video about the lack of split screen when using the dock, and one player having to play upside down.
I'll think about it; as you said, it's quite cheap, anyway.
Maybe a split screen mode will be added some time, but I don't have much hope. Maybe I'll contact the developers 🙂
Thank you!
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