Mario Tennis Fever is landing on Nintendo Switch 2 today, and if you are even mildly competitive with your mates, this one is about to become a problem in the best way. Bright, chaotic and built for couch rivalries, the latest entry in the Mario Tennis series is going all in on bigger character rosters, more modes and some genuinely silly new mechanics.
This time around, there are 38 playable characters, the most the series has ever had, with a few unexpected debuts thrown into the mix. Goomba, Nabbit and Baby Waluigi are finally stepping onto centre court, joining the usual Mario universe heavy hitters. It is the kind of roster that makes picking a main feel like a personal statement.
The big gameplay shake-up comes in the form of Fever Rackets. You can choose from 30 different rackets, each with its own special ability, and charge up a Fever Gauge during rallies. Once that meter is full, you can unleash a Fever Shot that can completely flip the momentum of a match. Think flame attacks, summoned enemies, or sudden bursts of speed that let you chase down shots you had no right to reach. It leans into the chaos, and honestly, that is half the fun.
There is plenty here for both seasoned Mario Tennis players and people who just want something fun to play with friends. Online modes let you jump into casual rooms or ranked matches, while Swing Mode brings motion controls into the mix for high-energy, living room-friendly matches. There is also a new Trial Towers mode, which throws a series of escalating challenges at you as you climb your way to the top.
If you are more into solo play, Adventure Mode puts Baby Mario front and centre, guiding you through skills, techniques and progressively tougher challenges. It is a surprisingly nice way to ease into the mechanics before things get competitive.
Nintendo is also leaning into the launch with new Light Purple and Light Green Joy-Con colours, which feel very on brand for a game this loud and playful. Mario Tennis Fever is out now exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, and between the massive character roster, chaotic Fever mechanics and easy pick-up-and-play modes, it feels primed to become a go-to party game this year.
