Mario Tennis Fever Review: The Plumber’s Best Sports Game on Nintendo Switch 2
The Mario sports franchise has had a storied history across Nintendo platforms, blending vibrant characters with inventive gameplay to charm players around the world.
While recent Mario sports titles on the Nintendo Switch met mixed reactions—praised for their signature action but critiqued for limited content—the arrival of Mario Tennis Fever marks a return to form.
Developed and published by Nintendo, this fast-paced tennis adventure brings fresh energy to the long-running series and stands out among recent sports efforts from the legendary developer. Enduring Gameplay, Now Sharper Than Ever Just as in its celebrated predecessors from the Nintendo 64 and GameCube days, Mario Tennis Fever signature gameplay remains accessible yet rewarding for those who delve deeper.
Each button press has been carefully mapped: topspin, slice, flat shots, lobs and drop shots are all intuitive and responsive.
Charged shots and split-second smashes enrich the on-court action, while the depth lets both newcomers and seasoned players find their level of mastery.
Match formats are pleasingly varied, supporting tiebreakers, quick-play sessions or traditional five-set battles for both singles and doubles play. A Massive, Varied Roster Fans will delight in the game’s robust lineup, featuring 38 characters spanning the Mario universe.
From icons like Mario, Luigi, and Peach, to less-expected faces such as Goomba and Nabbit, players will find favorites old and new.
Each competitor feels unique—Chain Chomp powers up devastating smashes but lacks spin, while Dry Bones is swift and can curve drop shots with finesse.
Experimenting with the full cast to find a playstyle to match your strengths is a genuine highlight. Fever Rackets: Injecting Competitive Chaos The defining new mechanic is the arrival of "Fever Rackets"—an arsenal of 30 special rackets, each with its own game-changing skill.
Building up the Fever Meter during play lets you unleash effects ranging from burning embers with the Flame Racket to freezing opponents’ footing with the Ice Racket.
Other rackets, like the Swerve Racket, grant added spin, while the Golden Mushroom Racket enables superhuman dives.
The variety ensures that matches—especially in doubles—are strategic, chaotic fun.
During extensive testing, no racket seemed overwhelmingly unbalanced, underscoring Nintendo’s commitment to fair, competitive play. Court and Mode Diversity Mario Tennis Fever offers a blend of straight-laced and creative venues.
Classic clay, grass, and hard courts are here, as are imaginative settings with unique hazards and features—like courts themed after Super Mario Bros.
Wonder’s Flower Kingdom.
Special Games, such as Waluigi Pinball and Racket Factory, introduce playful twists like multi-ball chaos and randomly assigned powers, each delivering fresh, unpredictable matches and sustaining replay value. Content-Rich Single and Multiplayer Experience Solo players have plenty to explore: a traditional Tournament Mode, the challenge-based Trial Towers, and a narrative-driven Story Mode.
The Story Mode puts a spin on the formula with Mario and friends turned into baby versions of themselves, training and questing to return to normal.
While the story functions more as a tutorial than a grand campaign, the additional 100 challenges unlocked through towers offer serious longevity and skill-testing tasks. Online multiplayer, motion controls, and several mini-games, including shot-returning and precision challenges, round out a suite of options that should satisfy both competitive and casual crowds. Classic Rewards Minus Modern Microtransactions Mario Tennis Fever’s refreshingly old-school approach to unlockables deserves special mention.
By simply playing, users can earn new characters, color variants, courts, and Fever Rackets—without any microtransactions or post-launch “promise” content.
This design philosophy both rewards dedication and recalls the golden age of local multiplayer gaming. A Visual Treat for Nintendo Switch 2 Visually, Mario Tennis Fever shines with bold colors, expressive character animation, and dynamic courts.
Minor slowdowns occasionally occur during especially crowded matches, but never disrupt crucial gameplay moments such as rallies. Final Verdict Mario Tennis Fever is a triumphant return for Mario sports titles, delivering a feature-packed, nostalgia-fueled experience that feels both familiar and new.
With its engaging mechanics, entertaining new features, broad character roster, and robust content, it stands out as the best Mario sports game since the GameCube era—a must-own for any Nintendo Switch 2 enthusiast. Version Tested: Nintendo Switch 2 Review Copy Provided by Nintendo Score: 9/10
While recent Mario sports titles on the Nintendo Switch met mixed reactions—praised for their signature action but critiqued for limited content—the arrival of Mario Tennis Fever marks a return to form.
Developed and published by Nintendo, this fast-paced tennis adventure brings fresh energy to the long-running series and stands out among recent sports efforts from the legendary developer. Enduring Gameplay, Now Sharper Than Ever Just as in its celebrated predecessors from the Nintendo 64 and GameCube days, Mario Tennis Fever signature gameplay remains accessible yet rewarding for those who delve deeper.
Each button press has been carefully mapped: topspin, slice, flat shots, lobs and drop shots are all intuitive and responsive.
Charged shots and split-second smashes enrich the on-court action, while the depth lets both newcomers and seasoned players find their level of mastery.
Match formats are pleasingly varied, supporting tiebreakers, quick-play sessions or traditional five-set battles for both singles and doubles play. A Massive, Varied Roster Fans will delight in the game’s robust lineup, featuring 38 characters spanning the Mario universe.
From icons like Mario, Luigi, and Peach, to less-expected faces such as Goomba and Nabbit, players will find favorites old and new.
Each competitor feels unique—Chain Chomp powers up devastating smashes but lacks spin, while Dry Bones is swift and can curve drop shots with finesse.
Experimenting with the full cast to find a playstyle to match your strengths is a genuine highlight. Fever Rackets: Injecting Competitive Chaos The defining new mechanic is the arrival of "Fever Rackets"—an arsenal of 30 special rackets, each with its own game-changing skill.
Building up the Fever Meter during play lets you unleash effects ranging from burning embers with the Flame Racket to freezing opponents’ footing with the Ice Racket.
Other rackets, like the Swerve Racket, grant added spin, while the Golden Mushroom Racket enables superhuman dives.
The variety ensures that matches—especially in doubles—are strategic, chaotic fun.
During extensive testing, no racket seemed overwhelmingly unbalanced, underscoring Nintendo’s commitment to fair, competitive play. Court and Mode Diversity Mario Tennis Fever offers a blend of straight-laced and creative venues.
Classic clay, grass, and hard courts are here, as are imaginative settings with unique hazards and features—like courts themed after Super Mario Bros.
Wonder’s Flower Kingdom.
Special Games, such as Waluigi Pinball and Racket Factory, introduce playful twists like multi-ball chaos and randomly assigned powers, each delivering fresh, unpredictable matches and sustaining replay value. Content-Rich Single and Multiplayer Experience Solo players have plenty to explore: a traditional Tournament Mode, the challenge-based Trial Towers, and a narrative-driven Story Mode.
The Story Mode puts a spin on the formula with Mario and friends turned into baby versions of themselves, training and questing to return to normal.
While the story functions more as a tutorial than a grand campaign, the additional 100 challenges unlocked through towers offer serious longevity and skill-testing tasks. Online multiplayer, motion controls, and several mini-games, including shot-returning and precision challenges, round out a suite of options that should satisfy both competitive and casual crowds. Classic Rewards Minus Modern Microtransactions Mario Tennis Fever’s refreshingly old-school approach to unlockables deserves special mention.
By simply playing, users can earn new characters, color variants, courts, and Fever Rackets—without any microtransactions or post-launch “promise” content.
This design philosophy both rewards dedication and recalls the golden age of local multiplayer gaming. A Visual Treat for Nintendo Switch 2 Visually, Mario Tennis Fever shines with bold colors, expressive character animation, and dynamic courts.
Minor slowdowns occasionally occur during especially crowded matches, but never disrupt crucial gameplay moments such as rallies. Final Verdict Mario Tennis Fever is a triumphant return for Mario sports titles, delivering a feature-packed, nostalgia-fueled experience that feels both familiar and new.
With its engaging mechanics, entertaining new features, broad character roster, and robust content, it stands out as the best Mario sports game since the GameCube era—a must-own for any Nintendo Switch 2 enthusiast. Version Tested: Nintendo Switch 2 Review Copy Provided by Nintendo Score: 9/10
