 |
| Mario Tennis Fever launches February 12, 2026 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. |
By Jon Scarr
Nintendo is bringing the Mario Tennis series back with Mario Tennis Fever, launching February 12, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
The release lines up with Nintendo’s first new Joy-Con 2 colour variants, Light Purple and Light Green, giving players a fresh hardware option alongside the game’s debut. A new overview trailer highlights how Mario Tennis Fever builds on familiar foundations while introducing new gameplay mechanics designed to shift momentum during rallies and expand how matches play out.
Fever Rackets and Momentum-Based Play
The biggest addition in Mario Tennis Fever is the introduction of Fever Rackets, which add a new layer to rally management.
Sustaining rallies fills a Fever Gauge, and once it’s charged, players can trigger a Fever Shot tied to their equipped racket. Nintendo confirmed there are 30 Fever Rackets, each offering a different effect.
Some Fever Rackets can freeze sections of the court, create duplicate characters, introduce hazards, or temporarily boost movement speed. Fever Shots can be reflected back if timed before the ball hits the ground. Failing to do so results in HP loss, and draining HP completely puts a character into a temporary KO state.
In doubles matches, both players can activate Fever Shots simultaneously, increasing the impact of coordinated play.
Roster Size and Core Tennis Options
Mario Tennis Fever features 38 playable characters, the largest roster in the series to date. New additions include Goomba, Nabbit, Baby Wario, Baby Waluigi, and Piranha Plant, expanding the lineup beyond the usual cast.
Each character can be paired with different Fever Rackets, encouraging experimentation. For players who prefer a more traditional experience, Nintendo confirmed that matches can also be played without Fever Rackets, keeping the focus on standard tennis mechanics.
Core shots like topspin, slices, and lobs return, alongside expanded defensive actions and additional offensive options. Slides, leaps, and sharper angles are designed to keep rallies flexible rather than rigid.
Play Modes, Motion Controls, and Multiplayer
Mario Tennis Fever supports a wide range of play styles. Swing Mode allows players to swing their Joy-Con 2 like a racket while still accessing advanced mechanics, including Fever Shots.
The game supports:
- Up to four players on a single system
- Local wireless play across multiple systems
- Online play through casual Online Rooms or competitive Ranked Matches
Nintendo also confirmed GameShare support, allowing one owner to share the game with up to three nearby players, including those on Nintendo Switch systems.
Mode Variety and Single-Player Content
Several modes are built around structured challenges and rule variations. Trial Towers offers a progression-based challenge format, while additional rule-focused matches introduce alternate scoring and court behaviour, including expanding courts and environmental interactions.
Wonder Court Matches incorporate Wonder-inspired effects that alter rallies mid-match, while Tournament Mode returns with live commentary from a Talking Flower.
For single players, Adventure Mode serves as a guided introduction to the game’s mechanics. Players complete challenges, learn shot types, and face boss encounters as familiar characters work to regain their normal forms.
Amiibo Support and Release Details
Mario Tennis Fever also supports amiibo functionality, unlocking character-themed tennis balls when compatible figures are scanned.
Between the expanded roster, the Fever Racket system, and the sheer number of modes, this feels like one of the most ambitious Mario Tennis entries in a long time. I’ve always enjoyed the series as a quick, competitive game to jump into, but Fever looks like it’s adding just enough depth and variety to keep things interesting well beyond a few matches.
The game launches February 12, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, and it’s easily one of the Nnitendo Switch 2 games I’m most curious to get hands-on with.
Wow a lot of good information in this writeup. Thanks!
ReplyDelete