Mario Tennis Fever review: Another ace for the Nintendo Switch 2

Mario Tennis Fever is a really fun game, whether you’re mastering powerful shots against quirky characters like Baby Wario or avoiding Bowser’s fire. With its many challenges and lively party modes, it’s one of the most enjoyable sports games we’ve seen in a long time.

When you’re playing with Fever Rackets, every shot has the potential to become incredibly chaotic and exciting. Instead of simply returning the ball, why not launch a Bullet Bill to surprise your opponent?

The game is full of funny and clever plays, which is what makes Mario Tennis Fever so enjoyable, even with all its different ways to play. You’re guaranteed a good time and plenty of laughs!

Mario Tennis Fever screenshots

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What is Mario Tennis Fever?

This isn’t your typical tennis game. While you can play a standard match, the excitement really kicks in with Fever Rackets. They add special powers and items to the game, similar to what you find in Mario Kart.

Many different bats give you an edge in the game. You can create slippery ice patches to throw off your opponent, or use fire to disrupt their shots. As you progress, you’ll unlock abilities like temporary invisibility for yourself and the ball, and even summon Thwomps to flatten the other player.

Okay, so some players are just ridiculously strong – you pretty much have to pick them if you’re serious about winning. But honestly, most of the time, everyone’s pretty well-matched, and it’s just a lot of fun. The best part is when a Fever Shot happens – suddenly, the whole match turns chaotic, and all you can think about is dodging it! It’s a total game-changer.

Fever always feels fresh, no matter how much you play. Each match has a unique feel, and with lots of different game modes, there’s always something new to experience.

In Adventure mode, you’ll enjoy a short, fun story where Baby Mario and Luigi play tennis to regain their adult size. After that, you can compete in six progressively harder Tournaments. There are also challenging Towers to push your skills, wacky party modes that break the usual rules, and lots of items to collect.

A tremendous rally

The tennis gameplay feels really good. You’ll encounter lots of different shots, making each rally challenging, and you’ll need to use smart tactics to succeed as you play against tougher opponents.

As a fan, I’ve always noticed it’s not just about getting the ball over the net. It’s about being strategic – aiming for the perfect spot with exactly the right amount of force. It’s really about precision, not just power!

If your opponent is running towards the net, a lob shot can be really effective. But if they’re hanging back and hitting hard shots, a surprise drop shot might be a better move.

It takes time and effort to improve, especially with new features like Fever Shots. Don’t expect to become a pro immediately! Focus on learning the game’s mechanics by playing through Adventure mode and gradually tackling harder challenges.

As the game becomes more challenging, you’ll encounter opponents who use especially annoying Fever Rackets. These rackets leave lingering shot effects on the court for a long time, which can be really frustrating to deal with.

While some special moves are harmless and fun, others that disrupt gameplay and interrupt actions can be frustrating. If these powerful moves happened less often, it wouldn’t be a major problem. However, in longer matches, they occur frequently on both sides, making the game repetitive and tiring. A simple update could easily address this, but be aware that it’s a bit of an issue when you first start playing.

Flair on every point

As you’d expect from Nintendo, the game looks fantastic. The courts are all unique, and each character has their own detailed animations – the level of detail is truly impressive.

I love watching the little details in character animations – things like Diddy Kong bouncing the serve off his tail, or how characters respond when they lose a tough rally. Seeing Dry Bones fall apart between points never gets old!

I was seriously blown away by how cinematic Adventure mode looked – it was just fantastic! Honestly, it felt like a movie was being made right before my eyes. It got me thinking, after Chris Pratt’s done saving the galaxy, he needs to play a tennis star in a film! I’d absolutely be first in line to see it.

Verdict

After playing Mario Tennis Fever with my partner for a few days, we felt ready for a real challenge. We’d chosen our favorite characters and customized our rackets, so we decided to put our skills to the test in the game’s most difficult tournament.

That gaming session was unbelievably exciting – easily the most thrilling we’ve ever had. The match was incredibly close, going back and forth, and we fought for every single point. We traded sets, and it all came down to a tiebreaker, making the tension almost unbearable. We were yelling, cheering, and agonizing over every play, and it was just pure, joyful competition – something I hadn’t felt in a game for a long time.

Mario Tennis Fever is a wildly fun game, as unpredictable and energetic as Mario Kart. It’s one of the best Mario sports titles ever made, right up there with classics like Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Strikers Charged – it’s just a blast to play!

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2026-02-10 17:20