Mario Tennis Fever Review: Game, Set, Match

by

The Nintendo Switch era for Mario sports was a tale of two stories.

All three games were fun to play, but they didn’t offer much beyond the initial experience. This was disappointing, especially when compared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which has a huge amount of content and kept us entertained for hundreds of hours – easily!

There’s a lot riding on Mario Tennis Fever, particularly because fans were let down by the previous Mario Kart game. While I personally enjoyed it, most agree that Mario Kart 8 was a much better game.

We had a good first impression of Mario Tennis Fever at a recent demo, but we wondered how fun it would be to play for a long time. It’s a tough question! While it’s definitely the best Mario sports game on the Nintendo Switch, it still feels like something is missing.

Mario Tennis Fever Nails the Basics

Let’s get one thing out of the way: this is a very enjoyable way to play tennis.

Mario sports games consistently get the basics right, adding their own fun spin, and Mario Tennis Fever is a prime example. It’s easily one of the best Mario Tennis games available.

One of the game’s biggest strengths is how fun and unique each character is to play. With 38 characters to choose from, they all have different strengths. For example, Yoshi is fast and agile, while Bowser hits with a lot of power.

Mario is a versatile character – good at a little bit of everything, but not necessarily the best at any single thing. The already large cast of characters would be enough to make the game enjoyable, but Mario Tennis Fever goes even further. Each character has special abilities in addition to their stats. For instance, Boo is particularly skilled at hitting curved shots. Combining these unique traits with each character’s individual stats creates a winning formula.

Fever Rackets Are a Very Welcome Addition to Mario Tennis

As the immortal Billy Mays would say: “But wait, there’s more!”

Just like other Mario sports games, Mario Tennis Fever introduces a new feature called Fever Rackets. By filling up your Fever Gauge, you can hit a special Fever Shot – and what happens next depends on the racket you’re using. It’s the game’s unique take on classic tennis gameplay.

Mario Tennis Fever is easily better than any of the Mario sports games on the Nintendo Switch.

Winning isn’t just about playing your best and hitting the ball back at your opponent. It also involves using special moves – like a powerful ‘Fever Shot’ or creating obstacles with ink or ice to disrupt their game. It’s the kind of strategic challenge players like Roger Federer faced regularly.

I initially thought Fever Rackets would be a pointless addition, but it actually enhances the already fun Mario Tennis gameplay. With 38 characters, each feeling unique, you have tons of freedom to customize and create a character that perfectly suits your play style.

This makes the game much more fun to play again and again compared to Mario Tennis Aces. This is especially important because the Mario sports games on the Nintendo Switch still have the same issue they’ve always had.

There’s Still a Lack of Gameplay Modes

When I first started playing Mario Tennis Fever, I was excited to see it had an Adventure Mode. I even got a cutscene that made me think there would be a story-focused single-player game. But honestly, it’s 2026, and I should have realized Mario sports games rarely deliver on that promise.

Adventure Mode feels more like a lengthy tutorial than a full game, lasting only a few hours. While it initially shows promise – with character progression reminiscent of classic Mario Golf on Game Boy Color – it ultimately falls flat and is quite disappointing.

The game offers plenty of extra features, too. You’ll find new ways to play that are similar to Mario Tennis, and there are also challenge towers to test your skills. However, some of these challenges aren’t very interesting or original. Unfortunately, you can probably finish everything the game has to offer in around five hours.

I really wanted to love Mario Tennis Fever, because underneath it all, it has a lot going for it. The characters are great, and I especially liked how the Fever Rackets added a fun twist. It even has a really helpful tracker that shows you everything you’ve unlocked – characters, outfits, rackets, courts – and tells you how to get the rest. But honestly, the game just doesn’t have enough to do. It feels like it’s all polished and ready to go, but there’s nowhere substantial to actually play. It’s a bit disappointing.

Mario Tennis Fever Lives and Dies By How Much You Enjoy Its Core Gameplay

Despite these issues, there’s something satisfying about playing through Mario Tennis Fever.

This game has the largest selection of characters ever seen in the series. The courses are a fun blend of classic gameplay and crazy, unpredictable elements. The new Fever Rackets add excitement and a deeper level of strategy. However, I do wish there was more overall content to enjoy.

I initially thought Fever Rackets would be a pointless addition, but it actually integrates seamlessly into the familiar Mario Tennis formula.

Whether you’ll like Mario Tennis Fever really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a fun, Mario-themed take on tennis, you’ll probably have a good time. However, I was hoping for a bit more content and value for the price.

Stay at the forefront of gaming news, reviews, and insights with TopMob. Dive deeper into the world of PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and beyond.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

It’s a relief the game isn’t too expensive, at least. The best part is that the online multiplayer actually runs well. Strong gameplay is key for any game, and a smooth multiplayer experience is crucial. Nintendo has been criticized in the past for issues with its online connections, but thankfully, Mario Tennis Aces avoids those problems.

Mario Tennis Fever May Not Have the Depth, But it Does All the Little Things Well

Honestly, this game pretty much sums up my experience with Mario Tennis Aces. There isn’t a ton of really deep, long-lasting gameplay modes. You can collect costumes and unlock stuff, but if you’re the type of gamer who likes to grind for hours and hours to collect everything, this probably isn’t the game for you.

Instead of needing to troubleshoot or figure things out, you’ll likely spend all that time simply enjoying the game. And that’s actually what makes writing this review challenging – it’s hard to find fault when everything flows so smoothly.

I’m really impressed with how well-balanced this game is. Every character feels fair to play against, and each one has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. The developers clearly did a fantastic job achieving this level of balance.

Many games struggle with balancing characters and their powers, but this one gets it right. The difference is really noticeable – think about how unbalanced things felt in Mario Kart 8 with characters like Waluigi and Wiggler. That’s why I’m enjoying this game so much.

Closing Comments

Mario Tennis Fever is a standout Mario sports title, easily one of the best in recent years. While it doesn’t completely fix the long-standing issues with the genre, and still lacks significant depth, its fantastic gameplay is incredibly addictive and keeps players engaged. It’s not flawless, but Mario Tennis Fever is a welcome improvement and a step forward for the series.

Read More

2026-02-17 15:10