Mario Tennis Fever Review, Gameplay Impressions, Videos and Top Features

Mario Tennis Fever kicks off the second half of the launch year for Nintendo Switch 2 and arrives at the perfect time.

The first in the Mario Sports universe on Switch 2, Mario Tennis Fever is a brilliantly-developed sports title featuring exciting mechanics to create one of the most chaotic and intense party games available. After the release of Kirby Air Riders in November and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in December, Mario Tennis Fever represents the first blockbuster game of 2026 for Switch 2 and a must-play for all Switch 2 owners.

Gameplay Impressions

Mario Tennis Fever is one of the most robust Mario Tennis games to date. This is jam-packed with content to keep gamers engaged from either a solo or multiplayer perspective. There's tons of characters, courts, rackets and costumes to unlock across various modes to incentivize checking out each mode.

Gamers can experience a story in Adventure mode, a traditional bracket in Tournament mode, clearing trials in Trial Towers, customizing matches in Free Play and playing matches with 'unique rules' in Mix It Up mode. Of course, there's local and online multiplayer for what is often the most fun and intense matches possible.

The control scheme is extremely comfortable and very easy for pick-up-and-play games with friends and family. Especially when playing with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, the gameplay feels smooth and intuitive. In addition to using a traditional control scheme, gamers can also play in 'Swing Mode' with the Joy-Cons for some vintage Wii Tennis motion control action.

Fever Rackets are a compelling way to spice up the core gameplay and give it the flare of the Mario universe. In almost an RPG-esque way, the Fever Rackets give even more strategy to the game. Similar to playing with items in Super Smash Bros., the Fever Rackets certainly wouldn't be a preferred option for gamers who want a more traditional tennis experience. However, given that there are tons of characters and rackets to unlock throughout the different game modes, it's truly a blast to see how Nintendo masterfully crafted each unique racket even if gamers ultimately choose to play without those racket effects.

For example, some Fever Rackets can shoot fire balls or ice balls at opponents to disrupt, while others may see volcanoes erupt and send what feels like meteors crashing down on the court. When hit with an ice ball, the character will freeze for a second and be unable to act so it's imperative to dodge all of these hazards, which makes for extremely intense matches.

The camera work is fantastic during matches, placing gamers close up to the action without being too close to the point where it would be difficult to see the action on the court. The camera is also intuitive based on different actions taking place on the court to provide a cinematic experience. Courts are packed with details, not just from a fidelity perspective, but also the details surrounding the sidelines and far end of the courts. Each court and location has a distinct feel, similar to being in a hub world from a Super Mario game. 

The graphics are by far the best in a Mario Tennis game and among the best ever on a Nintendo platform courtesy of the Switch 2 hardware. During the Adventure mode, the cutscenes truly showcase the incredible graphics. The art style is classic Mario but the clear fidelity and attention to detail is on full display. These are movie-quality graphics and cinematic cutscenes that may very well be the best to ever be seen in a Nintendo game. Beyond the graphics, the premise of the story is amusing and absolutely wild, providing a story reason for why the baby characters exist and literally leveling up their stats from nothing because they're babies.

The story matches often contain different gimmicks leading to on-court hazards, especially the unique boss fights. At times, matches escalate to pure chaos due to the on-court hazards and special effects from Fever Shots or powered-up Star shots. When these situations occur, it can be difficult to see the ball but ultimately is part of the charm of this chaotic Mario Tennis that can resemble more of a Mario Party or Super Smash Bros. feel compared to the more straight-forward Mario Tennis games of the past. Overall, it's extremely impressive how dynamic and cinematic matches are based on the different power-ups, hazards and skills. 

While some aspects of Adventure mode may feel rather tedious, such as the lengthy tutorial section, it was ultimately helpful in learning all of the mechanics of the gameplay and the sport itself. It must've been somewhat of a challenge to create so many different scenarios based on the core mechanic of hitting a tennis ball but Nintendo manages to pull it off in a charming way and Adventure mode doesn't overstay its welcome either. It's creative and humorous in Adventure mode how many situations turn into a mini-game focused on tennis mechanics or actual tennis matches. Overall, it's a fun romp with characters of the Mario universe and always fun to see which characters will appear next. Most importantly, it's a complete joy when playing matches. 

For gamers looking for more of a challenge, the difficulty really ramps up as players progress in tournaments or the Trial Towers, for example. This may be among the more difficult of any of the Mario sports games, which should be a welcomed feature for those who want to hone their skills before playing online or against people locally. Everything plays an important factor, from the actual stats of the character and their preset characteristics to the type of special Fever Racket chosen. 

Nintendo also includes quality accessibility options, including difficulty, music, commentary and the often-requested button mapping. Another often-requested feature in Nintendo games is achievements and milestone medals, which while they may not track on the Switch 2 console like Xbox Achievements or PlayStation Trophies, still provide a little something extra for gamers to chase during their playtime. Perhaps the most impressive feature of all is the ability to GameShare locally with gamers who have a Switch console but don't even have the game.

Conclusion

Mario Tennis Fever is the most expansive in the series. Featuring tons of unlockable characters, courts, rackets and costumes, there is constantly something to strive for out of the game. An accessible game for all ages thanks to a plethora of customizable options, Mario Tennis Fever is an excellent game for gamers searching for their next party game or even a solo experience. The online and GameShare options will allow for infinite replayability and some of the most intense, nail-biting tennis action in gaming.

Nintendo has once again nailed the formula for a Mario sports release with Mario Tennis Fever and will surely have gamers craving for the next iteration in the Mario Strikers series, or perhaps a return to other sports as well. The first major release of the year for the Switch 2 and the Mario franchise, Mario Tennis Fever is one that should see a nomination for best party game at The Game Awards and have a long-lasting impact on Switch 2 for years to come.