Mario Tennis Fever

As tennis games go, it’s a smash.

Mario Tennis Fever is a fantastic tennis game that overcomes its slow and hand-hold-y story mode through its breadth of modes and gameplay styles, charming characterization, and excellent core gameplay. Even if sports aren’t typically your thing, I recommend checking out Mario Tennis Fever, as it’s another exceptional Nintendo Switch 2 title to fill out the first year’s library.

Mario Tennis Fever moves the series to the next level, bringing a balance of fun chaos and Mario Tennis skill. With the multiple ways to play, adventure mode, a great cast of characters, and intense online multiplayer; Fever brings the heat to the Nintendo Switch 2. If you've been a fan of the tennis side of Mario since the N64 or if you're just picking it up for the first time here - there is tons to do and fun to be had!

Mario Tennis Fever's single-player is a letdown, but the overall package is stellar. The game looks great, has catchy music, features a variety of fun game modes, and most importantly, it absolutely nails the core gameplay. Mario Tennis Fever is the best Mario Tennis game yet, and sets a high bar for future Mario sports games on the Switch 2.

Mario Tennis Fever feels like a perfect honing of everything Nintendo and Camelot have tried to do with the Mario Tennis games. While the Adventure mode feels like a bit of an afterthought, everything else in this otherwise robust package makes up for it. Whether you're playing solo or with friends, Mario Tennis Fever is relentless fun.

Mario Tennis's debut on Switch 2 is solid and uneventful, despite its sumptuous visuals and beautiful animations. The game needs some adjustments to its difficulty balance—too easy in the first three levels and damnably tough in the last—and to the techniques used with certain Frenzy Rackets, which are far too lethal and can mitigate the delightful unpredictability of matches.

Mario Tennis Fever is the best sports entry we’ve had from the plumber since his GameCube days. Packed with content, crammed with unlockables and introducing a racket system that offers the sort of competitive chaos you want from Mario’s take on sports, Fever proves to be an absolute ace and a great start to the year for Nintendo Switch 2.

Mario Tennis Fever kicks off Mario’s 40th anniversary year in triumphant style. It’s a sports entry that delivers enough variety to be of appeal to all fans of the famed plumber, no matter their genre of preference. With its surprisingly charming Adventure Mode and more match variations than you could possibly imagine, Mario Tennis Fever is a bountifully delightful release that conjures up the pure, whimsical escapism that only Nintendo so wonderfully nails.

Mario Tennis Fever is a must-have arcade sports game that wowed me by blending traditional techniques, power-ups, and fantastic, fighting game-like movesets.

Mario Tennis Fever is the best Mushroom Kingdom sporting spin-off in years. Its reinvigorated solo offering has hours of fantastic content, while its character unlock system keeps you engaged right from the start. Combine all that with more multiplayer modes that don’t just revolve around competitive gameplay, and I honestly don’t know what else I could ask for.

Mario Tennis Fever combines the same fun and technicality of the classics in the series with a wealth of variety and new ideas that make it one of the best in the series.

Mario Tennis Fever revitalizes the series with its Fever rackets: wild effects, a usage meter, and synergies that add real strategy to the chaos. Its Adventure mode feels more robust than usual, and the variety of modes supports strong replay value. That said, the RPG style progression feels almost irrelevant, and the arcade focused approach may frustrate purists. The online experience will depend on its final stability.

Even though some of the peripheral bits were less polished, the core gameplay in Fever is red hot. Actually playing a match of Tennis in this game is downright excellent. The regular matches are excellent, the tournaments are intense, and the special matches are all awesome. If you’re looking to change things up, the Trial Towers and the score challenges add a stack of fascinating twists to the standard tennis systems. Although I didn’t really vibe with the campaign mode, I still recognize its usefulness. I also wish those motion controls could be used in every other part of the game. If you want a more aggressive, fast-paced tennis game that’s also colorful, cute, and accessible, Mario Tennis Fever is an excellent choice.

Overall. Mario Tennis Fever is a terrific entry in this long-running series. It adds a new gimmick that doesn’t distract from the game yet balances the playing field. Plus, you can turn it off if it’s not for you. With plenty of multiplayer modes and a decent solo adventure, this is a title that will satisfy even the most disgruntled of Mario Sports fans.

As a single-player game, it’s solid enough, but add in some friends and multiplayer, and you’ve got the makings of a party classic.

Mario Tennis Fever is a blast, easily one of Mario’s best sports games in recent years.

Mario Tennis Fever stands as a solid entry in the franchise's sports lineup. Fun, varied, and featuring interesting mechanics of its own, it may not revolutionize the series, but it adapts seamlessly to the technical capabilities of the Switch 2. It firmly earns its place among the console’s recommended exclusives.

Mario Tennis Fever lives up to the series’ tradition of fun pick-up-and-play sporting fun, while expanding on it with fun new mechanics and a range of entertaining game modes.

Mario Tennis Fever fixes many of the issues of previous titles, delivering a significantly improved sequel packed with content. Fans of the Mario universe will especially enjoy jumping into matches with their favourite characters, thanks to the expanded roster and gameplay that’s easy to learn but hard to master.

Mario Tennis Fever combines solid tennis gameplay with fresh ideas and plenty of Mario mayhem. Despite minor technical flaws, it's a very successful installment with high long-term appeal.

Mario Tennis Fever wins without a tie-break and becomes the definitive sports experience for Nintendo's plumber. Going beyond simply keeping what worked in Mario Tennis Aces, the title refines its gameplay with new tricks and introduces a variety of fun ways to compete in tennis, making it a great crossover of sports, beat 'em ups, and minigames. It's the kind of game we'll all keep playing until the end of the Switch 2 generation, at least.

Mario Tennis Fever is the most complete entry in the series so far. The game offers fast-paced matches, creative power shots, and a surprisingly stable online mode. While motion controls feel inaccurate and disappointing, the core gameplay, large character roster, and multiplayer options make it a very fun and engaging experience on Nintendo Switch 2.

Mario Tennis Fever hits its main goal by putting the pure arcade tennis experience front and center. Fast-paced, fun, and built on several smart ideas, above all is extremely solid in its core mechanics. While the single-player campaign is less engaging than in the previous entry, and the potential of motion controls is largely left unexplored, these shortcomings do little to overshadow what ultimately stands as the most mature and refined chapter in the Mario Tennis saga.

Latest iteration of a long running series doesn't entirely know whether to go for realistic tennis play or full party mode. The Fever rackets and courts are a welcome deviation from the norm.

Mario Tennis Fever delivers a fun and well-rounded package with no major flaws. Its big roster, varied modes, and new Fever rackets offer enough variety to engage even non-tennis fans.

Mario Tennis Fever manages to set itself apart from previous instalments thanks to its furor rackets. Its fun arcade experience is rounded off by a generous amount of content. All it needs is slightly less automated gameplay and better progression to score match point.

Mario Tennis Fever is absolutely the best game in the series so far and if you enjoy the back-and-forth of the sport as you take in all of the wonderfully charming sights and sounds then this is a must-play game that really shines in multiplayer.

A fantastic multiplayer experience, whose appeal unfortunately does not extend to the story mode.

Mario Tennis Fever delivers incontestable fun with frantic, tactically deep matches, driven by the chaotic novelty of its 'furor rackets'. While its story mode and tournament offerings are somewhat lacking and the Super Mario license feels underutilized in track design, the game boasts robust content, excellent audiovisuals, and flawless performance, marking a significant and enjoyable step forward for the series.

Mario Tennis Fever encapsulates Nintendo’s arcade philosophy in a sports game packed with controlled chaos. The Fury Rackets, as a central gameplay element, add extra layers of interest to mechanics that are accessible yet more complex than they initially appear. Although there is room for improvement, its proposal is more than solid and stands as a notable addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 catalog.

Mario Tennis Fever is the saga’s natural evolution and its finest mechanical hour, boasting a unique flair. It’s a masterclass in creative design, scaling seamlessly from casual couch co-op fun to high-stakes competitive depth.

Mario Tennis Fever is the best entry in the series in a long time, with a great overall structure, the largest roster of characters in its history, and an unlock system that encourages you to keep playing. The soundtrack doesn’t quite reach the level of Super Mario, but the characters’ charisma and the variety of modes more than make up for it.

Mario Tennis Fever keeps up the tradition of the series by bringing a fun and funny tennis game based on the Mario universe to Nintendo's latest console. Most of it will be very familiar and the game does not take a lot of risks or treads extraordinary new paths, but it does a very competent job at keeping the experience enjoyable, especially on multiplayer. Mario Tennis Fever is a very welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 catalogue, where it's bound to keep players serving and smashing like its predecessors did in decades past.

Mario Tennis Fever is wacky and wild fun that understands the fundamental beauty and simplicity of tennis. It's a perfect addition to Nintendo's party game lineup.

Mario Tennis Fever is a lively and inventive entry that shines brightest in multiplayer, thanks to its creative Fever rackets, varied modes, and accessible controls. The biggest downside is the sluggish story mode, but other than that there is plenty on fun to be had.

The most fun you’ll have is playing with a bunch of friends in the same room, but there’s also an online mode which offers ranked or friendly games. However you choose to play, the game exudes childlike charm while hiding layers of depth beneath its chaotic exterior. You can spend hours practising perfectly timed drop shots, mastering spin and getting your positioning just right, and figuring out which fever rackets best suit your style of play is an involving process. It is, in short, exactly what you want and expect from a Nintendo sports title – something for everyone, and then something more for those who decide to go pro.

Mario Tennis Fever offers a fantastic tennis experience with plenty of ways to play.

Mario Tennis Fever is one of the best Mario sports games in years. Does it solve all the issues we've seen in the genre over the past decade? No, and sadly, it suffers a lot of the same problems when it comes to depth. Thankfully, the one thing it gets right is its incredible gameplay, which keeps you coming back for more. It's not perfect, but Mario Tennis Fever is a much-needed step in the right direction.

Mario Tennis Fever serves up fast, chaotic fun thanks to the new Fever rackets, giving matches a distinct Mario Party-style twist. The lowered difficulty makes rallies easier to save, welcoming newcomers but sanding off some of the competitive edge veterans might miss.

Entertaining tennis action with exciting Fever special attacks. Strong in multiplayer, weak in solo mode.

You can fill a review listing the changes and additions, which I have, but in the end this is a more casual friendly entry while still sticking largely to the formula of its predecessor. While it’s debatable whether it’s a step forward, it definitely is a more appealing proposition.

Mario Tennis Fever knows exactly what it wants to be. Without trying to reinvent the series, the game leans on creative mechanics, chaotic matches, and a strong focus on multiplayer to deliver a solid and enjoyable experience. The Fever Rackets give the game its identity, the varied roster supports a healthy competitive scene and, even with a somewhat uninspired story mode, the overall package stands as a confident and easy-to-recommend return for the series.

Mario Tennis Fever is another simple but highly ingenious effort from Camelot and Nintendo, which captures the flavor of the golden age of arcades in a way that few others can. Its solo strength is much more fragile, but played with company it becomes one of Nintendo's most enjoyable games in recent years.

Mario Tennis Fever is one of the best titles in the series to date. Bringing a super fun gameplay and unique improvements making it an enjoyable multiplayer experience for all ages.

It's beautiful, it's good, and it has perfectly decent content: ultimately, what more could you ask for? Perhaps less broken Fever Rackets, an Adventure mode worthy of the name, and ball physics with a little more bite. These are certainly notable flaws, but they don't detract from the undeniable effectiveness of this new Mario Tennis. Well done, Camelot !

Overall, if you like Mario Tennis games, this one is going to deliver for you. It’s a worthy successor to Mario Tennis Aces, delivering a decent amount of content for single-player and co-op play. But for more casual players, it may not offer quite enough gameplay to justify the $70 price.

Mario Tennis Fever presents itself to the general public with a convincing, polished look and a guaranteed entertainment value, regardless of the number of players involved. While the Story mode was a bitter disappointment, there's a wide range of other options that could keep fans engaged for a good number of hours, especially considering the accessibility and solidity of the gameplay. Some might initially turn up their noses at the further simplification of some mechanics, but we can assure you that after just a few games, you'll realize that Mario Tennis Fever's gameplay conceals a much deeper layer than you might expect.

Mario Tennis Fever, compared to Mario Tennis Aces, feels like a more accessible and engaging game - more “tennis-like” - but also less deep, stripped of the beat-’em-up dynamics that made its predecessor, in some respects, almost too complex for the broader audience Camelot and Nintendo are aiming for.

Tennis doesn’t get more fun than this. While the biggest new addition in this entry - the Fever rackets - could use a bit more balancing, this shortcoming hardly overshadows the game’s rock-solid foundations: an excellent ball-hitting feel, a great rally pace, and pure fun in every match. Mario Tennis Fever works just as well as a party game for couch multiplayer as it does as a more demanding, skill-based experience for fans of online competition. Unfortunately, it falls short when it comes to the relatively limited amount of single-player content.

The latest entry in the historic Mario Tennis series features an adventure mode with varied challenges, a key online mode to test your persistence, and 30 fever rackets with different effects.

With a mix of continuity and innovation, Mario Tennis Fever achieves its goal, which is simply to entertain. This time, we'll also have a complete game right from the start. For the next installment, the story mode will need polishing, as it's essentially a rather long and underutilized tutorial.

While I’m a bit disappointed in the Adventure campaign, Mario Tennis Fever feels generally strong thanks to its Fever Rackets and range of modes. There are a lot of different ways to play tennis packed into this Super Mario sports game spin-off, and they often play with the idea of using special abilities to make things more exciting. Which can mean things like Mix It Up and Trial Towers modes can feel a little extra entertaining. I appreciate what Camelot and Nintendo did here and how it built on Mario Tennis Aces.

Mario's various dalliances into sports have been inconsistent, often because they feel so bare-bones and perfunctory. Mario Tennis Fever breaks this trend with a multitude of modes and a playful, flexible gimmick that makes it more wild and unpredictable while also testing your tennis skills in a new way. It's the best a Mario sports game has been in years, and hopefully charts a course going forward for the Mushroom Kingdom's other sporting events.

Mario Tennis Fever is pure, unrestrained fun: fast, chaotic, and incredibly addictive. A perfect fit for one of Nintendo's most solid and spectacular sports spin-offs.

Mario Tennis Fever is a strong rebound from an era of Mario Sports games that left plenty to be desired, even if there are still some glaring shortcomings. The actual on-court gameplay, wide character roster, and abundance of Fever Rackets were enough to keep me experimenting every time I fired the game up. I’m itching to jump into Ranked and see what I’ve really got once the rest of the world can join in on the fun.

The best Mario Tennis game since the N64 era and a hugely enjoyable multiplayer game with a ton of single-player content, although there’ll still be too many gimmicks for some people.

Mario Tennis Fever feels like the game of its predecessors, as it's always fun to play with friends, especially if you don't follow the established rules of the sport. Getting together with three other people and playing the craziest matches is definitely always a good idea. It features several interesting game modes, such as special matches, tower climbing, and classic singles and doubles cups, providing plenty of replayability. The only problem, I think, is the story mode, as it's frustrating that it has the potential to be much longer and then ends just as it reaches its climax. If you're a fan of the plumber-with-rackets franchise, I have to tell you that you're going to have a great time, similar to what happened with Aces a few years ago on the original Switch. It's the ideal game for gatherings with friends, but paying AAA price for it is something to think twice about, because yes, it costs $70.

Mario Tennis Fever offers good and, thanks to its many game modes, varied fun sports entertainment. However, this spectacular, sometimes very chaotic arcade tennis game doesn't quite reach the thrill and scope of Mario Kart World.

Mario Tennis Fever is an enjoyable arcade sports game that wants you to keep it in your Nintendo Switch 2 the whole generation

Mario Tennis Fever is a Super Mario sports game that brings together more content than ever before in a game of its class, with a multitude of characters, game modes, and fever rackets to unlock as you enjoy what it has to offer. Although its story mode is somewhat lacking, the truth is that this title ranks among the best in the series, making it a must-have for any fan of tennis or arcade games, with robust multiplayer and many options to choose from.

Mario Tennis Fever serves up my favourite game in the series thus far, by finding an addictive balance between Mario's madcap antics and real-world tennis fun. Streamlining superpowers into Fever rackets makes everything easier to parse, and keeping player movement relatively restrained makes for tennis matches that retain an exciting flow without constant slo-mo interruptions…The adventure mode is a letdown, and solo players don't have a ton of options, but there's depth and strategy at the core here that should see this one ace things online for some time to come.

While the fever rackets won't win everyone over, there's a lot to like about Mario Tennis Fever.

Mario Tennis Fever delivers fast, accessible arcade tennis backed by impressive depth and an abundance of modes. Its strong local and online multiplayer ensures long-term appeal, even if the game rarely surprises and mainly refines familiar ideas. A polished and highly enjoyable iteration rather than a bold reinvention.

Mario Tennis Fever is another highly polished and enjoyable entry in the series that is well worth picking up for fans and newcomers. I’m not sure it renders its Switch predecessor Aces completely redundant, given the Switch 2's backward compatibility, but anyone who is after a new approach will find much to enjoy here. Assuming that the netcode is solid post-launch, then you should have a lot of fun with Mario and his friends.

Mario Tennis Fever is easily Nintendo's best Mario-themed tennis game in ages. Filled with tons of racket types and characters to unlock, the fun you experience while playing online or against the CPU never falters or feels stale.

With a new set of gameplay mechanics, additional characters, and updated graphics for the Switch 2, Mario Tennis Fever appeals to longtime fans of the franchise, as well as those who may have never even considered picking up a tennis racket. Though the game’s Adventure mode leaves much to be desired, its diverse modes and fun gameplay loop make it a title to get lost in for hours at a time.

Every match is chock-full of hilarious and surprisingly strategic moments, and it’s what makes Mario Tennis Fever shine through its many distinct game modes. You’re always in for a DK-stamped barrel of laughs.

Mario Tennis Fever bursts with content. The many characters, courts, and rackets add unique, deeper layers to the gameplay, and multiplayer matches are played with big smiles and heaps of fun. It’s a shame for slightly more mature players that the next layer of depth is just not quite reached. For that, the single-player offering isn’t robust enough, the opponents aren’t challenging enough, and there’s a lack of finesse here and there. But keep it up, Nintendo—because Mario Tennis Fever is moving in the direction of those timeless Camelot classics we so dearly long for.

With a terrific new fever racket system and wonderful couch coop mechanic, Mario Tennis Fever is a highlight of the longstanding series.

Fever Rackets doesn't disrupt the pace of the game or spoil the fun – it's chaos that reflects its premise and is enjoyable. They've improved the game mechanics, HP is a surprisingly accurate and well-built addition, and the roster is large. Just don't buy it solely for solo play, as the campaign is a glorified tutorial. It also has Nintendo's typical quirks in the online modes – why can't I play ranked doubles with a partner of my choice?

Mario Tennis Fever is massive, chaotic, and highly entertaining.it's packed with characters, unique power rackets, and fantastic multiplayer options, and although the single-player Adventure mode suffers from poor pacing, the stellar tournament mode and flawless performance make it a standout experience.

A great cast of characters and the thrill of Fever Rackets help Mario Tennis Fever overcome its minimalist Adventure mode.

If you’re buying a Switch 2 primarily for family play and social sessions, this is a top-tier pick. It’s one of those rare Nintendo titles that comfortably spans age groups: kids giggle and learn quickly; adults find the depth keeps giving. If you’re a competitive player, the ranked mode and crisp core mechanics offer a rewarding ladder to climb, though the lack of lab-grade analytics might push power users to third-party tools for deeper study. In short: Mario Tennis: Fever is easy to learn, hard to master, and, most importantly, built to be played with other people. It preserves Mario’s charm while delivering actual mechanical depth. Whether you want short bursts of chaotic couch fun with your kids, a mini-tournament with friends, or a longer grind in ranked matches, the game gives you all of it with Nintendo’s usual polish. It’s charmingly domestic, deceptively deep, and a multiplayer delight, making it a solid must-play this year. Just ask yourself this: Do I want to fork over 60-70 bucks for a tennis game? Because it’s still a tennis game, even though it’s one of the best tennis games Nintendo has ever put out.

Ultimately, Mario Tennis Fever is a mixed bag. It's a technological showcase for the Switch 2, driven by an excellent soundtrack, and provides immediate fun in multiplayer. It's enjoyable, the execution is impressive, but it still lacks the spark of the GBA games and the depth of Tennis Aces. The experience leaves you with the strange feeling of having witnessed a spectacular fireworks display at a party with friends. It's beautiful, it's intense for a fleeting moment. But the flame isn't strong enough to convince you to go to the show alone.

Mario Tennis Fever has a lot to love; easily being the best in the series both mechanically and visually. Adventure Mode is fun while it lasts, but is only about half the length it should have been, feeling more like a fleshed out tutorial than a challenging campaign. What makes up for it is the plenty of other modes and unlockables for you to spend your time with, the impressive and diverse character roster, and the new Fever Racket mechanic that finds the best balance between a Mario game and an actual tennis match we’ve seen thus far. The ball is in your court exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 when Mario Tennis Fever launches 12th February 2026.

The gameplay is superb and the action a joy, but there is just not enough to do to keep players coming back for more, especially if your friends and family aren’t willing to join you for a match.

Mario Tennis Fever is hardly a revolutionary entry, but it nails the series' most important element by offering a well-rounded experience with myriad ways for players of all skill levels to enjoy the game of tennis.

Mario Tennis Fever follows the classic Super Mario Sports formula, emphasizing simplicity and fun. While it retains the core gameplay identity, it suffers from several issues, including a lackluster Adventure Mode, hit-and-miss supplementary game modes, and a new, gimmicky mechanic in Fever. It’s a good party game, but it doesn’t have enough to make it worth the price or the time.

Mario Tennis Fever is primarily a party game that shines the most in local multiplayer and its creative modes, where chaos, power-ups, and classic Nintendo charm fully come to life. The single-player content, while also fun, leaves a weaker impression, as it feels fairly shallow and serves more as an introduction to the mechanics rather than a proper campaign capable of carrying the game on its own.

A fun and highly accessible tennis arcade game that works best as a chaotic party experience. Its well-balanced mix of classic tennis and over-the-top abilities creates exciting matches full of tense moments. However, a weaker single-player mode and lack of long-term motivation mean the fun quickly fades without other players.

Mario Tennis Fever is undeniably a fun game—if you know how and when to play it. If you’re looking for something to play solo, on the go, and as a serious sports-style challenge, we can tell you right away: this one isn’t for you. But if what you want is a game that delivers good times (and just enough friendly competition) with friends at home during a get-together, Fever doesn’t let you down. That said, it’s up to you whether it’s worth your money and your time, because it doesn’t bring many truly new ideas to the table if you’ve already been playing—or you already own—other tennis games.

Somewhat in line with what happened with Mario Kart World, this new Mario Tennis fails to break away from or expand on what its predecessors did, giving us a little more of the (good) stuff we already knew.

Mario Tennis Fever is what you might call a mixed bag. There's excitement in the Ranked matches and a relative balance when you master the characters and rackets, but the online friendly mode feels archaic and the overall experience doesn't offer as much enjoyment and depth as some of the previous, ironically simpler, games. The additional activities are welcome, but the story is a bore. The graphics are beautiful, but the amount of recycled assets reaches FIFA and PES levels... But in the end, it's a decent tennis party game, and given the state of the subgenre over the last decade, there is still value in it and it remains your best option, even if it is as elitist as the real sport.

After completing everything Mario Tennis Fever has to offer, the experience feels somewhat bittersweet. While it features a larger roster and more game modes, its underwhelming campaign and certain gameplay changes hold it back. That doesn’t make it a bad game—it’s definitely fun, especially with friends. However, it continues the unfortunate trend of recent Mario sports spin-offs feeling rushed and full of untapped potential. It may not stumble as hard as Mario Strikers: Battle League, but it’s disappointing that it didn’t build more directly on what Mario Tennis Aces achieved, opting instead for a different direction.

Mario Tennis Fever continues the series blend of fun, colourful and party-like tennis with a fresh entry on Nintendo Switch 2. Whilst there are glimpses of creativity and nods to past fan-favourites, the solo campaign feels over far too soon. There’s potential for Fever to have been a lengthy five setter, but the game doesn't quite reach those levels, unfortunately. DLC, if a future option, could well help. As a multiplayer romp, though, Mario Tennis Fever serves a good time overall for some hearty tennis action!

Mario Tennis Fever marks the franchise's triumphant return on the Nintendo Switch 2. Camelot and Nintendo deliver a fun, family-friendly installment designed for short, accessible play sessions for all ages. From the matches and mini-games to the animation and the integration of the frenetic tennis rackets, everything is geared towards simple entertainment. However, this casual approach comes at the expense of a genuine challenge. The overly forgiving AI and the lack of real difficulty in any game mode will push players more towards multiplayer. But even then, the title will appeal more to those seeking fun and social experiences than to hardcore competitors.

As a solid tennis simulator, with layers of novelty to differentiate it from its nearest competitors and plenty of unique modes to conquer, Mario Tennis Fever is an absolute racket. While odd in parts, it remains charming and bright-eyed throughout its many rounds.

Mario Tennis Fever is a visual powerhouse that showcases the Switch 2’s potential with vibrant graphics and lightning-fast load times, yet it struggles to find its footing on the court. While the "Fever" mechanics and chaotic multiplayer modes make it an instant party-night favorite, veteran players will be disappointed by floaty physics and a lack of mechanical precision compared to Aces. Without the heart of a deep story mode or a robust tennis engine, it stands as a polished, high-octane spectacle that prioritizes casual fun over competitive depth.

The Adventure mode in Mario Tennis Aces was a long-requested feature, and eight years later I was expecting something more evolved. Instead, I was left disappointed by an Adventure mode that acts as a painful tutorial for almost half of its runtime. That said, it is only one part of the game, and the rest of Mario Tennis Fever is very enjoyable. The Fever Rackets add a new dimension to the gameplay, and the expanded character roster makes finding the best combinations even more challenging. The side-show modes are the real stars here, and they make it clear where the game truly shines. More time spent on zany tennis ideas like these, and less on Adventure mode for the next one.

Mario Tennis Fever is a ton of fun with friends thanks to its wacky new abilities and huge character roster, but it’s once again let down by a bland Adventure mode that’s little more than an extended tutorial.

Nintendo serves up an immediately accessible and hilariously chaotic multiplayer experience, but a duff single-player campaign and hodgepodge assortment of other modes leaves you feeling that Mario Tennis Fever hasn't quite aced the complete package.

Mario Tennis Fever boasts an impressive roster and a robust multiplayer offering, but its single-player content is thin and the Story mode feels like little more than a red herring. Controller in hand, the gameplay ranks among the best the series has delivered, yet it’s not enough to justify a full-price purchase. Switch 2 needs true heavy hitters, and Camelot’s latest effort ultimately falls short of that mark.

Mario Tennis Fever builds on its predecessor's solid presentation and arcade tennis action with more content than before and a new mechanic that's a recipe for Mario Kart-style courtside mayhem. Although the underwhelming Adventure mode doesn't last long, it doesn't mean you won't have fun during a match.

Mario Tennis Fever is a fun and polished arcade tennis game, but it plays things too safe. The gameplay is enjoyable and accessible, yet the lack of risk, low difficulty, and overly forgiving court remove much of the tension. The campaign is charming but over-tutorialized, and the visuals feel simpler than expected for a Switch 2 exclusive. With good modes and solid presentation, it works best as a casual party game, but it lacks the depth and staying power to fully justify its launch price.

Mario Tennis Fever still scores points for its core gameplay, particularly when playing against other people, but the game’s frustrating new Fever Racket gimmick and underwhelming single-player modes don’t bring all that much to the court. The result is a game that can be fun at times, but doesn’t stand out from other recent Mario Tennis games in a way that’s likely to raise Switch 2 owners’ temperatures.

The biggest issue with Mario Tennis Fever is that it seems too heavily targeted at children. While the colorful presentation, forgiving gameplay, and simple challenges make it accessible, for older players it feels like the game takes too few risks. Nintendo has chosen safety over depth, a decision that ultimately holds the game back. The franchise has proven in the past that it is possible to strike a balance between accessibility and technical finesse, but Fever fails to find that equilibrium.

This is certainly the MOST tennis Camelot has served up, if not the smartest or slickest. [Issue#422, p.108]

If you’re specifically looking for a non-traditional, colorful tennis game to play with your friends, then Mario Tennis Fever will fill the void. Unfortunately, the latest Switch 2 entry into the subseries does little memorable and enticing outside of this. It has solid gameplay mechanics, with a variety of characters and rackets to choose from, but there’s not much of note outside of this. It doesn’t help that the Adventure mode is a glorified tutorial. In the end, all Mario Tennis Fever amounts to is a short distraction with friends with minimal enjoyment outside of that.

After nearly a decade off the courts, the Mario Tennis series returns on the Nintendo Switch 2 with a different approach and it's disapointing. Unlike previous entries, which balanced solid tennis gameplay with fun, arcade-style elements, Mario Tennis Fever isn’t really about precision or timing anymore. It’s immediate, flashy, and chaotic, with frenzied rackets and over-the-top effects designed to get laughs (or frustration) rather than reward skill.The downside is that this focus on spectacle comes at the expense of balance. Some powers feel overpowered, defense is limited, and the depth that made Mario Tennis Aces satisfying is largely gone. Online matches can quickly feel repetitive, even frustrating. The Adventure mode doesn’t help: short, overly wordy, and heavy on tutorials, it feels more like a drawn-out lesson than a proper solo campaign.Fortunately, the game’s overall content softens the blow. A generous roster, dozens of rackets, mini-games, and multiple modes keep the experience lively—but after eight years of waiting, it still feels a little light.

If you’re just looking to enjoy Mario Tennis Fever alongside family and friends in the same room, or even in ranked online play, there’s a great deal of fun to be had here. The tennis mechanics and the fever racket system combine to deliver the best (albeit most hectic) gameplay the series has seen in ages. It’s just such a shame that Mario Tennis Fever’s stellar multiplayer action feels so let down by the single player and other modes that surround it.

Mario Tennis Fever is yet another Mario sports game that gets by on being passingly entertaining, while failing to do anything particularly new or exciting. I think I like it a bit better than 2018’s Mario Tennis Aces, but the two games share so many similarities, both good and bad, that it’s hard to tell for sure. If you love the Mario Tennis series, you’ll probably like this. But for everyone else, I’m hard-pressed to tell you there’s anything special about Mario Tennis Fever.

Mario Tennis Fever has me worried for Nintendo’s sports games on Switch 2. It’s not worse than any of the sports games on Switch 1, but it’s also not any better. The trouble is that it commits almost all of the same sins: the mechanics are solid, but nothing outside of the core tennis gameplay is that much fun.

Mario Tennis Fever is also a letdown as one of the first Switch 2 exclusives. There’s little that feels truly current-gen, and some of the visuals are surprisingly basic and rough.

If you’re buying Mario Tennis Fever to have a few rounds of tennis with friends the way you would Mario Kart, then you’ll have a good time. It’s a solid arcade tennis game with some unique powers and cute character moments. But as an overall experience, it’s shallow, a little unbalanced, deeply lacking in creativity, and seems to deliver the bare minimum of options outside of its roster and rackets.

Mario Tennis Fever is another solid enough sports game from Camelot, but a disappointingly short single-player offering and a real risk of imbalance – whether using Fever Rackets or not – means what could have been fantastic will have to settle for simply being good.

Mario Tennis Fever tries to innovate by adding powers to the rackets, but honestly the result ends up hindering more than helping, since unbalanced abilities completely break matches and turn them into an exercise in frustration, whether playing solo or with others. Adding to that a campaign mode that helps teach how to play but quickly becomes dragged out and dull, I can only recommend this game to those who are truly fans of the franchise, which I imagine is not many people.

For all its faults, the charm of Mario Tennis Fever did shine through in the end. In these sporty spinoffs, it's important to remember that fun is at the core of the experience, and while there were some detractors from that, I kept coming back time and time again to see if I could take on the latest Trial Tower, or just see if I could take my main man Diddy Kong to the heights of the Mario Tennis world.

On the Game Cube app, there is Mario Strikers. That is an excellent example of a time where Nintendo and its party sports developers had a handle over the balance between capturing the basics of the sport and making it arcade fun. Now, though, they’ve lost the plot entirely. I genuinely don’t understand who this is for, but it isn’t me. Or anyone that I know who loved what Mario Tennis once was.

Mario Tennis Fever is a decent tennis game with its biggest problems being a lack of innovation, simplified gameplay, and a very weak story mode. If you're a fan of the series and don't care about online play, stick with Tennis Aces. Newcomers may appreciate it for its more robust single-player content and still quite enjoyable core mechanics.