How Mario Tennis Fever’s New Racket Gimmick Could Change the Game

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It feels like ages since a new Mario Tennis game dropped! Mario Tennis Aces came out for the Switch back in 2018, not long after the console itself launched. Now, Mario Tennis Fever is continuing that trend, hitting the Switch 2 on February 12th. As a huge Mario Tennis fan, I was really hyped to see what the first new game in eight years would be like. I recently got to try out Mario Tennis Fever at a Nintendo Switch 2 preview event, and I’m already super excited about the new Fever Rackets!

I’m so excited for Mario Tennis Fever! It’s one of the big Nintendo games coming only to the Switch 2 this year. Honestly, playing it felt a lot like the other Mario Tennis games, which I already love. But this one is going all out with the biggest character roster ever – a whopping 38 characters! That means tons of different ways to play. As someone who always picks Peach, though, what really caught my attention was the new ‘fever rackets’ – they look amazing!

Mario Tennis Fever Brings 30 New Special Racket Effects to the Court

I tried out a few different ways to play in Mario Tennis Fever. I started with the tutorial to brush up on my tennis skills, and I was happy to find I still remembered the basics from playing Mario Tennis Aces in 2020. The gameplay feels quite similar at first. However, the tutorial is a gentle introduction before you unlock the ‘Fever Rackets’. These special rackets add a lot of variety to the game, and can be both fun and challenging.

Once you select your character in Mario Tennis Fever, you’ll then choose a Fever Racket. There are 30 different rackets available, and each one has a special effect during gameplay. I tried out the Ice and Shadow Rackets, and my opponents used others in both one-on-one and team matches. I can already tell that the racket which briefly makes both your opponent and the ball invisible is going to be a real problem!

Similar to special moves in past Mario Tennis games, the Fever Racket’s unique ability needs to build up power before you can use it. You can’t just instantly freeze opponents or create shadow copies of yourself. You have to wait for a gauge to fill completely. Once it does, though, things get really exciting! Dealing with ice on the court or trying to figure out where the ball will go after it disappears adds a new challenge to Mario Tennis Fever. I think this special ability is just the right amount of fun and could make this game the best Mario Tennis yet.

From What I’ve Seen, Mario Tennis Fever Could Be The Best Entry Yet

I don’t usually love sports games, but I’ve always enjoyed the Mario Golf and Mario Tennis games. I think it’s because I grew up with the Mario characters, and I like how those games put a fun spin on traditional sports. They appeal to me much more than the realistic PGA Tour my husband plays. That said, I often find it hard to stay interested in these types of games for very long. Once you’ve mastered the controls and unlocked everything, there isn’t always a lot to keep you playing, unless you have friends to compete against. But Mario Tennis Fever might be different. It’s actually the best game in the series so far, and it could finally keep me hooked long-term.

We played around three or four matches to try out the various game modes and rackets. Normally, that would have been enough time with a tennis game for me. However, the different ways each character plays, combined with the special effects of the Fever Rackets, left me wanting to play even more. With 38 characters and 30 different Fever Racket effects to discover, there’s a lot to explore. It’s really exciting how each match can feel unique and unpredictable.

The new Fever Racket additions make each match feel like more than just a tennis game. Skillful shots and quick reactions are still important for winning, but now you also have to avoid fiery or icy patches on the court, adding a fun challenge for both you and your opponent. I found this extra element really engaging, and it feels like a great improvement over the Special Shots in Mario Tennis Aces. After only playing for about half an hour, I know I’ll be spending a lot of time unlocking and experimenting with all the different Fever Rackets. Plus, the graphics are a huge step up – far more detailed than anything Aces could achieve.

Excited about the possibility of a new Mario Tennis game on the next Nintendo Switch? Share your thoughts and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-05 23:12