Of all the excellent games that dropped during the Nintendo Switch’s launch year, none were more surprising than Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. Ubisoft’s Minion-esque bunny monsters, who once terrorized Rayman, teamed up with the famous plumber for a wacky and approachable take on XCOM-style, turn-based strategy. The sequel, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope ($59.99), doesn’t have that same surprise factor. And if you’re a Nintendo fan who only tolerated the Rabbids in the previous game, you may not enjoy their increased prominence. However, you should toss such feelings aside, because this game is awesome. Sparks of Hope offers even more strategic combat flexibility along with numerous difficulty options for field generals of all skill levels. Sparks of Hope is an overall excellent title, and an Editors’ Choice winner for Nintendo Switch games.

Super Rabbids Galaxy

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was all about Rabbids invading Mario’s world, but Sparks of Hope opens with Rabbids already chilling inside the Mushroom Kingdom like it’s no big deal. The new story sends Mario, Luigi, and Peach (alongside their Rabbid counterparts) into space to deal with an intergalactic threat called Cursa who’s spreading harmful “Darkmess” puddles across peaceful planets. If this gives you Super Mario Galaxy vibes, just wait until Rabbid Rosalina shows up.

Despite this homage to one of the best Mario games, Sparks of Hope doesn’t feel quite as Mario-flavored as the previous game. Instead, it's more like a standard cartoony adventure that just happens to star the plumber. You’ll battle a few Goomba squads, but most enemies are Rabbids. Between the generic “moody” design for the new playable Rabbid character, Edge, and the fact that the Rabbids now speak full sentences with disturbing human voices, it's obvious that Ubisoft is the driving creative force here.

None of that’s to say the game looks bad—far from it. The new, tighter camera angle lets you appreciate the graphical details as you climb up a snowy mountain planet or freely explore an underground forest. Character personalities shine through even when you’re just looking at them as tiny battlefield units. The frame rate occasionally dips during elaborate attack animations, but that matters less in a methodical turn-based game like this. Lush music from legendary composers Gareth Coker, Grant Kirkhope, and Yoko Shimomura adds to the production value. 

Silly Game, Serious Strategy

Once again, the only thing weirder than Mario and Rabbids teaming up is their teaming up in a strategy game. Mario shoots a gun for crying out loud. The only way this works is if it’s very good, and Sparks of Hope is very good. 

Aside from some one-off missions, each battle lets you bring three characters into the fray. Each member has a distinct specialty, so whoever you choose greatly impacts your playstyle. Luigi is a sniper whose attacks gain more damage the farther away you stand from your target. Rabbid Peach heals others, and her vertical rocket attacks can strike enemies behind cover without losing accuracy. 

The combat system encourages satisfyingly clever mobility. Characters can damage nearby enemies by walking close to them and performing a dash attack. They can also leap off of each other, and briefly float through the sky to expand their movement range. Sparks of Hope ditches traditional grid-based movements, and instead presents a general field the characters can freely move through during their turn. 

I thought this change might limit the gameplay’s tactical precision. Technically, there is still a grid even if it’s somewhat obfuscated. But in practice, not worrying about how many specific squares you can travel pushes you toward the more freeform play the game encourages. In addition, you must deal with real-time elements, such as wind and exploding Bob-ombs. Note that firing your weapon locks you in place for the rest of your turn.

Instead of tasking you with buying more powerful weapons, Sparks of Hope streamlines its upgrades by leveling-up characters to improve their stats. You can buy weapon skins using the in-game currency, but don’t worry about not having the best equipment. As your character levels up, you unlock perks in the skill tree. The skills include generic buffs (more health) and creative tweaks for each character’s kit (increasing Bowser's fiery minions). 

To really customize your squad, though, you’ll need to take advantage of the Sparks themselves. New to this game, Sparks are Rabbids crossed with Mario Galaxy’s Luma star creatures. You collect them as you finish story missions, and they grant characters more tactical options. For example, Sparks can summon lightning storms that damage enemies, pull foes towards a close-range fighter, or make you invisible for a turn to avoid enemies who shoot on sight. Use the in-game currency to upgrade your favorite Sparks, and optimize your loadout. 

Despite the kid-friendly exterior, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope isn’t afraid to drop you into overwhelming fights that feature bosses that may require special tactics to defeat. If that’s too much for you, explore the game's many difficulty options. With them, you can make enemies less aggressive or make yourself invincible. There’s a lot of room for effective improvisation, the best feeling a tactics game can provide.

Brave New Worlds

Sparks of Hope’s battle system is a welcome improvement over its predecessor, but it’s ultimately not that different. However, the big difference lies in world exploration. Kingdom Battle was very linear. In each world, you walked down a straight line and occasionally pushed some blocks to solve a puzzle before arriving at the next battle. It was a serviceable way to break up the action. 

In contrast, Sparks of Hope's worlds are a joy to walk through even if there's no combat. Thanks to the new camera, you can now freely walk across each planet. Enemies roam the map and trigger battles in disconnected arenas if you run into them. The path forward is still somewhat linear and obvious, but there’s so much more to do that may distract you from that path.

Because this is a Ubisoft game, Sparks of Hope has a few planets that function like little open worlds. You have side quests to complete alongside your main objectives, giving you precious experience to level up faster. Some environmental puzzles are required for progression, but others are just fun diversions. Collect coins, unveil hidden pathways, and, yes, push some blocks. Sparks of Hope lacks a multiplayer mode, but this revamped approach to level design makes the solo adventure feel so much more substantial.   

Hope Rewarded

Between Fire Emblem, Triangle Strategy, and (hopefully soon) Advance Wars, the Nintendo Switch has plenty of great tactics titles. But with its bouncy spirit, both in gameplay and presentation, none feel quite like Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. The battles are a delight, and the interplanetary exploration unlocks new joy. Not even the most obnoxious Rabbids can stop us from giving Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope the Editors’ Choice award it deserves.

For more recommended Nintendo Switch titles, check out The Best Nintendo Switch Games and The Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids. For in-depth video game talk, visit PCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel.