(Credit: Nintendo)
Mario has conquered nearly every gaming genre imaginable over his 45-year career. From tennis courts to 2D side-scrolling adventures, there's no formula the iconic plumber can’t step into—and charm millions along the way. Recently, Nintendo invited me to try two upcoming Switch 2 titles: Mario Tennis Fever and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. At first glance, both games feel familiar if you've played their predecessors. Yet their fresh twists—inspired by fighting game mechanics—inject a new level of intensity and competitive energy.
Mario Tennis Fever: Where Tennis Meets Tactical Chaos
The idea that Mario Tennis Fever feels like a secret fighting game shouldn't be surprising. After all, increased mechanical complexity is what made its predecessor, Mario Tennis Aces, so compelling. That arcade-style sports game included standard tennis shots like slices and lobs, as well as a fighting-game-like meter that let you pull off special offensive and defensive moves. You could even knock out your opponent.
(Credit: Nintendo)Mario Tennis Fever expands that rich system with Fever Rackets. Seemingly shifting away from Aces' universal mechanics for all characters, each Fever Racket has unique effects that activate once you build your meter. For example, one racket unleashes a shot that leaves a large patch of slippery ice on your opponent's side of the court. Another spawns a shadow duplicate, so a lone player can both hang back and attack the net at once.
To drive home Fever Rackets' chaotic natures, Nintendo reps had me and other demo players spin a big wheel to randomly determine our initial rackets. But once we were allowed to choose our own, I paired Donkey Kong with a racket that blew opponents away with overwhelming force.
I already find this mechanic's strategic potential fascinating. Combining the 30 Fever Rackets with the nearly 40 characters (brace yourself for Baby Waluigi) gives you plenty of matchups and loadouts to consider. Like the Zone Shots in Aces (and fighting games), you can precisely aim Fever Shots to whittle away your opponent’s health. However, players with good timing can perfectly counter a Fever Shot and reverse its effects back at the attacker, not unlike a fighting game's parry. I locked in immediately and found my match thrilling.
Recent Mario sports games have been criticized for lacking content. The Mario Tennis Fever demo didn't fully explore the game's Adventure mode, so I can't give my opinion on that. Still, I enjoyed a wacky special match inspired by Super Mario Bros. Wonder (more on that in a bit), where I was tasked with gathering seeds by hitting across the net at the right angle. So, if you want your Mario Tennis to feature more than just tennis, Fever may be the game to wishlist.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Platforming Gets a Competitive Twist
Speaking of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the 2023 sidescroller will soon receive a DLC upgrade in the form of Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park. In my demo session, I played through the game's new, major addition: a collection of multiplayer mini-games called Meetup in Bellabel Park. These activities repurpose levels from the existing game as arenas for co-op and competitive multiplayer shenanigans. And, like Mario Tennis Fever, they have some fighting-game flavor.
(Credit: Nintendo)I played as Rosalina, newly added to this version of Super Mario Wonder. In one mode, another person and I used the Switch 2's mouse controls to create platforms for the on-screen characters. Another mode I tackled was a hot-potato relay race, where everyone dashed to the goal while passing a bomb to the next person in line. These are clever ideas, new rulesets that made me rethink the tried and true Mario approach.
Other modes are even more raucously competitive, forcing me to directly clash with opponents. This appealing and unexpected combination of platforming and fighting reminded me of, well, a platform fighter: Super Smash Bros. For example, one mini-game challenged me to run faster and jump higher than other players to gobble up the most fruit with baby Yoshi. Another tasked us with collecting the most coins before Boo eyeballed us (and in a nice bit of strategy, you can bait foes into a bad position where they're forced to move and get spotted).
However, my favorite game mode had me pick up and throw lightning-emitting obstacles to damage opponents while avoiding their attacks. It wasn't the most balanced test of skill. Like a Smash Bros. match with items activated, the rounds here typically end with some final bit of nonsense that lets anyone make a dramatic comeback. But, as in Mario Tennis Fever, I put real thought into my offensive and defensive actions, elevating the tomfoolery.
Mark Your Calendars: Release Dates, Prices, and Switch 2 Exclusivity
You won't have to wait long before trying these Mario titles yourself. Mario Tennis Fever ($69.99) launches on Feb. 12, while Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park ($79.99 or $19.99 if upgrading the original Wonder) drops on March 26. Both are only available on Switch 2.
For more on Mario, check out the Switch 2 platformers you should play before his next big 3D adventure.