Mario Tennis Fever launches with wild new rackets, big roster, and a small day-one patch

Mario Tennis Fever is out now on Switch 2 as of February 12 (ET), serving up the series’ largest roster to date, a chaotic new equipment system called Fever Rackets, and a slate of party-ready modes. A version 1.0.1 update is live at launch, required for online play and billed as improving gameplay.

Launch and update at a glance

The debut arrives with both local and online matches for up to four players, emphasizing quick, competitive rallies and over-the-top twists. The day-one 1.0.1 patch is necessary to access online features. Players who update will no longer be able to connect locally or over LAN with systems on older software, so groups planning couch sessions should ensure everyone is on the same version. The patch does not add new content but is described as making gameplay feel better overall.

Fever Rackets: how they change the game

The headliner feature is a selection of 30 Fever Rackets, each with a distinct power that can turn points on their head. During play, rallies build a Fever Gauge; once full, players can unleash a Fever Shot to activate their racket’s effect. Some powers tilt offense, like planting a spinning Fire Bar on the opponent’s side or transforming the ball into a blistering straight-line drive. Others skew defensive, such as spawning a shadow double to help cover the court, inking the screen to obscure vision, scattering banana peels across the floor, or temporarily bending shots with extra curve for about 20 seconds.

There’s nuance in the timing: in most cases, the disruptive effects don’t trigger until the ball bounces, creating tense, instinct-driven volleys as both sides scramble to make contact before the ball hits the ground. Players who commit at the wrong moment may see their would-be finisher smashed right back at them. Some rackets have clear counters—high-speed line drives, for instance, can be blunted with aggressive net play—and when both sides bring the same tool, rallies can erupt into dizzying, ping-pong-like exchanges that end in spectacular body shots.

Modes, GameShare, and the 38-strong roster

Fever leans into variety. The cast spans 38 playable characters, the biggest lineup in series history, with newcomers like Goomba, Nabbit, and Baby Waluigi joining familiar specialists. Each character highlights a different blend of speed, control, and shot preference, adding a layer of matchup strategy before a ball is even served.

On the mode side, the package aims to keep multiplayer fresh and solo play busy. Highlights include:

• Wonder Court Match, where you chase Wonder Seeds while managing standard rallies.
• Tournament Mode, complete with play-by-play chatter from a Talking Flower as you climb brackets to a championship.
• Trial Towers for challenge-run progression.
• Ring Shot, a score-chasing favorite built around precision and timing.
• Forest Court Match, where feeding Piranha Plants expands playable space.
• Pinball Match, turning the court into a bumper-filled playground.
• Racket Factory Match, with lit floor targets and on-court Fever Rackets to scoop mid-point.

Local and online multiplayer support up to four players. GameShare lets one owner invite up to three friends to jump in, lowering the barrier for party play.

Strategy, balance, and doubles chaos

While not every Fever Racket is equal in raw power, the interplay between gauges, bounce-triggered effects, and on-the-fly counterplay gives most picks a fighting chance. The system encourages mindgames: drop a slick patch of ice on one quadrant and feint toward it to draw a misstep, or bait a Fever Shot early to steal momentum mid-rally. In doubles, the spectacle escalates quickly—four overlapping powers can coat the court in hazards and hijinks, turning points into glorious disorder.

One limitation stands out for now: there’s no option to randomize Fever Rackts during selection, even though characters and courts can be randomized. For a party-focused game, a “deal me anything” toggle would fit naturally, and it’s a feature many will hope to see added post-launch.

Early verdict: a couch-first crowd-pleaser, lighter solo

Initial impressions frame Mario Tennis Fever as the most feature-complete entry at launch since the series’ early 3D era, with tight, responsive controls and a creative slate of abilities that make short sessions pop. Played locally or online with friends, it shines as a fast, chaotic party sport—easy to pick up, hard to put down in best-of-three bursts. Feedback on solo content is more muted: the single-player adventure component is brief and undercooked, limiting long-term solo depth even as the broader mode mix delivers lots of ways to rally.

For anyone eager to dive in today, update to version 1.0.1 first, then experiment with a few Fever Rackets to find a comfortable fit before tackling tournaments or doubles. With 38 characters, 30 rackets, and a grab-bag of inventive courts and rulesets, the game’s best moments emerge when you embrace the chaos—and let the next wild point decide the match.