Mario Tennis Fever Serves up 30 Fever Rackets and 4-Player Play

Table of Content

Nintendo has released Mario Tennis Fever – a new entry in the Mario Tennis series – exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. The game went live on February 12, 2026, and centers on fast-paced doubles and singles with a twist. The headline mechanic is a set of 30 Fever Rackets that alter rallies with unique effects once you charge a Fever Gauge. The roster is also the largest to date with 38 playable characters, and the package supports both local and online matches for up to four players. A dedicated Adventure Mode adds a light narrative and training arc for newcomers.

Fever Rackets – Power Shots with Tangible Effects

Fever Rackets make their series debut as equipable items that unlock Fever Shots after building a Fever Gauge during rallies. Each racket applies a distinct match modifier, creating tactical layers beyond timing and placement. Examples from Nintendo’s overview include the Ice Racket, which can freeze parts of the court, and the Pokey Racket, which spawns obstacle enemies to disrupt movement.

Players can mix and match 30 Fever Rackets with the full character lineup to find synergistic playstyles – turning defense into counterplay or stacking control tools for precise setups.

Largest Roster in the Series – 38 Characters

This installment features 38 selectable characters, the most in the franchise so far. Newcomers include Goomba, Nabbit, and Baby Waluigi. Each character ships with defined stats and a skill profile, encouraging role experimentation. Nintendo highlights contrasts such as Luigi’s speed and slice strength versus Peach’s high control and accuracy for edge-of-court placement.

On the character select screen, players can review at-a-glance information to choose athletes that align with their preferred tempo, reach, and shot type.

Modes and Ways to Play

Mario Tennis Fever supports matches locally in the same room or online against remote opponents, with up to four players in total. There is also GameShare – sessions where one owner can invite up to three friends to join for multiplayer play during the active session. Beyond standard rulesets, Nintendo outlines several mode variants that bend the usual tennis format.

• Wonder Court Match – explore themed courts and aim for Wonder Seeds.
• Tournament Mode – climb brackets to a championship while a Talking Flower provides in-match commentary.
• Trial Towers – take on escalating challenges and push for top results.
• Ring Shot – strike balls through rings to rack up points.
• Forest Court Match – feed Piranha Plants with shots to expand playable space.
• Pinball Match – rallies careen off bumpers, affecting ball and player trajectories.
• Racket Factory Match – target lit floor tiles and snag on-court Fever Rackets as they appear.
• Swing Mode – gently swing the Joy-Con 2 like a racket for motion-based hits.

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With multiple court gimmicks and equipment effects, the rulesets encourage adaptation – placement, timing, and meter management all factor into momentum swings.

Adventure Mode – a Baby-Sized Setback, a Training-Sized Payoff

After a run-in with unruly monsters, Mario and friends are transformed into babies. In Adventure Mode, players help the squad return to normal by learning core shots, clearing challenges, and defeating bosses. The structure doubles as an onboarding path – a way to internalize shot types and court awareness before jumping into tougher competitive matches.

This progression loop aims to make the fundamentals stick while still offering boss encounters that test positioning, timing, and use of Fever mechanics.

Official Trailer

Nintendo’s announcement includes a trailer showing Fever Rackets, court variants, and the expanded roster in action. The video also teases commentary flourishes and several mode gimmicks. Watch here (official link): https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/OV1gjqhHB2s?autoplay=0&modestbranding=1&loop=0&controls=1&mute=0&cc_load_policy=0&hl=en&cc_lang_pref=en&rel=0

Key Facts at a Glance

The table below compiles the essential release and feature data confirmed by Nintendo – useful if you’re scanning for platform, player counts, and headline mechanics.

Match Point – Why This Release Matters

Mario Tennis Fever layers equipment-driven twists onto a familiar arcade-tennis core, then backs it with the series’ largest roster and a flexible set of modes for solo, couch, and online play. For players, that means more viable playstyles – from control-heavy setups to hazard-filled mind games – plus a structured Adventure Mode to sharpen fundamentals before competitive sets.