Nintendo is ramping up excitement for *Mario Tennis Fever*, releasing a comprehensive six-minute gameplay overview trailer ahead of its exclusive launch on the Switch 2. Set to release on February 12, the new footage focuses heavily on the game’s scale, proudly boasting the largest roster of playable characters the franchise has ever seen. Players will be able to select from a massive pool of 38 athletes, covering everyone from franchise staples like Mario and Luigi to mischievous deep cuts such as Dry Bones and Baby Waluigi.
But the depth doesn’t stop with the competitors. *Mario Tennis Fever* significantly shakes up the meta with the addition of 30 specialized “Fever Rackets.” These new equipment items grant unique, match-altering abilities—the Ice Racket, for instance, turns parts of the court into a treacherous tundra, while the Mini Mushroom Racket temporarily shrinks your opponent. Players fill their Fever Gauge to unleash these devastating Fever Shots, which can sometimes be reflected back if timed correctly.
Variety is also key to *Fever*’s lineup of modes. Beyond standard online Ranked Matches and casual lobbies, the title features a robust single-player experience, including an Adventure Mode where mysterious monsters force players to re-master their skills as babies. Challenging solo content is rounded out by Trial Towers and the unconventional Mix It Up mode, which introduces chaotic rulesets like Ring Shot scoring and the court-expanding Forest Court Match. With returning features like the fan-favorite Tournament Mode—complete with commentary from *Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s* Talking Flower—players will have no shortage of content when the game serves up its debut next month.