Nintendo has officially announced Mario Tennis Fever during its latest Nintendo Direct presentation. The new title marks the tenth entry in the long-running Mario Tennis series and will release worldwide on February 12, 2026, for the Nintendo Switch 2. Pricing has been set at $69.99.
The last mainline release in the series was Mario Tennis Aces, which debuted in 2018 on the original Nintendo Switch. The game was well-received, with critics highlighting its fun mechanics and multiplayer appeal. Since then, fans have been waiting for the next installment, and Nintendo is now preparing to deliver a new experience with expanded features and content.
New Features and Mechanics
The most notable addition in Mario Tennis Fever is the Fever Gauge, a mechanic that builds during play and enables powerful Fever Shots. These shots can be enhanced with a variety of Fever Rackets, with Nintendo confirming a lineup of thirty in total. Each racket carries a unique ability, such as the Ice Racket, which freezes sections of the court, the Mini Mushroom Racket, which shrinks opponents, and the Shadow Racket, which creates duplicates of the player’s character.
At launch, the game will feature thirty-eight playable characters, giving players a wide roster for both single-player and multiplayer matches.
Game Modes and Online Play
Nintendo has detailed several modes that will be available at release. Tournament Mode includes real-time commentary from a Talking Flower, while Trial Towers Mode offers skill-based objectives to progress through tower challenges. Mix It Up Mode introduces unpredictable rules to change match dynamics, while Online Multiplayer supports both casual custom games and competitive Ranked Matches. A Swing Mode, designed for Joy-Con 2 controllers, will allow motion-based gameplay for an immersive tennis experience.
The game also features a story-driven Adventure Mode, where Mario and friends are transformed into babies on a mysterious island. Players must help them regain their tennis skills and defeat monsters to restore their original forms.
With new mechanics, an expanded roster, and varied gameplay modes, Mario Tennis Fever is shaping up to be the most feature-rich entry in the series. Nintendo is expected to share further updates on the game as the release date approaches.
