Fan favorites return alongside surprising newcomers like Baby Wario and Baby Waluigi
Mario Tennis has long been a staple of Nintendo’s sports lineup, but following Mario Tennis Fever’s reveal in 2025—currently slated for release on February 12, 2026—Nintendo has remained relatively quiet about the upcoming title for the Nintendo Switch 2.
That silence was recently broken when Nintendo confirmed that Mario Tennis Fever will feature the largest roster in the series’ history, boasting a total of 38 playable characters.
The lineup includes fan favorites such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Daisy, though it remains unclear whether all 38 characters will be available at launch. For comparison, Mario Tennis Aces launched with 30 playable characters, with several added post-launch through updates and DLC.
Notably, Baby Wario and Baby Waluigi are new to the Mario Tennis series, making their debut appearances in Mario Tennis Fever, despite both characters previously appearing in other Mario sports and racing titles.
Which characters are you most excited to try out when Mario Tennis Fever launches this February?
About the Author
Scott (Scotty) Greenhalgh is the founder and owner of Input Lag, an independent Nintendo-focused publication. Scotty brings a player-first perspective informed by years of hands-on experience with Nintendo games to his reviews, rankings, and editorial coverage. His writing focuses on how games feel to play, their long-term value, and the impact Nintendo’s creative and business decisions have on players.
Outside of Input Lag, he also creates Pokémon-focused content online under the name Gr3atScotty.
