Lots of franchises have been making surprise comebacks in the last few years, fromMetroidtoPerfect Dark.Mario Strikers: Battle Leaguebelongs to that cadre of unexpected arrivals. Although it was only announced in February, fans can look forward to some high-octaneSuper Mariosoccer action within 2022.Mario Strikers: Battle Leaguelooks like it preserves a lot of the intensity and low-rules gameplay of the originals, in spite of releasing 15 years after the lastMario Strikersinstallation, while bringing a lot of modern ideas like a detailed competitive online multiplayer system that make it a fresh look for the series.
As one might expect, the roster of playable characters inMario Strikers: Battle Leaguelooks a little different from past games.Battle Leagueappears to do away with the traditional captain-centric team structure of past games, instead placing each team member on similar levels of importance and encouraging players to frequently switch between characters. The specific list ofBattle Leaguecharacters is composed of the usual suspects in terms ofSuper Mariospin-off character rosters, although it does appear smaller than some players might have hoped. Still,Battle League’s cast looks well-rounded enough to start off the game’s life while leaving room for expansion in the future.
RELATED:Mario Strikers: Battle League’s Hyper Strikes Explained
Mario Strikers: Battle League’s Characters
The latest trailer forMario Strikers: Battle Leagueconfirms ten playable characters: Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, Rosalina, Toad, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario, and Waluigi. For each match ofBattle League,players compose a team by picking four of these characters, and they’ll have to choose wisely, since they all have drastically different statistics. For instance, Donkey Kong’s high Strength makes him resistant to enemy tackles, while Peach’s high Speed can help her outrun and outmaneuver her opponents. Carefully balanced teams will serveMario Strikersfans well as they play for keeps inBattle League’s ranked multiplayer.
TheBattle Leagueroster covers plenty of tactical ground, but it omits a couple notableSuper Mariocharacters, including some previous playableMario Strikersstars. Daisy hasn’t made the cut intoBattle League’s starting roster, nor have Diddy Kong and Bowser Jr. Additionally, sincesidekicks aren’t a core mechanic inBattle League,Super Mariofigures like Monty Moles, Boos, and Birdo aren’t playable either. While this meansBattle Leaguehas a majorly slimmed down roster, Nintendo and Next Level Games have seemingly attempted to make up for it throughBattle League’s equipment system; stat-adjusting gear makes everyBattle Leaguecharacter more flexible than usual.
RELATED:Mario Strikers: Battle League Should Include Daisy
Possible Growth in Mario Strikers
While lots of characters have been omitted fromMario Strikers,Nintendo and Next Level Games may revisit these characters through free updates or paid DLC forMario Strikers: Battle Leaguein the future.Nintendo’s frequent use of DLCin recent years makes it seem likely that Daisy, Diddy Kong, and other past characters will join the game later.Mario Strikers: Battle Leaguecould even extend invitations to characters like Kamek who have never been a part of theMario Strikersroster.
Fans may still be waiting on new coreMariogames likea hypotheticalSuper Mario Odysseysequel, butSuper Mariospinoffs are thriving thanks toMario Strikers: Battle Leagueand recent releases such asMario Party Superstars.The stars of Nintendo’s beloved platforming franchise seem to find themselves right at home no matter what sport or party activity they try. IfSuper Mario Odyssey 2isn’t right around the corner, then at leastMario Strikers: Battle Leaguewill push theSuper Mariofranchise forward in its own way.Battle Leagueis built around a small but reliable list of characters who will serve theMario Strikersrevival well, showcasing the game’s innovations and pointing toward other changes that could come to the series down the line.
Mario Strikers: Battle Leaguereleases July 05, 2025 for Nintendo Switch.
MORE:Mario Strikers: Battle League is the First Entry in 15 Years
