It's been quite some time since we last took to the football / soccer pitch with Mario and chums, but the series is finally coming back - Mario Strikers: Battle League arrives on Switch on 10th June, and it looks rather impressive.
Of course there's the usual chaotic, over-the-top action, but most exciting are the multiplayer options. Local multiplayer will support up to 8 players, and the online 'Clubs' mode will have up to 20 players active at one time.
Prepare for Strike, a five-on-five soccer-like sport with no rules – do whatever it takes to win! In this game, you can tackle, use items and activate special shots. Up to eight players – four players on each team – can compete against each other on one Nintendo Switch system. In addition to individual matches, online play will let 20 players join up and compete to become the world’s top club. The main rule in this sport is to rule the field!
We reckon this could be a bit of a sales breakthrough for the series thanks to the Switch audience. Let us know whether you're planning to pick this up!
Comments 78
Great surprise. Yes baby yes
Hyped for this, will be better than FIFA
Never thought we would get another one of these. Me likey.
Really looking forward to this.
Loved the original on the Gamebube.
Excellent news
I am partially surprised that they are keeping the more edgy vibe the strikers series is known for, but I am glad they did. I am very happy the series is returning, it looks great!
I had a lingering hope that another game would come to the switch, Happy to say, I i'm not disappointed.
I can see this being a bigger hit in Europe than North America. It looks okay. Like Mario Tennis Aces.
Mario Strikers and Switch Sports in 2022?
This and Xenoblade carrying the direct harder than prime Shaq and Kobe did for the Lakers.
Finally a return of the best Mario sports series.
One of the things I've been asking for ever since the Wii U era.
Thank you, Nintendo. THANK YOU!!!
I still play the gamecube one online with friends on dolphin. I'll definately get this day 1 if it's good.
Very interested about the character customization, it could make single player pretty good fun as well. Another great surprise. This Direct was a screamer.
I wanna know if it's Next Level games or Camelot developing it, though.
This is one of the highlights of the direct for me, hopefully normal matches can be played online without the whole club thing
Ok cool now Mario Baseball Next please. That would be cool used to play with my son all the time!
In a world where microtransactioned fest that is Fifa and a broken soccer PEZ game from a has been company comes the return of a soccer game from the mushroom kingdom to show its stuff.
Though I'm curious about the stadiums and is also a bit saddened about the partners thing like 3 Monty moles and Koopa troops is gone but this'll do.
Absolute highlight of the Direct for me. I didn't think they would do this solely on the fact that they hate putting clothes on Yoshi these days but here we are and I'm SO happy I was wrong on this.
I'm SO happy with this title, day 1 for sure!!
@Troll_Decimator I'd think next level, camelot just put out golf last year
Surprised both to finally see a new Strikers game - now about Sluggers??!?! - and how online focused it seemed to be releasing near the same time as Splatoon 3. Glad to read this and see offline couch is still a thing, I was honestly worried they went all in on online like Splatoon, in which case i would have skipped it. For 8 player it will be worth getting just for family get togethers.
Wonder if it will have any single player? Neither Strikers nor charged did that I can recall but a little something would be nice.
Now about a new Sluggers game. It's like the last Wii sports game not on Switch.
@OnlyItsMeReid If it's Next Level Games, that makes it even more hype for me. I don't mind Camelot but they are not on the same level. Plus obviously NLG have the experience for a Strikers game.
Ohmigosh ohmigosh ohmigosh ohmigosh ohmigosh it's finally happening!
Looks alright. What I hope is that Next Level Games develops a new Punch-Out!! some day.
I'm just so happy we're getting a new Strikers. June can't come soon enough.
Really hope this is by Next Level, I don't trust Camelot to make a good Mario Sports game anymore.
@Stubborn_Monkey I don't know what they would do with another Punch-out as I feel it peaked with the Wii........unless they do something crazy like an interactive bike running scene.
Never played the previous games, so this looks... okay? But I'm always ready to be pleasantly surprised!
Is it June 10th yet? Seriously I can’t wait for this game, I’m a big fan of the series. This game, Xenoblade 3, & the MK8D dlc were the highlights for me.
I actually never owned a Mario strikers game before I only played charged because a friend brought it over hopefully I’ll get this!
Best announcement in my opinion from an excellent Direct full of surprises.
Breakthrough thanks to the Switch audience huh? You can say the same about PS4's FIFA success. I wanted this game for so much time though, since 2018 in fact, once again this is the perfect time for a Mario Strikers game
Next Level Games is definitely working on this, I'm so sure of that I can even see LM3's engine.
The art style and effects look dope. I'll keep an eye out for this!
A bit sad Daisy was nowhere to be seen but I'm still excited
This was the best announcement of the Direct for me. And unlike Mario Golf Super Rush, it looks like they are sticking to the traditional gameplay and mechanics. I’m HYPED for this!
It doesn't seem to have the crazy violence of Charged on the Wii, seems more in line with the Gamecube original (which was still very good on its own). Still, it retains the Mario Strikers style and art design. I'm on board for this one.
This and Kirby are guaranteed day ones for me.
Yay! I’m going to play SO MUCH out of this. Some single player content would be appreciated, but it still looks really great!
I liked the old games but this trailer made the game look bland. Still hopeful but looks like the same game as was on the wii. Hoping fore more.
I'm an atheist but Hylia answers prayers! I am beyond excited for this!
Will likely wait for a review on this one. Mario Tennis and Golf were not enjoyable to me. Hope this is better.
Wow this made my day, I guess it’s the best announcement for me at this direct, with Mario kart dlc right behind it. This looks great and I love the call back to the originals art work.
I plan on getting this. My kids and I will get a kick out of it (pun intended).
Outside of NHL games, I'm not big on sports titles. Having said that, Mario themed sports games are something I've always enjoyed.
This looks so fun. I can't wait to get it.
Day one purchase. Love the franchise.
@westman98 MLB The Show 22, Mario Strikers, Switch Sports, Retro Bowl.
Switch is getting some real good sports games this year (aside from the legacy fifa)
@Gwynbleidd just saying but FIFA is actually arcade like not a real sim like Pro Evo
I was not expecting this at all, but I couldn’t be happier! Next Level Games has done a great job with the art style and animation so far!
This is more hype than BOTW2 honestly. Complete surprise. Especially considering I don't count the Wii version as ever existing.
I didn't play much Mario Strikers and don't really remember loving what little I played, but this excites me for 2 reasons:
1. Almost every Mario sports franchise is represented on Switch now. We've gotten three of them around June, plus Mario & Sonic in 2019. Tennis and Golf never really died, but Nintendo hasn't dipped back into Strikers since the GameCube. This gives me hope for another Mario Baseball game possibly releasing next year. Bandai-Namco is finished with Smash Bros. and Pokémon Snap; surely, Nintendo isn't done collaborating with them on new projects. Square Enix has also been pretty supportive on Switch, so another Mario Hoops might be possible. (Not sure if we need another compilation.) I don't love that series as much, but it's something different. Would be cool.
2. This is the bug one for me. Apparently, Strikers Charged took so many creative liberties, this is what caused Nintendo to re-evaluate their use of the Mario brand moving forward. Hence, why we didn't get many more games for a while that were really edgy and imaginative, so it was instead just really vanilla. Odyssey was thematically a huge step in the right direction, with lots of characters and environments that didn't exactly fit the Mario mold. This gives me renewed hope that Nintendo finally understands how much we like creativity and that the next Paper Mario game will absolutely deliver on that front.
I really hope this new one follows the Gamecube version of play instead of the hyper-frantic Wii version "Charged". I like both but the Wii one was dialed up too high and as frustrating as constant blue shells in Kart.
Looks awesome, probably going to have to pass on it though in favor of other games coming out, can't afford them all
This looks very ok. Not sure what I was supposed to feel from the announcement. I’d only played the Wii Strikers game and that one was… fine. I almost feel like Nintendo is already saving big titles for its next console or something.
Screamed when I saw this.
@Not_Soos Strikers was on the Wii as well. The only system they skipped since inception (technically since wiiu plays wii games) was WiiU.
I'll wait for the real reviews of this game when it launches. Not the day-1 reviews that are purchased. The real reviews. Because Mario's other sports games sucked. It needs to have SINGLE PLAYER MODES, like tournament, season, for example.
@Ryu_Niiyama Ah, I knew that, I just had a big, dumb idiot attack. My bad! Wasn't it like a launch title for the Wii or something? It's so old, Charged technically could've been a GameCube game, lol.
@Not_Soos Launch window I suppose as it came out may of 2007. It had such a cool standee...
Amazing announcement!
Overall Mario sports games/series are really underrated. Mario Golf, Tennis, Strikers, 3-On-3 Hoops, + Sonic at the Olympics, but especially Mario BASEBALL/SLUGGERS. I'd also love a robust, online redone Mario Sports Mix collection featuring other sports for Switch!
But fingers 🤞🏾 Mario Super Sluggers ⚾ & Mario Basketball 🏀 are next!
.. or tbh even better, a new PILOTWINGS game!
... Wun can only hope.
Btw imo, Mario Strikers continues to carry the torch Sega Soccer Slam lit imo! A great underrated, overlooked arcade soccer gem.
I've been waiting for this for YEARS. Couldn't be happier. Switch really shaped up to be the greatest Nintendo console ever.
I’ve been delaying getting FIFA so if it has good solo offline play and local multiplayer then this will get my cash instead
This was definitely the star of the show. Maybe we could also get Mario Basketball
This was such a great surprise! Now I'm hoping they make another Mario Baseball game for the Switch! Or another Sports Mix game!
Nice to see this series make a return, but it looks like Daisy is missing?
@HammerGalladeBro
Was there a big difference between the Wii and GameCube version? I only played the Wii game and was a huge fan of it.
My only memory of the previous games were that nobody knew exactly how to play it and it was just pure chaos.
...yeah I'll probably buy this game day one.
15 years since the last Strikers title. It was about damn time.
The one direct I wasnt hoping for Mario Strikers and it appears! I am over the moon and looking forward to this one so much
This is the winner of the direct for me personally. So excited for a new Strikers game!
Actually pretty hyped for this, the previous entries in the series were amazing fun, even as a mostly solo player. Will 100% be getting this on release.
Wait a minute, I just realized something. The first game next level games is releasing as a Nintendo 1st party developer is from the same series as the overall first next level games-developped game published by Nintendo
This was definitely the highlight of the direct for me! Super excited to play this game! I remember pouring hours upon hours into the gamecube game.
@msvt I think the fact that the super moves only net you two goals instead of up to friggin' SIX is a good sign.
@wuntyme8 I honestly forgot Mario Hoops existed. And I definitely forgot it was developed by Square Enix.
@SnackPop It's a trailer, it's not going to show everything. I'd be shocked if Daisy doesn't show up.
I am BEYOND hyped for this. The Direct could've been 39.5 minutes of this and a Metroid Prime 4 delay to 2028 and I still would've been happy.
Beyond estatic for this one!
@SnackPop hiope she just hasent been shown yet
@P-Man I have full confidence in them to deliever a fantastic experience!
@BenGrimm The Wii game is a little more edgy and aggressive than the Gamecube game. In fact, I think Charged is the most aggressive Mario and company have ever been outside Smash Bros.
On the Gamecube game the fields don't have obstacles outside Bowser and the electric fence and the Super Strike in the GC game can net you 2 goals in one shot and cannot be stopped while the Mega Strike in Charged can net you up to 6 goals and can be stopped.
Overall, the GC game feels like actual soccer and Charged on the Wii feels like a futuristic version of it.
This game I feel is going towards the roots of the original rather than Charged.
@HammerGalladeBro
Cheers, still sounds good. I’m all aboard the hype train.
I'm still friggin' pumped from this announcement.
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