Mario Tennis from Camelot, with exemplary handling and surprising depth. Sixteen characters, positional play and spin shots executed with delightful precision and a doubles mode worth its weight in gold. Tennis that can be festive and demanding at once, if you don't mind sweat behind Mario's moustache.
Your verdict
Category
Sports4 players3+
Description
Arcade tennis game featuring Mario universe characters on themed courts. Developed by Camelot, published by Nintendo, released in Japan in 2000. Sixteen characters with distinct technical profiles, championship and exhibition modes, tennis mini-games, and up to 4-player multiplayer.
Mario Tennis 64 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The first Mario Tennis (Camelot) sets a bright cartoon sports aesthetic: expressive Mario characters, colorful courts and lively shot animations. The art direction favors immediate court readability and festive energy, introducing Waluigi and Daisy to the cast. A clear, joyful art direction, the bedrock of Nintendo's tennis sub-series.
The soundtrack wraps arcade tennis in catchy good cheer: vitamin-charged melodies, varied court themes and playful rhythms that follow the rallies. The music defuses the competition and sustains the festive spirit of Nintendo's sport. A peppy, smiling accompaniment, perfectly matched to the game's cartoon energy.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
A well-placed shot is enough to have fun right away, yet the system of spins and gauges reveals an unsuspected tactical depth the moment you climb in level. The timing of the strokes, readable and rewarding, makes every rally tense and fair. This balance between accessibility and finesse makes it one of the most enjoyable tennis games to pick up, solo or in company.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Trading shots at a furious pace, reading angles and placing the killer stroke in a Mario world full of whimsy: the instant handling hides real tactical finesse. The doubles mode quickly turns to friendly mayhem, especially when the bounces chain up. Sparkling, snappy and fiercely convivial, an arcade sport built for shared fun.
Original Japanese edition of Mario Tennis, distributed by Nintendo Japan in July 2000 under the local Mario Tennis 64 title. The worldwide first release, it keeps the original Japanese voices for Mario, Luigi, Waluigi and Daisy, more expressive than the later English performances. The Japanese cartridge precedes the American release by a month and remains the reference piece to document Waluigi's introduction into the Mario universe.
Better with friends
Sparkling, accessible tennis where the charged-shot system adds a tactical layer to the immediate joy of four-player rallies. In doubles especially, partner coordination works wonders, between net rushes and vengeful lobs over the opponent. Crystal clear to pick up and deep to dig into, it sparks spectacular points and an irresistible need to replay the match point.
Is Mario Tennis 64 still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2000 on Nintendo 64, Camelot's project laid the foundations of Nintendo's arcade tennis, combining immediate handling and unsuspected depth. The system of spin tied to the buttons, topspin, slice, drop shot and lob, rewards positioning and reading the rally, while the cast of Mario heroes with distinct styles brings colour and variety. The doubles multiplayer, nervous and convivial, remains a peak of couch play. The thinner solo content and the absence of online play show. A benchmark of arcade sports, recommended for fans of lively tennis and of multiplayer matches.
