Skip to content

Nintendo fans rejoice as Baby Waluigi is added to upcoming Mario game

Mario Tennis Fever

After years of requests from fans, Nintendo’s upcoming Mario Tennis Fever is set to finally introduce Baby Waluigi to the Mushroom Kingdom canon.

  • READ MORE: 14 unmissable games to look forward to in 2026

Baby versions of iconic Mario characters have been a staple with Nintendo games for years now. Baby Mario and Luigi were first introduced in 1995’s Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island and while Baby Peach made her debut in 2005’s Mario & Luigi: Partner’s In Crime and Baby Wario appeared in 2006’s Yoshi’s Island DS. They’ve all gone on to star in various Mario Kart, Golf and Tennis games.

Fans have constantly requested the baby version of Luigi’s nemesis Waluigi be added to the Mario universe. And now, it seems like their dreams are coming true with the release of Mario Tennis Fever next month.

Yesterday (January 8) a new trailer was shared that confirmed Mario Tennis Fever will feature 38 playable characters. Returning favourites Toad, Rosalina, Boo, Donkey Kong, Bowser and Koopa Trooper will all be taking to the courts alongside newcomers Goomba, Nabbit, Piranha Plant, Baby Wario and Baby Waluigi.

“Are you actually serious rn, Baby Waluigi is canon,” wrote one fan on X. “Why does this Mario Tennis game have a better roster than Mario Kart World,” asked a Reddit user. “Someday Waluigi will get his own game and it will be glorious,” said another. “I feel like a victim of Mandela Effect. I swear I’ve seen Baby Waluigi before,” added a third.

However other fans are confused about Baby Waluigi’s creepy teeth. “Baby Wario and Waluigi look like they’ve come straight out of a horror film,” wrote one X user. “He’s so ugly, I love him,” replied another.

Mario Tennis Fever launches February 12 for the Nintendo Switch 2. As well as 38 different characters, ‘Fever Rackets’ with unique abilities will also be added to the game.

“There are multiple modes to enjoy including ‘Tournament’, ‘Trial Towers’, ‘Mix It Up’ mode (with Wonder effects), and ‘Adventure’ mode, where Mario and friends are transformed into babies and must defeat monsters to return to normal,” reads an official description.

In other news, the cast of Stranger Things played a lot of Mario Kart while filming the fifth and final season and, according to Maya Hawke, Sadie Sink is an absolute “monster” at the game.

The post Nintendo fans rejoice as Baby Waluigi is added to upcoming Mario game appeared first on NME.