I think for a long time, I always saw the Mario sports titles as second-tier. Growing up, I’d always gravitate towards the Super Mario Sunshine and New Super Mario Bros. experiences over the other titles which simply featured Mario characters. Now, in my mid-twenties, I return to those sports titles more than most retro Mario games. One in particular is regularly booted up on my GameCube, and desperately needs to come to the Nintendo Switch. A Super Mario Strikers port or remake for Switch would be a simple, yet effective way to answer fan demand, and it’s sitting right under Nintendo’s nose.

I think the news of Captain Tsubasa Game announced by Bandai Namco really put this idea into my head. While i’m excited to see Captain Tsubasa get a new title, it really reminded me of how many great Mario sports titles are just waiting in the wings. My all time favorite sports title in the Mushroom Kingdom is GameCube’s Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour. Still, I know a greater fan base waits year after year for a Mario soccer game.

Super Mario Strikers, or Mario Smash Football for my European and Australian readers, really killed the concept of a cartoon-style soccer game. With 5v5 action, great power-ups, and fun visuals, the game really exceeds all expectations. I think Mario Tennis Aces clearly shows the visual output for a Mario sports title on the Switch, and it is a beautiful thing. Throw in the soccer experience, and the upcoming 2022 World Cup, and you might get a great return on the investment as a developer or publisher.

Next Level Games did amazing work on Luigi’s Mansion 3. As the original developers of Super Mario Strikers, I’d love for them to helm the next title as well. Camelot Software Planning, who works on the Mario Tennis and Golf games, would also likely be a great fit. Overall, I just think fans would love another well done Mario sports title. With the international fandom for soccer, an upcoming World Cup, and no shortage of nostalgia for past titles, a new Super Mario Strikers game seems like a no-brainer to me.

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