It’s been a little while since we played through Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, but after playing through Star Wars: Zero Company, tactical games have been on our minds. How do you get someone into the genre? Xcom is pretty unforgiving, Zero Company is a great entry way, but what about those that don’t care for Star Wars?
Mario + Rabbids is the one. Or rather, both games in the series are.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
On paper, the premise of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle sounds like a fever dream cooked up by an overly ambitious crossover generator.
Merging the bright, wholesome Mushroom Kingdom with Ubisoft’s frantic, chaos-inducing Rabbids seemed like an extraordinarily odd direction, particularly when paired with the unforgiving mechanics of turn-based tactical strategy.
Yet, against all reasonable expectations, Ubisoft Paris created one of the most delightful, surprising, and genuinely strategic titles available on the Nintendo Switch.
Legitimately tactical and clever and a game that deserves to be held in the same high regard as other leaders in the genre.
A Collision of Worlds
The narrative kicks off when a mishandled invention fuses the anarchic Rabbids with the Mario universe, tearing open portals and scattering debris across four distinct realms.
Guided by a cheerful, roomba-like assistant named Beep-0, Mario sets off to restore order alongside an unlikely squad. Joining the standard Mushroom Kingdom heroes are an assortment of self-referential Rabbid counterparts, including a selfie-obsessed Rabbid Peach and a manic, close-quarters specialist Rabbid Mario.
The story never takes itself too seriously, using slapstick humour and clever visual gags to keep the tone light-hearted. It serves as a fantastic narrative backdrop for the sheer madness unfolding on screen.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle delivers above and beyond what you might expect and the characters are full of charm. There’s so much to love here, Ubisoft did Nintendo proud here.
Deep and Kinetic Tactical Gameplay
Where Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle truly excels is its combat design.
Rather than feeling like a simplified entry-level strategy game, Kingdom Battle borrows heavily from the grid-based tactical genre made famous by series like XCOM.
Success hinges on taking proper cover, flanking opponents, and managing elemental status effects such as bounce, honey, and freeze.
What elevates the combat above traditional turn-based titles is its fluidity. Movement is remarkably dynamic: squad members can leap off allies to execute high-flying team jumps, slide tackle enemies in mid-dash, and warp through pipes to traverse map levels instantly.
Synergy and Squad Choice: Combining Mario’s offensive boosts with Luigi’s long-range sniper overwatch abilities or Rabbid Mario’s magnetic pull creates immensely satisfying chain reactions.
Customisation without Penalty: A flexible skill tree allows players to reallocate skill points freely before battles, encouraging constant experimentation with different team compositions without penalising trial and error.
A Vibrant World Worth Exploring
Visually, the game is an absolute feast for the eyes. The world-building blends classic Nintendo aesthetics with Rabbid-infused absurdity. Giant washing machines crash into pristine hillsides, and monumental Mario landmarks are draped in toilet paper.
The environmental design spans lush greenery, icy peaks, spooky graveyards, and fiery lava lands. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is gorgeous, and the stylised design holds-up as well today as it did at launch.
Between tactical encounters, exploration sections feature light environmental puzzles, coin collecting, and hidden chests containing weapon blueprints or soundtrack collectibles.
While these navigational breaks can occasionally feel somewhat repetitive towards the final acts, Grant Kirkhope’s vibrant, orchestral score keeps the energy high and the mood lively throughout.
Overall
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a surprising triumph. It successfully bridges the gap between accessible character design and deep, rewarding turn-based strategy.
By respecting the intelligence of veteran tacticians while remaining utterly charming for casual players, it earns its place as an essential masterpiece in the Nintendo Switch library.
We can’t think of a better introduction to the genre, whilst also having a game that’s been innovative in the space at the same time.
