The Mario + Rabbids series has been somewhat of a surprise hit for both Nintendo and Ubisoft. When Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was first revealed back in 2017, Nintendo fans were pretty divided. On one hand, a Mario strategy game sounded like a bold new direction for the franchise, and an exciting possibility, but on the other hand, the Rabbids weren't exactly a hot property anymore, having peaked in the Wii era. While the Rabbids have proven their worth in both Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and the recently released Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, some fans are still hoping to see a Mario strategy game without them.
Debuting in 2006 in the party game Rayman Raving Rabbids, the Rabbids have been a divisive entity ever since. Seen constantly spewing loud, incoherent nonsense, the Rabbids have drawn a lot of comparisons to Illumination's Minions, and as such have attracted a lot of hate over the years. But despite this, they remain a focal point of the Mario + Rabbids franchise, and some fans think it's time for a change.
It's Time for a Strategy Game Focused Solely on Super Mario
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle proved that a Mario turn-based strategy game could work, and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope showed that there's some real potential behind the idea. An adventure that spans a range of vibrant biomes, featuring some of the most iconic Super Mario characters, with surprisingly complex combat mechanics that are both intuitive and deeply engaging, the Mario + Rabbids franchise deserves all the praise it gets, but there's room for the franchise to expand, and the next step could be to cut the Rabbids altogether.
The Rabbids are an integral part of the Mario + Rabbids formula, and their contribution to the game shouldn't be understated. The Rabbids bring a great deal of hero variety to the series, with Rabbid versions of characters having their own unique abilities and statistics. For instance, having both a Rabbid Peach and a regular version of Peach increases the amount of hero variety in the game, and adds new strategy and gameplay mechanics for the player. The same can be said with Mario + Rabbids' enemy variety, as the series can have both regular versions of classic Super Mario enemies, and Rabbid versions, each requiring their own strategy to take down.
The Rabbids also add a quirky type of humor to the game. While the Rabbids' over-the-top, farcical approach to comedy might not be everyone's cup of tea, it does add a unique layer of comedy to the series, one which Mario fans don't often see. Though Mario games are always lighthearted and bright, they're not always funny, and that's an element that the Rabbids do add.
That being said, some fans argue that the Rabbids actually get in the way of some of Nintendo's influence. With Ubisoft taking the helm, Mario + Rabbids can occasionally feel as though the Mario cast is just along for the ride, as opposed to feeling like a genuine Mario-led adventure. If Nintendo was to take the groundwork of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, and bring it to its own Mario strategy series, then that would allow for a potentially more polished, more Mario-centric experience.
With Nintendo developing its own Mario strategy game, the series would be free to use a plethora of iconic Mario locations. While Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Sparks of Hope both take players to the Mushroom Kingdom and other classic Mario locations, the games also feature many nondescript, fantasy-esque settings. A Nintendo-led Mario strategy game could take fans to any beloved locations from past games. This would also allow for more Super Mario characters and enemies to be present, rather than generic Rabbid sorcerers or fantasy-themed foot soldiers. The Rabbids aren't without their purpose, but a standalone Mario strategy game could offer a lot more of what fans want.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is available for the Nintendo Switch.