The currently revealed roster for upcoming soccer title Mario Strikers: Battle League has revealed that the game will start with only ten playable characters, and will be lacking some iconic characters from throughout the Super Mario franchise. However, Mario Strikers: Battle League could address this issue by releasing a series of free DLC updates following its launch later this month.
One leaker suggests that a further ten playable characters will be added as free DLC, ultimately resulting in a total of 20 characters for players to choose from. This free DLC could be a chance to include several popular characters who were snubbed from the initial lineup, including both allies and enemies of the iconic plumber pair. Several Super Mario characters could make unique and fun to play additions to Mario Strikers: Battle League's playable cast.
Daisy
Princess Daisy's omission was a surprising one, as the character had previously appeared as part of the starting lineup in both previous Mario Strikers games, Super Mario Strikers and Mario Strikers Charged. Like her fellow princess, Peach, Daisy was a speedy character who used quick moves and a focus on finesse to make up for her lack of brute strength. Her special finishing move was Torpedo Strike in Super Mario Strikers and Crystal Smash in Mario Strikers Charged. Fans hope to see her join Peach and Rosalina in the lineup of princesses taking to the field in Battle League.
Pauline
This former girlfriend of Mario and captive of Donkey Kong has made her return to the series in a major way, appearing as the Mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey and later becoming a playable character in Mario Tennis Aces, Mario Kart Tour, and Mario Golf: Super Rush. Her play style in these games is primarily based around her talent as a performer, featuring lots of showy dance moves, and she is often accompanied by "Jump Up, Super Star," her signature song from Odyssey. Pauline could bring her show-stopping style and add another much-needed female playable character to Mario Strikers: Battle League.
Bowser Jr. / Koopalings
Bowser's prank-loving gang of sidekicks could be a great opportunity to add several characters to Mario Strikers: Battle League while only using up a single DLC slot. In fighting game Super Smash Bros. 4 and its later sequel Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Bowser's son Bowser Jr. and all seven of the Koopaling squad appear as aesthetic variations on a single fighter. They rely on their flying cars and other gadgets to fight; this could give them a unique play style in Battle League as small, mobile characters who use their Koopa technology to interact with the ball in various ways.
Boo
Previous titles in the Mario Strikers series included a Sidekicks feature in which playable characters such as Mario and Luigi could pick one of Toad, Shy Guy, Boo, and other Super Mario favorites to assist them on the field. Battle League will not feature the return of the Sidekick system, but some former Sidekicks, including Toad and Yoshi, have been promoted to playable characters. Iconic enemy and sometimes-ally Boo could be a great choice to join these ranks as a DLC addition - especially because it could be quite amusing to see a character who doesn't technically have legs play soccer.
Diddy Kong
In the current Mario Strikers: Battle League lineup, Donkey Kong is the only representative of his franchise. The ape uses his massive strength to cut a physically imposing presence on the soccer field much as he does on the battlefield. His cheerful relative Diddy Kong would make a great second Donkey Kong representative, and could play a faster and more agility-focused game compared to the larger Kong. Diddy Kong is another previous playable Strikers character, having appeared in Mario Strikers Charged wielding the special move Red Card, which could cause opponents to temporarily disappear.
Characters from Other Properties
Most Mario-themed sports games have limited themselves to the plumber and his friends, but there is some precedent for including other Nintendo characters. The Legend of Zelda's Link previously appeared in Mario Kart 8, as did Animal Crossing's Villager and Isabelle and Splatoon's Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl. Final Fantasy characters guest starred in Mario Sports Mix, and Mario has frequently appeared alongside Sonic the Hedgehog characters in the Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games series. Any of these characters could make a fun addition to Battle League, though Link would be especially interesting if he could bring his bomb-making skills to the soccer field.
Another unique DLC addition would be the ability for players to make their own Mii avatars and bring them to the field alongside Mario and his friends. Miis as playable characters previously appeared in Mario Kart 8, with several options available for customizing their appearance. Similar to Mario and Luigi themselves, it is likely that Miis would have a fairly balanced play style.
Mario Strikers: Battle League will release on June 10, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.