After the surprise success of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, it's no surprise Nintendo was willing to let Ubisoft make a sequel. This time around, Mario and his friends (and, of course, the Rabbids) will take off into space to combat a new threat: Cursa. This evildoer captures creatures called Sparks -- hybrids of Lumas and Rabbids -- and absorbs their power. Once again, it will be up to Mario and his friends to don some cool sci-fi weapons alongside their allies to combat their new foes.
Currently in development by Ubisoft Milan, Sparks of Hope already looks like a promising follow up that expands on Kingdom Battle by introducing open-worlds and evolving combat mechanics. By building upon what made the previous game great, this upcoming Mario + Rabbid's title will hopefully recapture the highs of the original title while ironing out the flaws that held it back.
Mario + Rabbid Sparks of Hope Trailer
Sparks of Hope was revealed during Ubisoft's presentation at E3 2021 with a short trailer that shows off some new and returning elements. The fundamental mechanics from Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will return with new updates and twists. Based on the trailer, it seems that Sparks of Hope features an open-world layout, which is a departure from the more linear gameplay found in the previous game.
As players run around the world, they will collect coins and defeat enemies in a way that appears similar to the Bowser's Fury expansion for Super Mario 3D World. It also looks like Sparks of Hope's battles will allow players to roam freely across the field, abandoning the grid-based system from Kingdom Battle.
The announcement trailer also shows off some new characters. In addition to the new villain, Cursa, there are other Rabbids like a tiger-inspired Rabbid, an edgy, sword-wielding Rabbid, and a Rabbid version of Super Mario Galaxy's Rosalina.
Related: Why Mario + Rabbids Doesn't Include Rayman
What Is Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope About?
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is taking the series to space, not unlike the Super Mario Galaxy games. Beep-0 will return to lead a team of three characters across new worlds as players solve puzzles and fight enemies. The game is confirmed to have nine playable characters, with most of the classic Mario characters and their quirky Rabbid counterparts coming back. New characters include Rabbid Rosalina and the edgy Rabbid dressed in green and purple, which leaves one character unconfirmed (though this is likely normal Rosalina).
Rabbid Luigi has receiveds a visual overhaul and now sports Luigi's overalls instead of being dressed as a green blob. Other characters have new weapons, such as Luigi's bow and Mario dual-wielding, which will hopefully go a long way into making their gameplay and abilities feel distinct.
The most obvious references to Mario Galaxy are the "Sparks" and Rabbid Rosalina. Sparks seem to have unique powers and abilities, though it's not clear what they are and how they differ. With Cursa as the main antagonist, it's likely Bowser Jr. will be absent. Additionally, Yoshi, Rabbid Yoshi and the Donkey Kong characters from Kingdom Battle's Donkey Kong Adventure DLC have not been seen, so it's likely they will not be part of the base game.
When Will Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Release?
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is currently slated to release sometime in 2022. Though little has been said about the game since its June 2021 announcement, it's likely Ubisoft will reveal more soon, perhaps in an early 2022 Nintendo Direct. It's worth noting that Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle launched in summer 2017, so it's possible Sparks of Hope will also come out sometime in the summer.
This article will be updated as more information is made available.