Utilize Your Wits In 8 Other Games
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is the follow-up to Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle which was released in late 2017 for the Nintendo Switch. Unlike the first game, this includes new features, characters, and a fascinating narrative that arguably exceeds the previous entry. In this game, Mario and his friends battle the evil sci-fi entity Cursa and must stop her from corrupting the universe. If you’ve finished playing Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 8 picks. Of course, for all the games we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link, so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time in. So without further ado, we present 8 games to check out if you’re looking for a game like Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
Mario’s adventures with Ubisoft’s Rabbids aren’t the Nintendo plumber’s first outing into the fantasy RPG genre. He, along with the other Mushroom Kingdom characters has undergone quests similar quests in titles like Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario, and of course, the Mario & Luigi series. The Mario & Luigi series of games are notorious for their enchanting soundtracks, fun gameplay, and well-written storylines. Each game in the franchise introduced new enemies for Mario and his friends to tackle. Nevertheless, Bowser’s Inside Story, the third game in this series, is hailed as one of its best. This story involves the Mario brothers teaming up with their arch nemesis Bowser to stop a magical enemy called Fawful. Like Mario + Rabbids, this game builds upon the Mushroom Kingdom’s cast and elevates their personality in unimaginable yet jaw-dropping ways. If you’re looking for another title with a rich storyline and refreshing take on the Mario cast, check out Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story.
Final Fantasy Tactics
Enter Final Fantasy Tactics, a tactical RPG with an enriching narrative, a fun gameplay loop, and sufficient 3D visuals with its environments. It was a risky title to make but earned Square Enix a lot of praise. Like Mario + Rabbids, this game felt more strategic and mobile compared to previous Final Fantasy titles at the time. To initiate a battle, you needed to move your hero across an isometric landscape. Once you reach an enemy, you’ll initiate an adrenaline-pumping battle of epic proportions. After each successful battle, your characters will level up and earn you job points. You can spend these points on nifty traits like spells, counterattacks, and defensive capabilities. If you’re looking for a refreshing yet familiar spin on the Final Fantasy series, check out Final Fantasy tactics.
Fire Emblem (Series)
The Fire Emblem series has come a long way in recent years. The Nintendo 3DS title Fire Emblem Awakening was Nintendo’s last swan song for the series. If it didn’t sell well, it would’ve possibly been the end of the series. Thankfully, the opposite happened, leading Nintendo to make more games in the franchise like Fire Emblem Heroes and eventually the Nintendo Switch game, Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Fire Emblem and Mario + Rabbids share a lot in common besides being based on Nintendo properties. These games contain wonderful challenges that’ll entice gamers to develop creative and excellent strategies. While their worlds are vibrant they’re shrouded in mystery. These games gradually reveal bits about its world and the overarching issue that engulfs it. You’ll play as characters with heroic and anti-heroic traits. These games know how to bring their characters to life and give them enough screen time. While later Fire Emblem titles tend to lean into the romantic simulation elements of past works, games like Fire Emblem Three Houses have enough depth to warrant your time.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
The Mario + Rabbid titles owe a lot to games like XCOM for their incredible tactical gameplay formula. Although XCOM’s sequels added more improvements to the formula, this reboot of the original title offers a richer story, brilliant strategy elements, and a lovely setting. This game takes place amidst an alien invasion. It’s up to the player to lead an army of noble warriors against this intergalactic threat. Like the Mario + Rabbids cast, XCOM’s squad members all play vital roles in the game and will leave a lasting impression on players. While Enemy Unknown delivers with its turn-based combat, it doesn’t evoke a strong RPG-like vibe as other titles. However, its gameplay will evoke familiar memories from Mario + Rabbids fans. You can assign this game’s troops to hide behind barricades to avoid taking damage. The characters can even carry weapons and perform distinct abilities like the Mario + Rabbids cast. This is a brilliant tactical RPG that’s worth your time.
Into the Breach
Even though a game has pixelated graphics in 2022, it doesn’t mean you should write it off completely. While the game doesn’t have the most jaw-dropping 3D visuals like Mario + Rabbids, it offers some fantastic puzzles, characters, and fun combat. This game has you control powerful robots who must defeat an alien threat. It offers a slightly futuristic setting but has a top-down isometric perspective. This game offers many levels that feature a slew of enemies for you to take down. This game has a boatload of missions for you to complete and offers several difficulty options for those looking for a challenge. Alongside its turn-based gameplay comes other forms of play. You’ll find yourself defending civilian buildings from aliens and attending those builds to expand upon your droids’ arsenal. The game entices you to recruit new mechs and pilots to your team. These pilots and mechs have different traits and abilities that help them stand out. Give Into the Breach a shot if you have a lot of time to spare after completing the Mario + Rabbids games.
Earthbound
Earthbound was a peculiar and memorable JRPG for its time. Instead of having our characters venture off into full-fledged fantasy realms, this game remains grounded. Like Mario + Rabbids, Earthbound features quirky humor, a compelling level system, challenging battles, and a colorful world. In it, players control a boy named Ness, who explores multiple areas in his world of Eagleland. His mission is to secure the eight melodies because these artifacts will help him defeat the evil Giyagas who plan to cover his world in darkness. With his incredible arsenal of weapons and PSI abilities, Ness and his friends must stop multiple enemies if they hope to save Eagleland. Ness and his buddies endure strange phenomena in every area they venture through. One moment Ness will be combatting an evil robot and in the next, he’s dealing with a deranged cult. Despite Ness and his friends’ ages, they’ll be tackling adult-like situations from paying debts to calling a retail service to store items. Earthbound offers enough comedy and activities to warrant your time.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
South Park: The Fracture But Whole is a hilarious endeavor from start to finish. Ubisoft had some assistance from South Park’s creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and it shows. This game is littered with adult jokes and sensual scenes that’d be too inappropriate for younger players. However, this game isn’t too far off from Mario + Rabbids regarding content and scale. The Fractured But Whole and Sparks of Hope are successful follow-ups that add more depth and variety than their previous games. These games are collaborative projects that offer a decent world to explore. These worlds have hidden secrets that’ll appeal to many players. The gameplay in both games entices players to strategize and plan their attacks. Each game contains a boatload of super moves and cinematics that’ll get fans excited. The storytelling is well-paced and offers some stellar lore worth delving into and discussing with other fans. If you’re in need of a game that’ll make you laugh and smile, check out South Park: The Fractured But Whole.
Deltarune
Deltarune is a new series developed by Undertale creator Toby Fox. This game follows Kris and his classmate Susie who find a hidden area inside their school’s closet. Upon entering, Kris and Susie learn that they’re now in a strange universe called the Dark World. In this place, they meet a goat boy named Ralsei. Ralsei claims that Susie, Kris, and himself are destined to save the world. Unbeknownst to these kids, they’ll be encountering their opposing adversaries sooner than expected. Deltarune feels more in line with JRPGs than its predecessor but retains some qualities that made Undertale a hit with fans. This is another strategy title where you’ll level up upon slaying enemies or remaining stagnant by sparing them. Unlike Mario + Rabbids, this game offers alternative routes depending on the player’s actions. This game’s community dubs these routes as Genocide, Pacifist, and Neutral. This helps the game retain longevity and replay value from its players. Like Sparks of Hope, Deltarune boasts fantastic jokes, gags, and visuals. If you’re looking to get lost in another world full of charm, mystery, adventure, and energetic music, give Toby Fox’s new game a shot. So there we have it, our 8 video game picks to keep you busy after playing Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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