Everytime I meet someone, the conversation always seems to go the exact same way. I start with “Hi, nice to meet you, how are you?” and they say “I’m well, thanks, and you?” Then I follow up with “I’m doing good, have you ever played Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle on the Nintendo Switch?” and they say “Er, no, sorry I haven’t.” At that point they usually walk away, and as much as I’d like to believe they’re going to find their Switch, I know the truth. Why have so many of you avoided playing Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, one of the best games on the Switch? I don’t want to hear any more excuses. It’s free right now for all NSO subscribers, and if you don’t play it this week I will be revoking your gamer rights.

I’ll be fair. It’s not a complete mystery why so many people have avoided this game. It takes our most beloved Nintendo platforming characters and puts them in a slow-paced, turn-based tactics RPG, a genre that I have to admit is pretty niche. It also features those precocious little Rabbids, Ubisoft’s Minion-like party game characters that many, including myself, find insufferable. From the elevator pitch, it seems like an easy game to ignore if you’re not particularly invested in tactics games and/or Rabbids. I’m here to tell you that’s a mistake, and you need to get your dang thumbs on this puppy while it’s free.

Related: Give Every Nintendo Series A Tactics Spin-Off

Turn-based tactics, or strategy RPG games, have a reputation for being slow, mechanically dense, lore-heavy, and I’ll say it - boring. But if you’re imagining X-COM, Fire Emblem, or Divinity: Original Sin, you’re way off. The remarkable thing about Mario + Rabbids is that it looks, feels, and even plays like a Mario game. Ubisoft Milan found a unique approach to the tactics genre that strips out all of the heavy menu navigation, number crunching, and meticulous unit management, and instead created something that feels as authentic to Mario and his friends as any of their other adventures. If you like jumping in pipes, bouncing on bad guys, and doing backflips, Mario + Rabbids lets you do all of that, strategically.

It’s Time We All Admitted Mario + Rabbids Is The Best XCOM Game

Mario + Rabbids is as much like XCOM as Pokemon Unite is like League of Legends. They may share some core mechanics, but they appeal to completely different audiences. In Mario + Rabbids, battles are short, energetic, and often unpredictable. They reward planning ahead, but they always leave room for surprises and exciting moments, just like any good Mario game. Mario + Rabbids nails the aesthetic, the tone, and the energy of Mario. Simply put, if you like Mario games, you’ll like this Mario game.

As for the Rabbids, look, I’m not a huge fan myself. But they grow on you! I swear! Their bratty wackiness plays off well against Team Mario, and their tool kits are interesting enough to entice you to use them on your team. You may not be a Rabbid fan at the end of it, but they’re certainly not going to ruin the experience either.

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is free from now until midnight on July 12, which gives you plenty of time to complete its 20 hour campaign. If you run out of time, it’s also on sale for just $10, or $15 with the Donkey Kong DLC. With the sequel coming later this year, its the perfect time to finally catch up with this soon-to-be-classic game.

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