The Mario Kart series holds a very long and special history for me. As a kid, the original SNES release blew my mind and quickly became one of my most rented games of all time. I loved being able to freely drive around the tracks in "3D" and spent countless hours just playing around in the battle mode. This sense of freedom was unlike anything else I had seen at the time, and despite never owning it myself, it kept me coming back for more. As the years went on, I'd eventually play Mario Kart 64, rent Mario Kart: Double Dash, and finally own Mario Kart DS (which was also my first online console game).
It didn't take long for Mario Kart DS to become an all-time favorite, one I would return to time and time again until the release of Mario Kart Wii. From there, I'd spend day after day in the summer playing local online with friends and family. The game became our go-to when we had nothing else to do. Mario Kart 7 would replace it for me later on; I received Mario Kart: Super Circuit thanks to being a 3DS ambassador, but 7 eventually became one of my most played 3DS games in general. Mario Kart 8 was actually the first title in the series I didn't care about as much (although I still played with family when I had the chance), but the Switch release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe once again became an addiction.
After everything was said and done, Mario Kart is a series that has been special to me nearly my entire life. I can't help but think back on all the memories I've made while playing it. All those late nights with friends and family, all the crazy online matches, and the holidays where my family would gather around the TV to get some races in—these are moments I'll always treasure. I honestly can't even imagine a world where Mario Kart didn't exist; it would have changed so much for me.
That being said, the announcement of Mario Kart World didn't necessarily excite me, but I was still genuinely happy to see the next entry in the series finally unveiled. I knew it wouldn't feature all of my favorite tracks (thankfully, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still there for me on that front), but the new open world did sound interesting, and the new gameplay mechanics caught my eye as well. I liked what I saw with the new version of wall riding, and the vast roster of characters reminded me of the good old days of countless unlockables (oh, Mario Power Tennis, how I still miss you). Still, I was curious just how well the open world would actually be handled, and how the new gameplay structure would hold up.
Besides being a Mario Kart fan, I'm also a huge racing fan, and I've played countless open-world racers in my time. From Need for Speed to Forza Horizon, Midnight Club, Test Drive Unlimited, and The Crew; racing games have always been a "comfort" game of sorts for me. One can't help but think back to these titles when seeing Mario Kart World's change in format. However, after spending quite a bit of time with the game, I can safely say that comparing Mario Kart World to other open-world racers isn't really fair, and that this game truly should be thought of as its own entity. This is Mario Kart to its core, with an extra layer added onto it.
The Core Gameplay:
The core of Mario Kart has not changed with Mario Kart World. This is fundamentally a racing game with different gameplay modes and goals to complete. In your standard race, you're trying to get to the finish line first, and to do that, you have a handful of familiar tools and abilities at your disposal.
Pressing accelerate during the initial countdown will give you a speed boost to start. Drifting will build up different levels of speed boosts. Going over bumps and hitting the right triggers or shaking the controller will perform a trick and also provide a speed boost. Hitting boost panels on the ground will, well, boost you as well, and there are even some that will send you flying into the sky.
This is all standard for recent Mario Kart titles, with the real difference here being the new jump charge. This feature lets you gain a boost and also allows you to jump onto walls or rails. This can be used to reach higher paths (or even create paths of your own), and once again, a speed boost will be waiting for you once you land back on the ground. This new feature does take some time to get used to, as the controls will initially be a bit tricky. However, give it time, and eventually you'll master launching yourself into surprising new locations that just might end up winning the race for you! If you mess up, there's a rewind feature, but this only backs you up while the rest of the world keeps moving.
On top of this, the other major change in Mario Kart World is the removal of the glider and underwater sections. These have been replaced with your kart sprouting wings for aerial segments, and water now transforms it into a boat. Car customization has also been removed; the game has adopted the original "unlock a kart and select it" format seen in games prior to Mario Kart 8. This streamlines the experience slightly, but the large selection of characters means there are plenty of ways to mix and match your characters, allowing for multiple stat builds to give you an edge.
Of course, coins make their return in this title as well, which help your characters go faster the more they collect (with a cap of 20). And one can't forget the random items picked up from item boxes during races. These also help give you an edge, with better items dropping for those in back, and more defensive items being selected when you're up front. Mario Kart World features some new items and balance changes to existing ones, but for the most part, it's the same old system we've come to know and love (and sometimes hate)!
With the game now featuring 24-player races, a larger number of players will receive better items based on their placement, which helps make the races even more chaotic than in the past. The new item balance goes a long way to keep even the 24th-placed player in the game, and players in 1st have more ways to dodge the dreaded Blue Shell. In other words, those who fear that 24 players might be overkill and break the game's previous balance can rest easy; the game doesn't seem any less fair than its predecessors. There might be a few minor things that could be improved, but for the most part, everything works just as intended.
That being said, the gameplay modes offered here are actually quite a bit different from the past, even though some of them are technically returning ones.
Grand Prix:
The Grand Prix mode remains the classic Mario Kart experience. You pick a cup, race through four stages, and earn points based on your placement. Ideally, you want to finish first in all of them, but with how hectic races can become, that isn't always going to happen. Due to the point system, however, winning every race isn't necessary to claim overall first place, as it all comes down to accumulated points from who placed what, and when. The player in 1st in the first race could easily place last in the next, making those initial points less impactful. This means everyone always has to try their best no matter what, and letting your guard down in any race can spell the end of it all.
While this core part of the Grand Prix mode hasn't changed in Mario Kart World, the rest of it is actually a lot different.
When picking a cup for Grand Prix, players will notice that the tracks within it are located close together on the world map. This is because while the very first race of a cup is your standard circuit race (multiple laps around the same track), the subsequent races are very different. The second race begins with the racers already in motion, and the initial "laps" are actually a sprint race to the next location. Once there, you get to do laps around that next track, but it isn't a full circuit race. This is how the rest of each cup plays out, with each subsequent race technically featuring multiple tracks and paths, only to then end after doing a lap around your destination. It certainly keeps things from getting repetitive, but at the same time, it deviates from what a classic Mario Kart Grand Prix has always been, and not everyone may like this change.
Once you finish all four races, you are given a trophy based on your overall placement and star ratings based on how much you dominated the competition. There are three difficulty modes within each cup, with the ultimate goal of earning gold trophies and three stars across all cups in all modes. With a little over 30 "standard tracks" to play on, this will take quite some time to complete, offering plenty of replay value within just the Grand Prix mode alone.
But this is only a fraction of what makes Mario Kart World, Mario Kart World.
Knockout Tour:
The Knockout Tour mode is a knockout race mode. While this isn't new to racing games in general, it is a novel addition to the Mario Kart series.
To put it simply, players race across the map, and those in last place when crossing checkpoints get knocked out. The goal is to stay at the front of the pack as long as possible and hopefully finish in first by the end. Like in Grand Prix, this mode has multiple cups to race through, with multiple difficulties as well. However, these races are fully linear without laps; they focus almost exclusively on the paths between the tracks, taking players through unique locations they might not see otherwise.
Technically this mode is what one might consider the "star of the show" in World, but the cups are limited compared to what free play races allow you to do.
Versus Mode:
The standard Versus Mode matches have also slightly changed, but this is also where you can find the "standard" Mario Kart experience.
When starting a Versus match, you can change settings and set the rules, then select the standard tracks to do full circuit races on them. Unlike in Grand Prix, this is pure classic Mario Kart, and that might be exactly what some fans are looking for. However, this mode isn't just filled with the normal stages; it includes all of the in-between races as well!
As crazy as it may sound, Mario Kart World features a little over 200 unique races. These in-between paths are designed with multiple routes and offer different experiences depending on which direction you are traveling down them. Many of them are also based on prior Mario Kart tracks, without being actual recreations. This is where the open-world aspect of the game is really put to use, offering tons of replay value. Assuming each race can be finished in three minutes, it would take roughly 10 hours to complete each race at least once.
The Open World:
Outside of races, the world is completely open for players to freely explore. You can do this by simply selecting Free Roam mode, or you can open up the world map and click on one of the characters currently driving around. This will instantly put you into the driver's seat of your selected character, and you can freely swap between others on the fly (either at your current location or by selecting them on the map again). Once in the world, what you do is entirely up to you, and this is where opinions might be a bit mixed for some players.
While other open-world racing games offer non-stop rewards while driving around or have countless extra races and events to discover, Mario Kart World focuses more on the simple "explore just because you can" gameplay. Drive around, take in the sights, discover characters from the Mario universe doing their thing, and hang out with your friends online. You can, of course, also use it to practice tracks or find secret pathways to give yourself an advantage, but honestly, it might just be easier to play the race itself.
On the flip side, this open world isn't entirely devoid of things to do, as the game's extra challenges are hidden here.
Although they may not be full-blown races like in other games, P Switches hidden throughout the world will trigger mini-challenges once you hit them. These challenges typically involve driving (or flying) through rings, collecting coins within a time limit, and tasks that require you to utilize the new wall-ride ability. Most of them push your Mario Kart skills to the max, and even the game's new rewind ability doesn't really save you when there are such strict time limits. It's about pure skill, and a handful of them can be pretty frustrating due to dumb luck (such as getting T-boned by a Koopa driving a car down a random street). Still, they are actually a lot of fun to tackle; it's just that there isn't much of a payoff for completing them, as the rewards are simple stickers to equip on your kart. The open world also has hidden coins and "? Block Spaces" to run over and discover, but again, the rewards are nothing substantial.
All of this plays back into the open world's focus of "doing it just for fun," and not everyone may appreciate that. But as I said at the start of this review, this game really shouldn't be compared to other open-world racers, and adults playing should always remember one thing: This game isn't just for those of us who grew up playing Mario Kart, but it's also for the new generations that have come after.
Looking back at my own childhood, I spent hundreds of hours running around a small map called Bob-omb Battlefield in Super Mario 64. The map is made up of a small intro area, some steps to climb, a slightly bigger open area, a bridge, a Chain Chomp, a final open area, and a small mountain with various paths around it. There's also a tiny floating island, and you could shoot yourself out of a cannon to fly around. There isn't much to the map, but it was a playground for little kid me, and I came back to it day after day after day. I got no reward for simply playing around, and I was perfectly fine with that; it was a world I enjoyed being in, and I made up my own games and stories within it.
That is the magic of being a kid, and Mario Kart World is surely going to be something very special for the current generation and the ones yet to come. While we adults may not fully appreciate it, this open world is a dream come true for many, and in that way, it does fully succeed.
Time Trials:
Like with past games in the series, Time Trials are back, allowing you to select a stage and beat it as fast as possible. The game will record your own times, which you can then race against to improve. You can also race against the ghost data of other players. This is your standard mode to help you improve your overall times, without the headache of dealing with items or other players. These are pure races from start to finish.
Battle Mode:
Mario Kart World's battle mode has two modes within it. You can either do a balloon battle, or a coin battle.
Balloon Battle throws players into one of the designated battle areas, tasking them with driving around, picking up items, and taking out as many opponents as possible before time runs out. Getting hit causes you to lose a balloon, and losing too many will result in you being knocked out. Of course, you score points by dealing damage to other players, so simply hiding isn't an option here. With Mario Kart World's increased player count, this mode is more hectic than ever, and you never know what's going to happen.
On the other hand, Coin Battle asks players to pick up as many coins as possible and hold onto them. You can attack other players to steal their coins, and of course, they will be coming after yours as well. Thankfully, the mini-map does display where coins on the map are, but everyone else sees this too and will be gunning for them. Again, the increased player count really helps this mode, but this is honestly the extent of what this mode offers.
Like with more recent Mario Karts, there are no missions to complete in battle mode, but the open world part of the game does have a handful of "take out the target" objectives to make up for it.
Unlockables:
Mario Kart World features a very large selection of unlockables, primarily in the form of karts and characters.
Karts are unlocked by collecting coins during races or in the open world, while characters are unlocked by picking up specific food items hidden across the map. These food locations can also be found during races, but playing in the open world allows you to speed things up. By finding a food location, you can grab something to eat. Facing the food stand or cafe and eating the food right then and there will give you a speed boost, but facing the cafe will cause you to crash into the wall and not move. After consuming the food, your character will unlock a new outfit, and you can then swap to a different character to repeat the process.
Not every character has alternate costumes to unlock, nor does every type of food yield a new one. Therefore, trying out all food spots with each character becomes key to finding them all, though it doesn't always guarantee a reward.
Additionally, completely new characters can be unlocked by winning races or by being transformed into them in a race by the Kamek item. These transformations typically grant you a new character based on the area you're in (such as turning you into a cow in Moo Moo Meadows) and are a bit luck-based. Simply playing the game will eventually unlock them all, but there isn't really a good way to quickly unlock them like with the costumes.
As mentioned above, stickers are also unlocked by completing challenges, and there are actually a few hidden surprises to find as well. We won't be spoiling these in the review, but one in particular is pretty huge.
Multiplayer:
And finally, what would a new Mario Kart be without online multiplayer?
As with past titles, Mario Kart World allows players to either jump into multiplayer solo or with one other friend for split-screen play. It offers both standard races and the new Knockout mode, and of course, Battle Mode is here as well. Players all begin with a ranking of 3,000 in this mode, and your rank increases or decreases based on your position when the race finishes. Obviously, first place nets the most rewards, while losing will drop your rank.
The game is set up to match you with other users around your same skill level, but there is also the option to play with friends. If you jump into a friend's match who is lower or higher ranked than you, then it is possible to be put up against lower or higher ranked players as well. This is how it has always been for Mario Kart, but with how crazy and over-the-top World's races have become, it all balances out in the end.
On top of this, the Grand Prix changes also apply to online multiplayer. Players get to vote on nearby tracks, and choosing one means the in-between areas become part of the race as well. Choosing a random track, on the other hand, will result in a standard circuit race, possibly taking things to the other side of the world.
Multiplayer also lets you free roam with friends, and you can even play while waiting to be put into an actual race. It's basically an extended lobby and hang-out spot. Nintendo encourages players to use the Switch 2's new Game Chat feature, which lets you share your screen, voice chat with others, and even display a video feed of yourself if you have the new Switch 2 camera. This is the most social a Mario Kart online mode has ever been, as previously there was no way to communicate in-game.
Another hidden feature of online multiplayer is the ability to create a private room and free roam with another friend locally in split-screen. This is actually the only way to play free roam in split-screen, as local multiplayer is locked out from it. Of course, there are limitations when using online to achieve this (players can't get too far apart, and there are no challenges), but it's better than not being able to do it at all.
Outside of free roam, all other main modes can be played via local multiplayer, which includes split-screen and wireless local play.
Should you play it?
If you are a fan of Mario Kart, then there is little to no reason to skip Mario Kart World. There's no denying that the $80 price tag is steep, but the game itself is a lot of fun and a very nice change of pace for the series.
The gameplay feels great, the map design is excellent, the large roster of unlockable characters and karts is exactly what a series like this needs, and having over 200 races is just flat-out insane. The change to Grand Prix isn't going to make everyone happy, of course, but the Knockout Tour is a lot of fun, and even the little challenges hidden across the map provide a lot of replay value.
I also can't ignore just how amazing the music is this time around. Not only do we get new versions of classic Mario Kart songs, but we also get fantastic remixes of songs from the ENTIRE Mario series! From Yoshi's Island's opening theme to Super Mario Bros. 3, and of course, newer titles like Super Mario Odyssey, all are represented here, and it is perfect. These songs play in the open world, on the in-between paths, and on the title screen, really helping to set the general tone for the game.
If there are any actual "issues" or "let-downs" with the game, however, it would be with some of the missing features in the open world.
Not being able to play split-screen free roam without using an online lobby is a strange design choice, and the lack of a true map that marks discovered challenge locations is pretty odd. In theory, you should just keep replaying them until you complete them, but if you need to come back later, you simply have to remember where they were—something that isn't easy in such a large open world.
There's also the fact that the rewards aren't anything too crazy, but Mario Kart World sticks to the idea of "you should do something simply because it is fun." It is for sure an open world that younger players may enjoy more than adults. Not to say there isn't something magical about getting to explore such a large world within the Mario universe, but there's no denying that we do lose our childlike imagination with age. It's an unfortunate fact that comes with growing up, and those who can hold onto their old mindset are truly lucky! I guess this is where roleplaying comes in, which the online mode and Game Chat features can greatly assist with, but even that isn't for everyone.
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Overall Mario Kart World is an outstanding new entry in the long running series, and it is a worthy launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. Its unique gameplay prevents it from being a replacement for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and allows for both games to exist on the same console side by side. Anyone who enjoys Mario Kart should for sure give this one a chance, and it is the perfect introduction for new players as well.
VERDICT: Essential
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2
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