When Mario Kart: Double Dash debuted in 2003, a then-eight-year-old me marveled at the Nintendo GameCube’s graphics. It blew my damn mind that Mario’s sharp, polygonal body finally looked appropriately plump. But to any ’90s kid, the 3D advancements of Mario Kart: Double Dash—the third entry in the series—made for the greatest sequel a kid could ask for. Races were smooth, slipping on a banana peel actually felt dangerous, and passing someone in first place after hitting them with a blue shell was the most satisfying move you could pull off in a video game. (It still is.)
So, it’s important to look at Mario Kart World—the ninth entry in the series and the Nintendo Switch 2’s one and only launch title—from the perspective of an eight-year-old kid. Though I’ve only spent a weekend with the new game so far, I made sure to pound a few energy drinks to put myself in the mind of a preteen living in 2025’s dystopian hellscape. Because for most Mario Kart World players, this is not the ninth Mario Kart game. For Generation Alpha, Mario Kart World is their mind-blowing Mario Kart sequel.
The last entry in the series was 2014’s Mario Kart 8—and its deluxe edition went down as the highest-selling Mario Kart game of all time, simply because Nintendo added more courses and playable characters to the game for the next ten years. So, for the past decade, the only Mario Kart game kids knew was Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, likely on the only Nintendo console they’ve ever owned: the Nintendo Switch. Now, the next generation is having their own How could Mario Kart ever look better than this? moment with what is essentially their Mario Kart 2. They’re so damn lucky, because Mario Kart World is without a doubt the best Mario Kart game yet.
Mario Kart World supports 24 racers at the same time.
For starters, races now support up to 24 drivers at the same time—which is twice as much as any previous Mario Kart game. Players can select between 24 playable characters, 40 karts, and 32 tracks. If Mario Kart 8 Deluxe left you tired of controlling the likes of Luigi and Peach, Mario Kart World boasts new friends such as Goomba, Wiggler, and the much-beloved Cow. At the Nintendo Switch 2 launch event, the crowd erupted in cheers (and laughter) when the Cow appeared on screen. Hell, most people I’ve talked to about the game have jokingly told me they that they would pay untold amounts of cash just to play as Cow.
Well, they’ll have to do exactly that, since the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World bundle clocks in at $499.99—making the Switch 2 the most expensive Nintendo console yet. Is it worth it? Well, you can read all about how quickly you might want to jump on the Switch 2 train in our review of the console here. Just know that you need a Switch 2 to experience the magic of Mario Kart World.
Mario Kart World
With the obligatory price tag discussion out of the way, let me introduce one of the best new additions to the Kart-verse: a mode called the “Knockout Tour,” where races consist of six checkpoints across five different tracks. Much like Fortnite and Fall Guy’s battle-royale gameplay, racers will need to finish in the top percentage of placements to move on to the next court. For example: If you pass checkpoint number five and you’re not in the top four drivers, it’s game over for you.
Eliminating your competition and jostling for the top placements in “Knockout Tour” feels great, but know this: Mario Kart World is pure chaos with 24 racers on the track. Falling out of first place is easier than ever before, but so is gaining back the advantage with powerful items. Some tracks are incredibly wide to compensate for crowded pathways. The game also adds rails and walls—for grinding and climbing, respectively—to so that gameplay never feels cramped. That said, when you’re in first place and the pack catches up to you with the combined might of red shells and lightning bolts, you will feel rocketed to last place like never before.
“Free Roam” is cute, but “Knockout Tour” is the best new gameplay mode.
Want another reason why Mario Kart World is Mario Kart 2 for a new generation? This is the first Mario Kart title that truly embraces a new idea. Mario Kart World is set in an “interconnected world,” where every track is connected via a large open-world map that you can explore. In “Free Roam,” players can leisurely ride around the tracks solo (or with friends) for an off-roading adventure. You can discover new shortcuts, complete side missions, and find new outfits for your characters to wear. I wouldn’t get too excited about “Free Roam,” however. This isn’t Mario Kart: Breath of the Wild. The gameplay isn’t too thrilling, and drifting off-road still slows you down in regular races. If anything, you’ll simply enjoy driving around without all the madness of competition.
Simply put, Mario Kart World is everything you could ask for in a Mario Kart sequel. The game includes more characters, more diverse tracks, and more ways to race that ever before. Nintendo certainly tacked on quite a hefty price of admission—you can’t ignore $499.99 price tag. But if you’re looking to wow a Nintendo kid this holiday season the same way I was when I played my second Mario Kart game in 2003, then Mario Kart World is a knockout punch.
Nintendo Switch 2 Console and Mario Kart World Bundle
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