With the arrival of Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has reimagined its beloved kart racing franchise on a truly global scale. This new entry delivers a blend of classic cup-based competition with a bold new twist: a fully explorable, interconnected world.
In this blog post, we’ll cover everything revealed about Mario Kart World, compare its features to prior Mario Kart games, and dig into what makes this the most ambitious entry in series history.
A Fully Interconnected World – A First for the Franchise
Unlike past games where players selected individual tracks from a menu, Mario Kart World introduces a freeroam, open-world map where races are scattered across distinct regions. You can drive between courses in real time, a concept reminiscent of The Crew or Forza Horizon—but with Mario Kart’s signature charm.
Key Regions Revealed:
- Mario Bros. Circuit – Your starting hub and tutorial space.
- Crown City – A vibrant urban hub filled with skyscrapers and bustling streets.
- Southy Speedway – A waterway-based city with canal-style drifting.
- Starview Peak – A snow-covered alpine course.
- Boo Cinema – A haunted, drive-in-style theater full of spooky turns.
- Toad’s Factory, Peach Beach, Wario Shipyard – Classic tracks from past games, now reimagined and embedded in the world.
New feature: Some Grand Prix races require players to drive themselves to the next course—a brand-new twist never before seen in the series.
Race Types and Modes – Bigger, Longer, More Strategic
Grand Prix (Classic, Now Enhanced)
Each cup features four races, but this time, between-race travel is manual—you’ll physically drive from one course to another. Cups include:
- Mushroom Cup
- Flower Cup
- Star Cup
- (A secret course unlocked after completing all cups)
Knockout Tour (New Mode)
A cross-world, high-stakes race mode where players must reach checkpoints to stay in the race. Fail to place high enough at each checkpoint? You’re out. It’s a hybrid of Battle Royale and Endurance Racing.
Time Trials
Solo time-based challenges against ghosts—still present, now with online global downloads.
Battle Mode
- Balloon Battle
- Coin Runners
Battle mode returns with local, online, and team play options for up to 24 racers.
New Items & Powerups – Some Familiar, Some Fresh
New Items Include:
- Coin Shell – Generates coins for nearby players. Risk/reward for crowd control.
- Ice Flower – Freezes opponents. Think Freeze Shell from Mario Kart Wii’s custom mods.
- Hammer – Hurls in an arc and stays on course briefly as an obstacle.
- Mega Mushroom – Grows the player huge. First seen in Mario Kart DS, now returns.
- Feather – A classic item from Super Mario Kart that returns for vertical evasion and shortcuts.
- Kamek’s Magic – An unpredictable wildcard item with surprise transformations and effects.
Many of these items are callbacks to previous Mario Kart titles (Feather, Mega Mushroom), confirming that Mario Kart World is not just innovating—it’s also celebrating the franchise’s legacy.
Racers & Vehicles – Familiar Faces, Fresh Picks
Playable characters include:
- Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Yoshi
- Newcomers: Goba, Spike, and even Cow
(Yes, Cow. Because why not?)
Each racer has unique stats. Vehicles are customizable with individual handling, speed, and off-road capabilities.
New Tricks and Exploration Mechanics
- Charge Jump – Hold drift to charge and leap forward.
- Wall Ride – Rebound off walls with skill-based inputs.
- Grind Rails – Ride power lines and edges for bonus boosts.
- Rewind Feature – A first for the series. Miss a jump? Hold rewind and reset your kart’s position. Rivals keep moving during the rewind, so use it wisely.
Freeroam Exploration – The Biggest Change Yet
Outside races, players can explore the entire world, completing missions, discovering coins, finding hidden panels, and striking photo ops.
- P Switch Missions – Complete mini-challenges in the world to sharpen skills.
- Drive-Thrus – Visit Yoshi’s or other in-world restaurants, earn food-themed outfits.
- Photo Mode – Snap pics, choose filters, pose with friends.
This freeroam system isn’t just flavor—it’s functionality. It adds layers of replayability and social interaction never seen in Mario Kart before.
Multiplayer and Online – More Options Than Ever
- Local Multiplayer – Up to 4 players split-screen.
- Wireless Local – Up to 8 players (2 per console).
- Online Play – Up to 24 players in both races and battles.
Game Chat and Camera Support:
- Built-in voice chat with friends.
- Camera integration shows players’ reactions during races.
- Facial recognition supports up to 4 players on a single Switch 2 console.
Comparison to Previous Mario Kart Games
|
Feature |
Mario Kart World |
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe |
Mario Kart DS |
Super Mario Kart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freeroam World |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Drive-Thrus & Costumes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Knockout Mode |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Rewind Function |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Wall Riding |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Classic Cups |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Mega Mushroom |
Returns |
No |
Yes |
No |
|
Feather |
Returns |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Battle Modes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
24 Player Races |
Yes |
No (12 max) |
No |
No |
|
Voice Chat |
Yes (native) |
Only via app |
No |
No |
Final Thoughts – A True Evolution of Mario Kart
Mario Kart World is not just the next game—it’s the biggest leap the series has ever taken.
It’s a celebration of everything that came before it (Toad’s Factory, Peach Beach, and more are back), and it’s a bold step forward with freeroam, team racing, live world travel between courses, expanded multiplayer, and new exploration mechanics.
This is the first Mario Kart to feel like more than just a racing game—it’s a world. And it launches alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 in a special bundle, ensuring that every new Switch 2 owner has a ticket to the starting line.