Mario Kart World
June 5, 2025 - Nintendo
Kart Racing - Kosuke Yabuki, Kenta Sato, Masaaki Ishikawa, Shintaro Jikumaru
Switch 2
In the latest entry in the acclaimed and financially successful series, Mario and friends race with a new open world to race against each other in.
Characters, World, and Presentation
Mario Kart World is another entry in one of Nintendo’s most financially successful series. Why wouldn’t it be? It's an accessible pick-up and play franchise that anyone can start playing and has a decent chance to win the race. This one focuses on a variety of new characters, lengthy tracks, callbacks to past titles, and an open world option that’s obviously inspired by the Forza Horizon series. The character selection alone is insane. I don’t want to tell you all of the options because when you play, it’s a genuine shock when you see some of these characters. But, there’s the freaking cow from series track Moo Moo Meadows, Goombas, Wiggler, Lakitu, and more. Plus, the main roster lineup has alternative styles and costumes you unlock as you play. While it stays in the Mario series canon, it’s almost as wild and expansive as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s roster.
The game’s graphics and art style are the same as those of the typical Mario Kart. While this did start development as a Switch 1 game, some features showcase Switch 2’s capabilities. The performance is solid, even as twenty-three other characters race against you. The illumination and lightning appear to be utilizing Nvidia’s features on the new chip, which makes the game look its best at night. It’s not going to knock your socks off, but it’s the prettiest the series has looked. The open world also transitions to new biodomes and tracks seamlessly, creating a lived-in feel. It doesn’t just change to change, it feels like the world is one giant track, even in free roam mode.
The real MVP, as I played, is the animations. Similar to Super Mario Bros. Wonder, it’s one of those things you have to look closely at, but really makes a difference. Characters look, turn, smile, freak out, and more. The animators did a good job of emoting and using their imagination to add personality to everything they do. This appears to be the plan for Nintendo from now on, and I love it. More personality and animated emotions to their characters.
Gameplay, Design, and Sound
If you're familiar with Mario Kart, then you'll know how this one plays. The goal is to win the race, avoid obstacles, use items, perform some tricks, and occasionally transform into a plane mode to fly for a short distance. However, the game still features some new gameplay elements that enhance the tried-and-true method. The tracks can be quite long, with some being more of an A-to-B path, rather than going in circles like most racetracks. Some of the obstacles get pretty crazy, featuring dinosaurs and a giant monkey throwing barrels (yes, just like Donkey Kong). It’s as if the developers took your typical Mario Kart gameplay loop and then added new elements for fun.
The single player race cups are also what you expect, but there’s a good amount of them to be done. The game has some classic track returns that look better compared to their older versions. Items are about what you expect for the series, but they added a power-up that transforms you into a new character, which does help in unlocking some. The final track of Rainbow Road is a showcase of the game’s graphics and imitation. Rainbow Road has always been the big closer to the series, but this time around, they embrace that and make you feel like you’re in a spectacle. It spans from the ground to the rainbow, to space stations, and beyond. Easily my favorite version of the infamous track.
Multiplayer is the same easy to pick-up and play fun that past entries always were. I played with my six-year-old daughter, who doesn't typically play many video games, and she was able to play well over the course of several races consistently. She still has a long way to go and learn, but the fact that she’s able to be competitive in any way with such little video game experience shows you the secret sauce of why this franchise is so popular. We ended up playing each other for hours, and it never got old. You’ll be able to pop this bad boy out at parties and everyone will still have fun with it, including the non-gamers.
The soundtrack and score are pretty darn good. Mario Kart games tend to have a Mario jazz style and whimsical charm, and Mario Kart World delivers it. It also features callbacks and subtle musical references to past games in the series, including the main themes.
We also have the free-roam mode. In the lead-up to the game, I got the impression that this would be like Nintendo doing its own family-style Forza Horizon. Unfortunately, I don’t think it felt that way to me, which was disappointing, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its uses. The mode has several challenges and collectibles that give you a reason to explore the map. Most of them are short and quick, but you can’t help but want to complete them. Along with the challenges, it’s just relaxing to use the mode. If you need to wait before doing something but don’t know what to do, boot this up instead of doomscrolling. Pick a character you like and just vibe with the fantastic soundtrack and world. It may not be Forza Horizon, but it’s still pretty fun.
Negatives
So, look, this is a super fun game that's best played with family and friends, and its free-roam mode can be relaxing and enjoyable - but in many ways, and I mean this with respect, this is still just another Mario Kart. Yes, it does feel like a version of the game on steroids, has an insane roster, great music, and fun tracks - but if you’re not into Mario Kart, this one won’t change your perspective. The free-roam mode, while interesting, can feel empty at times, especially if you stay in the same area for an extended period. If you’re a single-player person like me, once you get the cups out of the way, you’ll be okay with moving on. It’s weird, on one hand it's an awesome game because it’s Mario Kart, but because it’s another entry, it doesn’t feel new enough for me to ask you to go out of your way to play it. However you feel about this series won’t change with this one.
essential - RECOMMEND - okay - don’t recommend
Mario Kart World is the greatest and most fun Mario Kart game I’ve played, but it’s still pretty much just Mario Kart. As a single player guy, I’m not going to have much to talk about here, as this is best enjoyed at parties and with your family. Unfortunately, the free-roam mode, while it does have a few things to do and can be relaxing, isn’t the family version of Forza Horizon I was hoping for. Ultimately, this is a solid pick-up-and-play Nintendo multiplayer title that delivers a damn good Mario Kart experience. While it’s not the revolution the series needs, it comes close and doesn’t change just how fun it is with others.
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