When Nintendo revealed Mario Kart World as the Switch 2’s launch title, I expected a victory lap.
After all, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe practically carried the launch of the original Switch on its rainbow-striped shoulders.
But instead of playing it safe with a sequel, Nintendo did what Nintendo does best: they lobbed a green shell at tradition and went full blue-sky bold.
This time, karting isn’t confined to tracks. It’s gone continental.
Open-world, 24-player madness. Tricks, stickers, massive maps, and just enough straightaways to make you question whether you’ve taken a wrong turn onto the N1.
So, is Mario Kart World a turbo-charged reinvention of the franchise? Or a bloated banana peel on wheels?
The Basics: Still Kartin’, Still Heartin’
Let’s get this out of the way: Mario Kart World still feels phenomenal behind the wheel.
Grand Prix is back, with four-track cups, escalating speed classes, and the same chaotic item mayhem that turns races into soap operas on wheels.
And Rainbow Road? It’s not just a race – it’s a religious experience. It was a jaw-dropping finale that had me half-expecting the credits to roll.
New Tricks, Same Kart
This time, you’re not just drifting but also pulling off mid-air spins, wall rides, rail grinds, and boost chains that feel ripped straight from Tony Hawk’s Mushroom Kingdom Pro Skater.
The new trick system is surprisingly deep, and when it works, it works.
There are also 24 racers now, which means more red shells, infinite chaos, and a statistical certainty that Toad will ruin your day at least twice before lunch.
Enter the World… and Wait for It to Get Interesting
This is where the game shifts gears, literally. The Grand Prix now combines races with open-world driving segments.
You’ll be cruising highways between tracks, drifting through grassy plains, and navigating mushroom-covered backroads.
At first, it’s fun. Then it’s… fine. And eventually, it’s a bit like driving to work in a clown car.
Knockout Tour: Battle Royale, but Make It Cute
Where the open-world structure does work is Knockout Tour. Here, 24 racers compete across five sequential races; after each one, the bottom four are eliminated.
It’s frantic and tense, making the long stretches between races feel meaningful.
This mode alone feels like a worthy evolution of the Mario Kart formula.
Free Roam: Because Objectives Are Optional, Apparently
Free Roam is Mario Kart if it was directed by someone who fell asleep halfway through Breath of the Wild.
You explore, do bite-sized driving challenges, hunt collectables, and cause mild chaos in traffic.
It’s occasionally fun, but the missions blur into each other like a mini-game playlist on shuffle.
The lack of real progression is confusing, and multiplayer? It’s practically non-existent unless you jump through hoops on fire while holding a Joy-Con in your teeth.
Online Play: Smooth Roads, Bumpy Setup
The online performance is buttery smooth, but the feature set still feels like Nintendo borrowed it from 2014 and never gave it back.
There’s no simple matchmaking for 3-lap races. Knockout Tour is locked behind private lobbies. And there’s no proper tournament system, which means party play is more “vibe-based networking” than structured multiplayer.
I don’t understand it, but somehow, Nintendo’s online system still remains the only multiplayer experience powered exclusively by magic, hope, and someone’s grandma hosting the lobby.
VS Mode & Time Trials: Back to Basics, Thank Lakitu
Thank goodness for VS Mode and Time Trials. They bring the classic Mario Kart energy – tight, focused races on fantastic tracks without the open-world fluff.
Time Trials are especially compelling, with tough Staff Ghosts to chase and leaderboards to climb.
This is where the game’s sharp course design truly shines, like a perfectly aimed green shell across a hairpin turn.
Speaking of which, the track selection is truly great. Thirty in total, with new ones that feel fresh and inventive, and returning legends like Airship Fortress and Wario Stadium reborn in HD glory.
Battle Mode: Obligatory Balloon Popping
Battle Mode also exists In World. But barely. As of writing, there are only two modes: Balloon Battle and Coin Runners, and the maps are sliced-up track pieces that lack the bite of classic battle arenas.
It’s serviceable but feels more like a contractual obligation than a labour of love.
Graphics, Sound, and Nintendo Charm
On the bright side, Mario Kart World looks and sounds fantastic. The Switch 2’s extra horsepower gives it a crisp, vibrant sheen, with expressive characters and lush environments.
And the soundtrack? Over 200 tracks (no pun intended) remixed and reimagined from Mario Kart history.
It’s a love letter to fans and easily one of Nintendo’s best-sounding games.
Final Lap
Mario Kart World is big, bold, and occasionally baffling.
It delivers genuine highs, Rainbow Road, Knockout Tour, and the soundtrack but also spins out in places.
The open-world structure is inspired, but it is not always fun. Online is oddly limited, and Free Roam feels more like an experiment than a feature.
But the core karting? It’s still gold.
It’s magic when you’re racing on a track, battling shells and boosting through turns.
There’s a great game here, maybe even the greatest one if Nintendo smooths the bumps in the road.
