"Mario Kart World" tested: a bold new start that doesn't quite succeed at everything
13.6.2025
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Domagoj Belancic
Instead of individual tracks, "Mario Kart World" has an open game world. Despite some weaknesses in the game design, the open-world concept works. "Mario Kart World is the Switch 2's killer app.
In its eleven-year (!) lifetime, «Mario Kart 8» has developed into the «ultimate» version of the fun racer thanks to numerous downloadable contents. The game now has 96 race tracks and 42 playable characters. How can you top this package in a sequel?
With «Mario Kart World», Nintendo provides a successful answer to this question at the launch of the Switch 2. Instead of packing even more content into the sequel, Nintendo is shaking the foundations of the franchise and offering a new gaming experience with a huge open world. However, there is still room for improvement in some areas.
The open world as a playground for epic races
Although Nintendo has introduced many new features, the core of the «Mario Kart» gameplay principle remains untouched in «World». As a character from the Mario universe, I race against other drivers in cups or individual races. All kinds of items are used to cause chaos. So far, so «Mario Kart».
New arrival at «Mario Kart World» is that not just 12, but 24 drivers take part in a race. Doubling the number of game characters increases both the frustration and euphoria potential of the game to unimagined heights.
If I get hit by a red tank, over a dozen drivers overtake me within seconds. But just as quickly as I can lose places, I can also make them up again. The epic battles are more than ever a rollercoaster ride of emotions that can break friendships (I'll never forgive you for that blue tank just before the finish line, Michelle).
The selection of characters is well done and is complemented with different costumes for each character. I can finally put Wario in a cute wasp costume. 🐝
In addition to the usual suspects, there are also many new NPCs from various Mario games waiting to be unlocked. I always have to laugh out loud when I see a cow, a little crab or a snowman sitting on a kart and riding along. It's great.
Also new: The tracks in «Mario Kart World» are not self-contained levels. Instead, they are organically integrated into a coherent open world.
While I'm speeding around the «Peach Stadium», for example, I can see the «Koopa Beach» and the «Kronen Metropole» on the horizon. Even a day-night system and changing weather conditions have made it into the game. The new open-world design also has a major impact on the gameplay and the various game modes.
Cup structure takes some getting used to
In «Mario Kart World» there are a total of eight cups. Compared to its predecessors, these have a structure that takes some getting used to, which is related to the open world of the game.
I rarely drive a track using the classic three-lap principle. Instead, «Mario Kart World» often lets me drive individual courses for just one lap and then whisks me off to the next track. The highlight: the open-world roads between the traditional tracks are also part of the race.
These often very wide and straight sequences differ significantly from the «normal», more winding tracks. Which is good, because the additional racing surface provides welcome breaks from the 24-player chaos. What's more, with the right items, I can often take some pretty blatant shortcuts off the beaten track in these open sections.
The mixture of wide roads and normal «Mario Kart» tracks basically works well and provides variety - but I would have liked an additional, classic Cup mode without the open-world fuss. At least: in the returned «Versus» mode, I can create my own «Cups» from individual races with three laps and my own rules.
I love the knockout tour
The new knockout tour, in which I compete in «rallies» instead of cups, is even more tailored to the open game world. In these, I drive six tracks (and the roads between the tracks) one after the other, without a break. The rallies are like world tours through the game world that take me from one end of the open world to the other.
There are a total of six checkpoints on this world tour. After each checkpoint, the last four drivers are kicked out - «Battle Royale» à la «Mario Kart».
I can't emphasise enough how brilliant this new mode is. The feeling when I overtake a few rivals in the last few metres before the checkpoint and stumble into the next lap by the skin of my teeth is indescribable. The frustration is just as great when I'm overtaken just before the checkpoint by a mug just because he has the damn Kugelwilli item. This is «Mario Kart» at its best.
Due to the large number of routes per rally, there are inevitably overlaps between the eight available rallies. This is not a tragedy because the open-world routes to the respective tracks differ greatly and thus provide variety.
In general, the roads between the tracks are an ingenious move on Nintendo's part. This makes the game feel much bigger than the 32 tracks would suggest. There are a total of 202 roads connecting the traditional tracks. It takes over ten hours to see them all, as Youtuber Getlucky found out.
Other classics are also here
The «battle» mode is just as chaotic as the bigger races. Here, 24 drivers also compete against each other in two mini-games: «Balloon Battle» and «Coin Hunter». In the former, I try to burst five balloons of opposing drivers before they destroy my five balloons. In the second, I collect as many coins as possible and try to steal other players' coins.
The battles take place in closed parts of the open game world. Unfortunately, these are not coordinated with the battle mode. The mode feels half-heartedly implemented and I left it behind after a short time.
If you want less chaos, the time trials are for you. As in past «Mario Kart» instalments, I drive alone or against ghost data on the tracks and try to beat the best times. The perfect tool to learn shortcuts and tricks from the pros.
Yawning emptiness in the free roam
I am disappointed by the «Free Roam» mode. In this mode, I explore the huge game world of «Mario Kart World» without any pressure to perform. The problem is that the world seems empty and boring without a race. Several minutes can pass before I discover something exciting in the world. It's also a shame that I can't explore the game world with other players.
There are around 400 mini-missions in the open game world, which I start with P-switches. These are usually completed within seconds. In the missions, I complete obstacle courses, collect a certain number of coins in a short time or drift through hordes of enemies. It's all pretty unspectacular. I never spend more than a few minutes in «Free Roam» before switching back to the other modes.
The rewards that I get for completing the missions are also disappointing - the game only gives me some piddly stickers that I can stick on my karts. I also get these useless stickers for finding hidden collectable items, which I can barely see on the karts.
Cartoon physics and Mario as Tony Hawk-wannabe
The driving experience has changed a lot compared to the eighth instalment. The karts «no longer stick» so much to the ground, but wobble and bounce back and forth in a funny cartoon physics when driving and drifting. If I get hit by an item, my kart flies through the air in a more chaotic and unpredictable manner. On the water, I ride waves as if I were playing «Wave Race». Explosions from tanks and other items even create shockwaves in the water - so cool!
The new moves that Mario and co. have in store also fit in with this «lighter» physics. In addition to the familiar drifts, «power jumps» are now also part of the moveset. I charge these by holding ZR while my kart is travelling straight ahead. When I let go, my character jumps up. Like Tony Hawk, I can get onto railings and grind on them or even perform wall jumps. All these actions give me a little boost, just like the drifts.
I enjoy learning a new basic mechanic in a «Mario Kart». Everywhere in the levels I find hidden paths with grindable railings or drivable walls. The new options reward players who invest a lot of time in their skills. Great!
Limited online functionality
Of course, I can drive all modes and races not only alone or in a four-player split screen, but also online - optionally with a local player. The online mode works really well. Even with 24 drivers, I didn't notice any major delays.
The options in online mode seem rudimentary compared to other online titles and even compared to «Mario Kart 8 Deluxe». I can play cups, rallies and battles. Depending on how I perform, I receive points for my ranking.
There is nothing to unlock and no progression system. I also can't create my own tournaments or join tournaments, as was possible in the previous game. Hopefully Nintendo will make improvements here.
At least one great function: I can play with friends both online and offline using the Nintendo Switch 2 camera (or another USB webcam). So I can see the faces of my enemies before I mow them down, muahaha. It reads like a gimmick, but I really enjoy it in multiplayer sessions.
An audiovisual feast for the senses
Nintendo uses the additional power of the Switch 2 not only for fancy graphical effects, but above all for the size of the game world and the expanded driver field. «Mario Kart World» is not a game that makes your jaw drop when you see it for the first time. However, the more I play, the more I notice the technical progress compared to its predecessor.
There's so much going on on the screen in the epic races. 24 drivers, elaborate particle effects, explosions, loving details next to the tracks - and all of this in flawless picture quality at 60 FPS. One small fly in the ointment: Away from the tracks, some areas of the game look very dull graphically with poorly detailed textures and angular models. One more reason to stay away from the «Free Roam» mode.
The soundtrack, which consists of successful remixes of classic Mario tracks, is consistently brilliant. I keep hearing a melody, humming along and trying to guess which game I recognise the track from. It doesn't get any better than this.
«Mario Kart World» is available for the Nintendo Switch 2. A test copy was provided to me by Nintendo.
In a nutshell
A bold new start with some questionable design decisions
"Mario Kart World" is not the new "ultimate Mario Kart". Instead, it is a bold new beginning that feels unusually fresh, and not just because of the doubling of the active drivers. The Open World turns the familiar cup structure upside down and enables a completely new game mode: the sensational knockout tour. The gameplay based on battle royale games is the best thing that could have happened to "Mario Kart".
There is room for improvement in the unspectacular "Free Roam" mode, which makes the game world seem boring. The "Battle" mode and online multiplayer could also do with more meat on the bone. Overall, however, these are side notes in a very successful, colourful and chaotic overall package. If you own a Switch 2, you should definitely not miss out on this fun.
Pro
- A surprisingly unusual selection of characters and costumes
- Successful colour physics and controls
- Lots of variety in the open-world track design
- Excellent technical realisation and divine soundtrack
- Fun camera integration
Contra
- boring "free roam"
- Limited online mode
Domagoj Belancic
Senior Editor
Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.chMy love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.
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