REVIEW: ‘Mario Kart World’ Takes The Series To New Heights

Since its inception in 1992, the Mario Kart franchise has become a staple in the racing game genre. The combination of sleek racing action and whimsical Nintendo fun has allowed it to become a fan favorite for millions of players. Mario Kart World is the next in a long line of games in the franchise that, alongside the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, aims to evolve the series in new and exciting ways.

Mario Kart World shares many similarities with previous entries. Players take control of one of 50 playable characters from the Mario universe and take to the tracks to compete in four-race-long Grands Prix. Points are earned based on the place you finish, and the highest scorer across the four races wins the Grand Prix trophy.

What’s new in Mario Kart World is that these races now contain 24 drivers instead of the 12 that previous games allowed. That alone significantly changes the amount of on-track chaos, making it easy to get stuck in the midfield thanks to an onslaught of items stopping you in your tracks. Doubling the number of racers doubles the fun, but that isn’t the only update that makes the races so enjoyable. 200cc mode is not available at launch, but hopefully it will be added in the future for more fast-paced action.

The presentation is also quite impressive. Crowds watching the races add to the atmosphere, and the moving parts in the background keep every track interesting. One really neat feature is the way races start. The first race is a standing start, with all karts placed on a starting grid like normal. However, drivers go into a rolling start for the next three races, moving from the end of one track into the beginning of the new one. It is a relatively minor tweak to the formula, but the connection of the tracks increases the immersion.

Freeroam in Mario Kart World is cool, but it wears off quickly.

Mario Kart World introduces new rail grinding and wall riding mechanics that fundamentally change how players race. Thanks to new ways to find shortcuts and speed boosts, even familiar maps can feel substantially different. They are intuitive, easy to learn, but challenging to master the more complex tricks available. The feeling of nailing an impressive grind into a wall ride to jump into first place is incredible, so it’s worth taking the time to mess around with learning the ropes.

Thankfully, Mario Kart World makes it easy to explore the different tracks in the Free Roam mode. Free Roam is exactly what it sounds like, giving players the opportunity to drive around the entire island map, which features every track available in the initial eight Grands Prix. It’s nice to be able to explore the area, try out new tricks, and not feel the pressure of needing to finish in first place.

Free Roam also has different objectives to complete. P-Switch missions can be completed to unlock stickers, while collected coins help unlock new karts. Grabbing a meal from outside Yoshi’s Diner has a chance to unlock new costumes, too, with many characters having multiple variants to unlock. These are neat additions, and the challenges can be complex at times.

The issue with Free Roam is that it has no real lasting impact. The shine can wear off pretty quickly, especially if you aren’t into participating in a collect-a-thon. More guaranteed unlockables would go a long way towards making Free Roam more worthwhile, but for now, it is best used as a way to learn the lay of the land before entering the races.

Knockout Tour is an absolute hit in Mario Kart World.

While Free Roam might be a touch disappointing, Knockout Tour is an absolute hit. This new mode features all 24 drivers competing through six tracks in a “Knockout Rally,” where drivers are eliminated after each track. There is no starting and stopping between races. Instead, drivers are cut down at the finish line of each race en route to a four-driver standoff at the end.

What makes Knockout Tour such a great game mode is the way it gradually shifts the focus from relying on luck with items to simply being the better driver. It is easy to rely on powerful items when there are 24 drivers on track, but once it cuts down to four, the only real way to progress is by simply being faster. If you take the time to learn shortcuts and get better at using rail grinding and wall riding, this is the perfect chance to show off your skills. The chaos of Knockout Tour has the potential to be a real friendship ender.

Battle Mode also makes its return in Mario Kart World and is perfectly adequate. Balloon Battle sends players out with balloons attached to their kart, using items to pop their opponents’ balloons to win. Coin Runners has players compete to see who can collect the most coins within the time limit, with items used to knock coins away from their enemies.

There is nothing wrong with Battle Mode; it just doesn’t see the same evolutions the other modes have undergone. Limiting it to only eight maps also severely reduces the incentive to explore these modes more. Still, if you want a break from the typical racing modes, there is still fun to be had here.

Absolutely everything is an improvement in Mario Kart World.

What sticks out the most in Mario Kart World is how much harder it seems to be than previous entries. The CPU is smarter with when to use items, and often uses shortcuts you may not have even discovered yet. It is much more difficult to simply breeze to victory, and that is not a bad thing. The improved challenge makes it that much more rewarding when you finally nail a Grand Prix and earn all three stars.

Mario Kart World is also visually stunning, easily the best-looking Mario Kart game yet. It utilizes the power of the Switch 2 to deliver vibrant colors and engaging environments without compromising performance. Thanks to the improved visuals and expanded world, even returning maps feel new.

It wouldn’t be a Mario Kart game with a banger soundtrack, and Mario Kart World delivers. There are over 200 musical arrangements, some new and some old, that bring the entire package to life. It’s a bummer we can’t vibe to Coconut Mall, but there are so many great options that make it worth cranking the volume while you struggle to avoid blue shells.

Mario Kart World is an excellent launch title that serves as an evolution for the long-running racing franchise. There are some minor issues like a lackluster Free Roam mode, but overall, it is an incredible package that will provide countless hours of racing fun for everyone.

Mario Kart World is out now on the Nintendo Switch 2.