(Credit: Will Greenwald)
Mario Kart World was the first game that Nintendo showcased running on the Switch 2 during the system's reveal. Considering that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe broke sales records on the original Switch, it makes sense Nintendo would revisit the series as soon as possible. I demoed this reinvented, cross-country take on classic kart racing at a recent Nintendo Switch 2 event.
A Big Racing World
The initial Switch 2 teaser clued us in that Mario Kart World would feature 24 characters per race, double the usual 12. To beef up the roster, the racing game includes characters like the cow from Moo Moo Meadows and Waluigi in a mariachi outfit. With more racers, the tracks must expand to accommodate the vehicles. As a result, Mario Kart World has wider paths full of alternate pathways, pit stops, grind rails, and full-on highways with multiple lanes. Mario Kart World is a Switch 2 exclusive; you can't play it on the original model. For more, check out Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: What's the Difference?
True to its name, this game lets you race around an entire world, seamlessly exiting one track and entering another. It gives the competitions an open-world flavor like Burnout Paradise, Forza Horizon, and Lego 2K Drive. This turns even normal races into cross-country treks with impressive scope, where snowy mountains transition to jungle treetops before you know it.
Yes, you’ll still power slide to build up boost and toss Blue Shells to take out the lead racer. However, the familiar Mario Kart formula is expanded into something that feels even bigger than the already vast Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The gigantic, multi-layered, continuous tracks also encourage more dynamic racing tactics, not just memorizing the optimal shortcuts of every repeated lap.
(Credit: Nintendo/PCMag)New Ways to Race: Free Roam and Knockout Tour
I sampled traditional races highlighting the larger environments and how vehicles transition between land, air, and sea forms. However, Mario Kart World features new modes that put its world to better use.
For the first time, you can just freely drive around and not race anyone at all. Just hang out and take pictures with your friends at scenic vistas. The developers put a lot of love into these tracks, so it’s cool to appreciate them as actual spaces, not scenery that rushes by. Rewind if you miss a turn (like in Forza). The weather even changes over time. Free Roam mode's open exploration is Mario Kart but chill.
For the exact opposite experience, Knockout Tour turns the game into a thrilling, battle royale-like experience. A Knockout Race starts with all 24 players, but the bottom group gets eliminated at each checkpoint. I made it to the final four, with my heart racing faster than my kart (probably because we played at 100cc speed). I loved this mode, but hope the game also receives a traditional Mario Kart battle mode.
Mario Kart World is a major launch title for Nintendo Switch 2, dropping on the console's June 5 launch day. FYI: The racer costs a hefty $79.99, but you can buy it bundled with the system at a discount. More details about the game are coming at a dedicated Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct on April 17.