(Credit: Cole Kan; Nintendo)
For decades, the Mario Kart series has delighted millions with its madcap multiplayer arcade racing. But Mario Kart World, a Nintendo Switch 2 launch title, levels up the familiar formula by placing 24 competitors in a huge, intricate open world. The new format truly shines in Knockout Tour, Mario Kart World's flagship multiplayer mode. In this battle royale-esque elimination match, you race across the entire map in a single unbroken lap that combines several courses. Every so often, you'll reach a checkpoint that knocks out the bottom four players. The contest continues until there's only one winner remaining. It's tense, thrilling, and a ton of fun. In fact, I've chased the championship high ever since defeating 23 fellow journalists at a Mario Kart World preview event. Follow these tips if you, too, want to finish in the top spot.
(Credit: Nintendo/PCMag)1. Practice Routes and the New Techniques in Single-Player Mode
Before even thinking about challenging foes online in Knockout Tour, take the time to truly hone your Mario Kart skills in the various chill single-player modes. Use Time Trials to find the fastest racing lines. Hop into Free Roam to explore the areas and learn their layouts, so you can better improvise under pressure. Mario Kart World introduces tricky maneuvers, like wall-running and rail-grinding, so you must master those jump mechanics. The rewind feature lets you quickly retry a maneuver if you mess it up. Like a fighting game, Mario Kart World demands working out moves in the lab before tackling the real competition.
(Credit: Nintendo/PCMag)2. Use Your Items to Protect Yourself
Mario Kart's iconic items make securing the victory more complex than just driving the fastest. Many are various projectile types, including shells and fireballs, that you shoot at opponents to ruin their day. In World, you can aim items with more precision by repositioning the camera. However, smart players will recognize an item's defensive potential. Sometimes, it's wise to hold a shell and let it block an oncoming assault, rather than immediately launching it. Likewise, you can use the horn to destroy blue shells or let three bananas surround you like a shield. Items fly fast and furious in Knockout Tour, and you need to protect yourself, not just attack others.
(Credit: Nintendo/PCMag)3. Want to Win? First Focus on Survival
Eventually, you want to come in first place, but surviving is its own victory in Knockout Tour. With 24 racers clustered together, everyone constantly jockeys for position. So, for much of the race, you just need to reach the next checkpoint. Don't always attempt a big, risky shortcut for first place that may leave you in a worse position. Survive the knockouts, then worry about fighting your way to the front.
(Credit: Nintendo/PCMag)4. Choose Your Character and Kart Carefully
Mario Kart World features beloved Mario heroes and villains driving colorful karts. But choosing your character and vehicle should be more than just an aesthetic preference. A lighter racer like Toad has a higher acceleration but lower top speed compared with a heavyweight like Bowser. In addition, each kart has stats that may impact your play style. Burly trucks handle differently from nimble bikes. Try out different character and kart combinations until you settle on a favorite, because you must stick with them for the long haul in lengthy, roughly 10-minute Knockout Tour races.
(Credit: Nintendo/PCMag)5. Slipstream Rival Racers
Mario Kart has never been a particularly realistic racing game. However, it adopts one nifty, real-world physics element: the aerodynamic slipstream technique. If you drive directly behind another player, eventually you'll draft and boost past them due to the reduced drag. Knockout Tour features many stretches down long straight roads, where the karts are in close proximity. So, instead of powersliding around infrequent corners, consider a slipstream boost to get a competitive edge.