With the release of Mario Kart World, Nintendo has once again taken control of its most iconic racing franchise, aiming to redefine what a kart racing game can be. Exclusively available on the Nintendo Switch 2, this long-anticipated title arrives eight years after Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a game many still regard as the gold standard of the series. Expectations have been sky-high, and Mario Kart World makes a bold attempt to evolve the franchise with a global theme, a reworked single-player mode, and significantly improved visuals. While many of its innovations succeed, not every design choice is a winner.
A New Setting with Mixed Results
The most immediately noticeable change in Mario Kart World is its globe-trotting setting. Instead of sticking to the whimsical, Mushroom Kingdom-only environments of previous games, Nintendo has broadened its creative scope to include tracks inspired by real-world locations. You’ll find yourself weaving through the bustling streets of Tokyo, drifting past the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or speeding along the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. This global approach adds an exciting variety to the game’s 32 new courses and features 16 remastered classics, which have been visually updated to match the new game’s vibrant aesthetic.
Compared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where even the most imaginative tracks eventually started to blend with their similar art styles, Mario Kart World offers greater geographical and cultural variety. Each course now feels like a mini-vacation, complete with regional music styles and visual details that show how much attention Nintendo has paid to local flavour. However, the ambition occasionally trips over itself. A few tracks, such as the Sydney Sky Ride or the Mumbai Monsoon Circuit, feel more like tourist caricatures than authentic representations, and some of the track layouts prioritise spectacle over solid racing flow. While it’s a delight to sightsee, competitive players might find the turns and item placements less precisely tuned than in MK8 Deluxe.
Visuals and Performance is a Showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2
One area where Mario Kart World clearly outshines its predecessor is in visual presentation. Taking full advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s upgraded GPU and processing power, the game runs in native 4K resolution when docked, with consistent 60 frames per second across all modes. This marks a significant leap over Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which topped out at 1080p and occasionally suffered frame drops during intense split-screen or online play.
Graphically, Mario Kart World is simply stunning. Environmental textures are richer, lighting is more dynamic, and weather effects, like rain slicks on asphalt or swirling sandstorms in desert courses, bring a new layer of immersion. Characters are more expressive than ever, reacting to hits, boosts, and falls with charming animations that make the game feel alive. The addition of haptic feedback via the enhanced Joy-Con controllers is a subtle but welcome touch, especially when skidding through gravel or feeling the thump of landing from a big jump.
That said, the visual fidelity does occasionally cause issues. While it’s rare, a few tracks suffer from noticeable texture pop-in when racing at high speeds, and loading times between circuits are a touch longer than expected for a next-gen console. Still, compared to MK8 Deluxe, this is an undeniable upgrade in almost every visual and technical respect.
Refined Gameplay with New Mechanics in Mario Kart World
Gameplay in Mario Kart World remains true to the series’ formula, with tight handling, fast-paced racing, and item-based chaos. Nintendo has made several notable changes to shake things up. Chief among them is the introduction of World Tour mode, a new single-player campaign structured around an international circuit. Unlike the more linear Grand Prix format of MK8 Deluxe, World Tour introduces branching paths, region-specific challenges, and unlockable content tied to completing goals across different continents. This gives solo players a more engaging progression system and a sense of exploration that MK8 Deluxe never truly delivered.
Another key gameplay addition is the “Air Dash” mechanic, which lets players slightly adjust their trajectory while airborne. This subtle move adds depth to jumps and allows for riskier stunts, a big step forward from the gliding system introduced in MK7 and refined in MK8. Drifting, boosting, and trick mechanics all feel tighter and more responsive, especially thanks to the improved control precision on the new Joy-Cons.
Despite these improvements, one frustrating holdover from previous titles remains: rubber-banding AI. While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was known for its sometimes-infuriating CPU opponents who could recover from behind with suspicious speed, Mario Kart World hasn’t done much to address this. On higher difficulties, races often feel less like a competition of skill and more like a test of luck, with CPU racers launching perfect item combos just as you near the finish line. It’s fun, until it isn’t.
Multiplayer Evolves in Mario Kart World
Multiplayer has always been central to the Mario Kart experience, and Mario Kart World continues that tradition with enhancements both online and offline. Local co-op still supports up to four players on a single console, with reliable performance and an improved UI for split-screen gameplay. This makes the game enjoyable at parties or family gatherings, and the high-resolution visuals remain clear even when multiple racers share the screen.
Online multiplayer receives a major upgrade compared to MK8 Deluxe, particularly with the introduction of cross-region matchmaking. Matches are found more quickly and reliably, and latency issues have been substantially reduced, though not entirely eliminated. Nintendo’s new “Team Rally” mode is a notable addition: players are randomly assigned to global teams (such as Red Shell vs. Blue Shell), and every race contributes to an evolving leaderboard over the course of the month. This creates a sense of continuity and purpose that online play in MK8 Deluxe lacked, encouraging players to return regularly and help improve their team’s standing.
Characters, Customisation, and Progression
One area where Mario Kart World shows real ambition is in its character and kart customisation systems. The game now boasts over 50 characters, the largest roster yet, featuring returning favourites like Yoshi and Bowser, along with creatures found across the universe like Goomba and Penguin. This is a big step up from MK8 Deluxe, which had a large but static roster and relatively shallow customisation options.
Customisation goes far beyond cosmetic changes. Mario Kart World introduces a “Driver Style” system, where your character evolves based on your play habits. If you favour speed over control, for instance, your driver will develop traits that enhance top speed and reduce traction penalties. Combined with new kart parts and region-specific unlockables, the system offers more strategic depth and personalisation than ever before.
However, progression can feel grindy at times. Unlocking certain drivers and parts requires completing specific regional challenges, which means you may have to replay the same tracks multiple times. For casual players, this could feel more like a chore than a rewarding journey.
Final Thoughts on Mario Kart World Worth It?
In the end, Mario Kart World is both a celebration of the franchise’s legacy and a bold step toward its future. The game builds on everything that made Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a success while taking calculated risks that mostly pay off. Its world-spanning tracks, deep customisation, and technical polish showcase what’s possible on the Nintendo Switch 2, offering a richer and more varied experience than its predecessor. Yet it’s not without flaws. The rubber-banding AI, occasional online hiccups, and grind-heavy progression may frustrate some players.
Still, for most fans and newcomers alike, Mario Kart World is a must-play. It’s a visually stunning, mechanically refined, and feature-rich racing game that succeeds more often than it stumbles. Whether you’re racing with friends or climbing the global leaderboards, Mario Kart World delivers hours of fun and solid replay value.
