It’s been over a decade since we got a brand-new Mario Kart game. Not a deluxe version. Not another DLC wave. A real follow-up. And with Mario Kart World launching beside the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s a big deal. I didn’t expect much at first. I’ve raced every track, dodged every shell, and watched too many friendships fall apart on Rainbow Road. But within the first hour, Mario Kart World managed to throw me a few surprises.
So how does Mario Kart World compare to what came before it? The short answer: it’s not what you’re used to. The longer answer? Let’s take a few laps and talk it through.
Mario Kart World details
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2
Developer(s): Nintendo
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Racing, Party
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Connected checkpoints and open roads
Mario Kart World ditches the old formula of warping between tracks. Instead, everything’s connected through one massive, continuous map. You still pick a Grand Prix and run through a set of courses, but this time you’re driving between each one. After each event, you roll out onto the road and head toward the next starting point.
At first, this structure felt strange. I’m used to hard stops between races. But the more I played, the smoother it felt. The races blend into each other in a way that fits the game’s title. You’re no longer just racing tracks. You’re moving through a world. The map isn’t just for show. Knockout Tour builds on it with checkpoint-based elimination races across entire regions. It’s a different kind of pressure. You’re watching the timer tick down, hoping you’ll make it to the next gate.
Then there’s Free Roam. You can drive around, find P-Switch missions, and collect Peach Medallions. Some areas feel empty, but I liked the break from racing. The structure encourages small detours that teach you how to wall ride or grind rails. The world itself looks good, but navigation could be better. The minimap isn’t great, and it’s easy to forget where things are. Still, the regions feel distinct enough that you’ll eventually memorize your favourite spots.
Mario Kart World doesn’t tell a story in the traditional sense, but the new structure changes how you think about progress. You’re not just picking tracks. You’re exploring connected spaces, each leading to the next.
Chaos, control, and kart tricks
Mario Kart World keeps the core racing tight. Drifting, boosting, and shell dodging still feel just right. But now, you’ve got new tools to master. Charge jumps, wall rides, and grind rails change how you approach each course. Some tricks take practice. I messed up a rail jump, fell into a lake, and still managed third thanks to a mushroom boost and a lucky lightning strike. It’s that kind of chaos that makes the game click. Even when you mess up, you’re never completely out. Races stay messy, fast, and unpredictable from start to finish.
Knockout Tour leans into that feeling hard. It’s one long race with checkpoints. Fall behind and you’re out. The pressure ramps up with every gate. One run, I was in 12th place, got triple shells, and barely squeezed into the final round. I hit a banana just before the finish, but someone else flew off the track first. I’ll take it. Grand Prix mode is more relaxed, but still has surprises. The mix of one-lap segments and intermissions between tracks keeps it interesting. Free Roam isn’t deep, but it’s useful. You can practice new tricks, look for collectibles, or just drive.
The Dash Food system adds something extra. Pick up food bags at drive-thrus, and if you’re the right character, you’ll unlock new costumes. It’s a fun little loop. I kept going back to one stand just to see if I’d finally get Soft Server Toadette. Worth it. The controls are smooth across the board. Karts respond well, tricks feel snappy, and speed always matters. The new ideas don’t replace what worked, they layer in some risk, timing, and flexibility.
Racing that looks and feels right
Mario Kart World is one of the best-looking games Nintendo has ever released. It runs at 60 FPS and holds steady in most situations. Whether you’re on a beach, in a forest, or drifting through a storm, everything looks smooth. The lighting is especially nice. Some races start with heavy rain, then shift to sunlight by the final stretch. That change never feels jarring. You just notice the shadows and skies getting brighter as you go.
Each area has its own style and weather patterns. Visuals in docked and handheld mode both hold up well. I didn’t notice major dips, even during big online races or busy Free Roam sessions. The music deserves just as much attention. You’ll hear original tracks, plus big-band remixes from past Mario games. Some come from deep cuts like Wario Land or Super Mario Land. I left the title screen up once just to keep the theme running in the background. It’s that catchy.
Sound effects are clean and sharp. You’ll know when something’s coming, triple mushrooms spin, red shells click, and someone always yells before a blue shell lands. Characters have fun touches too. Pauline hums when she lands a trick. Some racers shout their catchphrases during boost pads. Split-screen holds up surprisingly well. I tested it with two and four players. Frame rate stayed stable unless GameChat and the camera were both on. Watching my friend’s face pop up above their kart mid-race was hilarious. They weren’t laughing when I passed them with a bomb, though.
Mario Kart World doesn’t reinvent the look of the series, but it makes everything cleaner, smoother, and more fun to watch.
Lobbies, laughs, and knockouts
Mario Kart World supports up to 24 racers in online matches. That number alone changes everything. Races feel busier, and survival gets harder. Knockout Tour easily became my favourite mode. It throws you into elimination-based races where only the fastest move on. You race through linked segments, hitting checkpoints before the timer or cutoff knocks you out. One match, I was holding 10th place, then slipped to 17th after a green shell hit. I restarted immediately.
Online lobbies work well. You can join a race quickly, vote on the next track, or team up with a friend in split-screen. Load times are short, and most matches stay smooth. I noticed some small hiccups during packed moments, but nothing that ruined a race. GameChat adds something extra. A small camera window floats above your kart, showing your face mid-race. It’s silly, but in a good way. One moment that stuck with me: my friend wiped out in Knockout Tour, and their disappointed face showed up right as I drifted past the checkpoint. I lost it.
Battle Mode includes Balloon Battle and Coin Runners. They’re okay, but don’t match the fun of the main races. The larger maps can feel a bit too empty, even with 24 racers. Still, the online suite offers a lot. Whether you’re in for competition or chaos, it’s easy to hop in and keep going.
Mario Kart World delivers something new without losing what makes the series great
Mario Kart World doesn’t try to erase the past. It just tries to stretch it in new directions. For the most part, it works. The open map structure changes how you move through the game. You’re no longer picking tracks from a menu. You’re driving between them, learning the layout, and discovering things along the way. Sometimes that discovery leads to a hidden shortcut. Other times it’s a sticker for your kart and nothing more. But the structure makes each cup feel less like a list and more like a journey.
Knockout Tour pushes things even further. It’s fast, brutal, and built for repeat attempts. Grand Prix still hits the sweet spot between casual and competitive. And Free Roam, even with its slow spots, gave me a reason to explore. I don’t always return to side content in kart racers, but this one made me want to keep poking around. There’s room for improvement. Map tracking could be better. Battle Mode feels like an afterthought. Some collectibles don’t feel worth chasing. But none of that pulled me out of the experience.
In summary, here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The connected open map creates a fresh sense of progression. | Battle Mode feels underdeveloped compared to racing. |
| Knockout Tour adds intense, fast-paced elimination races. | Unlocking certain characters relies too much on random item use. |
| New mechanics like wall rides and grind rails deepen the racing experience. | Free Roam can feel empty with limited rewards. |
| The costume unlock system adds fun goals to chase. |
Overall assessment of Mario Kart World
Gameplay: 4.75/5
Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Lasting appeal/Replayability: 4.5/5
Overall rating: 4.6/5 (92%)
What matters is the driving. That part still feels great. Add in new tricks, smooth performance, and online extras like GameChat, and you’ve got a racer that actually feels like it belongs on new hardware. Mario Kart World might not win over everyone, but it didn’t need to. It gave me new ways to race without losing the fun that got me hooked years ago.
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