After more than 67 million copies sold and nearly eight years of support, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe passes the baton to a new generation: Mario Kart World, the title that will mark the debut of Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. This new installment isn’t just a sequel, but a complete reimagining of the franchise, developed over nearly a decade and initially designed for the original Switch.
The legacy of MK8 Deluxe remains present with classic circuits and a solid gameplay foundation. However, Mario Kart World’s innovations position it as the most ambitious transformation in the franchise to date.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Legacy Finishes The Race
The sustained success of MK8 Deluxe can be attributed to several factors. The large installed base of Nintendo Switch (over 100 million units) has provided a massive audience.
Additionally, Nintendo’s decision to introduce additional characters like Birdo, Kamek, and Diddy Kong alongside new tracks kept players engaged. With a total of 96 tracks, it became the installment with the most content in franchise history.
This 2025, Mario Kart World enters the track alongside the new console. This installment isn’t just a sequel, but a complete reimagining of the franchise, developed over nearly a decade and initially designed for the original Switch. The move to Switch 2 allowed it to incorporate numerous technical innovations, many of which redefine what we expect from a Mario Kart.
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The future of Mario Kart: Open World and New Mechanics
For the first time, Mario Kart abandons the traditional “menu-circuit-finish line” format to present an interconnected open world, similar to Forza Horizon or Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Players can move freely between zones like plains, cities, volcanoes, and coasts, where transition areas also become part of the race.
What’s New for the franchise?
Main Innovations
- Races for 24 players both offline and online.
- Grand Prix mode with seven cups and at least 28 base circuits.
- Free Mode to explore the world, collect items, find secret vehicles, and complete missions.
- Survival Mode, a continuous race with progressive elimination.
- Local multiplayer for 4 players on a single console, or 8 with two connected Switch 2s. Online for up to 24 simultaneous racers.
- GameChat, the new voice and video communication system integrated into Switch 2.
Additionally, compatibility with classic controllers, Joy-Con 2, and accessories like the Joy-Con 2 Wheel is confirmed, which enhances the driving experience with motion controls.
New Features
- Rewind feature in certain modes (like Forza Horizon), useful for correcting mistakes.
- Vehicle transformation: karts convert into airplanes, trucks, or jet skis depending on terrain.
- Magnetic charged jump, which allows wall-climbing and obstacle navigation.
- Dynamic weather and day/night cycles that affect visibility and driving physics.
The Biggest Mario Kart in History: Characters, Circuits, and Content
With over 50 playable characters and nearly 200 combinations when counting costumes, Mario Kart World features the most extensive roster to date. Classic characters like Mario, Luigi, or Donkey Kong are joined by unexpected additions like Goomba, Moo Moo, Spiny, Pianta, Wiggler, and more. The redesigns with a rounder, more “retro” aesthetic, inspired by Super Mario Kart also stand out.
Featured Characters
- Mario
- Peach
- Yoshi
- Donkey Kong
- Pauline
- Waluigi
- Baby Daisy
- Birdo
- Hammer Bro
- Cheep Cheep
- Lakitu
- King Boo
- Spike
Confirmed Circuits
28 tracks in the initial Grand Prix (7 cups x 4 races), including classics like Rainbow Road and Moo Moo Meadows, and new ones like:
- Mario Bros Circuit
- Boo Cinema
- Sol-Sol Desert
- Wario’s Galleon
- Peach Beach
- DK Alpine
- Dandelion Depths
In total, developers estimate that with variants and alternative routes, there will be over 100 circuits. They’ll be distributed across biomes connected by roads that can also be raced on.
Extra Content Highlights
- Achievement system and mini-games (like dodging cows in Moo Moo Meadows).
- Yoshi’s Restaurants in each zone, offering unique collectibles.
- Collectible stickers to customize karts and a travel journal.
- Over 200 selectable songs in a “jukebox” featuring remixes and new tracks.
What’s next for the saga?
The future of Mario Kart is no longer a mystery. Mario Kart World isn’t Mario Kart 9 by name, but it is in spirit. It launches June 5, 2025 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. It will also be available in a bundle with the console.
This is just the starting point. Nintendo could expand content with new circuits and characters, though no DLCs are confirmed yet. Future updates are expected at events and online tournaments following the launch.
With more content, more ambition, and more freedom than ever, the franchise accelerates toward its definitive evolution. Ready to hit the track?
