The Mario Kart franchise stood at an interesting crossroads at the end of the Nintendo Switch generation. *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe* was the best-selling game on the platform and served as the ultimate celebration of the kart racing series. Featuring remakes of numerous tracks from the past, characters from across the Nintendo universe, and an outstanding soundtrack, the game set a high bar. So, how on Earth could Nintendo create a proper sequel?
**Mario Kart World** answers that question with brand-new gameplay mechanics, an open world that appeals to gamers of all ages, and the innovative Knockout Tour racing mode, creating a whole new experience for kart racers to enjoy for years to come. Do a barrel roll!
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### Gameplay Mechanics: Reaching New Heights
*Mario Kart World* features the most detailed gameplay mechanics in the series’ history. The game embraces Mario’s platforming roots with a whole new moveset for racers to reach new heights on tracks. Players can now jump, grind, barrel roll, and wall ride to access multiple pathways and shortcuts.
The game’s meta continues to evolve as speedrunners figure out innovative ways to exploit these new mechanics. Several world records have been set with perfectly timed Feather jumps and wall ride exploits, involving jumping off tree trunks and chaining together a series of crazy jumps to shave off precious time.
One notable departure from previous entries is the introduction of hovercraft water racing gameplay, replacing the underwater races of *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*. This change offers a slower pace with less grippy turning, which some players find a bit off compared to the rest of the game’s faster flow. However, turning, power sliding, and cornering are overall much more responsive in *Mario Kart World*, allowing for unprecedented control when navigating the larger tracks featured in the various modes.
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### A New Cast of Characters
*Mario Kart World* elevates several non-playable characters (NPCs) from the Mario universe to playable racer status. Players can now choose from characters like Coin Coffer, Penguin, Para-Biddybud, Stingby, Wiggler, Sidestepper, Monty Mole, and most importantly, Cow from Moo Moo Meadows.
The character select screen ends up being quite crowded with the expanded roster. Another design choice that has raised some eyebrows is how different outfits are displayed as individual racers. This setup can make selecting your character feel cumbersome—much like navigating the inventory menu in *The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*. Expect to spend a bit more time picking racers once all cosmetic options are unlocked.
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### Introducing Knockout Tour: A Battle Royale Twist
The new Knockout Tour mode revolutionizes Mario Kart’s online multiplayer. It throws 24 players into a battle royale-style death race, with eliminations occurring after each segment. Racing across different set paths on the island, this mode is highly engaging.
Knockout Tour amplifies the rubberband AI and chaotic nature of Mario Kart to eleven—so it’s hard to take it seriously from a competitive standpoint. But without a doubt, it’s the most fun new addition to the game, delivering frantic, exhilarating races that keep players coming back for more.
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### Continuous Improvements and Esports Support
While the developers faced some missteps earlier in the year with the VS Mode patches, Nintendo has shown it’s paying close attention to the game’s community. They are even elevating some of the larger streamers to help promote *Mario Kart World*.
Nintendo is backing *Mario Kart World* as an esports title, with recent Nintendo Live events in Japan featuring competitions that showcased some of the world’s best players—complete with commentary by UNLV Bear on the mic. The future looks bright for the competitive scene.
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### Immaculate Vibes in Free Roam Mode
The new Free Roam mode has quickly become a happy place for many gamers this year. It offers a relaxing, open-world experience where players can drive around, stumble upon P-Switch Challenges, and simply vibe to the fantastic music while taking pictures with friends.
There is room for improvement, though. More activities with friends would enhance the mode, and the splitscreen functionality feels a bit wonky—both players have to stay close to each other, or one gets warped back, breaking immersion.
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### An Outstanding Soundtrack
One of *Mario Kart World*’s standout features is its soundtrack. The OST is a brilliant celebration of all games in the extended Mario universe, adding depth and atmosphere across every mode. Similar to how GTA’s radio enhances its gameplay experience, *Mario Kart World*’s music effectively complements the vibe of the game.
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### Looking Ahead
As *Mario Kart World* enters 2026, Nintendo finds the game in solid shape. There will undoubtedly be additional DLC courses, characters, and cosmetics added over time. Without a doubt, *Mario Kart World* will continue to be a game that players return to throughout the entire Switch 2 console generation.
Get ready to race, explore, and barrel roll your way through the best Mario Kart experience yet!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/147273/mario-kart-world-review-score