Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been one of the most consistently popular games throughout the Nintendo Switch's lifecycle alongside Breath of the Wild and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Nintendo's high-speed kart racer got a big boost last year in the form of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass, gradually offering players more racetracks from across the franchise's history. In the most recent wave of DLC, players also got its first new DLC racer in the form of Birdo, with the suggestion of more characters to come.
This new racer was a pleasant surprise for many, as Nintendo never gave any indication that new characters would be included when the Booster Course Pass was first announced. Many fans have wanted Mario Kart to take a Super Smash Bros.-like approach to its roster considering Mario Kart 8 Deluxe already includes characters such as Zelda's Link and Animal Crossing's Isabelle. While there are various directions Nintendo could venture for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's DLC racers, it would make a big splash by evoking Mario's Olympic history through some familiar faces from the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
Why Sonic and Friends Make Sense For Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's DLC Racers
For about 15 years, Mario and Sonic have cultivated a relationship of friendly competition. After literally competing with one another during Nintendo and Sega's console wars, Sonic and friends have gone on to appear in Nintendo games ranging from the Super Smash Bros. Series to Mario & Sonic at The Olympic Games. The latter franchise has seen Sonic staples like Dr. Eggman and Knuckles the Echidna duke it out with Daisy and Waluigi for Olympic medals, creating a strong precedence for that competitive spirit to carry into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
The Sonic franchise is also no stranger to racing games, as titles like Team Sonic Racing have shown the blue blur doesn't need his signature red shoes to be the fastest thing alive. There's no shortage of personality in the Sonic franchise, which could translate to exciting tricks and interactions with other racers. Of any outside franchise, Sonic is the most closely linked to Mario, and including the speedy hedgehog or his friends would be a fitting culmination of the long history both properties share.
Sonic Characters Who Should Be in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass
The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass has limited roster spots remaining, so not many Sonic characters would likely get the call - if at all. Sonic himself would be a given, but if there was only room for one more Sonic character, it could be a more difficult decision. A character like Dr. Eggman would serve as a nice foil to Sonic in the roster, and give Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a new racer in the heavy weight-class. On the other hand, someone like Tails, Shadow, or Amy, would serve as ample representation of Sonic's rich history.
All eyes are on the remaining roster spots in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but they're probably going to remain a mystery for some time. Nintendo releases the Booster Course Pass waves around three months at a time, meaning the next one likely won't be announced until late May or early June. Nevertheless, it's difficult to ignore the potential of bringing Sonic the Hedgehog into Mario's racing world. After so many years battling on Olympic stages, letting the two franchises convene on the racetrack could make the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass an essential purchase for many fans.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is available on the Nintendo Switch.