Mario Kart World is still a few weeks away from release, but some modders have already been recreating its courses in Mario Kart Wii. There has been a new Mario Kart game on almost every mainline Nintendo console, and the upcoming Switch 2 will be no different. Mario Kart World was first hinted at when the Switch 2 was first unveiled at the start of 2025, with a full trailer being released during the Switch 2-centric Nintendo Direct livestream. This livestream also revealed it would be launching alongside the console itself on June 5.
The April 2025 Switch 2 Nintendo Direct also showed off some of the colorful racetracks that will be available in Mario Kart World, featuring a mix of classic environments from older Mario Kart games and brand-new courses that will take full advantage of Mario Kart World’s new open-world framework. From the desert town of Mario Bros. Circuit to the treacherous icy turns of Starview Peak, Mario Kart World promises to be a vivid showcase for the new Nintendo Switch 2 console’s graphical capabilities, but some have already managed to bring some of these new tracks to life on older hardware.
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As shown in a YouTube video posted by MarioPower55, a handful of talented modders have recreated some of Mario Kart World’s many different courses in Mario Kart Wii, the 2008 entry released on the Nintendo Wii. Each demake is credited to the talented modder who created it, and is preceded by a clip of the actual Mario Kart World track to show how well it was replicated. Iggy Ze Koopa recreated Crown City, the Airship Fortress and Mario Kart World's new version of Wario Shipyard, TheGamingBram remade Mario Bros Circuit, and Samantha MK put together a Wii rendition of DK Spaceport. While the graphics are understandably not as sharp on the Wii hardware, each modded course faithfully captures what has been shown of Mario Kart World’s tracks in recent livestreams and hands-on demonstrations.
Modders Remake Mario Kart World Tracks in Mario Kart Wii
- Crown City by Iggy Ze Koopa
- Mario Bros Circuit by TheGamingBram
- DS Airship Fortress by Iggy Ze Koopa
- DK Spaceport by SamanthaMK
- 3DS Wario Shipyard by Iggy Ze Koopa
Older games have already been home to a variety of impressive Mario Kart mods, though a good chunk of them are for Mario Kart 8 on the Nintendo Wii U. From allowing players to change the time of day on certain tracks to adding new playable characters like Crash Bandicoot and Sonic the Hedgehog, the ways that modders can change the game in Mario Kart is often only limited by their imaginations.
Fans won’t have to wait too much longer to jump into the newest Mario Kart game and its many zany race courses, though Mario Kart World's surprisingly high price tag could be a roadblock to some. In addition to standalone copies, players can also get Mario Kart World as part of a limited-edition bundle with the Nintendo Switch 2 itself, provided they can secure a pre-order at their favorite online retailer before supplies run out.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- June 5, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
WHERE TO PLAY
Hit the open road with Mario and friends! Zip around courses in a vast world where everything is connected. Race along grassy plains, bustling cities, wide-open waters, big ol' volcanos, and more—plus everything in between.
A sprawling world of courses. Speed across plains, cities, water, volcanos, and much more. Everything is connected!
Go beyond the course. There's more to racing than just the course. Hop off the course and race the distance to the next one!
Free Roam - Drive wherever your heart takes you. Where to? That's up to you! Take off in any direction in this new mode. Explore areas that pique your interest, and maybe even snap some in-game pics at scenic spots.
Play Together - Have a blast with friends, whether near or far. Up to 4 players can race on the same system. Play using your choice of button controls or motion controls. Attach a Joy-Con 2 controller to the optional Joy-Con 2 wheel accessory to wheely feel like you're driving. You can also play using Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers connected wirelessly.
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Prequel(s)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Franchise
- Mario Kart
- Number of Players
- 1-24
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch 2
