Despite Mario Kart World's ambitious step forward with its exhaustive range of characters, karts, and courses, it seems that the upcoming game has wound up taking two steps back compared to its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. After its initial announcement alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 as an upcoming launch title for the console, recent trailers and gameplay showcases have revealed more about Mario Kart World, such as its new outfits, items, and open world. However, while these new features might make Mario Kart World the most innovative Mario Kart game to date, it has potentially come at a cost.

Though Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was released as an expanded Switch version of the original Wii U game, it ultimately became the best-selling Mario Kart game in the series so far and even received additional DLC via its Booster Course Pass. While it remains to be seen if Mario Kart World can achieve the same success, the upcoming Switch 2 launch title appears to have cut a significant portion of content from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Even if there might be justification for Mario Kart World to cut content from its Mario Kart 8 Deluxe predecessor, it doesn't bode well for franchises outside the Super Mario series.

Explorer Mario in front of Mario Kart World's Open-World Map
Mario Kart World Needs More Than Just An 'Open World'

As a first for the series, Mario Kart World's new open world needs to strike the right balance between traditional racing and free-roam exploration.

By 

Mario Kart World Appears To Be A Super Mario-Exclusive Game

Based on Mario Kart World's trailers and gameplay livestreams, it appears that the latest Mario Kart game will feature content exclusively from the Super Mario universe. As evidence, in addition to Mario Kart's returning roster of playable characters, Mario Kart World will introduce an expanded range of new racers, such as:

  • Super Mario Sunshine's Cataquacks and Piantas
  • Super Mario 3D World's Conkdors
  • Super Mario 3D Land's Coin Coffers and Stingbies
  • Mario Kart 64's Cows

Besides its roster of playable characters, Mario Kart World will also feature various courses from across the Super Mario franchise and other adjacent games, with a nearly even split between all-new courses and those returning from past Mario Kart games.

The reason behind Mario Kart World's specific focus on characters and courses from the Super Mario and Mario Kart series could be due to the game's new open-world approach. Though past games have remained flexible regarding the canonical geography of the Super Mario world itself, Mario Kart World's open-world design may have prompted Nintendo to only include content exclusively from other Super Mario games. However, while this may ultimately help the open world of Mario Kart World feel more natural and organic, it does seem that it has forced Nintendo to cut past fan-favorite characters, courses, and features.

Mario Kart World Scraps Zelda, Animal Crossing, And More After MK 8 Deluxe

Since Mario Kart World appears to be exclusively focusing on content from Super Mario, this suggests Nintendo characters and courses are being scrapped, including those last seen in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Though Mario Kart World might add new outfits, karts, and more to make up for any losses, it could mean the following Nintendo franchises and features are being cut.

  • The Legend of Zelda
  • Animal Crossing
  • Splatoon
  • F-Zero
  • Excitebike
  • Nintendo's R.O.B. And Miis

Beyond the likes of Mario Kart World's teased R.O.B.-themed bike, it seems that the game is going back on the progress Mario Kart 8 Deluxe made when it embraced characters and courses from other Nintendo games.

Mario Kart World Could Potentially Make Amends With DLC

While most, if not all, of Mario Kart World's upcoming content is pulled from across the Super Mario franchise, this might not mean that characters, courses, and karts from other Nintendo franchises are outright excluded. Though Mario Kart World has walked back content from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the Switch 2 launch title may also receive DLC similar to the Booster Course Pass. If fan-favorite characters like Link, Isabelle, and R.O.B. Can't return as racers, then Mario Kart World could feature tracks or karts as additional references, such as the Master Cycle Zero from Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Splatoon's Splat Buggy.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Mario Kart World Tag Page Cover Art

Mario Kart World
Display card tags widget
Racing
Open-World
Display card system widget
Systems
super greyscale 8-bit logo
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget
Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
Display card main info widget
Released
June 5, 2025
ESRB
Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start
Mario Kart World Press Image 1
7 Images
Mario Kart World Press Image 1
Mario Kart World Press Image 2
Mario Kart World Press Image 3
Mario Kart World Press Image 4
Mario Kart World Press Image 5
Mario Kart World Press Image 6
Mario Kart World Press Image 7
Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Genre(s)
Racing, Open-World