Spoilers for Mario Kart World ahead.
Mario Kart World has marked a brand-new era in Nintendo's popular racing franchise. It couldn't have come at a better time, marking an end to players' 11-year tenure with Mario Kart 8 and serving as a start to the Switch 2's lifespan as a whole. Mario Kart World feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the titles that came before it, embracing Nintendo's recent game design philosophies that have been around since Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. With a literal world to drive around in at their leisure, fans can enjoy seeing the Mushroom Kingdom in a new light both on the road and off.
True to many of Nintendo's staple experiences, Mario Kart World feels the same as it always did, just with a few new bells and whistles. As expected from a new installment, though, World learns from what came before it and fixes a few flaws along the way. After years of Mario Kart being famous for its chaotic items that can take someone from 1st all the way down to 10th in an instant, Mario Kart World manages to make recovery easier than ever and gives players plenty of control over how they handle obstacles.
Mario Kart World Beat Diablo 4 to One Ridiculous Punch
Mario Kart World is filled with series firsts, but it also seems to be claiming one first from Blizzard's ARPG Diablo 4 as well.
Mario Kart World's New Recovery Time Gives Players Time to Get Back in the Running, and That's a Great Thing
The Best Mario Kart Players No Longer Have to Fear Well-Timed Items From Opponents
Nintendo's mascot has been famously associated with two party game franchises that test friendships on a regular basis - Mario Kart and Mario Party. Where Mario Party gets players arguing when stars are stolen, Mario Kart can turn from a hilarious game with friends to a disappointing night if players are pelted with blue and red shells one after the other extensively. Unlike being able to blame an opponent for stealing plenty of stars, Mario Kart's frustrating moments are a bit more complicated, as many titles leave players with very few options for taking back lost time.
Being smacked with items as a first-place racer in Mario Kart is an experience that every player knows. Mario Kart 8 had few invincibility frames, so going from 1st place to last thanks to multiple shells was common. The trouble with the situation comes from how players' cars come to a complete stop and have to build up that momentum from the very start only when items stop. Some items, boost panels, and shortcuts might help, but in situations like lightning bolt strikes, options are fairly limited. This isn't a struggle anymore as of Mario Kart World because all racers lose are a few seconds, with multiple options to regain speed at their disposal.
Mario Kart World Focuses Less on Setbacks and More on Comebacks
When players get struck by any items in Mario Kart World, they're flipped into the air as per usual. However, the flip takes up most of the time fans can't maneuver themselves after the strike. After that, the characters shake their head, and the race goes on. This leaves the time players are stunned to come out to be mere seconds. While every second counts in a race, Mario Kart World allows players to get back to jumping and drifting, gathering speed quickly if they play their cards just right. It makes even the biggest drop in placement a challenge to overcome.
What was once the most discouraging part of the Mario Kart experience is now a way to persevere and keep on going against the competition. It may seem like there's no real punishment for being struck with items, but instead, it keeps the gameplay loop going where it would come to an excruciating halt before. While there are still basic strategies to dodge blue shells in Mario Kart World, a little creativity goes a long way and keeps the race exciting and enticing. World's approach to allowing players to recover should certainly follow into future titles, as now, the only place players can go as they learn to adapt to the literal Koopa shells their dealt is up.
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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.
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
