Mario Kart World features a wide array of items, including one that has proven to be consistently weak throughout the series. Mario Kart World is bigger in scale than any Mario Kart that preceded it, with 24-person races, more playable characters, and a completely new approach to racing, and the item pool has also seen some notable advancements. Unfortunately, one recurring item has not ended up returning in a better form, and its flaws are just as evident as ever.
The items in Mario Kart have been an important part of the series' formula since the beginning. While it is obviously critical that players master the racing mechanics and learn the various tracks, items are the main force behind the chaos of Mario Kart. Indeed, races can take a sudden turn after the first-place racer gets hit with a Blue Shell seconds away from the finish line, and comeback tools like Lightning and the Bullet Bill have earned their reputations as game-changing items for a reason. A Mario Kart without items would be missing a vital piece of the puzzle.
How Mario Kart World Turns a Classic Feature into a Cardinal Sin
Mario Kart World quietly punishes a once-essential skill, turning smart play into a self-sabotaging move with every race won.
The Blooper Returns in Mario Kart World, But it Hasn't Improved
Blooper Has Become a Mainstay Among Mario Kart Items
Debuting in the beloved classic Mario Kart DS, the Blooper has become a consistent element in Mario Kart's list of items. In every game, it sprays ink on the screens of everyone ahead of the user, obstructing their vision. However, this effect has never been particularly strong. In general, the ink doesn't cover enough of the screen to truly hinder players. This was especially true in Mario Kart DS, where the player could look at the touch screen to ignore the effect entirely. Even the Blooper's former utility of causing CPU-controlled racers to swerve slightly no longer applies to Mario Kart World's take on the item.
While Blooper's ink in Mario Kart World can last for several seconds, most speed boosts will immediately remove it.
Blooper is Vastly Overshadowed by Mario Karto World's Other Items
Things are more chaotic than ever on the tracks of Mario Kart World. With 24 racers competing simultaneously, players not only have to fight harder for position, there are also far more items and draft boosts to worry about. Pulling good items in order to break away from the pack is, thus, paramount, and items like Stars, Mega Mushrooms, and Bullet Bills can help players out of a tight spot with a badly-needed boost. On the other hand, pulling a Blooper in the same situation won't do much to help the user.
Blooper May Have Been More Useful as a Racer Than an Item
Blooper may have been better off as a character on Mario Kart World's roster rather than an item. Mario Kart World added a lot of new characters, primarily consisting of minions and other minor NPCs from past games, including some relatively obscure characters like Conkdor and Coin Coffer. Bloopers have been around since the original Super Mario Bros., and they are one of the series' more recognizable foes. Bloopers have even served as playable characters in spin-offs like Mario Party and Mario Tennis, and it would have been sensible for the foe to make the leap to Mario Kart World's roster.
Unfortunately, Blooper continues to underwhelm in Mario Kart World. Even with the new spin that Mario Kart World puts on old courses, Blooper's usefulness as an item didn't see much of an upgrade. It's still largely the same as it has been in previous installments. It technically hinders other racers, but the effect is so minor and easy to circumvent that it's barely worth it. The Blooper has a long history with the Mario Kart series at this point. Unfortunately, its incarnation in Mario Kart World won't do much to change its existing reputation.
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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
