Mario Kart World and Breath of the Wild have carved a path that other iconic Nintendo franchises can also follow in the future. The plans for Mario Kart World are looking quite daring, with the upcoming title going in a particularly unexpected direction: an open world. Even with the surprise, the game still has every chance to succeed, and not just because of the beloved Mario Kart label. A big part of that could come from the open-world approach that Breath of the Wild made good use of before. Nintendo has other franchises that could benefit from it as well.
The open world in Mario Kart World and the associated Free Roam mode will allow players to explore the area around the game's various tracks without having to worry about laps or opponents. Of course, there are a fair number of questions to ask about Free Roam; players will need plenty of reason to engage with the mode and find fun things to do aside from racing. However, this embrace of open-world gameplay, if it goes well, could open plenty of new doors, both for Mario Kart as well as other future endeavors.
Mario Kart World Makes Good on MK8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass Oversights
Among Mario Kart World's confirmed tracks are several additions that make up for the missed opportunities in MK 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass.
Many Nintendo Franchises Could Explore New Territory With Open-World Gameplay
Metroid's Samus Aran Would Thrive In an Open-World Adventure
Metroid fans already have Metroid Prime 4's new gameplay to look forward to, but an open-world Metroid game could be another exciting development. Considering Samus' history of massive adventures on strange planets, a journey with an expanded scope would be a logical next step. Since Metroid games already rely heavily on exploration, giving Samus an open world to explore with her suit's upgrading abilities feels like a natural evolution of the formula. In addition, this new take on the series' gameplay could lead to some breathtaking discoveries. With Samus being the experienced space explorer she is, an open-world adventure should be in her comfort zone.
Star Fox Could Make a Comeback With an Open-World Game
Over the years, there have been several rumors of new Star Fox games; an open-world title could be a particularly solid revival. Considering Star Fox's usual gameplay, such a game could be more of an open-universe game with the team flying freely between planets, exploring the planets as well as the space between. Although the on-foot gameplay of Star Fox Adventures received mixed reviews, that doesn't mean that a similar idea isn't worth trying again. A full-blown open-world space adventure with thrilling Arwing battles could be just what the series needs for a comeback. After all, Star Fox has nothing to lose from experimenting.
Not counting Star Fox 2's belated release, it has been nine years since the last Star Fox game came out.
Kirby's Copy Abilities Are Perfect For an Open-World Sandbox
One more character that could be a perfect fit for open-world adventure is Kirby. Kirby Air Riders' surprise reveal has already given fans of the pink puffball good reason to celebrate, but an open-world Kirby adventure has a lot of potential in its own right, and for one major reason: Kirby's extensive list of copy abilities are tailor-made for both combat and exploration. A creatively designed open-world game could encourage players to try every copy ability everywhere, essentially turning the game into a giant sandbox for players to play around in and make discoveries. An open-world Kirby adventure could easily become one of Nintendo's most creative titles to date.
Nintendo's experiments in open-world games shouldn't end with Mario Kart World. Free Roam is an interesting new feature to Mario Kart World, and it might take until release day for fans to see all that it has to offer. However, after Breath of the Wild, it's already obvious that open-world adventures can be a winning formula for Nintendo. Many of the company's heroes would be well worth seeing in such a game. If Nintendo's still interested in open-world games after Mario Kart World, there are plenty of valid candidates.
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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
