The recently concluded Mario Kart World Direct offered an exciting sneak peek into the latest installment of the beloved Mario Kart series. Dive in to discover more about the game’s expansive free-roam world and its array of innovative features.
Mario Kart World Direct Reveals
An Interconnected World
Nintendo unveiled the details of Mario Kart World during their Direct event on April 17. This new game introduces players to a vast, interconnected world where they can freely explore both familiar and new regions of the Mario universe.
Nintendo explains, "In Mario Kart World, the game’s courses are seamlessly integrated across the world with roads connecting them – offering players a unique experience of navigating between courses!"
Embark on an adventure through Mario's world like never before, taking in stunning landscapes and iconic landmarks. As you roam, you'll uncover hidden items and engage in missions that enhance your driving prowess beyond traditional races.
A mix of new and classic courses has been revealed, including Mario Bros. Circuit, Crown City, Salty Salty Speedway, Starview Peak, Boo Cinema, Toad's Factory, Peach Beach, and Wario Shipyard. These classic tracks have been creatively reimagined to blend seamlessly with the expansive new world of Mario Kart.
Grand Prix and Knockout Tour
Mario Kart World introduces two primary racing formats: the Grand Prix and the Knockout Tour, both supporting up to 24 racers – the largest field in the series' history. Be prepared for dynamic obstacles like Bullet Bill-shooting cars and Hammer Bros attacks.
In the Grand Prix, participants race through four consecutive events to win cups such as the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, and Star Cup. A novel twist is the requirement to travel to the next race location to continue. Completing all Grand Prix Cups unlocks a speculated "colorful course," rumored to be the iconic Rainbow Road.
The newly introduced Knockout Tour takes racers on a journey across the globe in a survival-style format. Players must secure a qualifying position to advance to subsequent races, or face elimination from the tour.
Items, Characters, and More
Mario Kart World brings a fresh arsenal of items to the races, alongside returning favorites. New items include the Coin Shell, which can knock opponents aside while leaving a trail of collectable coins, the Ice Flower that freezes rivals on contact, and the Big Mushroom, which temporarily enlarges your kart to squash competitors.
The game features a vibrant roster of classic Mushroom Kingdom characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, joined by newcomers such as Goomba, Spike, and even a Cow. Hidden throughout the world are alternate costumes for these characters, adding a layer of exploration and customization.
Playing With Friends
Mario Kart World offers a variety of game modes to enjoy with friends. Time Trials let you compete against global ghost data, while VS mode allows for extensive customization and team-based racing. Battle mode returns with Coin Runners, where the goal is to amass the most coins, and Balloon Battle, where the last kart with a balloon wins.
The game supports both local and online multiplayer, with up to four players able to race in split-screen on a single system. Local wireless play accommodates up to eight players (two per Switch 2 device). The new GameChat feature on the Switch 2 enhances communication and screen sharing among players.
Additional features include Smart Steering to keep you on track, Auto-accelerate for effortless forward motion, Tilt controls for a more immersive experience, and compatibility with the new Joy-Con 2 Wheel for an authentic racing feel.
Mario Kart World promises to revolutionize the kart-racing genre with its open-world exploration. Set to launch on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2, stay tuned for more updates by checking out our related articles below!
