Mario Kart World has officially launched as a flagship title for the Nintendo Switch 2, bringing the biggest evolution to the series since its inception in 1992. The game marks a dramatic shift from the traditional course-based structure to an interconnected, open world that allows players to transition seamlessly between iconic Mario Kart tracks.
The most striking innovation is the game’s open-world design, which replaces menu-based course selection with highways and transition areas that connect the main tracks. Players can now race through a continuous landscape, exploring diverse environments inspired by the Mario universe. This approach draws comparisons to open-world racing games like Forza Horizon, while maintaining the distinctive charm of Mario Kart.
Online multiplayer has been significantly expanded, now supporting up to 24 concurrent racers in a single match—triple the player count of previous entries. This expanded scale creates more chaotic and unpredictable races, especially with the series’ trademark items in play. Battle mode also benefits from this expanded player count, offering more hectic combat scenarios.
Mario Kart World introduces three primary gameplay modes. Grand Prix has players traverse open highways between tracks, though controversially features only single-lap races on main courses instead of the traditional three. Knockout Tour, an elimination-style mode, progressively removes players over multiple rounds, creating increasing tension as the field narrows. Free Roam allows players to drive freely across the world, completing “P Switch” missions and collecting items at their leisure.
The game shows off the Nintendo Switch 2’s improved hardware, running at 1,440p resolution and 60 frames per second. Despite some incorrect reports in early reviews, the game does not support 4K resolution or 120fps, but still delivers impressive visuals with detailed environments and enhanced lighting effects.
New gameplay mechanics add fresh twists to racing, including wall-riding, rail-grinding, and charge jumps. These features let skilled players show off while still keeping things fun for everyone. The character roster has also grown, with various costumes for each character, though some players have noted uneven distribution of customization options.
The soundtrack has received widespread praise, featuring both new tunes and creative remixes of classic Mario themes that really add to the feel of the open world. Technical performance has been solid, with the game keeping up a steady framerate in both docked and handheld modes.
Player feedback has been mostly positive, though some common complaints have come up. Many fans have expressed disappointment with the single-lap setup in Grand Prix mode, which means you get less time on the main courses. The user interface has also brought some criticism, particularly about character selection and tracking collectibles.
“I really enjoy it but I REALLY hope they patch in a map where you can see the already-completed P-Switches,” noted one player. “I am literally about to start trying to track them with pen and paper which is insanely inconvenient.”
Mushroom boosting into the future
Looking ahead, Mario Kart World is expected to get plenty of post-launch updates, just like Nintendo did with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Players are hoping for both free fixes for things like the UI and paid DLC that adds new tracks, characters, and maybe even whole new islands. The competitive scene should get interesting too, as folks master wall-riding and find all the best shortcuts.
With its fresh take on the beloved racing formula, Mario Kart World isn’t just another sequel—it’s a big refresh that uses the Switch 2’s new hardware, while keeping the fun, easy-to-pick-up gameplay that’s made Mario Kart a favorite for over thirty years.
