Mario Kart World
An open-world kart racer for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Mario Kart World is a 2025 kart racing game developed by Nintendo EPD for the Nintendo Switch 2. It introduces an open-world design, off-roading techniques, an elimination mode, and unlockable costumes, while supporting up to 24 players. The game is the best-selling Nintendo Switch 2 title, with 15.3 million copies sold.
Quick Facts
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Director
- Kenta Sato
- Masaaki Ishikawa
- Shintaro Jikumaru
- Producer
- Kosuke Yabuki
- Designer
- Shintaro Jikumaru
- Programmer
- Kenta Sato
- Artist
- Masaaki Ishikawa
- Composer
- Atsuko Asahi
- Maasa Miyoshi
- Takuhiro Honda
- Yutaro Takakuwa
- Series
- Mario Kart
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Mario Kart World is a kart racing game where players control characters from the Mario series in selectable go-karts. It features 50 playable characters, 24 of whom have alternate unlockable costumes obtained by consuming food items found during races; most remaining characters also appear as obstacles on tracks. The game supports up to 24 players and includes open-world design, free-roaming, off-roading segments, boat racing, rail grinding, wall jumping, and riding. Unlike prior Mario Kart games, the Grand Prix mode requires racers to drive to each course rather than competing in four separate races; outside Grand Prix, traditional three-lap races are available. Past courses are reimagined to fit the open world and include day-to-night shifts. A new mode, Knockout Tour, has 24 racers compete in a long race across the world with four eliminations at each of six checkpoints. Battle Mode returns with Balloon Battle, Bob-omb Blast, and Coin Runners, along with Mirror Mode that inverts the entire map. Free Roam mode lets players drive anywhere except Rainbow Road, with missions such as finding collectibles and avoiding dinosaur obstacles, and the ability to take photos.
Development
Nintendo began prototyping Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch in March 2017, shortly before the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development officially started development later that year. Series producer Kosuke Yabuki wanted to innovate with an open world, believing the traditional formula had been perfected with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The title Mario Kart World was chosen over Mario Kart 9 from early development to signify a completely new approach. Most new playable characters also exist as track obstacles; art director Masaaki Ishikawa noted that a designer sketched a Cow from Moo Moo Meadows driving a truck, leading to many obstacles becoming NPC drivers. In 2020, development moved to the Nintendo Switch 2 due to problems optimizing an open-world 24-player game on the original Switch. The Switch 2's hardware specifications gave developers room to expand. The soundtrack was led by Atsuko Asahi, who worked on Mario Kart 8, joined by Maasa Miyoshi, Takuhiro Honda, and Yutaro Takakuwa. Nintendo collaborated with external composers, including members of the jazz fusion band Dezolve, and Satoshi Bandoh and Masato Honda from T-Square contributed drums and wind instrument overdubs.
Release
Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch 2 on January 16, 2025, with footage of Mario Kart World. Critics likened the art style to Super Mario Bros. Wonder and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. On April 2, 2025, a Nintendo Direct revealed the title Mario Kart World and its first trailer. A Mario Kart World Direct was held on April 17. The game was released in most regions on June 5 as a launch title for the Switch 2.
Reception
Mario Kart World received generally favorable reviews on Metacritic, with 97% of critics recommending it on OpenCritic. Famitsu gave it 9 out of 10 from all four critics. IGN praised the polished gameplay, controls, celebratory soundtrack, new mechanics, and Knockout Tour mode, but criticized online multiplayer limitations, design decisions around the interface and unlockables, and uneven free roam execution. Destructoid called it a hallmark of excellence and possibly the best Mario Kart game, praising Knockout Tour, open-world exploration, and unlockable content. PCMag described it as a generational leap forward. GameSpot praised new features and called Rainbow Road an all-time great. The Guardian praised the broad and ridiculous racer selection. Edge called free-roam challenges decent but unexceptional, but a good exercise of the driving mechanic. Criticism targeted the lack of local co-op for free roam. Reception was mixed on Route courses connecting racetracks, especially in online play. After version 1.1.2, the random option disproportionately favored highway-style intermission courses, leading to player backlash and review bombs on Metacritic. The 1.3.0 update in September 2025 slightly reverted this and made character unlocking easier. The New York Times said the game is elegant but mostly empty of meaningful content, and its Free Roam mode does not compete with Forza Horizon or Burnout Paradise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Mario Kart World?
Mario Kart World was directed by Kenta Sato, Masaaki Ishikawa and Shintaro Jikumaru.
Who designed Mario Kart World?
Mario Kart World was designed by Shintaro Jikumaru.
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