Holding a Mario Kart World competition at my workplace resulted in defeat – and these are the key lessons I gained.
A Freakin' Confession: I haven't been on the pre-order list for the Nintendo Switch 2.
I wasn't exactly convinced that it was worth the upgrade from my original Switch, which still functions like a champ. I told myself that if they managed to port the thigh-slapper, Baldur's Gate 3, to the Switch 2, I'd be ready to drop some cash.
That hasn't happened yet (and I got no clue if it will), but since then, I've gotten my grubby paws on our office Switch 2, and man, the lunch breaks just got more exciting! I often spend 'em duking it out in a Knockout round of Mario Kart World with Harry from TechRadar (we're friendly rivals, don'cha know).
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of my faves on the OG Switch, so naturally, I surprisingly enjoy the heck out of Mario Kart World, too. One day, when Harry and I were racing, we hatched a brilliant plan to host an office tournament. We pitched the idea to five of our colleagues, and they all gave it a thumbs up. Everyone loves a little Mario Kart action, right?
So seven of us chose a date and time after work, and let the games begin! Luckily, no friendships or work relationships went down the drain while this tournament was brewin'.
Setting the Stage
The rules for our Mario Kart World tournament were simple: one group of four players and another group of three players would race across 12 tracks, with the winners from each group battling it out in a nail-biting best-of-three showdown.
We plugged one Switch 2 into one TV and another Switch 2 into another TV next to it. With our Joy-Cons and third-party controllers in hand (the Turtle Beach Rematch included), we were ready for the combat.
Despite my high expectations, I placed second in my group, which meant I didn't make it to the final heatwave. I was a swampy mess 'cause I take pride in my winning streaks, and I can get fiercely competitive. The only one I'm genuinely cool with losing to is my partner, and that's where I draw the line.
So, no, I wasn't exactly happy about endin' up in second place and that meant I had to get my eyes glued to the spectacle that was the finals. As I sat there, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed (yeah, I can be a sore loser), something struck me: I was actually enjoyin' watchin' others play? Gasp.
Mario Kart: The People's Spectator Sport
I sat there with my eyes locked on the TV, feastin' on the chaos that was unfoldin'. I thoroughly enjoyed watchin' the two finalists navigate shortcuts, drifting as far they could in the race, while NPCs rained red shells and the occasional blue shell on 'em. And lemme tell ya, Mario Kart World makes a phenomenal spectator sport, and a lot of that has to do with the NPCs.
I've invested at least 80 hours into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and never once felt like the NPCs gave me a run for my money. Sure, once you're knocked down to the last 10, things get dicey, but never as bad as in Mario Kart World, with 24 racers on the track, so much chaos ensues! People on Reddit, like r/NintendoSwitch and r/MarioKart, often complain about the game's difficulty due to all that calamity[1].
In the finale of our tournament, I was blown away. The five of us who watched it had no idea what to expect, and I bet the finalists didn't either. It was a jaw-dropping spectacle to watch, and more fun to watch than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where after a while, the action gets too predictable, and you won't even break a sweat playin' 150CC+.
Our office Mario Kart World tournament convinced me that this game deserves a place among the greats. With the vast array of characters and vehicles to choose from, and the different types of tracks, it's an absolute hoot for people who don't exactly take to video games. I can't wait to organize another tournament now.
Wanna Hear More?
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- I doubled my Nintendo Switch 2 storage for half the price of Mario Kart World - but it still wasn't enough
- 7 Mario Kart World features that'll keep you engaged until the Switch 3
[1] Enrichment: Baldur's Gate 3: No Confirmed Release Window for Nintendo Switch 2
In the office tournament, I found myself enjoying watching others play Mario Kart World more than participating, discovering that it makes an engaging spectator sport. Despite the NPCs posing a greater challenge in Mario Kart World compared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the chaotic gameplay keeps everyone on their toes and adds to the excitement.
Pondering over the tournament, I've come to appreciate the appeal of gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch 2, as they offer immersive and entertaining experiences that cater to various tastes, not just hardcore gamers.
