Thrilling Exploration of Mario Kart World: Impressive, Extensive, and Overpowering
Let's Talk 'Mario Kart World' on the Nintendo Switch 2
The hype around Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the original Switch was real, but Mario Kart World could take it to another level, bud. Let's break it down.
Mario Kart World has sold a whopping 68.2 million units, surpassing even the legendary Zelda: Breath of the Wild. So, you'd be forgiven for thinking Nintendo would just ramp up the corporate nonsense and churn out another open-world game for the tidal wave of sales. Thankfully, they didn't!
A whole lot of care and creativity went into this game, and it shows, man. If you're yearning for your next Mario Kart fix after playing Deluxe, then World has you covered. The standard Grand Prix mode is back and better than ever, son.
You'll find four tracks per cup in the game, with varying difficulty levels. Some tracks are more traditional, while others open up the world for a breath of fresh air. The final Rainbow Road track is worth checking out; it's downright beautiful (take a peek below).
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Another notable feature of this open-world game is the Knockout Tour mode – it's like a marathon, man. There are multiple tracks and areas connected to create a long race, kinda like that old Outrun game but with more Mario!
The new Knockout Mode showcases the sheer size of this game, and that brings us to the free roam feature.
You can explore a massive continent in Free Roam, finding secrets and missions hidden all over creation. It's a bit odd at first, as Mario Kart classics are known for their tight, focused track design. But this new setup works, homie.
Playing Mario Kart World with friends is where the game truly shines, eh? Nintendo has merged the party game vibe from other games with a cooperative exploration of the open world, and it's a wild experience, dude.
The credits roll long and hard, and with all that development work, it's clear that Mario Kart World is a massive game – content-wise and technically. And with its enormous size, the price tag feels justified, my friend. This game will be a defining moment for the Switch 2.
I've yapped about this in previous articles, but if you're wondering why the price for games is creeping up, it's because publishers are struggling to recoup their losses from tanking AAA games, which led to tons of layoffs. Bummer, huh?
Online modes are stable as a rock (well, as rocky as the internet gets), and the game works well even in Japan, where the internet speeds are outrageously fast.
Overall, Mario Kart World is a colossal undertaking that offers the classic Mario Kart progression we all love. Whether it'll sell as much as Deluxe is yet to be seen, but with World's copious content and multiplayer mode, it's likely to be an evergreen release for years to come, hombre.
Mario Kart World
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 5th June 2025
Price: $79.99
Score: 9/10
Disclosure: Nintendo decked me out with a copy of this game for this review. Follow me on X, Facebook, and YouTube, or catch me on Mecha Damashii and the ongoing Giant Robots exhibition touring Japan.
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Technology has advanced once again, with Nintendo announcing the upcoming release of Mario Kart World on the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.
In the realm of entertainment, this new open-world Mario Kart game promises to push the boundaries of video game experiences, offering features like free roam and a colossal continent to explore.
