Mario Kart 8 Reviews

Mario Kart 8 is ranked in the 98th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
10 / 10
May 14, 2014

Video game players are familiar with the law of diminishing returns. Even as new entries in a series tirelessly improve upon their predecessors, our interest nevertheless wanes; with games, improved is somehow less exciting than new. Mario Kart 8 is a rare thing, then: the best entry in a series and the most exciting yet.

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May 14, 2014

I've played enough Mario Kart in my life to know that this is the best version of the venerable kart-racer since the Nintendo 64 era.

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10 / 10.0
May 16, 2014

The deeper handling, pop-out arcade style graphics on a scale unseen before in the series, the social network friendly Mario Kart TV and Miiverse features and of course the heavyweight Mario moniker itself are Nintendo's best chance to date of turning round the Wii U's fortunes. Quietly underpinning all this is the best Mario Kart experience I've has since it's revelatory introduction some 22 year ago.

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May 15, 2014

Intuitive controls, beautiful circuits, and a perfectly realigned power-up system – Mario Kart 8 has set out to top the 1992 original

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5 / 5.0
May 22, 2014

All in all, Mario Kart 8 gives seasoned players the game that they deserved when its Wii sibling hit the shelves, but also doesn't rely so heavily on past experience, keeping it open for new players. The 50cc class is a nice spot for beginners, and can be used to unlock any of the game's eight Grand Prix Cups for play in the tougher 100 or 150cc classes.

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May 15, 2014

There is no reason to wait any longer. Get a Wii U and buy Mario Kart 8.

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5 / 5.0
Jun 11, 2014

I have to admit that this is arguably the best game on Wii U. Mario Kart 8 brings all the frustrating fun and friendly chaos that has been expected from the series, but this iteration is much more refined and well-toned. The controls feel really great, no matter what configuration you use. If there is any reason to buy a Wii U, let Mario Kart 8 be it.

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May 29, 2014

With the Wii U struggling sales-wise, and in danger of becoming a footnote of this current generation, a new Mario Kart is exactly the game Nintendo needed, and the fact it's perhaps the best iteration since the original doesn't hurt either.

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Jun 3, 2014

Considering that the majority of this review is spent going over the many marginal changes that accumulate to a massively entertaining whole, the bottom line is that 'Mario Kart 8' is 'Mario Kart,' just better, so the worst thing about 'Mario Kart 8' is it doesn't strive to reinvent much of anything. But then that's how the series has been ever since odd dog 'Double Dash' did its own thing.

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9.8 / 10.0
May 15, 2014

Mario Kart 8 is the new showcase title for the WiiU. If the fantastic visuals were never a hard sell for you, know that the gameplay really makes this game a must own for any WiiU owner.

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IGN Italy
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
May 16, 2014

Mario Kart 8 is a beast: with great track design, plenty of characters, karts, bikes and power ups is the best Mario Kart of all time. Also thanks to revamped online modes and some gorgeous graphics, is the single reason you need to own a Wii U.

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9.5 / 10.0
May 30, 2014

While I do wish certain mechanics such as two-racer teams and character exclusive specials would have made the list, and many gamers might be disappointed with the partial voice chat, 8 is still an excellent entry that should not be missed.

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9.4 / 10.0
May 21, 2014

‎Mario Kart 8‎‎ is a return to the root of the franchise: short tracks full of curves that demand skill and a total memorization of each of its details and shortcuts. Over the years, the careers of this series were filled with small tasks to accomplish; they are stimuli with a more powerful brain massage effect than a sudoku.‎

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9.3 / 10.0
May 15, 2014

Mario Kart remains pure fun, and it's never been better

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93 / 100
Jun 4, 2014

The best game on Wii U, and the reason you'll keep coming back to it. Grab some friends and Mario Kart 8 simply won't disappoint.

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4.6 / 5.0
May 15, 2014

Despite my criticism of some of the modes and gameplay mechanics, Mario Kart 8 is still an amazing game, and as intense and addicting as its predecessors. I may wish for a better Battle Mode and more online features, but I have happily raced hundreds of matches, and expect thousands more for many months, and even years, to come. There is not a single blemish in the track design and detailing, and handling the vehicles is tight and responsive, whether using the analog stick or tilt controls. Mario Kart 8 is perfect in most respects, but a few features are still bound by Nintendo's restrictive hand.

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IGN
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
May 15, 2014

Mario Kart 8 is a fun kart racer that uses gravity-defying tracks and better item balance to build a better game.

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9 / 10
May 14, 2014

The best Mario Kart has ever been, with a near perfect blend of features and frequently astonishing visuals – despite some unnecessary repetition in track settings.

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9 / 10.0
May 14, 2014

Mario Kart 8 doesn't mess with the formula much, but it left me smiling

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May 15, 2014

Nintendo needed another great game to make the Wii U look as enticing as possible and Mario Kart 8 fits the bill. The anti-gravity gameplay slots in alongside classic kart racing, hang-gliding, and underwater action. All the tracks look amazing and Nintendo has a lot of fun making each track twist, turn, and soar into the sky. Robust online multiplayer, downloadable player ghosts, and Mario Kart TV add a bit of extra muscle. Mario Kart 8 is not the best in the series, but it does stand near the top.

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