Mario Kart World Reviews

Mario Kart World is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10.0
Jun 24, 2025

Mario Kart World is a remarkable achievement and the most ambitious installment in the series. It features stunning visuals at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, along with exciting 24-player races and a charming, albeit somewhat shallow, open world. The new free-roam mode and kart customization options are enjoyable, but the repetitive side content and the surprising lack of a proper story mode prevent it from reaching perfection. While it is a multiplayer gem for Switch 2 owners, solo players may find themselves wanting a deeper progression system beyond its beautiful and content-rich appearance.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2025

Even when this game makes you discover new levels of rage you didn’t think were possible, you’ll always be coming back for more as there are hours upon hours of fun to be had, especially online against 23 other players. Mario Kart World is pure fun, full of potential, and an absolute must buy.

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9 / 10.0
Jun 13, 2025

Mario Kart World is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best installment in the series. Even if it wasn't easy to surpass the legendary Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which had become ingrained in common thought as THE racing game, somehow Nintendo has done it again. Mario Kart World improves, reinvents, and innovates everything we were used to, and it does so exceptionally well.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2025

Mario Kart World is the launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. It brings you many new characters, new circuits and a large open world where you can drive back and forth. Graphically of course an improvement compared to the Nintendo Switch, but luckily a lot also stays with the old ones. Racing still feels very easy and the online multiplayer is where you can really try your luck. To be honest, it should be said that Mario Kart World is not the game for which you get a Nintendo Switch 2. It just misses that magic for that, for example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did. Nevertheless, this is again a game to enjoy.

Review in Dutch | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jun 30, 2025

Mario Kart: World is a fun game that's sure to impress at any moment. It has a driver, a vehicle, and a style for everyone, making this game a simple experience that's sure to make you smile.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Jun 27, 2025

Mario Kart World preserves the series charm while moving the gameplay, and how its packaged, forward - a system seller for Switch 2.

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9 / 10.0
Jun 27, 2025

Mario Kart World is simply the best-looking, sounding, and playing Mario Kart game we've had. With new additions like doubling the player count of Knockout Tour, it's clear that Nintendo has plenty of ways to improve and expand this long-running franchise

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3 / 5.0
Jun 7, 2025

Mario Kart World is a daring development that combines well-known racing with an open-world element that is both fresh and unpopular. Its 30 tracks, 24-player races, and new mechanics like grinding and wall riding deliver thrilling chaos, while Knockout Tour and Battle Mode keep the adrenaline pumping. The Free Roam mode, with its P Switch missions and collectibles, offers a relaxing distraction but lacks the depth of other open-world racers like Forza Horizon.

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Jun 26, 2025

Mario Kart World is an excellent addition to the series – beautiful, fun and imaginative – but it could have been even better, more diverse and worthy of its name. The open world is under used, and Nintendo continues with the familiar and safe line of starting races from the menu and ending them in the menu. Despite its flaws, it's pure fun, whether you're playing alone or with friends and family. And thanks to the new console hardware, it looks better than ever!

Review in Finnish | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jun 11, 2025

It’s not the ultimate Mario Kart package some might have hoped for, and at this price, it could’ve offered just a little more structure. But what’s here feels fresh, considered, and ambitious. It clearly is the start of a new generation

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79 / 100
Jun 6, 2025

Riding the momentum of a decade-long gap between major installments, Mario Kart World attempts to redefine kart racing by merging open-world exploration, high-speed chaos, and competitive endurance into one massive experience. Developed with the power of the new Switch 2 hardware in mind, this isn't merely a sequel. It's a leap into uncharted territory.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jun 24, 2025

Mario Kart World is without a doubt the most ambitious game in the series to date. The open world, revamped mechanics, and chaotic new modes like Knockout Tour show that Nintendo is willing to innovate. Not everything is perfect: the world can feel empty at times, and 24 racers isn’t always the best choice. But thanks to a strong presentation, a brilliant soundtrack, split-screen gameplay, and a healthy amount of content, this is a Mario Kart you’ll want to come back to again and again. It may be expensive, but if Nintendo stays on course and continues to support the game for free in the years to come, this could very well be the definitive Mario Kart.

Review in Dutch | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jun 23, 2025

Mario Kart World was one of Nintendo’s best decisions with the arrival of the Switch 2. The game is visually stunning, features a nostalgic soundtrack, and offers a large amount of collectible content. Perhaps the biggest downside is, indeed, the price. Even with all the new features, it’s a value that only the most passionate Mario Kart fans will be willing to pay outside of the bundle.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

5 / 5.0
Jun 23, 2025

Mario Kart World is far from a standard upgrade. It's an exceptional new entry for the long-running series, thanks to its track designs, dynamic online play, the intense 24-player races, and a deeper challenge found in the new Knockout Tour mode.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jun 22, 2025

Mario Kart World is a solid entry into the Mario Kart series, but it is still outshone by its predecessor in many ways. While the world in Mario Kart World feels barren, the entertaining and chaotic gameplay we love from the series may well be at its peak.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 15, 2025

Mario Kart World moves the series in a bold new direction with open world and battle royale elements, but there's a distinct feeling of loneliness in the free roam.

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86 / 100
Jun 20, 2025

Mario Kart World may not be the cleanest ride in the series, but between its fun modes, expansive open world, and sheer replayability, there’s a lot to love under the hood. The bloat and some odd choices occasionally throw a banana peel in front of the fun, but they rarely send the whole kart spinning. With enough friends and willingness to explore its quirks, it’s an addictive racer that keeps pulling you back in.

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7 / 10
Jun 19, 2025

I have mixed feelings about Mario Kart World. I’ve enjoyed my time with the game, but there are several major issues that I just can’t ignore. The terrible character select screen, the lackluster Free Roam and battle modes, and the small number of tracks leave a lot to be desired. That said, the better graphics, the character roster, and the vast content in the game are a step in the right direction.

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Worth your time
Jun 20, 2025

As the ideal title to launch a brand new Nintendo console, Mario Kart World gives the Nintendo Switch 2 a head start. Featuring some of the most polished, creative racing across the entire series, World is an audio-visual delight that pays tribute to one of gaming’s most beloved series. With new additions like Knockout Tour and an expansive open world, there’s plenty to enjoy. But it’s not without its issues. An emphasis on the open world leaves the game’s best aspects, its tracks, in the dust. For Mario Kart die-hards dedicated purely to the racing experience, World might still lose the race to its predecessor. But for those who enjoy Mario Kart primarily for multiplayer enjoyment, this new entry delivers a world of enjoyment.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 17, 2025

Mario Kart World is ultimately a fantastic new take on the Mario Kart formula, even if the open world feels like an unnecessary addition.

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