Mario Kart World
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Mario Kart World Trailers
Mario Kart World – Mario Bundle – Nintendo Switch 2
Mario Kart World Direct 4.17.2025
Mario Kart World – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2
Critic Reviews for Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World is a gorgeous racing game with endless hours of fun to be had, though its defining new game mode doesn't quite hit the mark.
Mario Kart World offers neat twists on the classic Mario Kart formula, but its open-world ambitions are somewhat let down by some classic Nintendo quirkiness.
Mario Kart World may not make the most convincing case that going open-world was the boost the series needed, but excellent multiplayer racing, incredible polish, and the thrilling new Knockout Tour mode still more than live up to its legacy.
World is more playful, more unpredictable, and more willing to give players all the toys they need to have fun and put the pedal to the metal. Even days after launch as the only proper exclusive title for Nintendo Switch 2, there is a foundation here I cannot wait to see iterated upon.
Mario Kart World expands on almost everything that made Mario Kart 8 such an enduring success, laying the foundation for years of raucous racing to come.
Overall, Mario Kart World is a huge undertaking, but it still offers the classic Mario Kart progression we’ve all grown up with. Whether this will sell as much as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains to be seen, but from the off, Mario Kart World definitely has an enormous amount of content to wrap your head around, and the multiplayer will likely keep it an evergreen release for years to come, much like the other games in the series have been.
Mario Kart World powerslides onto Nintendo Switch 2 as the de facto launch game to play in the absence of much competition. It's a vibrant and joyful racer, perfect for playing with friends and family (or against the world online), but not all the tweaks to the classic Mario Kart formula are successful, with the new open-world mode being particularly underwhelming.
Free Roam is a major disappointment, but Mario Kart World is still an excellent game that helps justify purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2. It's the console's day-one killer app backed by an incredible soundtrack, well-rounded roster of characters, and addictive gameplay.
Industry Coverage
"So Unfun Online": Mario Kart World Fans Are Already Getting Sick Of "Item Spam" In Races
Double the players means double the items.
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Mario Kart World's Free Roam Has A Mirror Mode Hidden Behind A Very Cool Super Mario 64 Easter Egg
You'll need to put in a lot of work before you can experience it for yourselves, though.
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Mario Kart World Easter Egg Lets You Mirror the Free Roam Map
Mario Kart World fans discover a fun Easter egg within the racing game, allowing fans to mirror the map in the game's free roam open world.
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Sonic the Hedgehog Lead Throws Shade at Mario Kart
The lead of the Sonic Team at Sega shares some choice words regarding Mario Kart World during a presentation of an upcoming game.
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