Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Reviews

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is ranked in the 100th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Apr 20, 2017

The blockbuster Mario Kart series makes its debut on the Nintendo Switch with an upgraded port, albeit one filled with a bunch of new and noteworthy content for fans.

Read full review

IGN
Top Critic
9.3 / 10.0
Apr 20, 2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an amazing game for all the same reasons I mentioned in our original review. It's still a gorgeous kart racer and every bit as addictive as it was in 2014. This is the best entry in the series so far, and it has all the content you'll need. Returning players have seen a lot of this game before, but the overhauled Battle mode and its five additional ways to play are a great reason to pick it up. Nintendo didn't do enough to make the online experience better, but the rest of this game holds up well.

Read full review

Essential
Apr 21, 2017

Nintendo fixes one of Mario Kart 8's only shortcomings in a generous port of a modern masterpiece.

Read full review

Apr 20, 2017

Three years on: still a classic, and with its biggest weakness fixed. If you own a Switch it's a no-brainer – especially if it's your first time.

Read full review

9.3 / 10.0
Apr 20, 2017

With multiple new additions and important improvements, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive version of one of the Wii U's best games

Read full review

9 / 10
Apr 20, 2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe makes significant updates to the original that make its racing chaos the definitive version.

Read full review

Kotaku
Top Critic
Unscored
Apr 28, 2017

Mario Kart 8 is an excellent game. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is even better.

Read full review

4.5 / 5.0
May 2, 2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has taken all the best parts from the Wii U version and improves quite a bit upon where it needed some adjustments.

Read full review

May 23, 2017
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Easy Allies Review video thumbnail
10 / 10
Apr 20, 2017

When it comes to passing final judgement on a re-release like this it's tricky - do we scale back praise because it's content we've mostly seen before, or simply judge a release on its own merits? We've opted for the latter here, and so we have a definitive version of a fantastic Wii U game that adds its own extras to spruce up the experience.Mario Kart 8 Deluxe delivers a huge amount of racing goodness right out of the box, and it's a polished version of a Wii U entry that was a proper Battle Mode away from being top of class. Now that issue has been addressed, what we have is arguably the best Mario Kart release we've seen. Some will argue about where this entry stands in the pantheon of the franchise, but for our money it's competing for top spot.It's the definitive Mario Kart 8 experience, content-rich and a delightful feast of comedic, cartoonish karting action. It's a game that continually raises a smile and, occasionally, induces that trademark Mario Kart rage as shells strike and positions are lost. It's addictive and unifying, unfiltered fun that draws in anyone daring enough to take up the wheel. If you're a Switch owner, it's an easy choice.

Read full review

90 / 100
Apr 20, 2017

This is how you spiff up an older game. What could have been a cynical attempt to double-dip into Nintendo fans' wallets actually turns out to be the Mario Kart series' definitive entry. The racing looks and feels just as great as it did on the Wii U, but the addition of battle modes finally makes it feel like a complete package. Add in the new characters and the Wii U DLC content, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a fantastic addition to the Switch's early library.

Read full review

10 / 10.0
Apr 20, 2017

Deluxe may be the wrong word for it, but this is the definitive Mario Kart 8 experience, which ultimately makes it one of the best kart-racers ever made.

9 / 10
Apr 20, 2017

An excellent game that's still as good as it was 3 years ago... And now with every DLC and some subtle changes on its gameplay. If you haven't played Mario Kart 8 before this Deluxe version is a must buy.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Apr 20, 2017

At the end of the day, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a Mario Kart game and (predictably) fantastic. With a fully upgraded Battle Mode and all the portability that comes with Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is undoubtedly the definitive version of the game — maybe even the series. However, with limited offerings for Mario Kart veterans who shelled out nearly $100 on the last experience, the title will be significantly less rewarding.

Read full review

Erik Kain
Top Critic
10 / 10.0
Apr 20, 2017

This is the best Mario Kart game ever made, expanding an already great Wii U title into a near-perfect racing game. Even so, players who have the original on Wii U may want to wait for a sale.

Read full review

Unscored
May 4, 2017

"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" feels like the most complete game in the series, with 23 remade tracks from earlier games and 25 originals, yet the racing feels like it's been tamed by the mild courses and gentle drifting system.

Read full review

Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
10 / 10
Apr 20, 2017

The definitive version of one of the greatest multiplayer games ever, with a vast array of courses, characters, and the best Battle mode since the SNES days.

Read full review

Apr 19, 2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive edition of a franchise-defining kart racer, no longer constrained by Wii U's teensy install base and poised to dish out hours of enjoyment from its new hybrid home. Not everyone will be tempted, but if you missed the original Mario Kart 8, it's an absolute must-buy.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Apr 20, 2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is straight-up a better version of the game without compromise. It looks crisper, there's more to do, it's portable, and it might even outsell the Wii U version to ensure a healthier long-term community. With battle mode firmly in place, it's one of the best kart racers ever made.

Read full review

10 / 10
Apr 20, 2017

Mario Kart 8 was already a simply sublime kart racer on Wii U, but Nintendo have managed to make it just that little bit better. From the new and improved Battle Mode to tweaks that add more depth for veterans and more accessibility for novices, a great deal of thought and effort went into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, beyond simply porting it to Switch. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to be the best in the business, and now you can play it on the train.

Read full review