Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Reviews

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is ranked in the 100th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Essential
Apr 21, 2017

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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May 23, 2017
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Easy Allies Review video thumbnail
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

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9 / 10
Apr 20, 2017

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

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Kotaku
Top Critic
Unscored
Apr 28, 2017

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

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Apr 20, 2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a victory lap for an amazing entry in the series. The only place Mario Kart 8 faltered was in its Battle Mode and Nintendo has rectified that here with a full-fledged version. 48 courses, 42 characters, 8 battle arenas, 5 battle modes, extensive multiplayer action, and the ability to take console Mario Kart with you wherever you go. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is absolutely worth the asking price.

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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.

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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.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 3, 2017

Mario Kart 8 returns with a ‘Deluxe' that comes with new features for this entertaining game. With better graphics and gameplay thanks to the Nintendo Switch, this is one of the best Mario Kart games ever made.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

90 / 100
Apr 20, 2017

It seems that Nintendo Switch was made for a game like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Racing is fun and multiplayer (8 local/ 12 online) is unbeatable. Nevertheless, the only improvements from the Wii U game are 6 new characters, new items and some batte modes, and that is not enough.

Review in Spanish | 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.

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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.

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9 / 10
Apr 20, 2017

In broad terms, I can understand why Mario Kart 8 might be hard to justify for some players. It's a re-release of a game Nintendo put out three years ago, and that Nintendo fans (who make up a large portion of the Switch audience) probably already played. That said, this is a fantastic addition to the Switch library, not just as a great game but as one that benefits from the system's core features. It adds the requisite new content and fixes the one large oversight of the original. Mario Kart 8 was already one of the best in the series. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is even better.

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9.5 / 10.0
Apr 24, 2017

The best Mario Kart game ever is back... even better, with a Battle Mode that has finally been fixed. Playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe anywhere, anytime is (almost) priceless.

Review in Italian | Read full review

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

Apr 20, 2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe performs better than it ever has, this time with a crisper look that really shines both in docked and handheld forms. While it is disappointing that no new race tracks were added, the completely overhauled Battle Mode complete with eight arenas makes up for that easily, making Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the definitive Mario Kart experience to date.

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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.

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