The recently concluded Mario Kart World Direct unveiled an array of exciting details about the upcoming kart-racing game from the beloved Mario Kart series. Dive into the specifics of the game's innovative free-roam world and discover its myriad features.
Mario Kart World Direct Reveals
An Interconnected World
Nintendo's Mario Kart World Direct on April 17 provided an in-depth look at the game's features. Players will have the opportunity to navigate through Mario Kart World, exploring both familiar and new regions within the series.
Nintendo stated, "In Mario Kart World, the game's courses are interspersed across the world with roads leading from one to the next – so players can experience navigating roads in between courses!"
Embark on an adventure through Mario's world like never before, with stunning landscapes and iconic landmarks scattered throughout. As you roam, uncover hidden items and missions that will enhance your driving skills beyond traditional races.
The game introduces both new and classic courses, including Mario Bros. Circuit, Crown City, Salty Salty Speedway, Starview Peak, Boo Cinema, Toad's Factory, Peach Beach, and Wario Shipyard. These classic tracks have been reimagined to seamlessly integrate into the expansive Mario Kart World experience.
Grand Prix and Knockout Tour
Mario Kart World offers two primary racing formats: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, both accommodating up to 24 racers, setting a new record for the series. Participants must navigate through various obstacles, such as cars launching Bullet Bills and attacks from Hammer Bros.
In the Grand Prix, players compete in four consecutive races to win the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, Star Cup, and others. A unique feature requires players to travel to the next race to continue their Grand Prix journey. Completing all the Grand Prix Cups unlocks a mysterious "colorful course," speculated to be the iconic Rainbow Road.
The newly introduced Knockout Tour takes racers on a journey across the world in an extended format. This survival-style race demands that players finish in a qualifying position to advance to the next race, or face elimination from the rally.
Items, Characters, and More
Mario Kart World introduces a fresh arsenal of items for races, alongside returning favorites. New items include the Coin Shell, which can knock opponents aside and leave a trail of coins, the Ice Flower, capable of freezing racers on contact, and the Big Mushroom, which temporarily enlarges players to crush opponents.
The game features classic Mushroom Kingdom characters such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, alongside newcomers like Goomba, Spike, and even Cow. Hidden throughout the world, players can discover alternate costumes for these characters, adding a layer of customization and discovery.
Playing With Friends
Mario Kart World offers diverse game modes to enjoy with friends. Time Trials let players compete against ghost data of other racers online. VS mode provides extensive customization options, enabling players to form teams and battle it out. Battle mode returns with Coin Runners, where collecting the most coins wins the race, and Balloon Battle, a contest to be the last racer with a balloon.
The game supports both local and online multiplayer, allowing up to four players to race in split-screen on a single system. Local wireless play accommodates up to eight players (two per Switch 2 device). The new GameChat feature on the Switch 2 facilitates communication and screen sharing among players.
Additional features include Smart Steering to help players stay on track, Auto-accelerate for automatic forward movement, Tilt controls for an immersive experience with motion controls, and support for the new Joy-Con 2 Wheel for enhanced racing.
Mario Kart World promises to revolutionize the kart-racing genre by offering a vast, interconnected world for players to explore. Set for release on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World is poised to deliver an unparalleled racing adventure. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our article below!
