Mario Kart World: Complete Guide to Nintendo's Most Ambitious Racing Game

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What Is Mario Kart World?

Nintendo deliberately chose the name “Mario Kart World” instead of "Mario Kart 9″ to signal an entirely new approach. This isn't just another sequel — it's the biggest overhaul the series has ever seen. Developed by Nintendo EPD in collaboration with Monolith Soft, 1-Up Studio, and Bandai Namco Studios, it serves as the exclusive launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Development began in March 2017, originally targeting the original Nintendo Switch. In 2020, the team migrated the project to Switch 2, taking advantage of the new hardware's power. In the meantime, Nintendo released the MK8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass as a stopgap, keeping fans satisfied while World was being completed.

Open World Free Roam

The biggest innovation in Mario Kart World is the open-world free roam mode. For the first time in the series' history, you can freely explore a massive world inspired by the Mushroom Kingdom, without the constraints of a traditional race. Drive through cities, mountains, beaches, and volcanoes, discovering hidden secrets, shortcuts, and collectibles.

Off-roading is a core gameplay element. Karts can now leave the road and climb terrain that was off-limits in previous Mario Kart games. This freedom fundamentally changes strategy, both in free roam and in standard races. However, the absence of local co-op in free roam mode drew criticism — many fans expected split-screen exploration with friends.

30 Classic Tracks and 202 Route Courses

Mario Kart World includes 30 traditional Grand Prix tracks, designed with Nintendo's signature quality — tight turns, shortcuts, and game-changing power-ups. But the real revolution lies in the 202 Route courses.

Route courses are tracks inspired by real-world roads and landscapes. Instead of closed circuits, these are point-to-point routes through the open world — each with a unique theme, obstacles, and weather conditions. They're available exclusively in online mode, which sparked backlash. Several players responded with review bombing, demanding offline access to these courses.

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24-Player Online and Knockout Tour

For the first time in the series, online races support up to 24 players simultaneously. The sense of chaos and competition changes dramatically when 24 karts battle on a single track — power-ups fly mercilessly, overtakes are constant, and the final stretch becomes a battlefield.

Sales and Reviews

With 14.03 million copies sold, Mario Kart World is the best-selling Nintendo Switch 2 game and one of the most successful launch titles in history. It earned an 86/100 on Metacritic, while 97% of critics on OpenCritic recommend it.

However, the $79.99 price tag drew criticism. It reflects the new standard AAA pricing, but many feel a kart racing game doesn't justify such a price point — especially compared to the $59.99 of the previous generation. Additionally, the online-only Route courses and the lack of local co-op in free roam dragged down scores.

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Development: 8 Years in the Making

Development of Mario Kart World began in March 2017, shortly after the original Switch launched. It was initially planned as a first-generation Switch title, but the team realized the hardware couldn't support their ambitious vision.

In 2020, once Nintendo began distributing Switch 2 dev kits, the project migrated to the new platform. The larger memory, more powerful processor, and improved networking capabilities enabled the 24-player races, the open world, and the 202 Route courses. Meanwhile, the team created the Booster Course Pass for MK8 Deluxe as an interim solution, keeping the player base engaged.

The decision not to call it "Mario Kart 9″ was deliberate. Nintendo wanted to communicate that this isn't an incremental evolution but an entirely new step for the series — much like Breath of the Wild was for Zelda.

Controversies and Backlash

Despite positive reviews, Mario Kart World didn't escape controversy. Three key issues stirred debate:

• Route courses online-only: The 202 Route tracks are accessible exclusively through an internet connection. Players without reliable internet miss out on 87% of the total content, leading to review bombing across multiple platforms.
• $79.99 price tag: The $20 increase over previous-gen games didn't convince everyone that it was justified, even with the massive amount of content on offer.
• No local co-op free roam: Open world exploration is single-player only, which is disappointing for a series built on couch multiplayer.

Nintendo responded to some degree: after the first weeks, they announced free updates that would bring select Route courses offline. The community remains divided, but the sales numbers speak for themselves.

Is It Worth Buying?

Despite its flaws, Mario Kart World is a landmark game. The shift to open world, 24-player races, Knockout Tour, and the sheer volume of content (232 courses, 200+ songs) make it the most complete Mario Kart ever. As Destructoid put it: “this may be the best game in the franchise.”

If you're buying a Switch 2 and need to pick one game, this is the obvious choice. However, if you lack reliable internet or primarily enjoy local multiplayer free roam, consider the limitations. Either way, with nearly 15 million copies sold in under a year, it's clear that Nintendo achieved what it set out to do.

• Mario Kart World
• Nintendo
• Switch 2
• Racing Game
• Open World
• Multiplayer
• Knockout Tour
• Nintendo EPD
• Launch Title
• Kart Racing