Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Genre: Racing, Mascot, Nintendo Game

Nintendo’s premiere all-ages racing game with karts, the everlong Mario Kart series, has always been the go-to title for multiplayer family-friendly couch-hanging fun. But at the very least, a number of these entries do add in some semblance of innovation or standout feature, be it Mario Kart Double Dash’s two-players-one-kart gameplay or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s “everything-including-the-kitchen-sink” approach.

So what’s next for the next Mario Kart on the newest flagship console from the Big N? You would think “open world” karting ala the Forza Horizon series, but that’s sort-of what you’re getting as a side feature, not so much main dish material. But we’ll get to that feature later; at least there’s a fun kart game here; just arguably not worth its current asking price of US$80.

Emb(race) Chaos

After being spoiled rotten by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (and ALL of its DLC), you will notice a lot missing in Mario Kart World. Customization, roster diversity, track depth & standouts, and crossovers up the wazoo. For its current price tag, a game like Mario Kart World should be held to a much higher standard than other “paltry” US$60 titles.

We’ve played about 12 hours or so of Mario Kart World, and we have to admit: it sure looks pretty and has decent arrangements of tracks we’ve known and love from past Mario platformers & titles. It is also what you expect from a baseline Mario Kart game, from its simple controls to its well laid-out tracks & courses, to its accessible multiplayer online and offline. These are features Nintendo has done before, but no other company has made their racing games this easy and intuitive to get into, so props for the Big N for just doing the same thing again but on a new system.

Still, Nintendo does give as much as it takes away. We have a few standard modes: Grand Prix (circuit), Time Trials, VS Race, and the classic Battle. All still fun to play with the courses given. The new Knockout Mode, essentially Mario Kart Battle Royale, is really fun and tense as you have to be the final four to place high and matter. Plus, it makes use of the game’s title as all courses in Knockout Mode are interconnected, showcasing the “World” a lot more and make it seamless and organic while offering thrills.

True, the interconnectivity of each track means that they lose their personality individually. We can’t tell you what our favourite tracks are since they all bleed into each other, but we do appreciate the overall magnitude of the courses in the new mode they have.

Other additions include new weapons for your racers to collect like the Mega Mushroom that makes you gargantuan and squash players, the Ice Flower that freezes opponents, and the Feather that lets you leap over hazards. You’ll find something to love here, but these aren’t huge game changers; just solid additions. Mario Kart games are still unmatched for their nuances with movement and maneuverability; you now have a proper jump that lets you wallride and grind. This new techniques are fun to pull off and style with, even if it’s not quite as necessary as the tried-and-true drift-and-boost tech that’s been a mainstay with the series. Still, more driving and movement options are always welcome.

Speaking of movement, the Free Roam Mode mode here just feels like an afterthought, as there’s a lot of space and real estate to check out with your kart, but little else to entice you further to stay on instead of hopping back to more fun modes like Knockout Mode. It’s like as if the developers wanted to flesh out the sandbox aspects of Mario Kart World’s side mode, but didn’t have time since this game needed to be a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. I’m very sure the devs will do their due diligence and sort it out with (hopefully free) DLC that amps up more incentives for Free Roam Mode.

But right now? It’s just ass.

Comfort Ride?

The latest Mario Kart game is what you expect from a Nintendo sequel that tries halfway: full of flash and pizzaz, with some substance and drive in the proverbial engine. Otherwise, it’s the same comfy ride you will fall back to, just with an extra US$20 tariff stuck onto it. Nintendo fanboys and Mario Kart enthusiasts will find a good amount to cherish and replay (and show off exhaustively on social media). However, anyone looking for a more exhilarating and unique racing experience may need to look elsewhere, though it’s slim pickings if you want an exact cutesy kart experience.

Hell, Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart Double Dash, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are somehow more superior; they just don’t look and run just as polished as a 2025-made title. Trust me when I say this game wouldn’t get the same traction and attention if it weren’t part of a bundle tacked onto a new game system. Mario Kart World accomplishes the task of being a solid baseline Nintendo kart racing game with a few new additions that do try hard to be fun, but weary folks know they can do so much better. Maybe in a couple of years, the game will get more substantial improvements and additions to make its US$80 price tag justified. Right now, you’re just paying for a promise of a sublime kart game that’s right now fine with a bronze medal.

Pros

• Pretty & runs well.
• Good music.
• Lovely with friends thanks to some of its multiplayer modes.
• Same old fun gameplay you love made better with Knockout Mode…

Cons

• …that won’t convert you if you prefer more substantial racing fares.
• Lacks unique features & bonuses from past Mario Kart titles.
• Open world mode is a huge afterthought.
• Current price tag hurts its value (for now).

Final Score: 60/100