The recently concluded Mario Kart World Direct has unveiled exciting details about the upcoming kart-racing game in the Mario Kart series. Dive in to discover more about the game’s expansive free-roam world and its innovative features.
Mario Kart World Direct Reveals
An Interconnected World
Nintendo's Mario Kart World Direct, held on April 17, showcased numerous features and aspects of the game. Players can now freely navigate Mario Kart World, exploring both familiar and brand-new regions within the series.
Nintendo stated, "In Mario Kart World, the game's courses are seamlessly integrated across the world with connecting roads, allowing players to experience driving between courses!"
Explore the world of Mario in a new way, with scenic views and iconic landmarks spread throughout. Players can also find hidden items and engage in missions to enhance their driving skills beyond traditional races.
New and classic courses have been unveiled, including Mario Bros. Circuit, Crown City, Salty Salty Speedway, Starview Peak, Boo Cinema, Toad's Factory, Peach Beach, and Wario Shipyard. These classic courses have been reimagined to fit seamlessly into the expansive Mario Kart World experience.
Grand Prix and Knockout Tour
Mario Kart World introduces two main racing modes: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour. Both modes support up to 24 racers, setting a new record for the series. Racers need to be vigilant of various obstacles such as cars launching Bullet Bills and attacks from the Hammer Bros.
In the Grand Prix, players compete in four consecutive races to win the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, Star Cup, and more. A unique feature is the requirement to travel to the next race location to continue the Grand Prix. After completing all the Grand Prix Cups, a special "colorful course" appears, rumored to be Rainbow Road.
The newly introduced Knockout Tour takes players on an epic journey across the world. This survival-style race requires players to finish in a qualifying position to advance to the next race, or risk being eliminated from the rally.
Items, Characters, and More
Mario Kart World introduces a fresh array of items alongside returning favorites. New items include the Coin Shell, which can knock opponents aside and leave a trail of coins, the Ice Flower, which freezes anyone it touches, and the Big Mushroom, which enlarges players to squash other racers.
The game features classic Mushroom Kingdom characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, alongside new additions such as Goomba, Spike, and even Cow. Players can discover alternate costumes hidden throughout the world to customize their racers.
Playing With Friends
Mario Kart World offers a variety of game modes for players to enjoy. Time Trials allow players to compete against ghost data from other players worldwide. VS mode provides extensive customization options, enabling players to form teams and compete against each other. Battle mode returns with Coin Runners, where players collect the most coins to win, and Balloon Battle, where the last player with a balloon standing wins.
The game supports both local and online play, with up to four players racing in split-screen on one system. Local wireless play supports up to eight players (two per Switch 2 device). The new GameChat feature on the Switch 2 allows players to communicate and view each other's screens during races.
Additional options include Smart Steering to help players stay on course, Auto-accelerate for automatic forward movement, Tilt controls for enhanced immersion, and support for the new Joy-Con 2 Wheel for an authentic racing experience.
Mario Kart World aims to revolutionize the kart-racing genre by offering an open-world map that allows players to freely explore the world of Mario and his friends. The game is set to launch on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay updated with the latest news by checking out our article below!
