The Mario Kart World Direct, recently held by Nintendo, provided an in-depth look at the highly anticipated new title in the Mario Kart series. Dive into the details about the game's innovative free-roam world and its exciting features.
Mario Kart World Direct Reveals
An Interconnected World
During the Mario Kart World Direct on April 17, Nintendo unveiled numerous aspects of the game. Players will have the freedom to drive around Mario Kart World, exploring both familiar and brand-new regions of the Mario universe.
Nintendo shared, "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!"
Explore the expansive world of Mario like never before, complete with breathtaking scenic views and iconic landmarks. As you roam, discover hidden items and engage in missions to hone your driving skills beyond traditional races.
The game introduces a mix of 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 new Mario Kart World experience.
Grand Prix and Knockout Tour
Mario Kart World offers two primary racing modes: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, both supporting up to 24 racers, marking the largest field in the series' history. Racers should be prepared for various obstacles, such as cars that launch Bullet Bills and attacks from Hammer Bros.
In the Grand Prix, players compete in four consecutive races to vie for the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, Star Cup, and more. A unique twist requires players to travel to the next race, enhancing the sense of progression. Completing all Grand Prix Cups unlocks a mysterious "colorful course," speculated to be the iconic Rainbow Road.
The newly introduced Knockout Tour takes players on an extensive journey across the world. This survival-style race demands that players finish in a qualifying position to advance to the next race; otherwise, they are eliminated from the competition.
Items, Characters, and More
Mario Kart World introduces a fresh arsenal of items for races, while also bringing back fan-favorites. New additions include the Coin Shell, which can knock opponents aside and leave a trail of collectable coins, the Ice Flower, which freezes racers on contact, and the Big Mushroom, which temporarily enlarges racers to squash opponents.
The game features a vibrant cast of Mushroom Kingdom characters, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, alongside new entrants like Goomba, Spike, and even Cow. Players can unlock alternate costumes for these characters scattered throughout the world.
Playing With Friends
Mario Kart World offers a variety of engaging game modes. Time Trials allow players to compete against ghost data of other racers worldwide. VS mode provides extensive customization, enabling players to form teams and battle it out. Battle mode returns with Coin Runners, where racers collect coins to win, and Balloon Battle, where the last racer with a balloon standing emerges victorious.
The game supports both local and online multiplayer. Up to four players can race in split-screen mode on a single system, while local wireless play accommodates up to eight players (two per Switch 2 device). The new GameChat feature on Switch 2 lets players communicate and view each other's screens during races.
Additional features like Smart Steering help keep players on track, Auto-accelerate drives racers forward automatically, and Tilt controls enhance immersion through motion control. The game also supports the new Joy-Con 2 Wheel for an authentic kart-racing feel.
Mario Kart World promises to revolutionize the kart-racing genre with its open-world exploration. Set to launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, Mario Kart World invites players to immerse themselves in the world of Mario like never before. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our article below!
