Mario Kart World Direct Highlights Revealed

The recent Mario Kart World Direct showcased an array of exciting details about the latest addition to the Mario Kart series. Dive into the world of Mario Kart World and explore its free-roam features and more.

Mario Kart World Direct Reveals

An Interconnected World

Nintendo unveiled a wealth of information during the Mario Kart World Direct on April 17. Players will have the freedom to explore a vast, interconnected world, featuring both familiar and new regions within the Mario universe.

Nintendo describes the game's layout as, "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!"

Immerse yourself in the scenic beauty and iconic landmarks of Mario's world, and uncover hidden items and missions to enhance your driving prowess outside of traditional races.

The Direct introduced a mix of new and classic courses, such as 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 seamlessly integrate into the expansive new Mario Kart experience.

Grand Prix and Knockout Tour

Mario Kart World offers two primary racing modes: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, both accommodating up to 24 racers, marking a historical high for the series. Be on the lookout for dynamic obstacles like Bullet Bill-shooting cars and Hammer Bros. attacks.

In the Grand Prix mode, players must complete four consecutive races to win cups such as the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, and Star Cup. A unique twist this time is that players must physically travel to the next race location to continue their Grand Prix journey. After conquering all the Grand Prix Cups, a rumored "colorful course," speculated to be Rainbow Road, will become available.

The newly introduced Knockout Tour mode challenges players to race across the world, with a survival twist. Only those who place well enough in each race will advance to the next, with others being eliminated.

Items, Characters, and More

Mario Kart World introduces a fresh arsenal of items alongside beloved classics. Notable additions include the Coin Shell, which can knock opponents aside while leaving a trail of collectible coins, the Ice Flower that freezes opponents on contact, and the Big Mushroom, which enlarges players for a chance to squash rivals.

The roster includes classic Mushroom Kingdom favorites like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, alongside newcomers such as Goomba, Spike, and even Cow. Each character has alternate costumes hidden throughout the world, waiting to be discovered and used.

Playing With Friends

With a variety of game modes, Mario Kart World offers ample opportunities for multiplayer fun. Time Trials let players compete against global ghost data, while VS mode provides extensive customization for team-based races. Battle mode brings back Coin Runners and Balloon Battle for intense competition.

The game supports both local and online play, allowing up to four players to race in split-screen on a single system. Local wireless play supports up to 8 players (2 per Switch 2 device). The Switch 2's new GameChat feature enhances communication, enabling players to chat and view each other's screens during races.

Additional options like Smart Steering help players stay on track, Auto-accelerate keeps racers moving forward, and Tilt controls add an immersive touch through motion control. The all-new Joy-Con 2 Wheel further enhances the racing experience.

Mario Kart World is poised to revolutionize the kart-racing genre with its expansive, open-world approach. Set to launch on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2, stay tuned for more updates by checking out our article below!