Mario Kart World Direct Highlights Revealed

The recent Mario Kart World Direct unveiled an exciting array of features for the upcoming kart-racing game in the Mario Kart series. Dive in to discover more about the game's innovative free-roam world and what it offers.

An Interconnected World

Nintendo's Mario Kart World Direct on April 17 provided a deep dive into the game's various aspects and features. Players can now explore Mario Kart World, navigating through familiar and new regions of the Mario universe.

According to Nintendo, "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!"

Embark on a journey through Mario's world, encountering scenic views and iconic landmarks. The game also includes hidden items and missions, allowing players to enhance their driving skills beyond traditional races.

New and classic courses have been introduced, 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 this new Mario Kart experience.

Grand Prix and Knockout Tour

The game features two main racing modes: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, both accommodating up to 24 racers, setting a new record for the series. Players must navigate through various obstacles, including Bullet Bill-launching cars and Hammer Bros attacks.

In the Grand Prix, players compete in four consecutive races to win cups like the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, and Star Cup. A unique aspect is that players must travel to the next race location to continue. Completing all Grand Prix Cups unlocks a speculated "colorful course," possibly Rainbow Road.

Knockout Tour introduces extended races that span the world map. This survival mode requires players to finish within a certain position to advance to the next race, with elimination for those who fail to do so.

Items, Characters, and More

Mario Kart World introduces a fresh set of items alongside returning favorites. New items include the Coin Shell, which can knock opponents aside and leave a coin trail, the Ice Flower, which freezes opponents on contact, and the Big Mushroom, which enlarges players and can squash other racers.

The roster features classic Mushroom Kingdom characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, as well as new additions such as Goomba, Spike, and Cow. Hidden throughout the world are alternate costumes for these characters, adding a layer of exploration and discovery.

Playing With Friends

The game offers multiple modes for players to enjoy. Time Trials allow online competition against ghost data, while VS mode provides extensive customization options for team races. Battle mode returns with Coin Runners and Balloon Battle, focusing on coin collection and balloon survival, respectively.

Mario Kart World supports both local and online play, with up to four players able to race in split-screen on one system. Local wireless play supports up to eight players (two per Switch 2 device). The Switch 2's GameChat feature enhances multiplayer interaction, allowing players to chat and view each other's screens.

Additional features include Smart Steering to keep players on track, Auto-accelerate for automatic forward movement, Tilt controls for motion-based gameplay, and support for the new Joy-Con 2 Wheel for an immersive racing experience.

Mario Kart World promises to revolutionize the kart-racing genre with its expansive, explorable map. Set for release on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2, stay tuned for more updates by checking out our article below!