With the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 comes a new Mario Kart. And it looks like a ton of fun. Dubbed Mario Kart World, the latest installment in the franchise promises to be bigger, better, and more exciting than ever.
Naturally, there’s a ton of new content packed into this latest Mario Kart game. Nintendo says each race will have 24 racers, and there will be various new game modes like Knockout Mode, online multiplayer mode, and for the first time, a Free Roam open-world option where drivers can venture “virtually everywhere,” Nintendo said in a statement.
You’ll still be able to use all your favorite drivers, like Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and many more. But there are a whopping 48 playable characters in total in Mario Kart World, including some truly obscure options.
The Para-Biddybuds from Super Mario 3D Land get their own vehicles, as do the Snowmen from Super Mario 64, and the Sidesteppers from Mario Bros. And yes, even the Dolphins and Penguins from Super Mario are playable characters, for some reason.
Here’s what the full list of characters looks like (with the new players noted in italics):
| Toad | Toadette | Pauline | Shy Guy | Baby Mario | Baby Luigi | Baby Peach | Baby Daisy |
| Baby Rosalina | Wario | Waluigi | Yoshi | Lakitu | Birdo | King Boo | Dry Bones |
| Wiggler | Nabbit | Goomba | Hammer Bro | Moo Moo (Cow) | Koopa Troopa | Piranha Plant | Conkdor |
| Snowman | Sidestepper | Chargin’ Chuck | Cheep Cheep | Coin Coffer | Rocky Wrench | Monty Mole | Fish Bone |
| Dolphin | Penguin | Para-Biddybud | Stingby | Pokey | Cataquack | Peepa | Spike |
| Mario | Luigi | Peach | Bowser | Bowser Jr. | Daisy | Rosalina | Donkey Kong |
Of course, it wouldn’t be Mario Kart without dozens of wacky circuits to race on. The list includes favorites like Wario Stadium, Koopa Troopa Beach, and although unconfirmed, it’s extremely unlikely Nintendo decides to ditch Rainbow Road (unless everyone has finally gotten fed up).
Here’s what the confirmed track list looks like thus far, according to NintendoLife.com:
| Mushroom Cup | Flower Cup | Star Cup | Shell Cup | Banana Cup | Leaf Cup | Lightning Cup |
| Mario Bros. Circuit | Desert Hills | DK Pass | Koopa Troopa Beach | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Crown City | Shy Guy Bazaar | Starview Peak | Faraway Oasis | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Whistlestop Summit | Wario Stadium | Sky-High Sundae | Crown City | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| DK Spaceport | Airship Fortress | Wario Shipyard | Peach Stadium | TBD | TBD | TBD |
The latest Mario Kart game will be available when the Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025. But here’s the kicker: Mario Kart World costs $80 for the digital version and $90 for the physical game. That’s quite a bit pricier than the $60 Nintendo (and most other companies) typically ask for their games.
But if you’re as much of a Mario Kart fan as we are, it seems like it will be worth it. Hopefully.
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Source: Nintendo