Mario Kart World Review: A $500 Console Seller?

The release of almost any Nintendo game always sparks excitement in the gaming community. And that is hardly surprising: the company’s fans have grown accustomed to fun, innovative, and most importantly — high-quality projects. However, the expectations for Mario Kart World were inflated even by Nintendo’s own standards. After all, we are talking about the first full-fledged sequel to the legendary racing series in 11 years, the follow-up to the best-selling exclusive on the original Switch, and the debut next-generation project for the Switch 2. Mario Kart World is the kind of title meant to sell the new console not just this year but throughout its entire life cycle — at least in theory. So let’s find out whether World actually lives up to the hype.

Perhaps the most important goal for any launch exclusive is to deliver a strong first impression of the hardware. In this regard, Mario Kart World does not disappoint. Even before the Switch 2 launched, its creators claimed the console was ten times more powerful than the original — but such numbers mean little in a vacuum. It is another matter entirely when you have a game on day one that lets you personally experience that generational leap.

Whether you are playing on the built-in 1080p screen of the Switch 2 or on a TV, Mario Kart World looks fantastic. The same cannot be said about Cyberpunk 2077, which noticeably loses visual quality in handheld mode. World has no such problem: the image is always crisp and colorful. Sure, Nintendo is not chasing trendy technologies like ray tracing, but the combination of stylized cartoon graphics, HDR, remarkable attention to detail, a huge number of animations for characters and karts, and a stable framerate is more than enough to make MKW look a cut above any other game from the company.

What is also important is that the so-called “next-gen” feel directly influenced the game’s design. The key innovation that gave the game its “World” subtitle is a full-fledged open world — something the developers say would not have been possible on the original Switch without major compromises.

Outside of competitive races, players now have access to a massive map that they can freely explore without a single loading screen. Everywhere you look, there are colorful locations with varied styles and breathtaking scenery. It may sound overly dramatic, but it feels like you bought not just a game, but a ticket to a gigantic amusement park — one that makes Disneyland seem no more remarkable than the playground outside your window.

However, when the visual wow factor inevitably fades, it becomes clear that the open world is not particularly engaging from a gameplay perspective. The main activities are driving challenges scattered across the map that test your skills — for example, reaching point B from point A in 10 seconds while dodging giant penguins. These missions are not exactly boring, but completing them only rewards you with stickers, and you can apply just one to your kart (and that’s the extent of customization). The lack of meaningful rewards for discovering secrets or completing tasks is the main reason you will not want to stick around in the open world for long.

Still, the essence of the Mario Kart series lies in its chaotic races, and World is no exception. The main modes include Grand Prix, where players compete across a series of tracks to earn the highest total score, and Knockout Tour, where checkpoints along the route eliminate the slowest racers.

Interestingly, the open world is integrated into these modes. After completing one track, players must physically drive to the next. These highway segments between races are technically part of the event — so you cannot afford to let your guard down.

At first, this new concept feels thrilling: it is like taking a world tour through fantastical lands, condensed into a 15-minute adventure. The transitions between regions are handled creatively — at one point, you ride an updraft from a jungle and soar into the sky to continue racing among floating ancient ruins.

The problem is that some of the connecting roads between courses are not as exciting in terms of design. Often, players are simply speeding down a fairly straightforward route — which is not very engaging from a mechanical standpoint.

Fortunately, the chaotic nature of the game helps to compensate. One of Mario Kart World’s key features is support for up to 24 racers, which adds to the intensity. Items and abilities are flying in from every direction, rivals are trying to knock you off the road — and amid all this madness, it is easy to forget that you have just been driving straight for the past minute.

As for the courses themselves — not the roads between them — there is very little to criticize. Not only are they well-designed and cleverly looped, but the new kart mechanics make them even more fun. Vehicles can now grind along rails, wires, and guardrails, opening up tons of creative shortcuts. With the right timing and jump angle, you can even ride along walls. Using all these features, skilled players have already figured out insane tricks that let them catch up to the leader or pull far ahead in seconds.

What makes Mario Kart World truly shine is how well it caters to different types of players. Kids, adults who do not usually play racing games, and hardcore gamers looking for a deep skill curve will all find something to enjoy here. That said, it is hard to predict how long the game can keep you engaged. If you are playing solo, there is not much to do once you have completed all the tours. The challenges scattered around the mostly empty open world are unlikely to keep players hooked. To get the most out of MKW, you will want to jump into online play. But even then, the most fun can be found in the random track mode, which skips the travel segments entirely. The fact that one of Mario Kart World’s headline features feels skippable — that is a problem.

Many of Mario Kart World’s shortcomings could likely be addressed in future updates or DLC. The developers could add new activities to the open world, improve the road segments between tracks, and introduce a more robust kart customization system beyond applying a single sticker. The foundation of a great game is already here: World is a beautiful and charming racer with the most chaotic gameplay in the series and mechanics that are easy to pick up but surprisingly deep.

Is it worth buying an entire Nintendo Switch 2 just for this game? Let's be honest: this is not a system-seller on the level of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But even if Mario Kart World is not the reason to buy the console, it is still a solid companion title. If you are planning to get a Switch 2 for upcoming projects, why not take a look at the bundle with MKW?

And what about you? Have you had a chance to play Mario Kart World yet? Let us know in the comments.