3…2…1…GO!! Mario Kart World is here—and available only on Nintendo Switch 2

The engines are purring, and the Red Shells are polished—it’s time for a brand-new Mario Kart™ experience, only for the Nintendo Switch™ 2 system. Ready to plot your route? Let’s go!

The Mario Kart World game is jam packed with content, from interconnected courses set in a large, explorable world to thrilling modes that will test your Mario Kart skills (and encourage you to learn new ones). Play with your friends and family, and don’t worry if they’re new to games—there are assistive features so everyone can get in on the fun (more on that later).

Let’s do a quick run-through (drive-thru?) of the game.

It’s a big world out there…

One of the major stars of this show isn’t a character at all, it’s the world! Hop into a new mode called Free Roam and explore a sprawling world full of details and surprises. As you speed through cities and forests (and who knows where else), try out new moves such as rail riding, wall riding, and water skimming to find secrets and shortcuts. There are also tons of new playable drivers, vehicles, and outfits to unlock. Try exploring every nook and cranny of the game to see what you can find!

Modes

Take on a classic Grand Prix series of races (which are now interconnected!), customize your rules with VS Races (including tons of route combinations), strive for your personal best in Time Trials, or go the distance with the brand-new Knockout Tour elimination mode. In this intense mode, racers are steadily eliminated, checkpoint by checkpoint, until only one remains. It really does feel like each checkpoint could be your last because, well, it technically can!

Grand Prix, VS Races, and Knockout Tour all support up to 24 drivers. If you remember the crazy shenanigans that 12-driver races had in the past, expect competition to be fierce.

If you’re less about racing and more about battling, you can also hop into Coin Runners or Balloon Battle for a bit of fun mayhem. Once all your balloons are popped in Balloon Battle, you’re out of there!

Multiplayer

There are a bunch of different ways to play with others. Race online* across modes with up to 23 other players, play with friends on one system**, or use local wireless** with multiple systems and games. And don’t forget that you can hang out with friends with GameChat*** as you race or roam—you can even try GameChat until March 31, 2026, without a Nintendo Switch Online membership. If you have a compatible USB camera (sold separately), you can also fire up CameraPlay to see your friends’ faces next to their vehicles as you zoom past them, whether you’re online or on the same couch.

And finally, don’t worry if anyone has less experience with games—just turn on assistive features like Smart Steering, Auto-Accelerate, and Auto-Use Item to help level the playing field.

This is just scratching the surface, so stay tuned for more articles on Mario Kart World. You can learn more or buy the game using the link below.