I can remember playing Mario Kart on the SNES at a friend’s house back in the 90s. It was one of the few games I played consistently when I could, delivering countless hours of excitement. The latest iteration of the series, Mario Kart World, coincidentally, was the first game I played on the Nintendo Switch 2 — and let’s just say I am impressed.
While it looked good in the trailer shown during the Nintendo Direct, getting hands-on time with the game worked well to showcase what the Nintendo Switch 2 could do and felt like a showpiece of what was possible on the system. With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe holding the crown as the best-selling Switch game at 67 million units sold, expectations for Mario Kart World are sky-high — and it seems ready to deliver.
Let’s start with a major change: Mario Kart World is now open-world. This is a first for the franchise. Drawing inspiration from games like Burnout Paradise and Forza Horizon, it offers a chance to roam vast landscapes instead of sticking to fixed tracks. In “Free Roam” mode, you can hit off-road trails, grind on rails, leap off walls, or take a leisurely ride with friends. Whether you choose Mario or another Mushroom Kingdom character, the new mode gives you a fresh way to play.
Thankfully, this shift toward open-world gameplay didn’t mean Nintendo put less effort into traditional racing. Classic Grand Prix mode returns, but with a twist: players must navigate between courses in real-time during multi-race tournaments. Racing felt just as tight and responsive as we have come to expect from the series, with the same range of attacks and unique characters all making their way to this new installment. It carries forward many of the same machines we saw in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and it works well. I was surprised by how much fun it was diving in and testing out the different characters and trying all the power-ups we all know and love.
The other mode Nintendo showed off during the preview session was “Knockout Tour,” a high-stakes elimination mode where racers must stay ahead of checkpoints scattered across sprawling maps or face disqualification. These innovations aim to keep longtime fans engaged while offering something entirely new. It keeps the same basic concepts from the main Grand Prix mode but adds that little extra tension in keeping ahead of the pack. I sadly only had around 10 minutes with this mode, so I didn’t get as much time to try everything there was to see, but what I experienced I really enjoyed.
In terms of scale, Mario Kart World raises the stakes by increasing race capacity to 24 players—double that of its predecessor—and it gets frantic. I didn’t think it would change all that much, but this expanded roster managed to intensify the competition and open up opportunities for more chaotic and exhilarating races. Mario Kart World also introduces dynamic weather and time-of-day effects, which not only enhance visuals but also impact gameplay. Sadly, I didn’t see much of this during my gameplay, so I cannot comment on how it actually plays when thrown into the mix.
Graphically, Mario Kart World takes full advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s upgraded hardware and looks absolutely stunning. The trailers showcased the vibrant landscapes and meticulously detailed tracks that breathe new life into familiar locales and introduce stunning new ones, but seeing it in person was on another level. The game was breathtaking, and I can understand why Nintendo started all demos off with it. The Nintendo Switch 2 was clearly an upgrade in performance, but Mario Kart World showcases what this means and why anyone should care.
For fans of the franchise—or anyone who enjoys fast-paced fun—June 5 can’t come soon enough. Mario Kart World looks ready to offer something for everyone and comes in a jam-packed package, ready to demonstrate just what the new Nintendo Switch 2 can really do. This really does feel more than just another Mario Kart game—Mario Kart World feels much more like a celebration of everything that makes this series special, all in one incredible offering. I can only hope the final release lives up to what I have played, but if past installments are anything to go by, the series feels like it is in good hands.
