Mario Kart is back—and this time, it’s bigger, faster, and wilder than ever. Launching alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5th, 2025, Mario Kart World is the ninth mainline game in the series, and it’s aiming to redefine what a Mario Kart game can be.
From open-world exploration to 24-player races and brand-new characters (yes, a literal cow is a racer), here’s everything you need to know.
🏎️ How Many Players Can Race Together?
Multiplayer in Mario Kart World is no joke:
- Split-screen (local): Up to 4 players
- Local wireless (multiple Switch 2 consoles): Up to 8 players
- Online multiplayer: Up to a whopping 24 racers on a single track
🧃 All Confirmed Items in Mario Kart World
Items are getting wild in this one. Here’s the list so far:
- Banana
- Triple Banana
- Green Shell
- Red Shell
- Blue Shell
- Bullet Bill
- Bob-Omb (now with different mechanics?)
- Fire Flower
- Ice Flower
- Lightning
- Blooper
- Boo
- Coin
- Coin Shell
- Coin Box
- Mushroom
- Gold Mushroom
- Triple Mushroom
- Mega Mushroom
- Feather
- Star
- Superhorn
- Hammer
- Kamek
- Boomerang
Expect item meta shake-ups—some old favorites work a little differently this time around.
🏁 Grand Prix & Track Count
There are 7 Grand Prix Cups confirmed:
- Mushroom
- Flower
- Star
- Shell
- Banana
- Leaf
- Lightning
Each GP has 4 tracks, totaling 28 tracks—but complete them all, and you unlock Rainbow Road and an eighth cup, bringing the total to at least 32 tracks.
Some also have “variant” versions—like Crown City 2 and Peach Stadium 2—but it’s unclear if these count as separate tracks.
Known Tracks:
- Rainbow Road
- Acorn Heights
- Boo Cinema
- Bowser’s Castle
- Cheep Cheep Falls
- Choco Mountain
- Crown City / Crown City 2
- Dandelion Depths
- Desert Hills
- Dino Dino Jungle
- DK Pass
- DK Spaceport
- Dry Bones Burnout
- Faraway Oasis
- Great ? Block Ruins
- Koopa Troopa Beach
- Mario Bros. Circuit
- Moo Moo Meadows
- Peach Beach
- Peach Stadium / Peach Stadium 2
- Salty Salty Speedway
- Shy Guy Bazaar
- Sky-High Sundae
- Starview Park
- Toad’s Factory
- Wario Shipyard
- Wario Stadium
- Whistlestop Summit
👑 Character Roster: Every Racer Confirmed So Far
Classic Characters:
- Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy
- Yoshi, Toad, Toadette
- Wario, Waluigi
- Bowser, Bowser Jr., Koopa Troopa
- Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong
- Rosalina, Baby Rosalina
- Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, Baby Daisy
- Lakitu, Shy Guy, King Boo, Birdo
- Dry Bones, Wiggler, Pauline
New Additions:
Yep, it’s weird and wonderful:
- Nabbit
- Hammer Bro
- Cow
- Goomba
- Conkdor
- Piranha Plant
- Chargin’ Chuck
- Sidestepper
- Cheep Cheep
- Snowman
- Monty Mole
- Rocky Wrench
- Penguin
- Dolphin
- Fish Bone
- Stingby
- Para-Biddybud
- Peepa
- Pokey
- Cataquack
- Swoop
- Spike
- Pianta
And yes, more secret characters may be hidden in the game…
🕹️ Game Modes in Mario Kart World
Here are the seven confirmed game modes:
- Grand Prix
- Four back-to-back races, but now you actually drive to the next course.
- Four back-to-back races, but now you actually drive to the next course.
- Knockout Tour
- Stay above the elimination line or get booted mid-race.
- Stay above the elimination line or get booted mid-race.
- Time Trials
- Three mushrooms and one chance to beat dev times and friends.
- Three mushrooms and one chance to beat dev times and friends.
- Vs Race
- Classic mode, but now with full custom rules and up to 24 racers.
- Classic mode, but now with full custom rules and up to 24 racers.
- Battle Mode
- Includes Balloon Battle and Coin Runners.
- Includes Balloon Battle and Coin Runners.
- Free Roam
- Explore the open world, find secrets, collect Dash Food, and unlock cosmetics.
- Explore the open world, find secrets, collect Dash Food, and unlock cosmetics.
- Multiplayer
- Most modes can be played online, locally, or split-screen.
- Most modes can be played online, locally, or split-screen.
🌍 Is Mario Kart World Open-World?
Yes! Mario Kart World has open-world elements like Free Roam, where you can explore, drive between races, complete mini-challenges, and unlock cosmetics—all while cruising the map solo or with friends.
📦 Is There DLC?
Nintendo hasn’t confirmed anything yet. But with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe getting such a strong DLC rollout, it’s very likely we’ll see new tracks, characters, or modes down the line.
There’s also a chance Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC content might return—like Link and other crossover characters.
🎮 Can I Play Mario Kart World on My Switch 1?
Nope. Mario Kart World is Switch 2 exclusive. Between the 24-player races, open-world mechanics, and fancy new graphics, the game fully leans into the Switch 2’s upgraded hardware.
💰 Release Info & Bundle Details
- Release Date: June 5, 2025
- Standalone Price: $79.99
- Bundle: Get it with a Nintendo Switch 2 for $499.99 (a solid $30–50 savings overall)
🏁 Ready to Race?
Mario Kart World is shaping up to be the biggest and boldest entry yet. Whether you’re all about speed, chaos, exploration, or just flexing your new racer outfit—there’s something for everyone.
So grab your Joy-Cons, rev up your engines, and may the best racer dodge the Blue Shell! 💨🔥
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