Ever since the UFO was spotted in gameplay reveals and trailers, Mario Kart World fans have been buzzing with curiosity.
Where is it? What does it do? Can you actually fly it? Now that the game is out, we finally have answers—and yes, you can get abducted and fly the darn thing.
Here’s how to find the UFO in Mario Kart World, how to get abducted, and what you can do once you’re in the pilot seat.
Where to Find the UFO in Mario Kart World
Keep Your Eyes on the Sky
The UFO only shows up in Free Roam mode, where you can explore the open world beyond the races. But here’s the tricky part—it doesn’t spawn in one specific spot.
Instead, it appears randomly in the sky, usually hovering over roads. I haven’t seen it spawn out in the middle of nowhere, so your best bet is to stick to the streets and watch the skies.
When I first spotted it, it was flying pretty high up before it slowly descended and hovered directly over the road. That’s when it activates its tractor beam—your cue to move in.
How to Get Abducted by the UFO
Beamed Up, Mario-Style
Once that tractor beam is shining down on the pavement, just drive your kart right into it. If you time it right, you’ll get sucked straight into the ship. It’s not a cutscene either—you actually go into the UFO. That’s where things get really fun.
How to Fly the UFO in Mario Kart World
Take to the Skies
After you’ve been abducted, you’ll be put in control of the UFO—and yes, it flies just like a kart. You’ll use:
- A to accelerate
- B to brake
- Left stick to steer
- R button to activate the tractor beam
You can use the beam to suck up cars, items, or even other players, which is both hilarious and surprisingly useful.
Whether you’re collecting Peach Coins or scouting for hidden secrets, the UFO is an awesome tool for exploring areas that are otherwise hard to reach.
Just know that you won’t be flying forever. From what I’ve seen, you get about 30 seconds of flight time before you’re ejected. Once that timer’s up, your kart’s glider will kick in so you can safely float back to the ground.
So yeah, the UFO is real, it’s pilotable, and it’s an absolute blast. It doesn’t last forever, but it’s definitely worth tracking down for the experience—and who knows, maybe Nintendo has more surprises in store with it down the line.
Play Mario Kart World on Nintendo.
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