Mario Kart World throws in a cool little trick for racers who like to practice and perfect their runs—the Rewind feature.
It’s not something that’ll help you blast past the finish line or dodge a Blue Shell at the last second, but if you’re trying to really learn the ins and outs of every track, Rewind is a total game-changer.
Let’s break down what it does, how to use it, and when it’s actually useful. Also check, How to grind rail and ride walls?.
What Is the Rewind Feature?
Exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Mario Kart World, the Rewind function lets you roll back time during a race. It’s designed mainly as a learning tool—a way for players to get familiar with tricky track sections, practice shortcuts, or recover from mistakes without having to restart the entire race.
It’s not meant for cheesing your way to first place—it won’t save you from a Red Shell or let you pause the entire race world. The rest of the game keeps moving even while you’re rewinding.
How to Use Rewind in Mario Kart World
Using Rewind is super simple:
- Hold down on the D-Pad, and your kart will start rewinding its progress.
- Let go of the D-Pad when you’re ready to resume racing from that point.
Important note: Rewind only works in solo modes like Single Player or Free Roam. You can’t use it during Online races or Co-Op play, so it’s not something you can whip out during a head-to-head battle.
Also, it only affects your own kart. Other racers keep moving forward, so you’ve got to decide if rewinding is worth losing your current position. It’s best used as a tool for practicing—not for clutch plays mid-race.
When to Use Rewind (and When Not To)
Rewind is perfect for:
- Learning tricky track sections
- Practicing shortcut timing
- Perfecting drift corners or jumps
- Avoiding falls or bad collisions during practice
It’s not great for:
- Trying to undo hits from items like Shells or Lightning
- Gaining an advantage in actual races
- Online or Co-Op gameplay
In short, Rewind is a damn great tool for trial-and-error learning, helping you to build muscle memory and track the knowledge. Use it to sharpen your racing skills so that when it’s game time—you’re ready to go full throttle.
Related Article: How to Disable Smart Steering in Mario Kart World
