Mario Kart World: Past, Present, Future | 2025 Review
Exploring Nintendo's New Kart Racer, with 40 hours of perspective.
Check out this review in video form on my YouTube channel!
After spending 30 hours playing Mario Kart World, I dove back into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, to see how the two compared. Above all else, Deluxe felt easier, confirmed by a large winning streak. If I had to guess, this is likely due to Deluxe featuring fewer racers, which results in far less item spam, making it easier to focus on just the technicalities of driving, and getting ahead of the pack.
In Mario Kart World, with 24 racers and 28 items, I truly believe the game requires more strategy and luck for you to succeed. But that's not painting the whole picture, and in fact it almost feels disingenuous comparing the two of them because of their differences. So, I'd like to propose that we consider World as more of a spin-off to Mario Kart 8, rather than it being a true 'Mario Kart 9' style sequel, due to the minutia of their differences.
Categorizing it as a spin-off, I believe, will remove many initial inhibitions players have against Mario Kart World's changes, and I think that's great because this game is a blast to play. I love the long, interconnected races and high skill ceiling of the new parkour mechanics. The local co-op experience is very enjoyable, and it's also where I've spent most of my time.
Admittedly, the game can be quite difficult at times. Because of this difficulty, I'm starting to get tired of a small handful of tracks where the 3-star trophy eludes me, but overall I do find the game very replayable. This isn't even scratching the surface of what's available to me, as well, as I haven't explored the online multiplayer or other modes beyond Knockout or Grand Prix. In total, I'm expecting to enjoy playing Mario Kart World for at 80 hours over the next 10-years (the potential lifespan of the Switch 2), which will eventually qualify it for my dolla' per hour guarantee.
Adventure mode needs its own paragraph because it is a childhood dream come true. Initially I was not impressed, particularly with its reward structure, but over time it's grown on me. The exploration helps you appreciate the detailed environments that normally you'd just zip by and through without a second thought. The ?-panels and creative P-Switch missions allows you to expand that appreciation, by giving you a fun, short challenge. Some are exceptionally helpful, and show you interesting parkour routes that you can attempt in races. Others will be a one-off experience with unique mechanics you'd never see in a race. The sticker rewards are still pretty weak, but the 'Adventure' in this mode isn't about being rewarded in the traditional sense; it's about having fun. This is easily my favorite part of this game.
Overall, I recommend Mario Kart World, and consider it to be a Name Brand product. It has exceeded my expectations greatly. I consider it to be absolutely worth playing, and even buying at a good price. Mario Kart World may not be entirely comparable to previous entries in the series, especially if you hold them under the microscope, but the new elements here are quite fun. The game is ripe for any kind of expansion or DLC, and I hope we get that. But, I personally wouldn't buy it expecting more content to come. Though, to note, what is here is very enjoyable, worth it on its own, and I do believe it doesn't necessarily need DLC or expansions to enhance it further. It has great potential though to be iterated upon. Ultimately, Mario Kart World is a beautifully crafted Mario Kart 'spin-off' that my kid-self has always wanted, and I recommend it.
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