Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Review, Impressions, Videos and Top Features

Mario Kart World is the best entry in the series and easily one of the greatest launch games in history.

This is the perfect game to launch the monumental release of the Nintendo Switch 2 as it showcases the awesome advancements of the console compared to the original Switch.

Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 is a must-own bundle for any Nintendo fan and even those looking to get into gaming for the first time because of the new gameplay and social features. 

Gameplay Impressions

Mario Kart World is the best-feeling game to play in the series because of fantastic quality-of-life improvements. Similar to how Mario Kart 8 Deluxe allowed for auto-accelerate or Smart Steering, MK World introduces perhaps the most important feature. Now, players don't have to hold down the L button in order to have an item behind the driver as it happens by default for relevant items, such as a red shell, green shell or banana. It's a brilliant move by Nintendo to allow this default defensive strategy not just to avoid the annoyance of having to trigger it but because it helps newer gamers who may not have been familiar with the strategy. The gameplay is flawless thanks to the Switch 2's increased frame rate that enhances every aspect of controlling the drivers while the graphics are exceptional. 

MK World also introduces new techniques for drivers while racing or exploring the world. For example, players can hold down ZR for a burst that will let the driver be able to jump onto railings where they can grind to perform tricks for speed bursts. Even more game-changing than that, drivers can now ride on walls to find new paths, alter their lines near a rival or better evade incoming attacks. Both of these new features can dramatically swing races and it will be awesome to see which lines the best players in the world find on each course during speedruns or competitive play.

Beyond the in-game gameplay, handling Switch 2 compared to Switch 1 is superior as well because the Joy-Cons are bigger, the Switch 2 is slightly bigger and the new Pro Controller is phenomenal. Unlike the first iteration of the Joy-Cons, the new version features bigger buttons and joystick. Although the Switch 1 Pro Controller was awesome, it had a slippery shell compared to the new Pro Controller that feels more comfortable to hold.

There's a fantastic suite of modes available, including band-new modes that will forever change the landscape of Mario Kart and driving games. First and foremost, Knockout Tour is the greatest mode in the series. It's a brilliant take on the battle royale genre. This mode features 24 players racing at the same time across multiple interconnected courses with four players getting eliminated at each specific checkpoint until one racer wins. It is a thrilling, heart-racing and intense mode that features non-stop chaotic greatness. This is the mode for players who want a non-stop adrenaline rush with the ultimate competition.

Mario Kart World features dozens of characters, vehicles and more customization options available to unlock in the game. Brand-new characters like the beloved Cow have been added to the mix in addition to more awesome surprises. There's an epic collection of 30+ unique courses at launch that all feel distinct. Each level has its own theme song to build out the exceptional soundtrack. There's a fantastic mix of original and throwback courses. Fans who have been with the series since its inception on Super Nintendo in 1992 will be overjoyed to see how stunning the vintage courses look on the most powerful Nintendo console ever.

Most impressively with Mario Kart World, the courses all connect to each other throughout the map that also features random weather elements and even a day/night cycle. The interconnectivity of the courses truly shines during Knockout Tour and when players have to drive to the next course during Grand Prix. Here, players will be taken through highways and other areas to get from one course to another as part of the actual race. This aspect isn't part of some loading screen as players wait for others to finish the race. Instead, players will begin at the end of one course and race to the end of another course while traversing the world. 

The interconnectivity is a unique twist on Mario Kart that truly enhances the world Nintendo built. This part of each race allows players to feel like they're racing through multiple courses in one race, plus there's layers of potential hazards and challenges to avoid beyond the other drivers in the race. For example, on highways players may be forced to dodge incoming vehicles, canon balls, fireballs or spike balls. In other areas, players may find unlockables or speed boosts. This is a fun way to switch up the formula that has existed since Super Mario Kart.

For gamers who may have felt that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was too easy, Mario Kart World is significantly more challenging. Playing online against other people will always be the ultimate challenge but playing solo against the computer in the 150cc is no cakewalk. While the CPU characters still make some odd choices such as not collecting an item box, the top drivers in each race can be seen pulling off incredible tricks and even taking massive shortcuts. It's a great sign for the longevity of the game that the CPU characters aren't just pushovers. In addition to challenges from CPU, skill-based challenges can also be seen in another new mode.

Free Roam is another new addition to the series that allows gamers to explore the world at their own leisurely pace. Players will discover hundreds of P Switches that will trigger challenges, secrets and unlockables. During Free Roam mode, players can also find items that look like food take-out bags that will unlock costumes. These items can also be found during races but can be difficult to get while trying to compete to win, so Free Roam makes it much easier to find costumes.

Mario Kart World is packed with incredible details throughout the expansive world that features so many unique areas so Free Roam is an excellent way to experience the masterful design throughout the game. It's a smart addition for those who want to test their platforming and racing skills with some challenges as they get more comfortable with the control scheme before jumping back into competition.

Free Roam is also a great social mode for friends to "hang out" virtually thanks to the Nintendo Switch 2's new feature GameChat. With GameChat, players can actually talk with their friends while playing Mario Kart World, a different game or no game at all. It's an incredibly intuitive feature that can also block out surrounding noise and add filters to the background of somebody's screen if they have a camera hooked up to the console. Although the camera is a separate item, the voice feature is available out of the box to allow gamers to stay connected with friends. 

Although some may be skeptical of its usage, GameChat with or without the camera is a brilliant addition to one of the best multiplayer consoles available. While it's a cool feature to be able to play a game with a friend and talk to them, gamers can always share their screen just to allow a friend to check out a game they may be interested in experiencing. It allows for a fun 'Let's Play' feature that may be useful for gamers to see a game before making a purchase. GameChat is a game-changer for gamers who want to stay connected with their friends and offers beneficial use cases for different situations.

As expected from a major first-party Nintendo release, Mario Kart World is an extremely high-quality game that runs flawlessly on the improved hardware of the Switch 2. Whether playing solo, local co-op, LAN play or online, the game continues to run exceptionally well without any glitches, stuttering or other hiccups. Whether playing docked or in handheld, Mario Kart World is stunning.

Conclusion

Mario Kart World is a masterpiece launch game that will span the entirety of the Switch 2's lifecycle. It is an exceptionally joyful, chaotic, intense and leisurely game all in one package that will allow for thousands of hours of gameplay. From a graphics perspective, this is arguably Nintendo's greatest work in the modern era due to the impeccable art style, details and world design. From a gameplay perspective, this is easily the best racing game in Nintendo's vast library.

Whether playing solo, local co-op or online multiplayer, Mario Kart World has something for every gamer. It is the perfect multiplayer game that is also packed with a ton of content to explore for completionists. There are tons of characters, costumes, courses and secrets, plus phenomenal modes such as Knockout Tour, Balloon Battle and Coin Runners to support the classic Grand Prix, VS Race and Time Trials modes. 

It is easy to see why Nintendo needed Switch 2 in order to realize the full potential of the Mario Kart series. As brilliant as the original Switch was and how Nintendo capitalized on Mario Kart 8 from Wii U with the expansive Deluxe version, Switch 2 and Mario Kart World are better in every way. This is the evolution the series needed from a gameplay and multiplayer perspective. 

Nintendo Switch 2 launches with diverse, incredible and beloved experiences such as Cyberpunk 2077, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Hitman World of Assassination, Hogwarts Legacy, Split Fiction, Street Fighter 6 and Yakuza 0. However, Mario Kart World will define the Switch 2 as another powerhouse console from Nintendo and deserves to be in the running for Game of the Year.