Mario Kart World Direct: Key Highlights Revealed

The Mario Kart World Direct, recently held by Nintendo, provided an exciting glimpse into the upcoming kart-racing game from the beloved Mario Kart series. Dive into the details of the game's expansive free-roam world and its innovative features.

Mario Kart World Direct Reveals

An Interconnected World

During the Mario Kart World Direct on April 17, Nintendo unveiled a host of new features and aspects of the game. Players can now drive freely through Mario Kart World, exploring both familiar and new regions within the series.

Nintendo emphasized that "In Mario Kart World, the game’s courses are interconnected by roads, allowing players to navigate seamlessly from one course to another, enhancing the overall experience of traversing the world!"

Embark on a journey through the world of Mario, complete with breathtaking landscapes and iconic landmarks. As you roam, uncover hidden items and engage in missions that enhance your driving skills beyond traditional races.

The game introduces a mix of new and classic courses, such as Mario Bros. Circuit, Crown City, Salty Salty Speedway, Starview Peak, Boo Cinema, Toad's Factory, Peach Beach, and Wario Shipyard. These classic courses have been reimagined to seamlessly integrate into the expansive Mario Kart World experience.

Grand Prix and Knockout Tour

Mario Kart World introduces two main racing modes: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, both accommodating up to 24 racers, setting a new record for the series. Be prepared for various in-race obstacles, including Bullet Bill-launching cars and attacks from Hammer Bros.

In the Grand Prix mode, players will compete across four consecutive races to win cups like the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, and Star Cup. A unique feature is the need to travel between races, adding a layer of exploration. Completing all Grand Prix Cups unlocks a mysterious "colorful course," speculated to be the iconic Rainbow Road.

The newly introduced Knockout Tour takes players on a journey from one end of the world to the other. This survival-style race demands players finish in a qualifying position to advance, or face elimination from the rally.

Items, Characters, and More

Mario Kart World brings a fresh set of items to the races, alongside familiar favorites. New items include the Coin Shell, which can knock opponents aside and leave a trail of coins; the Ice Flower, which freezes racers on contact; and the Big Mushroom, which enlarges players to squash rivals.

The roster features classic Mushroom Kingdom characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, joined by new additions such as Goomba, Spike, and even Cow. Players can discover alternate costumes for these characters hidden throughout the world.

Playing With Friends

The game offers diverse multiplayer modes for players to enjoy. Time Trials let you compete against global ghost data, while VS mode allows for extensive customization, enabling team-based races. Battle mode returns with Coin Runners, where players race to collect the most coins, and Balloon Battle, where the last racer with a balloon wins.

Mario Kart World supports both local and online play. Up to four players can race in split-screen on a single system, and local wireless play supports up to eight players (two per Nintendo Switch 2). The new GameChat feature on Switch 2 enhances communication, letting players chat and view each other's screens during races.

Additional features include Smart Steering to keep you on track, Auto-accelerate for effortless driving, Tilt controls for an immersive experience, and support for the new Joy-Con 2 Wheel, enhancing the racing feel.

Mario Kart World promises to revolutionize the kart-racing genre by offering an expansive, interconnected world for players to explore. Set for release on June 5, 2025, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2, stay tuned for more updates by checking out our related articles below!