The recently concluded Mario Kart World Direct unveiled an array of exciting details about the upcoming kart-racing title in the Mario Kart series. Dive in to explore the game's expansive free-roam world and its myriad of features.

Mario Kart World Direct Reveals

An Interconnected World

Nintendo's Mario Kart World Direct on April 17 provided an in-depth look at the game's innovative features. Players will have the opportunity to navigate through Mario Kart World, exploring both familiar and new regions.

Nintendo described the experience, stating, "In Mario Kart World, the game’s courses are seamlessly connected by roads, allowing players to explore and navigate between races in a continuous journey!"

Embark on an adventure through the world of Mario, filled with breathtaking scenery and iconic landmarks. Players can uncover hidden items and complete missions to enhance their driving skills beyond traditional races.

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

Grand Prix and Knockout Tour

The game features two main racing modes: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, each supporting up to 24 racers, the largest in the series' history. Participants must navigate through various obstacles, including Bullet Bill-shooting cars and attacks from the Hammer Bros.

In the Grand Prix mode, players compete across four consecutive races to win the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, Star Cup, and more. Unlike previous iterations, players must travel to the next race location to continue. After conquering all Grand Prix Cups, a mysterious "colorful course" appears, speculated by fans to be the iconic Rainbow Road.

The newly introduced Knockout Tour mode challenges players to race from one end of the world to the other. This survival-style mode requires players to maintain a competitive position to advance to the next race, with elimination for those who fall behind.

Items, Characters, and More

Mario Kart World introduces a fresh arsenal of items for racers, alongside returning classics. Notable additions include the Coin Shell, which can knock opponents aside while leaving a trail of collectible coins, the Ice Flower that freezes opponents on contact, and the Big Mushroom, which temporarily enlarges players to squash competitors.

The game's roster features beloved Mushroom Kingdom characters such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, alongside new additions like Goomba, Spike, and even Cow. Players can discover alternate costumes hidden throughout the world, adding to the customization options.

Playing With Friends

Mario Kart World offers diverse game modes for players to enjoy. Time Trials allow players to compete against global ghost data, while VS mode provides extensive customization for team-based races. Battle mode returns with Coin Runners, where players vie for the most coins, and Balloon Battle, where the last racer with an intact balloon wins.

The game supports both local and online play, accommodating up to four players in split-screen mode on a single system. Local wireless play enables up to eight players (two per Switch 2 device) to race together. The new GameChat feature on Switch 2 enhances communication, allowing players to chat and view each other's screens.

Additional features include Smart Steering to keep players on track, Auto-accelerate for effortless forward movement, 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 with its expansive, interconnected map, offering players the freedom to explore Mario's world like never before. The game is slated for release on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our article below!