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

Mario Kart World Direct Reveals

An Interconnected World

Nintendo's Mario Kart World Direct on April 17 offered an in-depth look at the game's expansive features. Players can now drive through Mario Kart World, exploring both familiar and new regions.

According to Nintendo, "In Mario Kart World, the game’s courses are interspersed across the world with roads leading from one to the next – so players can experience navigating roads in between courses!"

Explore Mario's world like never before, with breathtaking scenic views and iconic landmarks scattered throughout. Engage in hidden missions and collect items to enhance your driving skills outside of traditional races.

A mix of new and classic courses has been revealed, including 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 blend into the expansive Mario Kart World experience.

Grand Prix and Knockout Tour

The game introduces two main racing types: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, both accommodating up to 24 racers, the largest in the series' history. Players must navigate various obstacles such as Bullet Bill-shooting cars and Hammer Bros. attacks.

In the Grand Prix, participants compete in four consecutive races to win cups like the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, and Star Cup. Unlike previous games, players must physically travel to the next race location to continue. Completing all Grand Prix Cups unlocks a "colorful course," rumored to be Rainbow Road.

The newly introduced Knockout Tour takes players on an extended journey across the world. This survival-style race requires racers to finish in a qualifying position to advance, or face elimination from the rally.

Items, Characters, and More

Mario Kart World introduces a fresh set of items alongside returning favorites. The Coin Shell can knock opponents off course and leave a trail of coins, the Ice Flower freezes racers on contact, and the Big Mushroom enlarges players to crush others.

The roster includes classic Mushroom Kingdom characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, alongside new additions like Goomba, Spike, and Cow. Discover alternate costumes hidden throughout the world to customize your racers.

Playing With Friends

The game offers various multiplayer modes. Time Trials pit players against global ghost data, while VS mode allows for team customization. Battle mode returns with Coin Runners and Balloon Battle, challenging players to collect coins or be the last one standing with a balloon.

Mario Kart World supports both local and online play, with up to four players in split-screen on one system and local wireless play for up to eight players (two per Switch 2 device). The new GameChat feature on Switch 2 enables in-game communication and screen sharing.

Additional features include Smart Steering to keep players on track, Auto-accelerate for automatic forward movement, Tilt controls for motion control immersion, and support for the new Joy-Con 2 Wheel for an enhanced racing experience.

Mario Kart World is set to revolutionize the kart-racing genre by offering an open-world map for players to explore. The game will launch on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay updated with the latest news by checking out our article below!