Summary

  • Mario Kart World focuses on core Mario characters, with fewer courses but more cohesive visuals and character designs.
  • In terms of customization and modes, 8 Deluxe offers more options, while World has unique modes like Knockout Tour.
  • World wins over 8 Deluxe with its improved racing mechanics, visual presentation, and overall more cohesive experience.

In spite of how fast-paced its races are, the Mario Kart series is in no rush when it comes to releasing new mainline games. The original Mario Kart 8 launched in 2014, and it took 11 years for a wholly new game to be released in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Mario Kart World. Tour doesn't count.

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With over a decade of consistent support and updates, encapsulated in the definitive edition Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, as well as th𝕴e content included in the Booster Course Pass, it's a hard title to follow-up. But World takes a complete left turn to differentiate itself from the title before it, but which is more fun to play?

8 Racers

World

Wiggler angrily raises its fist at a Koopa Troopa in Mario Kart World.

World decided to pare things back,🌃 and choose to focus on a more recognizable cast of core Mario characters, and then build up the options with a litany of outfits, as well as a strong collection of random creatures and NPCs for those friends who really need to be different (Rocky Wrench really speaks to my soul, okay?)

The cast of characters to play as in 8 Deluxe is an eclectic bunch. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The row of Koopalings, while fun for their fans, definitely made the cast feel bloated, and the inclusion of characters like Pink Gold Peach make the ch🌳aracter selection easy to maℱke fun of. The additions in DLC add some much-needed variety, but the launch line-up was diabolical.

7 Courses

8 Deluxe

Princess Peach holding a Bomb while riding down Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

It's no question that 8 Deluxe has the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:best selection of courses in Mario Kart history, and that likely won't change for a while. With 96 available by the time you've got all the DLC, there's plenty to keep you busy꧑, and a lot of them are great. The Booster Course Pass included some undeniable bloat that didn't translate perfectly from Tour, but more options is never a bad thin👍g.

World has considerably fewer courses; the divide is so e🌠gregious that it was never really up to question that it was losing this category. Sure, the intermission tracks count for something, and the fact that everything is interconnected is a cool detail, but with only 30 main tracks, there are some weaker inclusions that could've been switched out for stronger♛ alternatives, like Dandelion Depths.

6 Karts

World

Snowman drives under a red banner on DK Pass in Mario Kart World.

While there are definitely fewer options in Wor🐎ld when it comes to what you're riding, the amount of try-hard behavior this dissuades is definitely worth it. On top of this, having Karts just being one cohesive element means that they tend to be a lot more 𓆏aesthetically pleasing, and there are some fantastic designs included to show this off.

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It's painful, especially in local multiplayer, waiting to start a race in 8 Deluxe, and someone is poring over the stats of different Kart parts, trying to optimize the perfect machine, all the while you're itching to get on the road. Kart customization was𝓰 a fun feature for two mainline entries, but it won't be missed.

5 Modes

Even

Chargin' Chuck hovers over his vehicle in mid-air in Mario Kart World.

8 Deluxe and World offer a whole different package when it comes to the side modes you want to spend time with, and the one you prefer will definitely depend on the type of player you are. World's inclusion of Knockout Tour is a great option if you want something similar to a Grand Prix, but different eꦯnough to be refreshing, and Free Roam is fun if you just want to chill in the world, pick up collectibles, and find secre𝓰ts.

8 Deluxe is definitely the superior option if you're more of a fan of Battle Mode, however. With multiple sub-modes, and some of the best Battle Mode maps in series history, the staggering variety her🐼e is definitely appreciated. But still, some people don't like Battle Mode, so if you don't, all 8 Deluxe ♚really has to offer is the standard Mario Kart fare.

4 Racing

World

Nabbit drifts while driving on Peach Beach in Mario Kart World.

There is a definite learning curve, but racing feels fantastic in World. The addition of nꦺew trick options is a little hard to learn, but they make the tracks feel more alive once you've finally mastered them. On top of this, the weight of the characters feels more impactful than ever, and the new items are all hits too. Racing in the air and on wꦜater is a little slow, but this was the same in 8 Deluxe, so it hardly loses points for that.

Just because World has made a few tweaks doesn't mean that the 8 Deluxe experience is any worse than it was before. It's definitely the more approachable title, and while it's a little gimmicky, the zero-gravity sections are still plenty of fun, and were conducive with some fantast𓂃ic c𒀰ourse designs.

3 ꦗ Customization

8 Deluxe

Baby Rosalina, Baby Mario, and Baby Luigi racing through a battle course in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

If you want to tweak your Mario Kart 🍸play session to be exactly as you like, then 8 Deluxe is definitely the best title. For each mode there are plenty of options for making the experience exactly to your taste. With 200cc, a fully implemented mirror mode, and, of course, kart customization, there are plenty of adjustments to be made.

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There is still plenty to do in World, but it feels like Nintendo is sure that it knows what is most fun. Want to play with 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:less than 24 racers? Too bad. Want a more detailed map for Free Roam? Too Bad. There are so many little flaw🌌s like these in W🦩orld that it's hard to call it a perfect experience, so we can only hope that Nintendo is willing to take feedback for once.

2 💜 Presentation

World

Daisy does a star jump during photo mode in Mario Kart World.

Both of these games are stunning in their own right, but the more cohesive and stylized approach of Mario Kart World makes it a more visually impressive title, especially when considering the whole interconnected world. The characters are more expressive, and everything just feels a little less glossy in the best wa🍷y possible.

While 8 Deluxe has that aforementioned gloss, it doesn't make the game worse, but it does feel a little less impactful thanks to this. Also, because of just how many courses are included🧸 in the whole package, the cohesiveness suffers, especially when considering some of the less inspired Tour courses.

1 Winner

World

The gang pose for a group photo in Mario Kart World

Especiall𝓰y when comparing World to how 8 originally launched, calling World the winner feels obviou൲s, and they only start to feel like genuine competitors when taking into account all the additions from Deluxe and the Booster Course Pass.

If you're a fan of Battle Mode and you love having as many courses to choose from as possible, then 8 Deluxe is the obvious choice. However, if you want something a little more cohesive, as well as a more inviting single-player experien⛎ce, then World is the clear winner.

mario-kart-world-tag-page-cover-art.jpg

Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Mario Kart World
Racing
Open-World
Systems
4.0/5
Top Critic Avg: 86/100 Critics Rec: 97%
Released
June 5, 2025
ESRB
💛 Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact 🅷
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Multiplayer
🌳 Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

Number of Players
1-24
Nintendo Switch Release Date
𝔍 June 5, 2025
Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
🅠 June 5, 2025
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty