Gaming & Consoles
Mario Kart World Review: The Series Goes Open World, and Mostly Sticks the Landing
- Brand:
- Nintendo
- Ages:
- 7+ years
- Updated:
- 2026-08-08
The verdict
Mario Kart World is a confident, technically impressive showcase for what Switch 2 can do, and the open-world connective layer between tracks is a genuinely new idea for the series rather than an incremental update — it's an easy pick for Switch 2 owners, especially as a shared family game.
Pros
- First open-world Mario Kart entry — a free-roam mode connects tracks into one continuous explorable map, a genuine series first
- Launch title showcase for Switch 2's power, running smoothly at higher resolutions and frame rates than any prior Mario Kart
- Online races support up to 24 players, up from 12 in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, for genuinely bigger-feeling races
- Approachable, family-friendly design that's easy for young or new players to pick up while still rewarding skilled racers
Cons
- At $79.99 it's priced above the traditional first-party Switch game standard, reflecting Nintendo's higher Switch 2 title pricing
- The free-roam open-world mode, while novel, has been described by some reviewers as thinner on structured content than the core Grand Prix race modes
- Requires a Switch 2 — it's not backward compatible with the original Switch, so it's an added cost on top of the console itself
This review is based on Nintendo's published Mario Kart World details as a Switch 2 launch title and the pattern of critical and player reception since its release, measured against the long-running Mario Kart 8 Deluxe it effectively succeeds.
What open-world actually means for Mario Kart
The headline change is a free-roam mode that connects the game's tracks into one continuous open map you can drive between, letting players explore, find collectibles, and stumble into impromptu races outside the structured Grand Prix format. It's a genuine structural first for the series rather than a cosmetic reskin, though some reviewers note the open-world mode currently feels lighter on dedicated content than the tightly designed race tracks that remain the core of the experience.
A genuine Switch 2 showcase
As a Switch 2 launch title, Mario Kart World also functions as a technical showcase — races run at noticeably higher resolution and smoother frame rates than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe managed on the original Switch, and the jump to 24-player online races makes the online mode feel substantially bigger and more chaotic in the fun sense. It's the kind of visible generational leap that makes a strong case for the new hardware.
Who it's for
Best for Switch 2 households, especially with kids or mixed-skill-level players, given the series' famously approachable but skill-rewarding design. Not an option for original Switch owners without upgrading, since it doesn't run on the older hardware.
Frequently asked
- Does Mario Kart World work on the original Nintendo Switch?
- No, it's a Switch 2 exclusive title and isn't compatible with the original Switch console.
- How many players can race online?
- Up to 24 players in online races, up from the 12-player cap in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, making online races feel notably bigger.
- Is the open-world mode the main way to play?
- It's an additional mode alongside traditional Grand Prix racing; the structured race tracks remain the core competitive experience, with free roam offering a more relaxed exploration option.
- Is Mario Kart World worth buying?
- Yes, especially for Switch 2 households and families — it's an approachable, technically impressive showcase title with a genuinely novel open-world mode layered on top of the series' reliable core racing.
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