Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Title Revealed: Mario Kart World

The gaming world has been enthralled since the official announcement of Mario Kart World, the next installment in Nintendo’s Legendary Racing franchise. The recent Nintendo Switch 2 event and announcement of Mario Kart 9, following years of speculation and continued sales of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch, have sent waves of excitement throughout the gaming community. Initial glimpses of the console back in January 2025 hinted toward a new Mario Kart title, but the full unveilment on April 2nd offered a closer look at what looks to be an important leap forward for the franchise, landing firmly as a major launch title for the next-generation Nintendo hardware.

It has been quite a wait for a full-fledged, new, mainline Mario Kart entry on consoles. The original Mario Kart 8 on the Nintendo Wii U (2014) paved the way for the console-enhanced Deluxe version (2017), which received critical acclaim and widespread sales success but also left fans yearning for an actual sequel that would allow the franchise to operate on a larger level. This long lead has only added to the weight of the Mario Kart World announcement, one of the most discussed gaming stories of 2023.

Save the date, racing fans, as Mario Kart World is coming to a global launch on June 5, 2025. More on that in the coming weeks and months, but the release date is rather interesting time-wise, as it will also launch with the Nintendo Switch 2. In fact, Mario Kart World is a flagship title intended to put the possibilities of the upcoming console on full display.

Nintendo has made World a lock-in title for the Nintendo Switch 2, so it will not be playable on the original Nintendo Switch. By making this instalment a platform exclusive, Nintendo is almost certainly aiming to generate additional adoption for their new hardware, leaving no question for current fans of the long-standing franchise to upgrade and experience its next evolution.

By linking its new console with such a popular franchise, Nintendo is going to indicate how much better the Nintendo Switch 2 will perform compared to the Nintendo Switch and what people can expect from it as their ultimate Mario experience.

Mario Kart World looks set to reinvent the classic Mario Kart formula with a plethora of new gameplay mechanics. By far the biggest of these is the addition of a giant, interconnected world map. Instead of courses being selected individually or grouped into separate cups like in previous games, Mario Kart World will feature one sprawling landscape where all the race courses are contiguous with each other. This connection will radically reshape how the Grand Prix mode works (instead of going to a menu after a race, players will drive their karts around the open world to arrive at the next track in the competition).

This design decision is promising a more seamless and continuous racing experience, breaking down the boundaries between individual races and creating a feeling of a larger, broader game world. That is a huge departure from the solitary track structure that has typified the series for decades, creating a possibility of longer and more dynamic Grand Prix sessions. This interconnectedness has potential implications beyond the aesthetic, as it could add in new layers of strategy around how much time you spend wandering the overworld in between races or even the discovery of hidden pathways and shortcuts between races, though more details will be shared in the upcoming Nintendo Direct.

The artistic beauty of Lego 2 surpasses that of The Force Awakens, and the introduction of a dedicated Free Roam mode enhances the gameplay. The game also introduces a new “free mode” step that allows players to explore the game’s vast world, providing them with an opportunity to explore areas beyond the races.

The social aspect of gaming is also highlighted here, as players can meet up with friends in the free-roam location, explore beautiful vistas and even take in-game photographs together. This inclusion may come across as somewhat detached, which could play into a scenario where the game draws in a wider audience for exploration, rather than focusing solely on more competitive racing or an outdoor travel simulator. Just in any sense, it would extend the playability of the game on its own, considering the way that you would treat the Mario Kart universe outside of the high-octane competitive nature of the races.

For players looking for a more hardcore competition, Mario Kart World now features the Knockout Tour mode. The new mode places 24 racers in head-to-head competition as they race from location to location across the globe, with elimination checkpoints littered throughout. If players fall below a certain placement limit when passing each of these checkpoints, they will be eliminated from the tour, resulting in a high-stakes, survival-of-the-fastest situation.

With each racer eliminated, the competition will become more intense, making for an exciting and strategic experience. The elimination-based structure is also reminiscent of the battle royale genre, meaning that Turbo could not only be a fun head-to-head competitive experience but also one that requires a steady pace through a series of laps.

Mario Kart World will support up to 24 players in a single race, a considerable upgrade from previous titles and a major bonus to the multiplayer experience. This will also be the most racers you could ever have on the same track in a single Mario Kart game, which will surely crank up the carnage, mayhem, and random fun bits the series is famous for.

The sheer number of karts on the track would undoubtedly cause more true multiplayer moments that are just more memorable. As both the Swiftest 2 and the multiplayer reintroduction have yet to be confirmed, this bold statement clearly implies great changes to both hardware and the technology behind the new console’s online functionality for smoother and more immersive large-scale multiplayer experiences.

10 Mario Kart World changes include new kart interactions and moves beyond game modes In the reveal trailer, caught karts rail grinds, wall-riding stunts, and an expanded flying mechanic, suggesting more dynamic and versatile movement options. One of the more interesting new mechanics seems to be the potential for players to be able to “take over larger vehicles” that power into the in-game world.

The exact mechanics of this are a bit fuzzy still but it hints at limited-time power-ups, abilities related to the vehicle you just commandeered, or the ability to now navigate the interconnected map in different ways. This new feature could add an entirely new level of strategic depth to races, encouraging players to engage with the environment in entirely new ways.

The game will also include entirely new in-game items, one of which appears to be a “burger” item that was seen in the trailer. This new object has no known function, but it indicates that the developers remain creative at any rate, adding new elements to the gameplay that could change the course of a race in an unexpected way.

“Mario Kart World” will have all the recognisable gameplay elements that players the world over know and love, in addition to embracing a new normal in innovation. The first announcement also showcased a handful of playable characters, with plenty of familiar faces from the Mario universe:

Rosalina, Peach, Toad, Mario, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Luigi, Waluigi, Wario, Pauline, Diddy Kong, Grabbit (who?) and a ”Cow” character.

I’ll be digressing rather a lot during this post, needless to say. Pauline, Diddy Kong, Grabbit and even the Cow all make a welcome return with what looks to be a less traditional lineup of racers, catering to the long-time fans and those wanting welcome new racers in the starting lineup.

In addition to these familiar racers, the game will also feature a handful of classic courses returning from previous Mario Kart games alongside brand new tracks designed to take advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware and new mechanics.

We can expect to race through a variety of environments, as the tracks revealed so far give just a taste: Mario Bros. Circuit, Crown City, DK Spaceport, and Whistlestop. This mixture of nostalgia and invention is a familiar strategy in the Mario Kart series, which attempts to cater to both veterans and beginners.

Mario Kart World is priced at $79.99 USD for a stand-alone digital or physical copy. This is a significant jump from the typical $70 price for most AAA games, which could mark a new era of prices for major releases — particularly for Nintendo’s own first-party games. Such a price increase also suggests increased scope and ambitions for Mario Kart World, in addition to other economic trends impacting the cost of making and delivering video games.

However, for interested consumers, a diehard fan for their plan to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 on the day of its launch, Nintendo did have plans for a special bundle that will include the console with a digital download code for Mario Kart World for an MSRP of $499.99 USD. As a bonus, this bundle will net you a substantial discount on the game versus purchasing it alone, which should help incentivise folks who hop on the new console quickly. Pre-orders have no details available yet and are likely to be closer to the Nintendo Switch 2 release date.

Nintendo has confirmed that it will be holding a special Mario Kart World Direct presentation on April 17, 2025, so fans really won’t have to wait long for more details. This should give a better insight into the game, including more details on new gameplay mechanics, playable characters and race tracks, and all the online multiplayer modes and features.

Much like its predecessor, Mario Kart World is very likely to follow in the footsteps of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which saw itself bolstered with the Booster Course Pass and tonnes of post-release content. This can mean the addition of more cups and characters and possibly even new gameplay modes, keeping game longevity and replayability for users in mind.

This article focuses on Mario Kart World, the potential evolution of the Mario Kart franchise, and the innovative features that might radically change how people play the game. By leaving behind the old world filled only with isolated races and stepping into a more coherent and explorable one, we will be on our way to a world of gameplay that is a whole lot more engaging and can be more fun than we have seen before.

Knockout Tour mode and an increase to 24 players for online races should also introduce a new level of competitive intensity to the series while potentially boosting its appeal in the esports community. Despite the daunting task of succeeding Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s staggering success, World promises a range of original features and aspirations that could make it a signature title for the Nintendo Switch 2 — one that will likely capture the hearts and minds of many long-time players and newcomers to Mario Kart alike.

To sum up, Mario Kart World has created a lot of buzz in the gaming world. The introduction of the game and the possibilities it brings, alongside its status as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2, make it a much-awaited title. We also have an interconnected world map and Free Roam mode, a Knockout Tour, 24-player races, and a departure from the series formula of dashing between small maps.

Although the $80 price point is a fair mention, the promise of deep and engaging gameplay, along with probable additional downloadable content to follow, brings an impressive value proposition to players. As Wednesday, April 17th, approaches for the Mario Kart World Direct, so will the anticipation for what could be the most ambitious and transformative entry in the beloved franchise’s history.