It has been 11 long years since the last installment of the Mario Kart series was released. The wait ends on June 5 of 2025. Nintendo will release their newest edition of the famous racing series alongside the brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 console. The game is called Mario Kart World and it aims to please both the newcomers and the most hardcore ultra-shortcut lovers out there. But it will be the most unique entry in the series to date. 

For starters, this will be the first game in the Mario Kart series to be open world. With that comes new features and tweaks to old modes. Grand Prix mode has been totally revamped, playing into the new open world concept. Instead of fast forwarding to the next race, you will have to drive to the next track over the new open world map. The journey to the next venue will be incorporated into the second, third and fourth races of the four race Grand Prix. There will also be a new point-to-point racing mode called Knockout Tour, in which if you do not come in a certain placement by a certain checkpoint, you will be knocked out of the rally. 

As any good Mario Kart enthusiast knows, each entry in the series lives and dies by its track selection. With the courses selected to return in this edition, it is clear that Nintendo has listened to our cries. Returning courses include fan favorites like DS Airship Fortress, N64 Choco Mountain, GCN Dino Dino Jungle and a revamped DS DK Pass which resembles its Wii DK Summit counterpart. Most notably, we have two fan favorites making their return to the series for the first time as retro courses, those being a heavily remastered N64 Wario Stadium and Wii Toad Factory. With Wario Stadium’s return, that marks the last N64 track to ever have a retro course return. Wii Toad Factory is much anticipated as well, being one of the standout courses of Mario Kart Wii that got snubbed by both Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Newer courses we have seen like Whistlestop Summit and DK Spaceport give hope that the new additions will become classics as well. 

Many new characters have been added alongside the classic roster of playable racers. Notable, yet strange inclusions include Cow of Moo Moo Meadows fame (another track making its return), Cataquack from the Super Mario Sunshine days, Goomba and Pionta. Notably absent is the MKWii favorite Funky Kong alongside many other omitted kongs. 

Though it will come at a steep price of $79.99 at launch, I feel that due to all the new features and the return of fan favorite tracks, it will all be worth it. I certainly will be buying this one when it gets released to the public. Mario Kart World looks to provide a world of possibilities to loyal fans and newbies alike.

Image from Wikipedia