Whether you’ve played Mario Kart before or this will be your first experience with this legendary title, I have good news for you: Nintendo has absolutely delivered with Mario Kart World.

 

I began my Mario Kart career with the original SNES version and have played every iteration since. For over a decade, my true favorite was the legendary Double Dash on GameCube, but this time I think I’m finally ready to make a switch. Let’s get into what gives this iteration so much star power.

 

There’s no other way to say it—this is the perfect game for new players and family gatherings. At its core, Mario Kart has always been about bringing people together through gaming. It’s designed so that anyone can jump in and be hooked from their very first race, and Mario Kart World does this better than any iteration I’ve seen.

 

The controls are simple, and the mechanics of the game make it possible for new players to compete with the veterans. A staple of the Mario Kart games is that players further from the lead get better items to help them catch up. Mario Kart world has 24 karts competing on each track, giving each race just enough chaos for players like my non-gamer parents to absolutely smoke me a few times (Yes, that’s how they repaid me for letting them sample this new release).

 

On a single Switch 2, you can play with up to four players, but you can connect up to 8 players on Wi-Fi. If you really want to go crazy, you can have up to 24 players connect via LAN! But the matches are short enough that 7-8 people can have fun with just a single device by switching out every other race or so, making it great for catching up with old friends while also keeping the party alive!

 

Mechanics aside, the actual racetracks are absolutely beautiful with the most engaging tracks thus far in the franchise. Every course will take you on a journey where you get to experience different driving challenges and aesthetics while maintaining that classic Mario charm. The track designers really went all-out on this one, and it shows.

 

Now, if you’re a veteran Kart racer like me, don’t fret. Although there is plenty of chaos, there are also several mechanics that you can master to give yourself an edge. It maintains drifting, drafting, jumping, and cart selection like previous games, but has a unique feel that I have really enjoyed mastering. I was even able to dodge a blue shell just yesterday by properly timing a jump with the feather item! So there is plenty of nuance in the controls to keep you entertained in these gauntlet 24-racer contests.

 

Mario Kart World maintains the spirit of these games more than any iteration I’ve ever seen. It feels nostalgic, while also bringing forward new challenges and a uniqueness I haven’t felt from Mario Kart in some time. Try it out with family or a few friends and thank me later.

 

Nintendo, you have big shoes to fill for your next release!