Summary

  • Mario Circuit 3 is featured in Mario Kart World, and many fans think there is a sentimental reason why.
  • Mario Circuit 3 was the first course developed for the game, and by extension, the entire Mario Kart franchise.
  • Mario Kart World has 32 tracks, all connected by a semi-open world hub that lets players actually drive their way to the next race.

Mario Circuit 3 returns in Mario Kart World, and some fans think there is a sentimental reason why it keeps popping up in Mario Kart games. Mario Kart World has 32 tracks, all connected by a semi-open world hub that lets players actually drive their way to the next race. These courses run the gamut between brand-new tracks and returning favorites from previous Mario Kart games, and dedicated players have already started noticing little details hidden within each one.

One of the bigger Easter eggs discovered in Mario Kart World so far is that a third of the Mario Circuit course is identical to the classic Mario Circuit 3 from the original Super Mario Kart on the SNES. Mario Kart World’s version of the Mario Circuit is actually made up of three of the Mario Circuit tracks from Super Mario Kart, but Mario Circuit 3 is especially noteworthy as it has previously been reused in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart Tour, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

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The prevalence of Mario Circuit 3 hasn’t gone unnoticed, and now Twitter user and blogger Supper Mario Broth has their own theory about why it keeps appearing. According to them, development files for the original Super Mario Kart indicate that Mario Circuit 3 was the first course developed for the game - and by extension, the entire Mario Kart franchise. As such, the developers might feel some sentimental attachment to Mario Circuit 3, and keep putting it in later Mario Kart games as an homage to the track that started it all.

Mario Kart World’s Mario Circuit 3 is a Staple of the Series

While there probably weren’t many of the original Super Mario Kart developers working on Mario Kart World, many social media users seem to agree with Supper Mario Broth’s theory about Mario Circuit 3 being added as a tribute to the first Mario Kart track ever developed. Some have even pointed out other fun pieces of trivia regarding the course, like how the first custom texture made in Mario Kart Wii was for Mario Circuit 3.

Others note how Mario Circuit 3 is likely well-remembered for having a simple yet iconic track design, and are even comparing it to similar recurring elements like Sonic the Hedgehog’s Green Hill Zone and Kirby’s Whispy Woods. Mario Kart World’s rendition of Mario Circuit 3 might be merely part of a larger track, but it is still a clever nod to one of the original Mario Kart courses that remains an active part of the franchise even over 30 years after its first appearance.

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Mario Kart World
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Racing
Open-World
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
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Released
June 5, 2025
ESRB
Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Genre(s)
Racing, Open-World