Summary

  • The new Mario Kart World Direct highlighted eight tracks coming to the game.
  • This includes five brand-new tracks and three returning from past titles.
  • The game will launch alongside the Switch 2 on June 5.

Eight new courses were revealed during this week’s Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct, along with the promise of classic tracks from past titles. Mario Kart World was one of the first games confirmed for the Nintendo Switch 2, with a small glimpse of the latest Nintendo kart racer featured during the Switch 2’s official unveiling in January. Fans got a larger view of Mario Kart World during April’s Nintendo Switch 2 livestream, which revealed its name and confirmed that it will launch at the same time as the console on June 5.

The primary appeal of the Mario Kart series is getting to race across colorful courses as beloved Nintendo characters, and Mario Kart World will give gamers a much larger and more connected experience than ever before. Players can now drive their way to races in Grand Prix, and Mario Kart World’s new Free Roam mode will let them explore the game’s many unique environments at their own pace.

Mario Kart World Shouldn't Feel Pressured to Reveal Its Whole Hand on Costumes
Mario Kart World Shouldn't Feel Pressured to Reveal Its Whole Hand on Costumes

Different character outfits are an exciting new feature in Mario Kart World, but they shouldn't all be shown off during the game’s marketing.

By 

Eight of these environments were officially revealed and named during the April 17 Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct livestream. First is Mario Bros. Circuit, a desert town where players can cruise along its neighboring canyon. Then there’s Crown City, a sprawling metropolis filled with shortcuts and boost jumps that racers can use to glide through the air. Salty Salty Speedway lets competitors sail through its canals, while Starview Peak features icy turns that players could slip off if they aren’t too careful. Lastly, Boo Cinema is a haunted movie theater, complete with Boos that spook unsuspecting drivers at every turn.

Confirmed Mario Kart World Tracks So Far

New Tracks

  • Mario Bros. Circuit
  • Crown City
  • Salty Salty Speedway
  • Starview Peak
  • Boo Cinema

Returning From Classic Games

  • Toad's Factory (Mario Kart Wii)
  • Peach Beach (Mario Double Dash)
  • Wario Shipyard (Mario Kart 7)

Mario Kart World is also bringing back older tracks from classic Mario Kart entries, with three of them confirmed during today’s Nintendo Direct. Toad’s Factory from Mario Kart Wii, Peach Beach from Mario Kart Double Dash, and Wario’s Shipyard from Mario Kart 7 are all set to return. Nintendo says that more classic tracks will be revealed in the future, and there was even a hint that the iconic Rainbow Road could be unlocked by completing all of Mario Kart World’s Grand Prix cups.

These classic courses will be spread out across Mario Kart World’s open game map, which will also have a day/night cycle. Mario Kart World is set to launch alongside the Switch 2 itself on June 5, so it probably won’t be long before eager fans find out more about the many colorful racetracks they can speed through on their way to winning the coveted Grand Prix trophy as Mario and company.

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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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Hit the open road with Mario and friends! Zip around courses in a vast world where everything is connected. Race along grassy plains, bustling cities, wide-open waters, big ol' volcanos, and more—plus everything in between.

A sprawling world of courses. Speed across plains, cities, water, volcanos, and much more. Everything is connected!

Go beyond the course. There's more to racing than just the course. Hop off the course and race the distance to the next one!

Free Roam - Drive wherever your heart takes you. Where to? That's up to you! Take off in any direction in this new mode. Explore areas that pique your interest, and maybe even snap some in-game pics at scenic spots.

Play Together - Have a blast with friends, whether near or far. Up to 4 players can race on the same system. Play using your choice of button controls or motion controls. Attach a Joy-Con 2 controller to the optional Joy-Con 2 wheel accessory to wheely feel like you're driving. You can also play using Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers connected wirelessly.

Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
Prequel(s)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Franchise
Mario Kart
Number of Players
1-24
Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
June 5, 2025
Genre(s)
Racing, Open-World
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch 2