Considering Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold over 67 million units as of December 31, 2024, it’s no surprise Nintendo is launching the Switch 2 with an all-new Mario Kart game: Mario Kart World. What is a surprise is that Mario Kart World has been confirmed to cost $79.99 USD for the digital version. While we couldn’t find confirmation on the physical price in the U.S., the My Nintendo Store in Spain is showing a 10€ upcharge for the physical version, so we wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case in the U.S. An $89.99 USD physical Switch 2 game? Ouch—that’s the same price as the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, according to the site.
Now that the bad news is out of the way, the good news is that Mario Kart World looks to be everything a Mario Kart fan has ever wanted. It’ll be available on the Switch 2 launch day, June 5, and if you’re looking to save, a digital version of the game is bundled with the console for $50 extra ($499.99 USD). In a way, Mario Kart World draws some inspiration from the Forza Horizon series with a more open-world approach. According to the game’s website, everything is connected and players can hop off one course and race to the next one.
Mario Kart World will ship with the familiar Grand Prix mode, but this time it supports 24 racers. It’s a non-stop transcontinental rally, and the areas between the courses are part of the race too. Each Grand Prix has players competing to earn the most points across four interconnected courses. The Knockout Tour mode features back-to-back courses with no pit stops along the way. Players who don’t place high enough by the time they reach each of the checkpoints will get knocked out. For example, the Knockout Tour starts with 24 racers, and at the first checkpoint, that number decreases to 20 racers. Each checkpoint reduces the total count by four, so there are 16 at checkpoint 2, 12 at checkpoint 3, and so on. The final checkpoint narrows it down to four racers before a winner is crowned.
There is also a Free Roam mode that allows players to drive wherever they want. They can explore areas that interest them and even get together to take some fun in-game photos with friends at scenic spots. Mario Kart World will support up to four players on the same system, and players can use the original Nintendo Switch Joy-Con if they want.
We’ll learn more about Mario Kart World in an upcoming Mario Kart World Direct on April 17 at 6:00 AM Pacific (9:00 AM Eastern).
