The recent Mario Kart World Direct showcased exciting details about the upcoming kart-racing game in the Mario Kart series. Dive into the open-world exploration and its unique features below.

Mario Kart World Direct Highlights

A Seamless Open World

Nintendo hosted the Mario Kart World Direct on April 17, revealing key elements of the game. Players can freely navigate Mario Kart World, exploring familiar regions and new areas introduced to the series.

Nintendo stated, "In Mario Kart World, courses are seamlessly connected by roads, letting players drive between tracks for a dynamic racing experience."

Experience the Mario universe like never before, with stunning landscapes and iconic landmarks scattered throughout. Hidden items and side missions enhance exploration, allowing players to hone their driving skills outside races.

The Direct unveiled new and reimagined courses, including Mario Bros. Circuit, Crown City, Salty Salty Speedway, Starview Peak, Boo Cinema, Toad's Factory, Peach Beach, and Wario Shipyard, all tailored for this expansive Mario Kart adventure.

Grand Prix and Knockout Tour Modes

The game introduces two thrilling race types: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, each supporting up to 24 racers—a series record. Players must navigate obstacles like Bullet Bill-shooting cars and Hammer Bros attacks.

In Grand Prix, players compete in four consecutive races to claim trophies like the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, and Star Cup. Unlike previous titles, racers must travel to the next course to continue. Completing all Grand Prix Cups unlocks a speculated "Rainbow Road" course.

Knockout Tour offers endurance-style races spanning the entire world map. Players must secure a position to advance, or they’re eliminated from the rally, adding a survival twist.

New Items and Characters

Mario Kart World introduces fresh items alongside returning favorites. Highlights include the Coin Shell, which scatters coins while knocking out opponents, the Ice Flower for freezing rivals, and the Big Mushroom, which enlarges players to flatten competitors.

The roster features classic characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, joined by newcomers Goomba, Spike, and Cow. Players can unlock alternate costumes hidden throughout the world for added customization.

Multiplayer and Game Modes

The game offers diverse modes for solo and group play. Time Trials let players compete against global ghost data online. VS mode allows customizable team-based races, while Battle mode includes Coin Runners, a coin-collecting challenge, and Balloon Battle, a last-competitor-standing showdown.

Mario Kart World supports local and online multiplayer, with up to four players in split-screen on one system and eight players via local wireless (two per Switch 2). The Switch 2’s GameChat feature enables real-time voice and screen sharing.

Accessibility options include Smart Steering to keep racers on track, Auto-accelerate for automatic driving, Tilt controls for immersive motion-based play, and support for the new Joy-Con 2 Wheel for an authentic racing feel.

Mario Kart World redefines kart racing with its open-world exploration and dynamic gameplay. Set for release on June 5, 2025, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2, stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling title!