Mario Kart World Direct: Switch 2 Launch Details Revealed

Nintendo recently unveiled a wealth of exciting details about the upcoming launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2, *Mario Kart World*, through a dedicated Mario Kart World Direct. This highly anticipated game, set to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, promises to deliver a rich and expansive racing experience. Our comprehensive roundup covers everything revealed in the Direct, helping to ease the anticipation until the game's release.

Mario Kart World will feature an impressive array of new and classic courses seamlessly integrated into its vast, interconnected world. The Direct showcased a few of these, including Mario Bros. Circuit, Crown City, Salty Salty Speedway, Starview Peak, Boo Cinema, Toad's Factory, Peach Beach, and Wario Shipyard. What's particularly thrilling for veteran players is that the older courses have been "reimagined to feel at-home within this vast, new world, offering fresh experiences on classics."

Characters and New Techniques

With the capacity for up to 24 racers in a single race, Mario Kart World boasts a diverse lineup of characters to ensure variety. The Direct introduced familiar faces such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, and an extensive list including Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, Baby Rosalina, Rosalina, Koopa, Rocky Wrench, Conkdor, Goomba, Spike, Cow, King Boo, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Birdo, Bowser Jr., Lakitu, Toad, Wario, Pauline, Toadette, Shy Guy, Nabbit, Piranha Plant, Hammer Bro, Monty Mole, Dry Bones, Wiggler, Cataquack, Pianta, Sidestepper, and Cheep Cheep.

Players can look forward to utilizing new driving techniques that enhance the gameplay. The Charge Jump allows racers to dodge attacks, reach higher places, and even ride on rails or walls for a short time. Another exciting addition is the Rewind feature, which lets players retry hidden paths or improve turns, though players must be cautious as rivals will continue moving normally during a rewind.

Mario Kart World Screenshots

View 120 ImagesRaces - Grand Prix and Knockout Tour

Mario Kart World offers two main racing modes: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour. The Grand Prix mode, familiar to fans, requires players to compete in multiple races to win cups like the Mushroom Cup and Flower Cup. This time, players will transition seamlessly from course to course without returning to a menu, thanks to the game's open structure. Completing all Grand Prix Cups may unlock a challenging "colorful course," hinting at the iconic Rainbow Road, complete with new obstacles like cars shooting bullet bills and Hammer Bros. throwing hammers.

Knockout Tour introduces a battle-royale-style race where players must reach checkpoints within a designated time or face elimination. The ultimate goal is to be the last driver standing in races like Golden Rally and Ice Rally.

Mario Kart World Free Roam

In the Free Roam mode, players can explore Mario Kart World at their leisure without the pressure of racing. Discovering P Switches, collecting blue coins, and undertaking missions will enhance skills outside of competitive races. Hidden treasures like Peach Medallions and secret panels await eager explorers, and a photo mode allows players to capture memorable moments. Visiting Yoshi's restaurant offers "Dash Food" that boosts speed and provides themed outfits inspired by the meal, such as cheeseburgers, sushi, and pizza.

Playing Mario Kart World with Friends

Playing Mario Kart World with friends promises to be a highlight of the game. Nintendo offers various multiplayer options, including four-player local play, local wireless play with up to eight players across two systems, and online play for up to 24 global competitors. Friends can also join each other in Free Roam mode, allowing them to see each other's positions on the map, fast travel to their location, and engage in custom battles or races. The photo mode extends to multiplayer, enabling group photos. GameChat enhances the social aspect, allowing players to communicate and see each other's live reactions through video, with up to four faces detectable on a single system.

In addition to the aforementioned modes, Mario Kart World includes Time Trials, where players can race against global ghost data online. VS Mode offers extensive customization, allowing up to four teams to compete. Battle Mode returns with beloved competitions like Coin Runners and Balloon Battle.

Items

While familiar items such as Bullet Bill and Lightning return, Mario Kart World introduces new items to shake up the gameplay. The Coin Shell can knock rivals off course while leaving a trail of coins for the player to collect. Other new items include the Ice Flower to freeze enemies, Hammers to attack and block paths, the Mega Mushroom for size transformation, the Feather for jumping to avoid attacks, and the Kamek item, which can transform players into mysterious forms.

Support Features

To cater to players of all skill levels, Mario Kart World includes supportive features such as Smart Steering, Tilt Controls (compatible with Joy-Con 2 wheel), Auto-Use Item, Auto-Accelerate, and adjustable Vertical and Horizontal Camera settings. These features ensure that everyone can enjoy the game, regardless of their experience level.

For more insights, don't miss our hands-on preview of Mario Kart World, an analysis of its $80 price tag justification, and our exclusive interview with Nintendo's Bill Trinen about the Nintendo Switch 2.