After being glimpsed during the Switch 2 reveal, Nintendo formally announced Mario Kart 9 during this week’s Switch 2 Direct livestream–the game is officially called Mario Kart World. This new look at the kart-racing game showed off several of the familiar faces who’ll be hitting the track, including everyone’s favorite plumber Mario, several members of the Mushroom Kingdom, and other racers like Donkey Kong.
Mario Kart World is a launch title for Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo will share more details on Mario Kart World during a special Nintendo Direct on April 17.
Mario Kart World looks like a major step up from Mario Kart 8. It features support for up 24 racers, which is the most in franchise history. There are also appear to be new vehicles, including jet skis and jets, while players can now grind on rails and flip across walls. Mario Kart World also includes time-of-day and weather conditions that change throughout races. Players are free to drive off-road “virtually everywhere,” Nintendo said during the presentation.
Check out the trailer below to get a closer look at Mario Kart World. Nintendo said it is releasing exclusively on Switch 2, so it seems it won’t also be playable on the original Switch via backwards compatibility.
The classic Grand Prix mode returns, along with what’s called Knockout Tour. In this mode, players take part in races from one corner of the world to another with checkpoints–players are eliminated if they’re last to reach certain checkpoints. There is also a Free Roam mode that allows players to basically go anywhere they want for a scenic drive and to take photos with friends on the road.
Mario Kart 9 has some big boots to fill, as it’s a sequel to one of the best-selling Nintendo games of all time, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. As of December 31, 2024, Mario Kart 8 has sold 67 million units on Switch and it has a significant lead on other top-selling games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons (47.44 million units sold), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (35.88 million units sold), and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (32.62 million units sold).
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