Mario Kart (series)

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Mario Kart
The series' current logo.
Information
First installment	Super Mario Kart (1992)
Latest installment	Mario Kart World (2025)
Number of installments	14 (10 main, 3 arcade, 1 mobile)

Mario Kart is a long-running vehicular combat/kart racing game series in the Mario franchise, based on real-world kart racing. Serving as a spin-off, It made its grand debut in August 27, 1992 with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System title Super Mario Kart, and Mario Kart as a whole would quickly become the first and most successful spin-off series of Mario and inspired many racing games of the genre (such as Diddy Kong Racing, Crash Team Racing, etc.), to the point that the most recent installments, specifically Mario Kart 8 and its Deluxe version would become the best-selling title of the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, respectively, and even the highest seller of the franchise altogether with over 75 million sold combined (primarily due to online features). There are a total of fourteen games (ten on Nintendo consoles, three for the arcade, and one for mobile) in this series, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit being the latest, with a wide variety of characters for the player to choose and every next installment containing more unique gameplay features. Due to its popularity, Mario Kart has also been referenced in popular culture as well as various other Mario-related games such as the Paper Mario role-playing series, Mario & Sonic, and inspired several stages in the Super Smash Bros. fighting games. Though Mario Kart generally focuses on the Mario universe like other sport-based spin-offs (Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, and Mario Baseball), similar to Super Smash Bros. since Brawl, certain games such as the arcade installments and Mario Kart 8 feature playable characters or cameos from other Nintendo series such as Link from The Legend of Zelda (though this was met with minor controversy) or even different franchises like Pac-Man, Namco's mascot. Mario Kart have sold a combined total of over 189 million copies so far, making it the most successful racing game series of all time.

Mario Kart World, the latest installment so far, is released on June 5, 2025 as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Some of the older games of the series have been re-released several times by Nintendo, through Virtual Console and Nintendo Switch Online.

Overview

Super Mario Kart, the series' origin title

The gameplay of every Mario Kart title is a kart racer, where players take control of a variety of Mario characters as they compete on many racetracks seen throughout the entire Mario universe. A key element in the gameplay is that racers can collect items from the Item Boxes and use them against their opponents to gain an advantage. Many of the racetracks are based on various locations and levels that are seen from other Mario games such as Super Mario World Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy and much more, usually but not always, from a contemporary Super Mario series title. Players can choose difficulty settings normally ranging from 50cc, 100cc or 150cc, with Mirror being unlockable (Mario Kart 8 introduces 200cc), and larger engine sizes result karts going faster and more aggressive CPU opponents. Later games often contain tracks remixed from past installments.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a modern installment of the series

Console games

Super Mario Kart

Super Mario Kart is the very first Mario Kart game in the series, released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992, and was designed to take advantage of the console's Mode 7 graphics (similar to F-Zero). Though basic in comparison to later installments of the Mario Kart series, the original Super Mario Kart was revolutionary for its time and has become an important title of the Mario franchise. This game has a total of eight playable characters and twenty courses to select from. This is the only title to feature five courses for a Grand Prix, as all the later installments only contain four. Super Mario Kart is also the only Mario Kart game to feature Donkey Kong Jr. as a playable character; he later gets replaced by Donkey Kong. A Koopa Troopa is also playable but didn't reappear in the series until Mario Kart: Double Dash!! as he is replaced by Wario. Super Mario Kart was heavily influenced by Super Mario World, with some graphics and locations taken from the platform game. Unlike subsequent games, 150cc is not available from the start. Being on the Super NES, this title is the only home console game in the series in 2D graphics. It managed to sell 8.76 million copies worldwide.

Mario Kart 64

The follow-up of Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64 is the second installment in the series, released on the Nintendo 64 in 1996, and the first to be rendered in 3D graphics. However, although the racetracks are fully three-dimensional, it still uses the 2D sprites for the characters and items. It is the first game to feature Donkey Kong and Wario as playable characters out of the eight total drivers to choose from, which would also continue in future installments. The Mirror difficulty makes its debut in Mario Kart 64 (called "Extra" in game, but plays like 100cc rather than 150cc). This game features sixteen normal courses as well as four battle courses. Mario Kart 64 was later re-released on the Virtual Console for the Wii for 1000 points. Although critically acclaimed, this title is infamous among fans for CPU opponents easily catching up to the player more so than other games of the series, known as "rubberband AI". It is also the first appearance of the famed Spiny Shell item (often called "Blue Shell" by fans). This game sold 9.87 million copies.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Mario Kart: Super Circuit is the third installment, released on the Game Boy Advance in 2001, making it the first Mario Kart game to be for a handheld system. The game features eight playable characters, all of which were featured in Mario Kart 64, in which the game itself is similar in graphics but returns the coins and lives counter from Super Mario Kart. Mario Kart: Super Circuit introduces twenty new courses, as well as the twenty courses from Super Mario Kart. It sold 5.91 million worldwide.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is a return to home consoles since Mario Kart 64 and was released on the Nintendo GameCube in 2003 as the series' fourth title. Unlike other installments, this Mario Kart game introduces new features such as two drivers per kart, which allows the characters to hold more items, and Special Items, a powerful item that is only obtainable by a specific pair of drivers, the exception being King Boo and Petey Piranha, who do not possess a specific one. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! features sixteen new courses and twenty different characters to select from. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is the first installment in the series to include different karts for each character and the first be truly 3D. Due to its unique gameplay, some fans have considered Double Dash!! to be the most creative installment of the entire series so far. This game sold over 3.8 million copies, which, although successful, is the least-selling mainline title of Mario Kart.

Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart DS is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series and the second to be released on a handheld system, for the Nintendo DS in 2005. Unlike Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario Kart DS returns to single-character driving and does not feature Special Items. The game uses 64-bit graphics like Mario Kart 64 and includes an all-new Mission Mode for players to complete missions within a time limit. The game features twelve characters, with eight default racers and four unlockable racers. It is the second game in the series to feature courses found in earlier installments. In the Retro Grand Prix mode, players can select to race in courses from Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. The courses from the Nitro Grand Prix are based upon the latest games in the Mario series. Mario Kart DS is the first game to feature online multiplayer, which would become an important staple for future installments. It sold 23.6 million copies worldwide.

Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii is the eighth installment and the sixth console game in the series, released for the Nintendo Wii on 2008. Other than the Wii Wheel gimmick seen on the game's box art and advertisements, Mario Kart Wii featured twelve characters in a race, rather than eight as in previous installments. Also, unlike the previous games, Mario Kart Wii featured bikes as well as karts, and while in mid-air, tricks can be performed after shaking the Wii Remote. Like Mario Kart DS, the game offered an online mode for multiplayer play. It was very successful, as this title managed to sell over 37 million copies.

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 7, the ninth installment and the seventh console game, was released in December 2011 for the Nintendo 3DS. It has Metal Mario, Lakitu, Wiggler, and Queen Bee as the newcomers. Unlike Mario Kart Wii, this game goes back to the original eight characters per race, and the motorbikes from said previous game are excluded due to system limitations. Many new features have been added to this game such as hang gliding when doing a huge jump and being able to drive underwater in certain parts or the courses, as well as new items and characters. In Time Trials, players now have the option to race against seven different ghost data. Also in this installment is the ability to race and battle in a first-person perspective.

In Online Multiplayer, the player now has a new option to create or join a Community. Communities are a lot like the Grand Prix, except the player can create a community with rules such as which courses other racers will play, what sort of items will appear and what engine class it will be, a lot like VS. Mode. The player can join a Community that has a name and a set of rules and play against other players, or they can create their own Community and have racers play by the player's rules. Mario Kart 7 has sold 18.99 copies worldwide.

Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 is the eleventh installment and eighth console game in the series. It was released for the Wii U in May 2014. It includes anti-gravity racing and returning elements from the previous games, such as twelve player racing from Mario Kart Wii and kart customization from Mario Kart 7. New characters introduced in this game are the Koopalings, Baby Rosalina, and Pink Gold Peach. The fast-paced 200cc makes its debut in this title. It sold 8.46 million copies. Link from The Legend of Zelda series makes a playable guest appearance.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a port of Mario Kart 8 for the Nintendo Switch, released in 2017. Aside from slightly revised gameplay and now using two items like in Double Dash!!, Battle modes and new characters are included, and everything from the initial Wii U version is unlocked at the start except for the character Gold Mario. DLC packs from Mario Kart 8 are now playable for free. It also has its own multiple DLCs known as Booster Packs. Because this game is a launch title for the Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is highly successful and sold a whopping 67.35 million copies worldwide, making it by far the best-selling title of the Mario Kart series (this also caused some fans to believe this version overshadowed the original Wii U release, if not the series as a whole).

Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World, the latest mainline game yet, is the first Mario Kart game for the Nintendo Switch 2, and a launch title like the previous Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It made its release on June 5, 2025. Once again, more new characters are featured and unlike every previous game, this title allows open-world gameplay, allowing drivers to race freely around courses. Mario Kart World introduces a much different art style compared to earlier titles, resembling the illustrations drawn by Shigehisa Nakaue, the franchise's 2D artist since 2007, and the in-game look of Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Additionally, it increases the number of racers per race from 12 to a whopping 24 (which some fans considered this many opponents rather chaotic in online multiplayer). Notably, the racetracks, due to its focus on traveling around the world, are mainly intermissions rather than the traditional three lap circuits, which met with mixed reactions.

Arcade Games

Mario Kart Arcade GP

Mario Kart Arcade GP, the fifth installment and the first of the three arcade games in the Mario Kart series, was released in 2005. It features Pac-Man series characters, as it was a collaboration with Namco who made Pac-Man, making the first game to feature crossover content.

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, the seventh installment and the second arcade game in the Mario Kart series, was released in 2007. Like the previous one, it features Pac-Man characters. It added two new characters as well: Waluigi and Mametchi.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, which was developed by Namco Bandai Games in partnership with Nintendo, was released in Japan on July 25, 2013, in the US in 2014, and in Europe on early 2017. It features the return of gliders and underwater racing from Mario Kart 7.

Other games

Mario Kart Tour

Mario Kart Tour is a game released for iOS and Android devices and the series' 13th overall installment (if counting the Mario Kart Arcade GP titles). It features characters like Peachette, Pauline, Mario (Musician), Peach (Kimono), Mario (Hikama), Rosalina (Halloween), King Boo (Luigi's Mansion), Toad (Pit Crew, Peach (Vacation), Shy Guy (Pastry Chef), and much more characters coming. It also features a new gameplay mechanic, featuring the special items again and having (two weeks-lasting) tours, which feature new elements and tracks added to the game. It also contains a loot box system.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a virtual-reality version of Mario Kart.

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Appearances in other Nintendo games

The Mario Kart series has been referenced in some other Nintendo franchises. Of three of the Paper Mario games, Luigi references it in an "adventure" of his which he recounts between chapters of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, where in the third of his stories, he states that he visited a location called "Circuit Break Island" where kart races are organized every day. Later, in Paper Mario: Color Splash, once all six Big Paint Stars have been retrieved, Luigi drives his kart on Rainbow Road to transport Mario to Bowser's Castle to defeat him and restore peace to Prism Island; when Bowser (who has been transformed by black paint) is reverted to normal upon his defeat, he asks Mario if they have a kart race scheduled. Luigi's kart also appears in Paper Mario: The Origami King several times throughout the game.

Additionally, several stages based on Mario Kart have appeared in the Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros. Brawl features a Mario Circuit stage based on Figure-8 Circuit from Mario Kart DS, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS features a Rainbow Road stage based on its appearance in Mario Kart 7, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U features a Mario Circuit stage based on its appearance in Mario Kart 8, as well as reusing the Mario Circuit stage from Brawl. Although not actually shown in the original Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64, the franchise (which at that time had been composed of just Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64) was alluded to in a promotional ad for the game in Nintendo Power, where it mentioned that Nintendo's famous cast had previously "raced go-karts" when announcing their new role in the fighting ring.

Mario Kart's Rainbow Road as seen in F-Zero X of the F-Zero series, based on the one from Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart has also crossed over into the Fortune Street series, where its DS installment features a playable Mario Circuit based on its Double Dash!! and DS versions, and the Wii follow-up features a Mario Circuit whose design is based on Mario Kart Wii. There are also stages based on Mario Kart in the Mario & Sonic series; for example, Olympic Winter Games features Mario Circuit from Mario Kart Wii, Bowser's Castle from Super Circuit, and Sherbet Land from Mario Kart 64 in its ski cross, ice hockey, and curling dream events respectively. Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 64 is featured in F-Zero X of the F-Zero series; figurines of Mario, Peach, and Bowser racing in their karts appear as dog toys in Nintendogs; and the Animal Crossing series features Mario Kart items in City Folk and references the series in certain lucky tickets in New Leaf.

Other games that have referenced Mario Kart include Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Kirby: Planet Robobot, Dig Dug: Digging Strike, Minecraft, Tomodachi Life, and Wii Sports Resort.

Gallery

The original logo of the Mario Kart series from 1992 to 2005

Super Mario Kart

Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart World

Trivia

• Contrary to popular belief, Mario Kart, specifically its first installment Super Mario Kart, is not the first ever game in the kart racing genre. The arcade game by Sega, Power Drift, predates the Super NES title by five years in 1988. However, it is the first to establish the standard rules since.
• The 1968 animated TV series Wacky Races by Hanna-Barbera is seen as a precursor to the Mario Kart series. It even has its first game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991, predating Super Mario Kart by a year.
• With the exception of the NES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color, the Mario Kart series has been released on every major Nintendo console.

  

  Super Mario Bros. The Movie Rainbow Road poster

• Super Mario Bros. The Movie features a Mario Kart race on Rainbow Road as part of its plot.
• The Mario Kart series has won six records according to Guinness World Records, including "First Console Kart Racing Game", "Best Selling Racing Game", and "Longest Running Kart Racing Franchise". Guinness World Records also ranked Super Mario Kart #1 of the top 50 console games of all time based on initial impact and lasting legacy. Super Mario Kart in particular was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2019.
• F-Zero, which also made its debut on the Super NES, in 1990 (and shared Mode 7 graphics), is often considered by fans as the high-speed counterpart of Mario Kart, in spite of having completely different settings and gameplay rules. Mario Kart 8 contains references to this franchise and vice versa for F-Zero X. According to former Nintendo artist Takaya Imamura, he cited the massive popularity of Mario Kart as a key factor to why there have not been any new major developments with the F-Zero series since 2004.
• It is unknown why the baby versions of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy and Rosalina are separate characters in the series, despite being younger versions of themselves.
• Toad is the only red Toad with a blue vest who appears throughout the Mario Kart series—no other generic Red Toads show up alongside differently colored ones, same thing similair with Yoshi, where green Yoshis are absent among the multicolored ones.

See Also

• Mario Kart at Super Mario Wiki
• Mario Kart at Wikipedia