Mario Kart World launches in just two days, and the anticipation is at an all-time high. As the flagship title for Nintendo Switch 2, it marks the series’ first open-world entry and serves as the highly anticipated sequel to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Priced at $80, it’s Nintendo’s first premium-priced game since the N64 era, sparking plenty of discussion among fans and critics alike. After spending approximately five hours with unrestricted access to the final build, I can confidently say that Mario Kart World delivers thrilling, high-speed racing that sets a powerful tone for Nintendo’s new console generation—even if its open-world elements still leave some room for improvement.
My initial hands-on preview back in April was quite limited—featuring steering assist, a locked 100cc speed class, and only a few accessible modes. This time around, however, there were no restrictions. I played what appeared to be the full retail version ahead of launch on June 5, with complete freedom to select any character (yes, including Cow), kart, or race setting I wanted.
Mario Kart World Screenshots
View 120 Images
I started my session as Mario (a classic choice) and switched between multiple karts—including the impressive R.O.B. bike—to explore Free Roam, which remains the most talked-about feature of Mario Kart World. For the first time ever in the series, exploration takes center stage outside of traditional races. Nintendo has promised hundreds of P Switch missions scattered across the interconnected highways, and while I won’t reveal the exact count, I can confirm they are abundant. Driving in any direction quickly led me to a challenge, and contrary to early concerns about their difficulty, I found several of them genuinely tricky. Some required precise timing and mastery of the new Tony Hawk-inspired parkour mechanics introduced in this installment.
One mission in the Bowser’s Castle area had me driving up walls and flipping off at the perfect moment to transform into an airplane—an action sequence that demanded skillful execution. While I failed a couple on my first attempt due to poor timing or missed jumps, I appreciated the ability to retry instantly rather than having to drive all the way back. These missions can also summon temporary objects or creatures into the environment, such as dinosaurs appearing mid-airplane maneuver, adding variety and surprise to the gameplay experience. I only tried a small sample of the many challenges available, so it's hard to say how long the novelty will last—but thus far, I’ve been entertained.
Mario Kart World: Character Select Screens
View 5 Images
Unfortunately, the rest of Free Roam hasn’t fully captured my interest yet. IGN’s Simon Cardy previously expressed concerns about the open-world mode, and while I’m slightly more optimistic than he was after his playthrough, I do agree that there isn’t much to do beyond P Switch missions. Collectibles like Peach Medallions and ? Block Panels unlock hundreds of stickers you can apply to your kart, but the ones I encountered felt easy to find and lacked the sense of discovery seen in other recent Nintendo titles like Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Odyssey.
What's the Best Looking Nintendo Switch 2 Game So Far?
Pick a winner
New duel
1ST
2ND
3RDSee your ResultsFinish playing for your personal results or see the community’s!Continue playingSee results
Exploration can also feel sluggish when venturing off-road through grass or sand, which slows your vehicle significantly. While this mechanic makes sense during races to penalize players for straying from the track, it discourages spontaneous exploration. I haven't spent enough time in Free Roam to uncover any potentially game-changing surprises, but based on current impressions, it feels more like a supplementary feature rather than a groundbreaking shift in the Mario Kart formula.
However, it’s important to remember that the core appeal of Mario Kart World lies in its racing, and that’s where the game truly shines. From the moment I started my first 150cc lap, everything felt familiar yet refined. The handling, drifting, and boosting mechanics are as responsive and satisfying as ever. Knockout Tour stands out as one of the most exciting additions, pitting you against 23 racers in a fast-paced elimination format where staying out of the bottom four each segment is crucial. Every item used felt impactful, and regardless of my position in the pack, the tension remained high throughout the race.
Mario Kart WorldNintendo EPD WishlistRelated GuidesOverviewList of Characters and Costumes
These multi-stage races primarily take place on the highways connecting dedicated courses, offering reimagined versions of classic tracks like Shy Guy Bazaar from Mario Kart 7 and entirely new locations such as the expansive Great ? Block Ruins. The abundance of alternate paths adds depth to each race, and I’m eager to discover and master the fastest routes once the game officially launches. Golden Mushrooms provide dramatic comebacks, allowing players to leap from last to first with perfectly timed shortcuts—a dynamic that hardcore players will undoubtedly love.
Initially, I worried that the long straightaways in both Knockout Tour and the updated Grand Prix mode might feel monotonous compared to the tightly wound traditional courses. However, Nintendo has filled these stretches with obstacles like traffic to avoid, projectile-spewing enemies, grind rails, and optional areas accessible via the new Charge Jump mechanic. Most of the time, there was something engaging happening on the road. That said, there were moments where I simply held down the accelerate button without much interaction, and the wide layout occasionally made the pace feel slower than the intense competition found in standard circuits. Overall, though, my concerns have mostly been alleviated, and I look forward to seeing how these sections hold up over repeated play sessions.
For those who prefer classic Mario Kart gameplay, VS Race and Time Trials offer the traditional three-lap circuits around more than
