All the Highlights from the Mario Kart World Direct

Alright, so let’s dive into whatever Nintendo’s been cooking up in the latest Mario Kart extravaganza. I’m talking about something they’re calling Mario Kart World, and supposedly, it’s going to be the most epic entry in the series yet. Yeah, that’s what they’re claiming, at least.

So, I jotted down a bunch of stuff they covered in the Mario Kart World Direct (ridiculously formal name, right?), and here’s what’s on offer:

First up, we’ve got this whole interconnected universe. Picture it: you’re drifting, drafting, doing whatever it is one does in a Mario Kart game, but now it’s all part of this big, sprawling world. You drive around like every race is connected by actual roads! Kinda like real life but with, you know, giant mushroom power-ups.

Then there’s the Grand Prix. Four freakin’ races in each cup – Mushroom, Flower, Star, and some other ones. It’s like the usual Grand Prix stuff, but here’s the twist: you gotta drive between courses. Like, for real, not just some cutscene. So if you start at Mario Bros. Circuit, you actually drive all the way to Crown City. I don’t know – is that neat or tedious? You tell me. Anyway, apparently, if you ace every Grand Prix, you unlock some rainbow-colored course or something.

And oh boy, we’ve got a Knockout Tour. Zoom from one end of this Nintendo universe to the other, checkpoints everywhere. You don’t hit the mark, you’re out. The stakes are pretty high with Bullet Bills and Hammer Bros. lobbing stuff at you. It’s every bit the chaos you’d expect—I mean, buckle up or something. Here, driving isn’t just about not crashing; it’s survival of the fastest.

Then there’s Free Roam. You can go off-piste, across pretty views, oceans, hidden coins, whatever floats your kart. And there are P Switches, ’cause why not, enabling you to undertake mysterious missions that allegedly improve driving skills. Plus, you can go all touristy, take pictures, and whatnot. Get those photogenic landscapes, people!

Oh, and Battle Mode’s back. Relive the good ol’ days of bursting balloons and hoarding coins, because what’s Mario Kart without completely annihilating your friends in Battle Mode?

And then, because why stop there, there’s this whole Charge Jump biz. Jump over obstacles, grind on rails, yahda yahda… and wall rides for secret paths. There’s even a Rewind option to un-screw your oops moments, but everything else in the world moves normally while you do this, so, tread carefully.

As if that list wasn’t long enough already, there are 24 racers here. Like, seriously, it’s a lot! Up to 24 participants brawling it out on the tracks. It’s the most they’ve ever crammed into one game, which is kind of impressive. Maybe?

Now, multiplayer’s getting its expansive treatment. Race how you like: split-screen, locally, online – pick your poison. Online brings the added chaos of people worldwide, so expect unpredictability. And in Free Roam, you could warp to friends’ locations, join their antics, or start some of your own.

Let’s not forget GameChat, where you chat while racing and seeing game screens with your buddies. Free until March 31, 2026, but past that, you’re back on the subscription cycle (of course, right?).

CameraPlay, as they call it. Well, it’s just having your mug shot alongside your racer’s, or your friends’, for that matter. Ah, human interaction through tiny windows!

The tracks, oh the tracks. Fresh courses like Mario Bros. Circuit! Familiar oldies but goodies with new spins. Crown City streets? Sure. Starview Peak’s snowy awesomeness? Bring it. Boo Cinema’s eerie, animated nonsense? Count me in.

Character line-up is same old, same old Mushroom Kingdom antics. Mario, Luigi, Peach, yada yada – but a Goomba? A Cow?? I mean, who let these guys drive? Whatever, more power to them.

Item-wise, same chaotic Mario Kart flair: freeze your enemies, hammer down the haters or release magic Kamek chaos all over the place.

And somewhere on your race odyssey, pull into Yoshi’s for a speed-boost Dash Food. This sounds bizzare! Helps in unlocking character outfits, apparently, so go wild with your pit stops.

Modes galore! Time Trials to test your ‘I’m faster than you, but I don’t have proof yet’ skills. Or get unconventional with VS Race – set those rules however you like.

For those needing some technological race aid, try the Smart Steering, Auto-Accelerate, Tilt Controls, and the Joy-Con 2 Wheel accessory (yes, sold separately – shocker).

So, that’s the scoop. Mario Kart World hits Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. Could be awesome, could be a bit overwhelming. You decide.