Mario Kart World was revealed during our first proper look at the Switch 2. After the initial tease of the console appeared to show what everyone was referring to as Mario Kart 9, the Switch 2 April Direct confirmed it's official title and that we'll be hitting the road in a new open-world Mario Kart game.
As one of the first upcoming Switch 2 games of 2025, Mario Kart World is set to land in a few months time, and promises to introduce us to a lineup of new character racers - including some eye-catching Donkey Kong redesigns, and items, vehicles, and more. Set to take "full advantage of the Switch 2", the new entry in the long-running racing series looks set to be one of the biggest new games for 2025.
The official reveal gave us a of details to get excited about, and with a dedicated Direct that's set give us another look at all things Mario Kart World, we're set to learn even more about what's in store for us when we get behind the wheel later this year. It's been a long time since we've had a new Mario Kart game speed onto the scene, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is easily one of the best Switch games in terms of active players and sales, so there's already a lot of anticipation for the next installment. Read on below for a full overview of everything we know so far about Mario Kart World.
Mario Kart World release date
The Mario Kart World release date is June 5, 2025, and it will launch alongside the Switch 2.
This news came as part of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct news that came from the April 2 showcase, where we also found out that it will be a Switch 2 exclusive.
We've known that Mario Kart was coming unofficially since January 16, when the Switch 2 reveal trailer showed off some footage of the upcoming game during its demonstration. While it wasn't fully confirmed for months, fans were quick to point out that this was a new title in the series. So, it's nice to finally have a proper confirmation and release window from Nintendo after months of navigating speculation and rumours.
Is there a Mario Kart World trailer?
Our first look at Mario Kart 9 (aka Mario Kart World) came during the Switch 2 reveal trailer back in January(which you can check out for yourself above). In the teaser, we see a desert track, with drivers zooming past Yoshi's Gas Station.
We also recently got a deeper look at the new Mario Kart during the April Direct, which showed off even more tracks, new modes, and a fancy title - Mario Kart World. Watch the latest trailer for yourself down below!
Mario Kart World platforms
Mario Kart World is a Switch 2 exclusive. So that means you won't be able to play it on your old Switch.
One thing is for certain, as well, like with all Mario games, platforms will be strictly Nintendo-owned and operated. So, don't expect to play Mario Kart 9 on your Steam Deck or PS5 anytime soon.
Mario Kart World gameplay
The Mario Kart World gameplay reveal during the Nintendo 2 Direct gave us our first proper look at the new Mario Kart game in action, and it's set to go in an open-world direction. Instead of the usual track set-up we've seen in previous entries, the races take place in "various regions that span the globe", and will even feature different weather conditions and times of day, which changes up the atmosphere of the race you're speeding your way through.
Not only that, but you won't just be hitting the road either, with the ability to drive almost anywhere. Yes, that means we'll be racing off the track, too, and there's even an option to go for a casual drive with pals in a new Free Roam mode. This looks set to pair perfectly with the game's photo mode, which is another new feature that will be introduced in Mario Kart World - the trailer shows some drivers sidling up together to get in the camera frame for a screenshot.
The gameplay show also officially confirmed there will be 24 racers hitting the track, which is a series first, and there's also a myriad of new items on display that we'll hopefully learn more about very soon. One, for example, appears to be a burger that the characters can consume to transform their outfit, with various different looks on display - from Luigi in a farmer getup to Princess Peach rocking a sunhat, and Mario rocking a backwards cap and shades. The more open nature of the track also looks set to present us with new obstacles and ways to traverse across the track, from grinding across rails to classic jumping off points.
Mario Kart World characters and tracks
In footage that we've seen so far, Mario Kart World will have multiple tracks. We know for certain that there will be a new desert track that seems to be called the Mario Bros. Circuit. In this track, we see there are also 24 placements. This is a series first, as we've only typically seen 12 racers on a track in the series. Exciting times!
In the clip, we don't get a good look at all 24 racers. However, we do see shots of Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Toad, Daisy, Rosalina, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Peach. We're sure that other series mainstays, such as Wario, Waluigi, Boo, and Shy Guy will also get confirmed soon. Along with confirming some characters, we also see that there is a wide range of vehicles already on display. Of course, Rosalina has her iconic blue motorbike, and the wide range of different styles on display in the clip also hints towards customization returning in the game as well.
Here is a list of all the racers that we spotted during the Maio Kart World trailer in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, with the new additions in bold:
- Mario
- Baby Mario
- Luigi
- Baby Luigi
- Princess Peach
- Baby Peach
- Princess Daisy
- Baby Daisy
- Yoshi
- Birdo
- Toad
- Toadette
- Koopa
- Dry Bones
- Bowser
- Baby Bowser
- Rosalina
- Baby Rosalina
- Donkey Kong
- Boo
- Piranha Plant
- Pauline
- Moo Moo Meadows cow
- Stingby
- Fish Bone
- Goomba
- Biddybud
- Spike
- Conkdor
- Snowman
- Pianta
- Nabbit
- Sidestepper
- Swoop
- Coin Coffer
- Dolphin
- Cataquack
- Cheep Cheep
- Pokey
- Penguin
- Peepa
- Monty Mole
Mario Kart World price
According to the official Nintendo website, the Mario Kart World price will clock in at a whopping $79.99 in the US. In the UK, the My Nintendo page also reveals that a digital edition of the game comes in at £66.99 while the physical version costs £74.99.
This makes Mario Kart World much more expensive than its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with Switch 2 pre-order bundles combining with a copy of World coming in at $499.99.
For more on Nintendo, head over to our guide on the Switch 2 design and our list of the best Switch exclusives.
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