The new game features Free Roam, a mode that allows players to explore the world off-road.
Nintendo has officially unveiled Mario Kart World, the latest instalment in the beloved racing franchise, set to release exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement came during today's Nintendo Direct, where fans got a closer look at what this new entry has to offer.
An announcement was also made on Nintendo’s official X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube accounts:
Mario Kart World was the first game to be featured in the presentation. The new trailer packed in plenty of surprises, from classic characters returning to brand-new gameplay mechanics. Players can now take their karts off-road, exploring massive open environments in Free Roam mode. This shakes up the traditional Mario Kart formula, giving racers the freedom to go beyond set tracks.
The trailer featured plenty of returning characters like Mario, Bowser, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, Toad, Lakitu, Wario, Yoshi, Pauline, Luigi, Birdo, Shy Guy, Baby Daisy, Waluigi, Toadette, King Boo, Donkey Kong, Wario, Baby Rosalina, Baby Mario, Koopa, Peach, and more.
It also showed different roads and worlds, from sand dunes, icy terrains, oceans, playgrounds, regular highways, and more. What’s unique about this game is that it’s going to be open-world, which will be a first for any Mario Kart game so far. And probably some of the more interesting things we saw was the use of jet skis in one portion of the trailer, which only means there's more than one way to race across the world.
Different game modes available
Mario Kart World will give players many different ways to enjoy the game through different game modes.
Grand Prix remains a classic game mode, where you can race against players through four courses for first place. Races will feature up to 24 drivers competing in high-speed showdowns across diverse locations around the world.
Knockout Tour is a game mode where you race nonstop from one course to another—but players are eliminated per checkpoint as they battle through multiple courses.
Free Roam, on the other hand, lets players drive their karts off-road, allowing them to drive “virtually anywhere.” Through this mode, players can “explore new areas and routes.” For those who prefer a more relaxed experience, Free Roam mode lets players explore scenic landscapes, discover hidden paths, and capture moments using the new photo mode.
It has been a decade since the last mainline entry in the franchise, Mario Kart 8, first launched on the Wii U before its highly successful Deluxe version on the Nintendo Switch. With the open-world formula, new racing tricks, and fresh modes, Mario Kart World looks like it’s going to be a major launch title for the Switch 2. Whether or not it can outshine its predecessor is still up in the air, but fans won’t have to wait long to find out.
Mario Kart World is set to launch on 5 June, 2025, which is the same day as the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.
