Mario Kart World: The Racing Revolution Coming in June 2025

Mario Kart World is the newest chapter in Nintendo 's iconic saga. Expected for June 5, 2025, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 , this ninth installment promises to reinvent the Mario Kart experience with an exploratory open world , massive 24-player races , and brand-new gameplay mechanics. After more than eight years of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 's ​​dominance, Nintendo is preparing a gaming and technical revolution . Here's a complete overview of this game that's already shaping up to be legendary .

A New Era: Open-World Mario Kart

This is the first time the franchise has abandoned its menu-driven track selection system in favor of an interconnected open world . Like an adventure game, players will be able to freely roam through areas with a variety of themes, including magical forests , cyberpunk cities , ancient deserts , snow-capped mountains, and floating castles. Each region contains multiple tracks, which can be accessed by discovering them on-site, encouraging exploration.

This system may remind some of the style of Forza Horizon , but adapted to the crazy and colorful world of Mario. Side challenges, rare items, secret areas and even one-off mini-games are on the program.

Up to 24 players simultaneously

Multiplayer enters a new dimension . Now, 24 players can compete on a single track, almost doubling the previous maximum of 12. This evolution transforms races into true festivals of speed and chaos , with optimized management of objects and collisions thanks to an all-new physics engine .

Smart matchmaking adapts item distribution based on past performance and race position, to maintain a balance between fun and competition .

Knockout Tour mode: elimination and adrenaline

A new flagship feature of the game, the Knockout Tour is a mode where the last players at each checkpoint are eliminated, until only one remains. The intensity increases with each passing moment, forcing players to maintain their position at all costs. Accessible solo or online, it will be accompanied by weekly global tournaments with rankings, rewards, and seasonal leagues.

Circuits: between nostalgia and innovation

Mario Kart World will feature over 50 tracks at launch, including several new tracks and some revisited classics:

• Rainbow Tour – a dynamic variation of the famous Rainbow Route, changing configuration with each race
• Koopa City 2.0 – Open urban city with traffic, unlockable shortcuts and interactive NPCs
• Peach Castle – interior, ramparts, gardens, all walkable without loading
• Wuhu Volcano – destructible terrain that evolves in real time as eruptions occur
• Remastered Retro Tracks – Baby Park , Mount Wario , Cheep-Cheep Beach , Ribbon Road , DK Jungle

The races will also feature multiple routes , random events (collapsing bridges, storms, etc.) and dynamic weather that will affect grip or visibility.

Advanced customization

Customization becomes one of the major axes of progression in the game:

• Over 40 playable characters : Mario, Peach, Bowser, Luigi, Yoshi, Link, Harmony, Donkey Kong, Pauline, Diddy Kong, Cappy, etc.
• Alternative outfits to unlock through challenges: retro, sporty, winter, futuristic, steampunk styles, etc.
• Customizable karts : body types, wheels, gliders, stickers, sound effects, etc.

Each cosmetic item can be earned through daily missions , special races, free exploration, or online leaderboards .

New items and mechanics

The gameplay is also enriched with new objects and field abilities never before seen in the series:

• Coin Shell – sucks up coins from nearby competitors, slowing down their kart
• Giant Hammer – Temporarily transforms the vehicle into a destructive behemoth
• Wall Jump – Allows you to bounce off certain surfaces to create new paths
• Rail Slide – grind like a skateboard on colorful rails to gain speed and dodge the ground
• Turbo Fusion – Stack boosts to trigger all at once for a mega sprint

New terrain mechanics also appear: reverse gravity zones, evolving slippery surfaces, circuits that can be modulated according to the time of day, etc.

Game Modes

• Grand Prix World – narrative single-player combining free exploration and objective-based racing
• Time Trial – with online ghosts, global leaderboard and community challenges
• Battle Mode – Balloons, Coins, Bombs, Sun Stealer, Zones of Control
• Free exploration – unconstrained world to test vehicles, find secrets and improve your kart

Compatibility and Multiplayer

Designed to take advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2 , Mario Kart World offers rich multiplayer options:

• Split screen for up to 4 local players
• Online multiplayer for up to 24 players per session
• Duo and trio co-op modes to explore exploration together
• Global leaderboards , daily tournaments, competitive league challenges with ranks

A mobile companion app is also planned to track stats, rankings, friends and register for weekly events.

Prices and available editions

• Release date: June 5, 2025
• Standard version: €79.99
• Deluxe Edition: €99.99 – with artbook, digital soundtrack, exclusive outfits
• Nintendo Switch 2 + game bundle: €499.99

Towards a new standard for racing games?

With its technical innovations , its open-world ambition, and its desire to mix competition and exploration, Mario Kart World has everything it takes to become a new standard for arcade racing games. Nintendo manages to modernize the formula without betraying its soul.

Conclusion

Mario Kart World is shaping up to be a true turning point for the series. With its dynamic open world, new gameplay features, next-gen graphics, and expanded multiplayer, it's already establishing itself as one of the most anticipated titles of 2025. Join the starting grid on June 5, 2025, for a race that could very well redefine the rules of the genre .