Round Up: The First Impressions Of Mario Kart World Are In

The race begins this June

Image: NintendoWe’ve now seen a fair bit of Mario Kart World footage thanks to the latest Switch 2 Direct and Treehouse broadcast.

If you’re still curious to know what exactly it’s like though, we’ve put together a round up featuring thoughts from various game websites. Starting with our hands on here on Nintendo Life, we can’t wait to dive back in:

“This open-world zone will likely hold tons of secrets, and just by driving around the waters, we saw a dragoneel, the classic dolphin, and binoculars from Super Mario 3D Land, World, and Odyssey. If anything, this will be a treasure trove of Easter Eggs for superfans, but it’s also just a really fun way to wind down after the most chaotic of races. Or before.”

And here’s what some other sites thought about this new entry in the Mario Kart series:

GoNintendo

“The entire presentation of Mario Kart World just feels fresh and polished. The visuals are enhanced, it runs silky smooth, and everything feels livelier, more cartoonish, more welcoming. Every explosion is accompanied by a visual ‘BOOOM’ effect on screen, and even your car horn makes little ‘BEEP’s appear in the air. It’s clear from top to bottom that this is a top notch product, and that Nintendo intends it have the same longevity Mario Kart 8 Deluxe did.”

IGN

“Mechanically, everything felt really tight and satisfying so even if there isn’t a ton of reward for exploring it’s still really fun to explore. But knowing Nintendo, they’ll definitely be reasons to poke around here. In general, the gameplay feels like a slightly tighter and more forgiving version of Mario Kart 8, so if you spent a ton of time there you’ll feel right at home here.”

Polygon

“Comparisons to Forza Horizon 5 seem apt, as it feels like I’m just cruising around until the event starts. While there may not be as robust driving options — Mario Kart is still an arcadey game! — I enjoyed the drive. I wanted to see what was around the next bend, with so many terrain and track types merging together seamlessly.”

TheGamer

“Knockout is a fantastic use of Mario Kart World’s greater scope. In normal races, having so many other drivers doesn’t really feel like it adds much most of the time. The track is congested, but that’s about it. In Knockout, where drivers below a certain placement are eliminated at various checkpoints, it is given purpose. The congestion adds to the drama, and it feels like you’re always in a fight for something.”

Wccftech

“Mario Kart World feels very much like a shiny new Mario Kart 8 model, which will be great for those looking for more of what that game offered, but there’s no denying the game feels a bit familiar at times. That said, Mario Kart World’s interconnected map is a compelling creation, and while I need to play more, I can imagine a lot of potential ways Nintendo could utilize, and possibly expand, their new racing world. Nintendo may be about to unleash the racing platform they support for the next decade and I’m intrigued to see where this road may lead us.”

Do you think you’ll be getting Mario Kart World on the Switch 2 when it launches? Let us know in the comments.

Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He’s been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief.

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