Mario Kart

Mario Kart
Logo used since Mario Kart DS
GenresRacing
Developers
PublishersNintendo
CreatorsShigeru Miyamoto
Platforms
First releaseSuper Mario Kart
August 27, 1992 (1992-08-27)
Latest releaseMario Kart World
June 5, 2025 (2025-06-05)

Mario Kart (stylized as MARIOKART) is a series of racing video games and media franchise, made by Nintendo. It began with Super Mario Kart for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992.[1] To date, there are seven Mario Kart games on home consoles, three portable games, and four Namco co-developed arcade games, making a total of fourteen. The latest game of the series is Mario Kart World.[2]

Gameplay

In the Mario Kart series, players compete in go-kart races, controlling one of a selection of characters from the Mario franchise. Up to eight participants can compete in each race, with the exception of Mario Kart Wii, and Mario Kart 8 which each hold twelve, and Mario Kart World with twenty-four. One of the features of the series is the use of various power-up items obtained by driving into item boxes laid out on the course. These power-ups include mushrooms to give players a speed boost, Koopa Shells to be thrown at opponents, and banana peels that can be laid on the track as hazards. The type of weapon received from an item box is random and often influenced by the player's position in the race.[3] For example, players lagging far behind may receive more powerful items while the leader will only receive small defensive items.[3] This gameplay mechanic–called "rubber banding"– allows other players or computers a realistic chance to eat up the leading player no matter how far ahead they are.[3] As the series has progresses, each new title has introduced new elements in order to keep the gameplay fresh.[3] Changes typically include new items, new stages, and new methods of obtaining speed boosts, but most games have also featured a new play mechanic as well.[3] Changes new titles have brought to the series include: Mario Kart 64 introducing 4-player racing and bringing the series into the third dimension, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'s introducing a partner system and the Double Dash!!, Mario Kart Wii's use of motorbikes and twelve participants per race, Mario Kart 7's introduction of hang gliders, underwater driving, and a new first-person perspective, as well as customizing karts,[3] and the newest entry into the franchise, Mario Kart World, featuring 24 participants per race, rail and wall grinding, and an open world gamemode.[2]

Courses

Many course themes are repeated throughout the series. For example, most games have featured a circuit course, a desert course, a city or highway course with traffic, some form of a beach course, a stadium course, a jungle course, an ice or snow course, Bowser's Castle and Rainbow Road.[3] Each game in the series includes 16 original courses, with the exception of Super Mario Kart and Super Circuit, which holds 20. Most races have three laps, while some games have more or less. There are also three to six original battle arenas in each game, designed exclusively for Battle mode. So far, there are 120 original courses and 30 original arenas spread throughout these seven games. Additionally, there are 48 Retro courses and 10 Retro arenas. These consist of older material recreated for newer games.

Recurring items

Modes of play

Each Mario Kart game features a variety of different modes. The following modes recur most often in the series:

  • Grand Prix – players compete in various "cups," groups of several courses each. Players earn points according to their finishing position in each race, and the player with the most points at the end of the cup wins a trophy. In some games, a ranking system is also included to determine the player's overall performance.
  • Time Trial – (single player) the player attempts to complete any course in the fastest time possible with three mushrooms to be used at anytime during the run. The best time is then saved as a ghost, in which the player can compete against in later runs.
  • VS – multiple human players compete against each other on any course with custom rules. Also playable in single player mode since Mario Kart DS.
  • Battle – players use race items to battle each other in a closed arena. Each player starts the battle with three balloons and loses a balloon with every hit sustained; the last player possessing at least one balloon wins the match. In later installments, other battles have been added including throwing Bob-ombs at opponents, collecting Shine Sprites (an object found in Super Mario Sunshine) and coins. In Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7, the battles have a time limit. Since Mario Kart DS, battle mode is playable in both single and multiplayer.

List of Mario Kart games

Console games

Arcade games

Mobile games

Other appearances

Several Mario Kart-related items appear in the Super Smash Bros. series, with Super Smash Bros. Brawl in particular featuring a stage based on one of Mario Kart DS's courses.[6] Certain courses from the series have also appeared in F-Zero X, Itadaki Street DS, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Fortune Street and Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Various items from the series can also be seen in games such as Nintendogs and Animal Crossing.

Characters

Driver Super 64 Super Circuit Double Dash‼ Arcade GP DS Arcade GP 2 Wii 7 Arcade GP DX 8 World Total appearances
Baby DaisyRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XGreen tick Green tick3
Baby LuigiRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XGreen tick Green tick4
Baby MarioRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XGreen tick Green tick4
Baby PeachRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XGreen tick Green tick3
Baby RosalinaRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1] Green tick2
BirdoRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XRed X Green tick[Note 1]3
Black Shy GuyRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X2
Black YoshiRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
BlinkyRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XRed X Red X2
Blue Shy GuyRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XGreen tick Red X3
Blue YoshiRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
BowserGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick Green tick12
Bowser Jr.Red XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XGreen tick[Note 1]Red X Green tick[Note 1]4
Cat PeachRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
Cataquack Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
Chargin' Chuck Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
Coin Coffer Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
Cow Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
Diddy KongRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XRed X Red X2
Don-chanRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed X Red X1
Donkey KongRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick Green tick[Note 1]11
Donkey Kong Jr.Green tickRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed X Red X1
Dry BonesRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XRed X Green tick3
Dry BowserRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XGreen tickGreen tick Red X3
Fire MarioRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed X Red X1
Funky KongRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XRed X Red X1
Goomba Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
Honey QueenRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed X Red X1
Ice LuigiRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed X Red X1
Iggy KoopaRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1] Red X1
IsabelleRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
King BooRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XRed X Green tick[Note 1]3
Knight Don-chanRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed X Red X1
Koopa TroopaGreen tickRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tick Green tick6
LakituRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XGreen tick[Note 1] Green tick[Note 1]3
Larry KoopaRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1] Red X1
Lemmy KoopaRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1] Red X1
Light Blue Shy GuyRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X2
Light Blue YoshiRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X2
LinkRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
Ludwig von KoopaRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1] Red X1
LuigiGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick Green tick12
MametchiRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XRed X Red X1
MarioGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick Green tick12
Metal MarioRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Green tickGreen tick[Note 1] Red X3
MiiRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickGreen tick[Note 1]Red XGreen tick[Note 1] Red X3
Monty Mole Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
Morton Koopa Jr.Red XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1] Red X1
Ms. Pac-ManRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XRed X Red X2
Orange Shy GuyRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
Orange YoshiRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
Pac-ManRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XGreen tickRed XRed XGreen tickRed X Red X3
ParatroopaRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed X Red X1
Petey PiranhaRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed X Red X1
Pianta Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
Pink Gold PeachRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1] Red X1
Pink Shy GuyRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X2
Pink YoshiRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
Piranha Plant Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
Princess DaisyRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XGreen tick[Note 1]Green tick[Note 1]Red XGreen tick Green tick[Note 1]6
Princess PeachGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick Green tick12
Red YoshiRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickGreen tick Red X3
R.O.B.Red XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Red XRed XRed XRed XRed X Red X1
Rocky Wrench Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
RosalinaRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1]Green tick[Note 1]Green tickGreen tick[Note 1] Green tick[Note 1]5
Roy KoopaRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 1] Red X1
Shy GuyRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XGreen tickRed XGreen tick Green tick4
Spike Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Green tick 1
Strawberry Don-chanRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed X Red X1
Tanooki MarioRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
ToadGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick Green tick12
ToadetteRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed XGreen tick Green tick4
VillagerRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
WaluigiRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tick Green tick7
WarioRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick Green tick11
Wendy O. KoopaRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
White Shy GuyRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X2
White YoshiRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X1
WigglerRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XRed X Green tick2
Yellow Shy GuyRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XGreen tick Red X3
Yellow YoshiRed XRed XGreen tick[Note 2]Red XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick Red X2
YoshiGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick Green tick12
Total 8 8 11 20 11 19 13 25 19 20 51 35 --
Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 This character is unlockable.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 This character is only playable in VS Mode or Nintendo DS/3DS Download Play.

Merchandise

Mario Kart has had a range of merchandise released. This includes a Scalextric style Mario Kart DS Figure-8-Circuit. It comes with Mario and Donkey Kong figures, while a Wario and a Luigi are available separately. It also includes CD soundtracks. A line of remote-controlled karts are available in stores. Each kart has a Game Boy Advance-shaped controller. It features forward driving and rotates when put in reverse, instead of steering. The current line-up of karts is Mario, Donkey Kong and Yoshi. There are three large karts that depict the same trio. These karts are controlled by a GameCube controller shape. Japanese figurines of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Wario, Donkey Kong, and Bowser are also available for purchase as well as for Mario Kart 64, figures of Mario, Luigi, Wario, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi were made by Toybiz. There is also a land-line telephone featuring Mario holding a lightning bolt while seated in his Kart, as seen here. K'Nex has released Mario Kart Wii sets, with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser in karts and bikes.[7] Club Nintendo also released merchandise with a platinum soundtrack from Mario Kart Wii and three gold trophies from Mario Kart 7.

Reception

Nintendo Power listed the Mario Kart series as being one of the greatest multi-player experiences, citing the diversity in game modes as well as the entertainment value found.[8]

Guinness World Records awarded the Mario Kart series with five world records in the Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008, including "First Console Kart Racing Game" and "Best Selling Handheld Racing Game." Guinness World Records ranked the original Super Mario Kart number 1 on the list of top 50 console games of all time based on initial impact and lasting legacy.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Crecente, Brian (2009-26-2). "Mario Kart: Most Influential Video Game in History." Kotaku. Retrieved 2012-1-27.
  2. 1 2 Baxter, Daryl. "How Mario Kart World could become a big esports game". Esports Insider. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dan. "Mario Kart Franchise Retrospective". WatchMojo.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Virtual Console バーチャルコンソール" (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  5. ↑ "Download New BIT.TRIP Kicks, Speeding Karts, Magic Castles and More". Nintendo of America. November 23, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Smash Bros. DOJO!!". Smashbros.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  7. ↑ "K'NEX Mario Kart Wii Building Sets". Knex.com. 2011-10-20. Archived from the original on 2012-09-02. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  8. ↑ Nintendo Power 250th issue!. South San Francisco, California: Future US. 2010. p. 47.
  9. ↑ Ivan, Tom (2009-02-28). "Guinness ranks top 50 games of all time". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2009-03-14.

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