Mario Kart World: Everything about the new Switch 2 exclusive game

When Nintendo announced Mario Kart World , the gaming community stopped to pay attention. After all, we're talking about the next step in one of the most beloved series of all time. The game arrives on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the new Switch 2 , and is already causing a buzz, both for its content and its price. But does it really deliver on all that?

Open world and total freedom

One of the biggest surprises was the revelation that Mario Kart World will have an open world. Yes, now the races are no longer confined to menus or fixed tracks. The tracks are connected in themed regions, with natural transitions between weather, time of day, and scenery. This means that, instead of choosing a track, you'll enter an area and explore. Therefore, it's not just about winning the race, but about discovering new paths, using unexpected shortcuts, and improvising when things get out of control.

Furthermore, new modes have been added. Free Roam mode is one of them. It serves as a giant lobby where you can drive around without commitment, test items, and even take photos with the new camera mode. Nintendo 's attention to detail, from NPCs scattered across the map to new character animations.

Next, another highlight is the Knockout Tour, reminiscent of a Battle Royale. Twenty-four competitors start, and only the best remain in each round. It's tense from beginning to end, with checkpoints and unpredictable rules. Of course, the classics are back too. The Grand Prix now features connected tracks , giving the cups a more fluid feel. Each circuit is divided into sections, not laps, and this changes how you approach each race.

The cups continue, but with a new logic. Now they are formed by interconnected regions, as if it were a connected world. The Mushroom Cup, for example, includes areas like Mario Bros Circuit and Whistletop Summit, with train tracks in the mountains.

These tracks are alive. The weather changes, sunlight interferes with visibility, and the climate can hinder your movements. You can feel that Mario Kart World has taken the concept of an interactive track to a whole new level.

Characters: More faces (and hooves) than ever before.

It's impossible to talk about Mario Kart World without mentioning the character roster. Dozens have been confirmed so far, with highlights including new names like Cow, Goomba, Spike, and even a Snowman. Each of them has alternative looks, creating a wide variety of visual possibilities, such as seeing Luigi in farmer's clothes or Mario with a backwards cap and sunglasses. Nintendo clearly bet on diversity here, both to please longtime fans and to attract those who hadn't yet engaged with the franchise.

Anyone who's played Mario Kart knows that items change everything in a race. In Mario Kart World, this aspect remains unpredictable. The game retains the classic shells and bananas, but introduces new features like the Coin Shell, which scatters coins on the track, and Rewind, which allows you to "go back in time" a few seconds. Rewind is especially interesting because it doesn't pause the race. In other words, while you reposition yourself, the others continue on. It's a strategic tool that can be brilliant or a shot in the foot, depending on the moment.

Finally, another new highlight is the use of the Ice Flower, which freezes enemies, and the Hammer, which can be thrown as a projectile. The Mega Mushroom returns, as do the Bullet Bill and the Feather, which helps with gliding.

Multiplayer and revamped communication

With the new Switch 2, Nintendo has brought important improvements to multiplayer mode. Mario Kart World will support up to four people locally and up to eight online per console. Using GameChat, it will be possible to chat with friends during matches. A fun extra: with the Switch 2 camera, you'll see the faces of other participants in real time on the race screen. It works like a kind of FaceTime during the chaos of the track. It may seem silly, but seeing someone's reaction to being hit by a blue shell is priceless.

Price controversy: Is it worth it?

The big question right now: should I pay R$450 for a racing game? This question is on many people's minds. In the US, the price is US$79.99. In the UK, the digital version is £66.99. The price in Brazil hasn't been announced yet, but expectations aren't very affordable.

Yes, Mario Kart World is beautiful, ambitious, and full of content. But this discussion about cost raises an old question for Nintendo: to what extent is it worth paying a high price for an exclusive title? Many fans argue that it is. Others prefer to wait for a sale.

To encourage migration to the new generation, the company has already announced bundles including the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World. These bundles are priced around US$499.99. Nintendo has not yet detailed special editions or launch extras , but has confirmed that the game will be entirely in Brazilian Portuguese.

Now we just have to wait for June to arrive and see if this new venture will cross the finish line with the same strength it started with.