Mario Kart World on Switch 2: Wild New Features, Hilarious Chaos, But Is It Enough?

Mario Kart World launches June 5 on Switch 2 with knockout battles, open world exploration, and a camera that guarantees furious fun.

Racers, start your engines—with a selfie! Mario Kart World throttles onto Nintendo Switch 2 with bold innovations, wild 24-player chaos, and the social sizzle of live camera feeds. But while the new Knockout Tour and wall-riding stunts boost the competition, some features left us wanting a bit more.

What’s New in Mario Kart World?

Mario Kart World takes the beloved formula from Nintendo and supercharges it for a new generation. The Knockout Tour mode—it’s like a Mario-flavored battle royale—piles on tension as racers get eliminated checkpoint by checkpoint. Each six-stage race promises big highs, but losing early means sitting out and, yes, possible tantrums.

Open world elements invite players to explore between events, but don’t expect a sprawling adventure—at least not yet. What they offer is a taste of freedom and some surprises, but not quite a revolution in kart design.

How Does the Live Camera Amp Up the Fun?

The headline-grabber: the Switch 2’s camera snaps your reactions in real time. During races, your grinning, fuming, or focused face floats next to your character—on leaderboards, in pre-race hype reels, or even atop your kart as you overtake rivals. The result? Endless laughter and a new level of friendly trash talk when you nab a blue shell or fall off Rainbow Road.

This playful touch feels perfectly in sync with today’s TikTok-style sharing and social gaming culture, letting personality shine as brightly as your driving skills.

What Do Knockout Tour Races Feel Like?

Intense. With support for up to 24 racers, Mario Kart World’s new mode is pandemonium in all the best ways. Picture massive packs of karts jostling on grind rails, wild new items like tri-wave hammers causing pileups, and that notorious blue shell now boasting an area-of-effect blast. Expect positions to flip in a heartbeat: just when you reach 5th, a well-timed item might send you straight back to 20th—and back up again.

Yet, for all its vibrancy, some may find the resulting chaos a little too unpredictable for tight competition. Still, for party play, it’s a showstopper.

How Do Wall Driving and Rail Grinding Change Racing?

Mario Kart World brings extra flair with wall driving and grind rail hopping. Hold down the drift button for a mega-jump, and suddenly you’re on a side rail or zooming up a wall. Mastery could unlock hidden routes and stylish shortcuts, but the fiddly controls mean practice is essential.

Adjusting to this feature might take some time—especially with the single Joy-Con’s limited layout. Expect early frustration, but also high reward for those willing to hone these slick moves.

Is the Open World Worth Exploring?

While the idea of free exploration sounds electrifying, the open world glimpsed during preview time felt basic and lacked the depth of a fully realized Mario universe. For now, it’s a fun diversion rather than a centerpiece, but with the potential for future updates from Nintendo, there’s hope for more surprises and secrets on the horizon.

Should You Play Mario Kart World on Switch 2?

If you love couch chaos, over-the-top power-ups, and the thrill of racing your friends with your reactions on display, Mario Kart World delivers. The fresh competitive modes and outlandish new items give longtime fans plenty to dig into. Serious competitors, however, might find the sheer bedlam overwhelming at times.

Ready to race? Mario Kart World drops June 5—grab your friends, strike a pose, and see if you can take the podium!

Check out the latest from Nintendo and prepare to kart like never before!