Mario Kart World is officially the name for the long rumored Mario Kart 9, and it's racing on the Switch 2 this year. After the initial tease of the game appeared playing on the screen of Nintendo's new-gen console, the Switch 2 April Direct confirmed it's on the way, with our first proper glimpse at the new open-world Mario Kart game.
Set to be among the earliest upcoming Switch 2 games of 2025, we also got some more exciting Switch 2 Direct news thanks to a lengthy Nintendo Treehouse livestream, which showed off some Mario Kart World gameplay in action. From seeing new tracks, vehicles, and modes, we also got a better idea of the more open direction of the game, and once again saw Donkey Kong's redesigns as he raced alongside a huge roster of other characters set to be included.
With everything we've seen in the official Switch 2 Direct reveal and the Treehouse showings, it's certainly shaping up to be one of the biggest new game for 2025. And as the follow-up to one of the best Switch games it's certainly exciting to get a better picture of what's in store for us in the new entry. Read on below as we give you a full recap of everything we know so far about Mario Kart World, from its release date to its price tag, and more.
Mario Kart World release date
The Mario Kart World release date is June 5, 2025, and it will launch alongside the Switch 2.
This news came as part of the April 2 showcase, where we also found out that it will be a Switch 2 exclusive.
We've known that Mario Kart was coming unofficially since January 16, when the Switch 2 reveal trailer showed off some footage of the upcoming game during its demonstration. While it wasn't fully confirmed for months, fans were quick to point out that this was a new title in the series. So, it's nice to finally have a proper confirmation and release window from Nintendo after months of navigating speculation and rumors.
Is there a Mario Kart World trailer?
Our first look at Mario Kart 9 (aka Mario Kart World) came during the Switch 2 reveal trailer back in January(which you can check out for yourself above). In the teaser, we see a desert track, with drivers zooming past Yoshi's Gas Station.
We also recently got a deeper look at the new Mario Kart during the April Direct, which showed off even more tracks, new modes, and a fancy title - Mario Kart World. Watch the latest trailer for yourself down below!
Mario Kart World platforms
Mario Kart World is a Switch 2 exclusive. So that means you won't be able to play it on your old Switch.
One thing is for certain, as well, like with all Mario games, platforms will be strictly Nintendo-owned and operated. So, don't expect to play Mario Kart 9 on your Steam Deck or PS5 anytime soon.
Mario Kart World gameplay
The Mario Kart World gameplay reveal during the Nintendo 2 Direct gave us our first proper look at the new Mario Kart game in action, and it's set to go in an open-world direction. Instead of the usual track set-up we've seen in previous entries, the races take place in "various regions that span the globe", and will even feature different weather conditions and times of day, which changes up the atmosphere of the race you're speeding your way through.
Not only that, but you won't just be hitting the road either, with the ability to drive almost anywhere. Yes, that means we'll be racing off the track, too, and there's even an option to go for a casual drive with pals in a new Free Roam mode. This looks set to pair perfectly with the game's photo mode, which is another new feature that will be introduced in Mario Kart World - the trailer shows some drivers sidling up together to get in the camera frame for a screenshot.
The gameplay show also officially confirmed there will be 24 racers hitting the track, which is a series first, and there's also a myriad of new items on display that we'll hopefully learn more about very soon. One, for example, appears to be a burger that the characters can consume to transform their outfit, with various different looks on display - from Luigi in a farmer getup to Princess Peach rocking a sunhat, and Mario rocking a backwards cap and shades. The more open nature of the track also looks set to present us with new obstacles and ways to traverse across the track, from grinding across rails to classic jumping off points.
The recent Nintendo Tree House live stream gave us a more in-depth look at a Grand Prix race in action, with some gameplay of the Mushroom Cup. As we got to see during the show, World lives up to its name by having your race between courses to reach the next track, which makes it feel much bigger in scope and keeps the flow of the race going. Each lap also appears to be broken up into sections as opposed to looping tracks.
The Treehouse also revealed that alongside classic jump boosts, you can also perform multiple tricks in the air as you go, and grinding across rails will also give an added boost - with the player propelling and twirling from rail to rail. In the past, vehicles were broken up into different parts we could choose from -such as selecting wheels and paragliders, but the Treehouse also confirmed that the vehicles in World will all be "fully formed".
Mario Kart World characters and tracks
We finally got to see some Mario Kart World tracks in action during the recent Nintendo Treehouse livestream, along with a closer look at the characters who will be getting behind the wheel of the upcoming entry in the long-running series.
Not unlike Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, World will feature various Grand Prix Cups, with the Treehouse showing off four different new tracks that make up the Mushroom Cup. These tracks include: the highway desert road Mario Bros Circuit, the urban metropolis-like Crown City, the train track-filled Whistletop Summit, and the futuristic DK Spaceport.
With our first glimpse of some familiar faces in the initial teaser reveal - from the likes of Mario, Luigi, Toad, Daisy, Bowser, Yoshi, and more - the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct then showed off a wealth of Mario Kart World characters that we'll be able to play as. The big showcase also confirmed that there are 24 placements in each race, which is a series first; we've only typically seen 12 racers on the track in previous games. Each character will also have a selection of different outfits to choose from, so you can speed against others in style.
Here is a list of all the racers that we spotted during the Maio Kart World trailer in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, with the new additions marked in bold:
- Mario
- Baby Mario
- Luigi
- Baby Luigi
- Princess Peach
- Baby Peach
- Princess Daisy
- Baby Daisy
- Yoshi
- Birdo
- Toad
- Toadette
- Koopa Troopa
- Dry Bones
- Bowser
- Baby Bowser
- Wario
- Waluigi
- Rosalina
- Baby Rosalina
- Donkey Kong
- Boo
- Piranha Plant
- Pauline
- Moo Moo Meadows cow
- Stingby
- Fish Bone
- Goomba
- Biddybud
- Spike
- Conkdor
- Snowman
- Pianta
- Nabbit
- Sidestepper
- Swoop
- Coin Coffer
- Dolphin
- Cataquack
- Cheep Cheep
- Pokey
- Penguin
- Peepa
- Monty Mole
- Wiggler
- Lakitu
- Hammer Bro
Mario Kart World modes
During the Nintendo Treehouse livestream, we also got to take a look at some new Mario Kart World modes that look set to bring exploration and a new competitive challenge to the experience.
Alongside the Grand Prix mode that lets you race through set tracks to try to win different cups, Mario Kart World also features a mode called Free Roam. In this mode, we can, as the name gives away, freely roam through any of the tracks within a cup course. You can go in any direction you want, too, with the freedom to go off-road and casually drive around with friends around any part of the course. This presents you with the chance to not only explore, but try to learn each track and perhaps come up with new strategies to win.
Another new Mario Kart World mode is Knockout Tour, which is a "transcontinental rally" where 24-players have to try and avoid being knocked out and make through each leg of the race - all the tracks are interconnected. Every check point will have set parameters, so you have to be in a certain place in the race to qualify to the next part. Going from 20th or better it breaks down to 16th or better, 12th or better, 8th or better, and 4th or better, before it's down to the last two racers who have to aim for first place to ultimately win.
Mario Kart World price
According to the official Nintendo website, the Mario Kart World price will clock in at a whopping $79.99 in the US. In the UK, the My Nintendo page also reveals that a digital edition of the game comes in at £66.99 while the physical version costs £74.99.
This makes Mario Kart World much more expensive than its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with Switch 2 pre-order bundles combining with a copy of World coming in at $499.99.
For more on Nintendo, head over to our guide on the Switch 2 design and our list of the best Switch exclusives.
