I think it’s pretty reasonable to say that just about everyone who’s thought about the next big Mario Kart title after Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has come to a common conclusion – open world.
And although we didn’t really get a clear picture of it when it was first teased at the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 earlier this year, thanks to a massive new look at the game in this week’s Nintendo Switch 2 Direct we can finally say that it’s happening. Mario Kart World launches day-and-date with the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusively on June 5, 2025 (where it’ll also be part of an optional console bundle), and it’s absolutely going open world.
In what is definitely going to be the biggest Mario Kart experience to date, this new title is set in a sprawling world made up of multiple distinct regions housing dozens of tracks as well as a heap of wide open space for players to explore. As previously discovered, the game now supports up to 24 racers, and based on the trailer there are other exciting new wrinkles to races like wall-jumping!
This is all supported by a pretty significant shake-up in mode selection, which starts with the usual Grand Prix offering. In Mario Kart World, each Grand Prix will seemingly cover a specific region of the game with tracks physically connected by roads, and you’ll actually drive from race to race as you make your way through. Then, the new Knockout Tour mode puts racers on a world-spanning marathon that sees them gradually eliminated until just one makes it to the finish line.
And, of course, there’ll be a Free Roam mode where players can simply drive around and explore, even doing so with friends and snapping pictures. The reveal trailer shows off some other neat new additions like outfit customisation, too.
Mario Kart World will also fully support the Switch 2’s new GameChat feature so you can quickly connect with friends and even use the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera to video chat while you burn rubber.
Check out the trailer for Mario Kart World below and learn more about the game right here.
What do you think of this bold new direction for Mario Kart? Is Mario Kart World a system seller for you? Let us know in the comments below or over on social media!
Kieron's been gaming ever since he could first speak the words "Blast Processing" and hasn't lost his love for platformers and JRPGs since. A connoisseur of avant-garde indie experiences and underground cult classics, Kieron is a devout worshipper at the churches of Double Fine and Annapurna Interactive, to drop just a couple of names.
