Mario Kart goes open-world on Nintendo Switch 2 with 24-racer mayhem.
Mario Kart World is the boldest reinvention the series has seen in years, and one of the marquee reasons to own a Nintendo Switch 2. Instead of a menu of separate tracks, the whole game takes place across one big, interconnected world you can drive through freely — turning Mario Kart from a set of races into a place you actually explore.
The headline change is right there in the name. Courses are stitched together by open roads, highways, and back routes, so you can cruise from one event to the next or just wander in Free Roam to hunt for secrets and shortcuts. It gives the series a sense of scale it’s never had, and it makes every drive feel a little more like an adventure.
Races now pack in up to 24 karts at once, which makes the track feel busier and the item chaos wilder. The standout new mode is Knockout Tour, a survival-style race that runs point-to-point across the world and eliminates the back of the pack at each checkpoint until only the leaders remain. Classic Grand Prix, VS, and Battle modes are along for the ride too, joined by new moves like rail-grinding and wall-riding and a much bigger, more eclectic roster.
Local play is great, but Mario Kart is at its best with a full grid online. Online multiplayer requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership — and if you’re weighing store credit against a membership, our eShop card vs Switch Online guide breaks down which you need (you can buy the membership with eShop funds, too).
Mario Kart World is available digitally on the Nintendo eShop, so you can download it and play without waiting on a disc or a trip to the store. The easy route is a Nintendo eShop card — your code is emailed within minutes, and the funds work toward the game, DLC, or anything else in the shop. New to redeeming? See how to redeem an eShop card on Switch.