Mario Kart 8 is a 2014 kart racing game created and released by Nintendo for the Wii U. It keeps the gameplay style of earlier Mario Kart games, allowing players to control characters from the Mario series and other Nintendo games during races on different tracks. The tracks are based on locations from the Super Mario series and include power-ups that help players during races. Players can choose different difficulty levels before a race; harder levels make the game faster. In special sections, players can drive on walls and ceilings. The game includes many single-player and multiplayer modes, such as Grand Prix racing and battle modes where players compete in arenas.

Nintendo announced Mario Kart 8 in 2013 and released it in May 2014. After its release, Nintendo added both paid and free downloadable content (DLC), which included new tracks and a new difficulty setting. In 2017, the game was released again for the Nintendo Switch as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which included all the DLC, an improved battle mode, and other changes. From March 2022 to November 2023, Deluxe received additional DLC called the Booster Course Pass, which added 48 race tracks and eight new characters.

Mario Kart 8 received positive reviews for its gameplay and presentation, though some critics pointed out issues with the battle mode. Critics praised Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for its improved battle mode and overall quality. Both versions of the game have been recognized by critics as some of the best Mario Kart games, have won or been nominated for awards, and have been listed among the greatest video games.

Mario Kart 8 is one of the best-selling video games, with over 79.05 million copies sold for both versions combined. The original version was the best-selling Wii U game, with 8.46 million copies sold. Deluxe is the best-selling Nintendo Switch game, with 70.59 million copies sold. A sequel, Mario Kart World, was released in 2025 as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Gameplay

Mario Kart 8 is a racing game where players control characters from the Mario universe, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Splatoon (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), or the player’s Miis. They race in go-karts around tracks and can use power-ups found in item boxes to help themselves or slow down opponents. The game has four difficulty levels, which affect how fast the race is. Players can choose the difficulty before starting. "Mirror Mode" flips the tracks horizontally. Features from earlier games include motorbikes, 12-player racing, hang gliders, underwater racing, and vehicle customization. Up to four players can play on one system, eight players can play locally using wireless connections (on the Switch), and twelve players can play online.

A new feature in Mario Kart 8 is anti-gravity racing, where players can drive on walls and ceilings in certain parts of the track. In these areas, hitting other racers or special bumpers gives speed boosts. New characters include the Koopalings and Pink Gold Peach. Vehicles include karts, motorbikes, and all-terrain vehicles. Four new items were added: the Boomerang Flower, which can be thrown to attack players; the Piranha Plant, which attacks nearby racers and gives a speed boost; the Crazy Eight, which gives the user eight different items; and the Super Horn, which can attack opponents and block items like the Spiny Shell. There are 32 courses divided into eight cups, with 16 additional courses added as downloadable content (DLC) in four more cups.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch includes all DLC from the Wii U version, such as characters, courses, and vehicle parts. These features are available without needing to unlock them. New characters in Deluxe include the Inklings from Splatoon, Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, and King Boo. Characters from other games, like Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man, and Pac-Man, appear as costumes for Mii characters unlocked by scanning amiibo. Other changes include holding two items at once and accessibility features like auto-acceleration or smart steering, which help players stay on track. Deluxe also adds the Boo item, which makes the player temporarily invisible and lets them steal an opponent’s item. In Battle mode, the Feather item returns, giving players a small jump boost to jump over opponents. The "Booster Course Pass" includes courses with different layouts each lap.

The biggest change in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the updated Battle mode. Deluxe adds five new battle-only courses and three battle courses adapted from earlier games. These courses are designed for Battle mode, with layouts that make item use easier. The Feather item is exclusive to Battle mode and gives a small jump boost. There are five battle rules:

• Balloon Battle: Players use items to pop each other’s balloons. The winner is the one who pops the most balloons before the match ends.
• Bob-omb Blast: Similar to Balloon Battle, but all items are replaced with bombs.
• Shine Thief: Players try to keep control of the Shine Sprite for as long as possible. The player or team with the longest control wins.
• Coin Runners: Players collect coins and steal them from others, aiming to have the most coins.
• Renegade Roundup: A team of "renegades" avoids "authorities" who use Piranha Plants. Renegades can free captured teammates by driving over switches under cages.

Development and release

Nintendo announced Mario Kart 8 in a January 2013 Nintendo Direct presentation and introduced it at E3 2013. Some employees from Bandai Namco Games were thanked in the game's credits. The "8" in the logo was designed to look like a Möbius strip, as was Mario Circuit, one of the tracks. During early development, the idea of using a drill to dig through the ground was considered but not used because anti-gravity was more interesting. Courses were created with anti-gravity in mind, and tracks from older games were redesigned to include it. Other tracks added gliding and underwater sections.

Nintendo’s launch promotions for Mario Kart 8 included a limited edition with a spiny shell figurine and themed console bundles that included a hat, strategy guide, Wii Remote Plus controller, Wii Wheel, and GamePad protector. In North America, Europe, and Australia, players who bought and registered Mario Kart 8 on Club Nintendo before July 31, 2014, received a download code for a selected Wii U game. As part of a promotional campaign with Mercedes-Benz, Mario, Luigi, and Peach appeared in Japanese commercials for the Mercedes-Benz GLA, and three karts based on Mercedes-Benz vehicles were added as a downloadable update on August 27, 2014. In 2014, McDonald’s released Happy Meal-branded toys based on the game’s characters and karts. An album with 68 tracks was made available as an exclusive reward for Club Nintendo members before the service ended in 2015.

Game updates added features like support for Amiibo figurines, a 200cc difficulty setting, player statistics, and extra Mii outfits. Two paid DLC packs added new characters, vehicles, and tracks. Some characters and tracks were based on other Nintendo games, including Link (The Legend of Zelda), Isabelle and Villager (Animal Crossing), Mute City and Big Blue (F-Zero), and Excitebike Arena (Excitebike). Downloadable content for Mario Kart 8 is no longer available because the Nintendo eShop for Wii U was discontinued.

In March 2023, Nintendo stopped online play for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon due to a security issue. The problem was fixed with an update, and online play resumed on August 3. Online services for Wii U, including Mario Kart 8, ended on April 9, 2024.

Nintendo announced Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the launch of the Nintendo Switch in October 2016 and revealed it in a January 2017 presentation. The trailer showed features like smart steering and elements from the Splatoon series. Later updates added crossovers with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Deluxe was released on April 28, 2017, after the Switch launched in March 2017. Nintendo also announced a steering wheel accessory for the Switch Joy-Con controller. A trailer showed details about battle mode, including new battle-exclusive tracks and the return of the Shine Thief mode from Mario Kart: Double Dash. After the trailer was released, internet memes appeared showing Donkey Kong performing a celebratory dab. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe improved battle mode and added a second item slot.

Soon after its release, Nintendo changed one of the Inkling Girl’s victory gestures. Before the update, she raised her fist near her flexed bicep, which meant "bring it on!" in Japan but was seen as an offensive gesture in Europe and Latin America. After the update, she no longer clenched her fist around her arm, but the rest of the gesture remained the same.

Updates in 2018 added support for Nintendo Labo, a toy kit that uses cardboard and Joy-Con controllers. The first update let players use the Toy-Con Motorbike as a controller, allowing physical actions like braking and drifting. A later update added support for the Toy-Con Car, Pedal, and Key. An update in December 2022 let players customize items in certain modes.

In February 2022, Nintendo announced a paid downloadable content season pass called the "Booster Course Pass." Courses in the pass were remastered from older Mario Kart games. The pass was released in six waves, with each wave containing eight courses split into two cups, totaling 48 tracks released between March 2022 and November 2023. Players could buy the pass on the Nintendo Switch eShop or through a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. The first wave, released on March 18, 2022, included the Golden Dash Cup and Lucky Cat Cup. The second wave, released on August 4, 2022, included the Turnip Cup and Propeller Cup, as well as an original course called Sky-High Sundae. An update to the first wave’s course, Wii Coconut Mall, changed the ending to have cars perform donuts instead of staying still, which was praised by players. The third wave, released on December 7, 2022, included the Rock Cup and Moon Cup. Players could now remove items in "VS Race" mode and online races. The fourth wave, released in March 2023, included the Fruit Cup and Boomerang Cup, as well as an original course based on Yoshi’s Island (1995). The fifth wave, released in July 2023, included the Feather Cup and Cherry Cup, along with a new course called Squeaky Clean Sprint. The final wave, released in November 2023, included the Acorn Cup and Spiny Cup. It also added a music player with all course music and 18 new Mii costumes.

Starting in February 2023, Nintendo added eight new playable characters who had appeared in other Mario Kart games. Birdo was added in Wave 4; Petey Piranha, Wiggler, and Kamek in Wave 5; and Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Pauline, and Peachette in Wave 6.

Reception and legacy

Mario Kart 8 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to Metacritic, while Deluxe received "universal acclaim." Reviewers highly praised Mario Kart 8 among racing games but considered Deluxe the best version. Deluxe was called one of the best games in the Mario Kart series or one of the best racing games ever made. Some reviewers said it was essential for Nintendo Switch owners. Improvements in Deluxe made some features from Mario Kart 8 seem less good over time. However, some critics said Deluxe had fewer new content changes compared to Mario Kart 8.

The main racing mode was widely praised. Eurogamer called it the "most vibrant home console racing game in years." Rubber-banding mechanics were criticized, though Game Informer said fans accepted this as a long-standing feature of the series. Reviewers noted that the core racing remained unchanged, calling Deluxe "the same great title from the Wii U." GameSpot and Nintendo Life said Deluxe’s racing was as strong as the original. Small changes, like holding two items at once, were praised for adding strategy. Accessibility options like smart steering and auto-acceleration had mixed feedback. Some said these features made the game easier for new players, while others thought they made it too easy for experienced players. Some reviewers disliked that smart steering was enabled by default and could interfere with precise controls.

Reviewers criticized Mario Kart 8’s battle mode more than earlier versions. Easy Allies called it "abysmal," and Kotaku said it was "borderline unplayable." Giant Bomb said the use of repurposed race courses for battle mode instead of dedicated battle courses made it hard to find opponents. Deluxe’s battle mode received widespread praise. Easy Allies and Kotaku said the new battle mode was better than the original, and Pocket Gamer said it returned battle mode to its "original arena-battling glory." VentureBeat said Deluxe fixed the issues with Mario Kart 8’s battle courses. However, Electronic Gaming Monthly said the battle mode was more of a flaw for the original Mario Kart 8 than a strength for Deluxe. Many critics said Renegade Roundup was the best battle mode in Deluxe, though GameRevolution and USgamer said it was their least favorite.

Reviewers praised the visual style of both games. Eurogamer highlighted the large scale and "exquisite details" of the courses. Digital Foundry called the graphics "near perfection" with "phenomenal attention to detail" and "magical playability." They noted that the smooth gameplay came from consistent performance at 60 frames per second, with split-screen mode at 30 frames per second still meeting industry standards. Reviewers said Deluxe’s graphics were an upgrade from the Wii U version. GamesTM praised the "incredible" lighting in Deluxe, saying courses like Rainbow Road and Electrodrome showcased the Nintendo universe well. IGN said the "great art direction" in both games was a major reason their graphics remained "gorgeous." Easy Allies called the soundtrack "something special," saying the music was "fantastic and catchy." Eurogamer said the soundtrack was "outrageously upbeat," and that Deluxe’s "defining moment" was the live band rendition of the Super Mario Kart theme.

The "Booster Course Pass" received mixed reactions when it was announced. Many fans disliked that new content for an older game was prioritized over a new Mario Kart entry, especially since Mario Kart 8 had been on the Wii U for nearly eight years. Some said the graphics of the courses in the "Booster Course Pass" were not as good as those in Deluxe.

After release, critics had mixed opinions. Metacritic said Waves 1 and 5 received "mixed or average reviews," while Waves 2–4 and 6 received "generally favorable reviews." Critics focused on the lower detail of the graphics compared to the main game. Digital Foundry said this was because the courses were based on versions from Mario Kart Tour. Some reviewers praised courses from Tour, like Ninja Hideaway in Wave 1 and Waluigi Pinball in Wave 2, for their graphics. Others said the earlier courses lacked Mario Kart 8’s anti-gravity and underwater features. GameSpot said the "Booster Course Pass" initially only added new courses instead of new characters or customization parts. Nintendo Life praised the audio design as "stellar" and "a delight." The addition of courses that changed every lap was praised, with Nintendo Life hoping it would become a regular feature.

Mario Kart 8 was named Game of the Year by Eurogamer and won "Best Wii U Game" from GameSpot. It was nominated for "Best Wii U Exclusive" in GameTrailers’ 2014 awards, "Best Game" in Giant Bomb’s 2014 awards, and "Overall Game of the Year" and "Wii U Retail Game of the Year" in Nintendo Life’s 2014 awards, winning both categories. It also won "Game of the Year" from The Guardian and was nominated for "Best Multiplayer" and "Best Racing" in IGN’s 2014 awards, winning "Best Wii U Game."

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received recognition in 2017–2018. It was nominated for "Best Switch Game" and "Best Remake/Remaster" in IGN’s 2017 awards. Destructoid nominated it for "Best Switch Game" in their 2017 awards, and it won "Old Game of the Year" at Giant Bomb’s 2017 awards.

Mario Kart 8 became the fastest-selling Wii U game in its first four days, selling over 1.2 million copies worldwide. Sales reached 2.82 million within a month. As of September 2021, over 8.46 million copies were sold, making it the best-selling Wii U game. More than half of Wii U owners owned a copy. In the UK, Wii U sales increased 662% after Mario Kart 8’s release, with 82% of consoles sold being bundled with the game.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold 459,000 copies in the US on its launch day, making it the fastest-selling Mario Kart game, surpassing Mario Kart Wii by 25,000 units. After one year, it sold 9.22 million copies. It became the best-selling Nintendo Switch game in 2019 and the best-selling Mario Kart game in 2021. As of December 31, 2024, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold 67.35 million