Mario Kart 8 is a 2014 kart racing game created and released by Nintendo for the Wii U. It has similar gameplay to earlier Mario Kart games, with players controlling characters from the Mario series and other Nintendo characters as they race on tracks. The tracks are based on places from the Super Mario series and include power-ups that help players during races. Before a race, players can choose different difficulty levels; harder levels make the game faster. In special parts of the game, players can drive on walls and ceilings. Mario Kart 8 includes many single-player and multiplayer modes, such as Grand Prix racing and battle modes that take place in arenas.

Nintendo announced Mario Kart 8 in 2013 and released it in May 2014. After its release, both paid and free downloadable content (DLC) was added, including new tracks and a new difficulty setting. In 2017, the game was released again on the Nintendo Switch as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which included 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 was well-received by critics, who praised its gameplay and presentation but noted some issues with the battle mode. Deluxe was praised for its improved battle modes and visuals. Both versions of the game have been called among the best Mario Kart games, have won or been nominated for awards, and have been named 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, and 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 players' Miis. They race in go-karts around tracks, using power-ups found in item boxes to slow down opponents or improve their speed. The game has four difficulty levels, which players can choose before a race. "Mirror Mode" flips all tracks horizontally. Features from earlier games include motorbikes, 12-player racing, hang gliders, underwater racing, and vehicle customization. Up to four players can race on one system, eight through local wireless connections (Switch only), and twelve online.

The most exciting new feature in Mario Kart 8 is anti-gravity racing. This allows players to drive on walls and ceilings in certain parts of the track. In these sections, players who hit others or special bumpers gain 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 attacks players; the Piranha Plant, which attacks nearby racers and gives a speed boost; the Crazy Eight, which gives eight different items; and the Super Horn, which can attack opponents or block items like the Spiny Shell. The game includes 32 courses across 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 already available and do not need to be unlocked. 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 the Mii character 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 players invisible and lets them steal opponents' items, and reintroduces the Feather item for battle mode. In "Booster Course Pass," some courses change layout each lap, combining multiple variations into one.

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

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

Development and release

Nintendo announced Mario Kart 8 during a January 2013 Nintendo Direct presentation and showed it at E3 2013. Some employees from Bandai Namco Games were thanked in the game’s credits. The number “8” in the logo was designed to look like a Möbius strip, as was one of the game’s tracks called Mario Circuit. Early in 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 older tracks were redesigned to include it. Other tracks had sections where players could glide or swim underwater.

Nintendo’s launch promotions for Mario Kart 8 included a special edition with a spiny shell figurine and themed bundles that had 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 campaign with Mercedes-Benz, Mario, Luigi, and Peach appeared in Japanese commercials for the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Three karts based on Mercedes-Benz vehicles were added as downloadable content on August 27, 2014. In 2014, McDonald’s released Happy Meal toys based on the game’s characters and karts. An album with 68 tracks was given to 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 more Mii outfits. Two paid DLC packs added new characters, vehicles, and courses. Some characters and courses are 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 introduced Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when it announced the Nintendo Switch in October 2016 and showed it in a January 2017 presentation. A trailer demonstrated 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 revealed details about battle mode, including new courses and the return of the Shine Thief mode from Mario Kart: Double Dash. After the trailer, internet memes appeared showing Donkey Kong making a celebratory gesture. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe improved battle mode and added a second item slot.

Soon after its release, Nintendo updated the game to change a victory gesture made by the Inkling Girl. Before the update, she raised her fist near her flexed arm, a gesture that meant “bring it on!” in Japan but was seen as offensive in Europe and Latin America. After the update, she no longer clenched her fist but still raised her arm.

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 using the throttle and handlebars. Later updates added support for the Toy-Con Car, Pedal, and Key. An update in December 2022 let players customize items in certain game 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 groups, with each group containing eight courses split into two cups, totaling 48 tracks released between March 2022 and November 2023. The pass could be bought on the Nintendo Switch eShop or through a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. The first group, released in March 2022, included the Golden Dash Cup and Lucky Cat Cup. The second group, released in August 2022, included the Turnip Cup and Propeller Cup, as well as an original course called Sky-High Sundae. An update changed the ending of the first group’s course, Wii Coconut Mall, so cars now perform donuts instead of staying still. This change was well-received. The third group, released in December 2022, included the Rock Cup and Moon Cup. Players could also remove certain items from races. The fourth group, released in March 2023, included the Fruit Cup and Boomerang Cup, as well as a new course based on Yoshi’s Island (1995). The fifth group, released in July 2023, included the Feather Cup and Cherry Cup, along with a new course called Squeaky Clean Sprint. The final group, 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 previously appeared in other Mario Kart games. Birdo was added in the fourth group; Petey Piranha, Wiggler, and Kamek in the fifth group; and Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Pauline, and Peachette in the sixth group.

Reception and legacy

Mario Kart 8 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to Metacritic, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received "universal acclaim." Reviewers praised Mario Kart 8 as a strong racing game 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 of Mario Kart 8 seem less impressive over time. However, some critics noted that Deluxe had less new content compared to Mario Kart 8.

The main racing mode in both games was widely praised. Eurogamer called it "the most vibrant home console racing game in years." Some reviewers criticized the "rubber-banding" mechanics, where players are automatically moved closer to the race if they fall behind. However, Game Informer said fans accepted this as a long-standing feature of the series. Reviewers noted that the core racing experience in Deluxe remained the same as Mario Kart 8, calling it "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 features, such as smart steering and auto-acceleration, had mixed feedback. Some said they made the game easier for new players, while others felt they made it too easy for experienced players. A few critics disliked that smart steering was enabled by default and could interfere with precise controls.

Reviewers criticized Mario Kart 8's battle mode more than previous games. Easy Allies called it "abysmal," and Kotaku said it was "borderline unplayable." Giant Bomb noted that battle mode used repurposed race courses instead of dedicated ones, making it harder to find opponents. Deluxe's battle mode, however, received widespread praise. Easy Allies and Kotaku said it was much better than the original, and Pocket Gamer called it a return to "original arena-battling glory." VentureBeat said Deluxe fixed the problems with Mario Kart 8's battle courses. Electronic Gaming Monthly noted that while Deluxe's battle mode was strong, it highlighted flaws in the original game. Some critics said Renegade Roundup was the best battle mode in Deluxe, while others said it was their least favorite.

Reviewers praised the visual style of both games. Eurogamer highlighted the "exquisite details" and "vast sense of scale" in the courses. Digital Foundry called the graphics "near perfection" with "phenomenal attention to detail." They noted that the smooth gameplay was due to consistent performance at 60 frames per second, even though split-screen mode ran at 30 frames per second. Reviewers said Deluxe's graphics were an upgrade from the original Wii U version. GamesTM praised the "incredible" lighting in Deluxe, especially in courses like Rainbow Road and Electrodrome. IGN said the "great art direction" in both games was a major reason for their "gorgeous" graphics. Easy Allies called the soundtrack "something special," and Eurogamer said it was "outrageously upbeat." They noted that Deluxe's live band rendition of the Super Mario Kart theme was a standout moment.

When the "Booster Course Pass" was announced, fans had mixed reactions. Some were upset 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. Others criticized the graphics of the courses in the pass, saying they were not as detailed as those in Deluxe.

After release, critics had mixed opinions on the Booster Course Pass. Metacritic said Waves 1 and 5 received "mixed or average reviews," while Waves 2–4 and 6 received "generally favorable reviews." Critics noted that the graphics in the pass were less detailed than in 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 strong gameplay. Others criticized the lack of Mario Kart 8's anti-gravity and underwater features. GameSpot said the pass introduced new courses but not new characters or customization parts. Nintendo Life praised the audio design as "stellar" and appreciated the feature where courses changed every lap.

Mario Kart 8 won several awards. Eurogamer readers named it their "game of the year," and GameSpot called it the "Best Wii U Game." It was nominated for awards in 2014, including "Best Wii U Exclusive" and "Best Game," and won multiple honors. It also won "Game of the Year" from The Guardian and was nominated for "Best Multiplayer" and "Best Racing" by IGN.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received recognition in 2017–2018. It was nominated for "Best Switch Game" and "Best Remake/Remaster" by IGN and won "Old Game of the Year" from Giant Bomb.

Mario Kart 8 became the fastest-selling Wii U game, selling over 1.2 million copies in its first four days and 2.82 million within a month. As of September 2021, it had sold over 8.46 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling Wii U game. In the UK, Wii U sales rose 662% after the game's release, with 82% of consoles sold in bundles with Mario Kart 8.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold 459,000 copies in the U.S. on launch day, making it the fastest-selling Mario Kart game. By one year after release, it had sold 9.22 million copies. It surpassed Super Mario Odyssey as the best-selling Switch game in 2019 and Mario Kart Wii as the best-selling Mario Kart game in 2021. As of December 31, 2024, it had sold 67.35 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games of all time.

"Luigi's death stare" is an internet meme describing the automatic facial expression Luigi displays when he attacks or passes other players during a race.