Mario Kart is a series of racing games based on the Mario franchise, created and published by Nintendo. Players race in go-kart competitions using special items. The games include characters from the Mario series racing on tracks inspired by locations from the Mario universe. Some versions also include characters from other popular games, such as Pac-Man, Taiko no Tatsujin, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon.

The series began in 1992 with Super Mario Kart for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), which was very successful. The Mario Kart series has 17 games total: 8 for home consoles, 3 for handheld consoles, 5 arcade games made with Namco, and 1 for mobile phones. More than 189 million copies of the series have been sold worldwide.

Mario Kart 8, released for the Wii U in 2014 and later for the Nintendo Switch in 2017, sold 76.66 million copies across both versions, making it one of the best-selling games. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, a game that combines real and virtual elements, was released for the Switch in October 2020. The latest game, Mario Kart World, was released as a new game for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.

Gameplay

In the Mario Kart series, players race go-karts while controlling characters from the Mario universe. Up to 24 players can compete in each race, depending on the game. During races, players can use driving techniques like rocket starts, slipstreaming, drifting, and mini-turbos.

Power-up items are collected by hitting item boxes on the track. These items change between games but often include speed-boosting Mushrooms, attack items like Red/Green Shells, and hazards such as Banana Peels or Fake Item Boxes. The game gives players different items based on their position in the race using a system called rubber banding. For example, players who fall behind may get strong items like Bullet Bills, which let them move quickly and safely, while leaders might only receive weak items like Shells or Bananas. This system helps keep the race fair. In the first Mario Kart game, players could choose from eight characters, each with unique abilities. In single-player mode, players can race against computer-controlled characters in four multi-race cups with 20 tracks across three difficulty levels (50cc, 100cc, and 150cc). Alternatively, players can race against a clock in Time Trial mode. In multiplayer mode, two players can race together in cups or compete one-on-one in Match Race mode. A third multiplayer mode, Battle Mode, involves attacking opponents with power-ups to destroy their balloons.

Each new Mario Kart game adds new features, such as different tracks, items, modes, and characters.

• Mario Kart 64 introduced 3D graphics, 4-player racing, mini-turbos for easier drift boosts, slipstreaming, and item dangling (holding items to defend against attacks). It removed coins and added items like the Fake Item Box, Golden Mushroom, and Spiny Shell. It also introduced Mirror Mode, where tracks are flipped sideways. In Battle Mode, defeated players become "Mini Bomb Karts" that can pop other players' balloons.
• Mario Kart: Super Circuit returned to the Mode 7 style from the first game. Multiplayer used a GBA Link Cable, and players could only use Yoshis if using one Game Pak. It added a Free Run mode and kept Battle Mode with Mini Bomb Karts.
• Mario Kart: Double Dash!! returned to 3D graphics and allowed two players to share a kart. It introduced Co-op mode, LAN play for 16 players, and new items like the revamped Spiny Shell. New battle modes included "Shine Thief" (collecting Shine Sprites) and "Bob-omb Blast" (stealing points with Bob-ombs).
• Mario Kart DS used dual screens and added custom emblems, online play, and a mission mode. It returned to single-item and single-racer formats and added new characters like Dry Bones and Shy Guy. A new battle mode, "Shine Runners," involved collecting Shine Sprites.
• Mario Kart Wii introduced motion controls and the Wii Wheel. It added mid-air tricks, bikes as a vehicle type, and new items like the Mega Mushroom and Thundercloud. A new battle mode, "Coin Runners," focused on collecting coins. Balloon Battle now gave players points for popping balloons and let them respawn.
• Mario Kart 7 used 3D graphics and dual screens. It added gliders, submersible karts, and full kart customization. Coins were reintroduced for speed boosts and unlocking parts.
• Mario Kart 8 introduced 200cc racing, anti-gravity tracks, ATVs as a vehicle type, HD graphics, and Mii costumes via amiibo. It added Mario Kart TV, a mode for saving race replays. Battle Mode only included Balloon Battle.
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe improved Battle Mode with "Renegade Roundup." It added two item slots, a third mini-turbo tier, and returned items like Boo and Feather. New characters included King Boo and the Inklings. The "Booster Course Pass" doubled the number of tracks.
• Mario Kart Tour was the first mobile game in the series. It used a points system and introduced Frenzy Mode, gacha mechanics, and new items like Ice Flower. It later added tracks to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
• Mario Kart World allows 24-player races and off-road driving. A new mode, "Knockout Tour," eliminates players at checkpoints. It includes characters previously seen as hazards and returns missions from DS. It does not include 200cc racing.

History

Released in 1992, the development of Super Mario Kart was directed by Shigeru Miyamoto, the Japanese game designer who created Mario and developed many successful Nintendo games, such as Super Mario Bros. The idea for the game came from the fact that the fast-paced racing game F-Zero did not include multiplayer features. However, limited technology caused the tracks in Super Mario Kart to be smaller than those in F-Zero, as resources were used for multiplayer racing. This led to a track design that focused more on turns than on maintaining high speed.

Games

• Mario Kart 64 Slot Machine (1996, developed by Maygay)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005, developed by Namco)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (2007, developed by Namco Bandai Games)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013, developed by Namco Bandai Games)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP VR (2017, developed by Bandai Namco Studios)

• Mario Kart Tour (2019)

• VB Mario Kart was planned for the Virtual Boy in 1995. It was mentioned in a 2000 issue of a German gaming magazine called The Big N. The game was canceled before it was officially announced because the Virtual Boy did not sell well.

• Mario Kart XXL was an unreleased Game Boy Advance test version created by Denaris Entertainment Software for Nintendo in 2004. It was first made as a non-Mario test version called R3D-Demo. In 2022, a copy of the test version appeared online.

• Mario Motors was a planned new game in the Mario Kart series for the Nintendo DS. It was first shown at the Reboot Development Conference in 2018. The game would have been worked on together by Yoot Saito. The idea was to let players create their own karts.

Legacy

The Mario Kart series is highly praised by critics. Nintendo Power named it one of the greatest multiplayer experiences, highlighting the variety of game modes and fun gameplay. The first game in the series, Super Mario Kart, received strong reviews and became a commercial success. It sold 1 million copies and was given a special release. Worldwide, it sold 8.76 million copies, making it the fourth best-selling game for the SNES. In Japan, it was the top-selling game in September 1992 and sold 3.82 million copies by 1992. In Europe, it was the top-selling game during the first quarter of 1993, outperforming popular titles like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Streets of Rage 2. In the United Kingdom, it was the top-selling Super NES game in February 1993 and ranked seventh best-selling in 1993, with over 250,000 sales. Darran Jones of NowGamer noted that the success of Super Mario Kart came from the popularity of the Super Mario characters and its new type of racing gameplay.

The second game, Mario Kart 64, received mostly positive reviews from Metacritic. It sold 9.87 million copies worldwide, becoming the second best-selling game for the N64. In the United States, it was the top-selling game during the first three months of 1997 and sold over 1 million copies within two months of its release. By 1999, it sold 6.23 million copies in the U.S. and 2.06 million in Japan, making it the highest-selling N64 game in the U.S. and third highest in Japan.

Super Circuit, the third game, was praised when it launched but later received lower rankings. Critics said it had few new ideas, partly because of the limited technology in the GBA. Some said the lack of Link Cables made multiplayer less fun. Others called it "lost" because it couldn’t match the quality of earlier games. However, it is still considered one of the best GBA games.

The fourth game, Mario Kart: Double Dash, received mostly positive reviews from Metacritic. Nintendo Power gave it a perfect score, praising its graphics and gameplay. However, some critics felt it didn’t improve much from Mario Kart 64. GameSpot said the game’s scope was limited, and IGN called it a "mediocre effort." GameRevolution criticized its single-player mode and track designs as uninteresting.

Guinness World Records listed six records for the Mario Kart series, including "First Console Kart Racing Game" and "Best Selling Racing Game." It also ranked Super Mario Kart as the top game in the "Top 50 Console Games of All Time." Super Mario Kart was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2019.

The Mario Kart series has sold 206 million copies total, making it the most successful racing game franchise. Super Mario Kart is the fourth best-selling SNES game with 8.76 million copies. Mario Kart 64 is the second best-selling N64 game with 9.87 million copies. Mario Kart: Double Dash is the second best-selling GameCube game with 6.96 million copies. Mario Kart Wii is the second best-selling Wii game with 37.38 million copies. Mario Kart 8 is the best-selling Wii U game with 8.46 million copies. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the Switch version, sold 459,000 copies in the U.S. in one day and is the highest-selling Switch game with 70.59 million copies worldwide. Combined with the Wii U version, it sold 79.05 million copies, making it the best-selling game in the series. Mario Kart World, released on the Nintendo Switch 2, sold 14.03 million copies worldwide by December 31, 2025.

Handheld games also sold well. Mario Kart: Super Circuit is the fourth best-selling Game Boy Advance game with 5.9 million copies. Mario Kart DS is the third best-selling Nintendo DS game and the best-selling portable Mario Kart game with 23.6 million copies. Mario Kart 7 is the best-selling Nintendo 3DS game with 18.98 million copies.

The series has many merchandise items, including slot car sets, radio-controlled karts, figurines, and sound drops inspired by Mario Kart Wii. A landline phone features Mario in his kart. K'Nex made Mario Kart sets, and Line released sticker sets. Club Nintendo offered game soundtracks and trophies. McDonald’s included Mario Kart 8 toys in Happy Meals, and Monopoly Gamer made a themed board game. Hot Wheels released Mario Kart car and track sets, and Cold Stone Creamery made Mario-themed desserts for the Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary.

In September 2016, Nintendo objected to the Japanese company MariCar for renting modified go-karts.