Mario Kart World is the perfect game to get Switch 2 launched with, just like a good game

In some way, every sequel must live up to its predecessor, but few have a more difficult task than Mario Kart World. It’s a sequel to the hit game from Nintendo’s previous two console generations, which eventually doubled in size with an extensive selection of downloadable add-ons. Therefore, Nintendo took a slightly different approach rather than releasing another game that merely added more features like Mario Kart 8 did. With its intimidating Rainbow Road to race across and annoying blue shells to rob you of victories, Mario Kart World is still Mario Kart. However, it also adds an open-world framework, which gives the game a more expansive and unified feel. Because of this, it’s the perfect game to showcase the Switch 2’s capabilities at launch.

The structure of World has changed the most. Racetracks in previous Mario Kart games were distinct entities. There was no connection between Bowser’s Castle and Baby Park. In contrast, World is a game that is played entirely on a single landmass with various regions and biomes, much like the Fortnite map. And as a result, everything is interconnected. Grand Prix mode allows you to race through four tracks that follow one another along a predetermined route across the continent.

This initially made me think that the tracks were less unique and distinct because they blended together. For example, because the Choco Mountain track comes before it, you begin in the charming green fields of Moo Moo Meadows. Furthermore, you don’t really reach the mountains until the second lap. But after a while, I liked the track’s flow and the way it created the impression of a wider world.

It’s a change that takes some getting used to, and I’m not sure if this structure is necessarily superior to the simpler racetracks of previous games. However, it ultimately won me over, partly due to the way it feels different and the fact that I love listening to the same songs over and over again to discover all the paths and details.

My favorite addition to World, a new mode called Knockout Tour, is also a result of this structure. It resembles a battle royale variation of Mario Kart. Instead of being led through a few different races, you are led through six interconnected tracks that never stop. A gate will occasionally appear during the race, and any competitor who is behind the position indicated on the gate will be eliminated. This continues until there’s just one kart rider left. Despite my decades of Mario Kart experience, Knockout Tour managed to engender a new kind of excitement in me, reinforced by its extended duration and challenging win conditions. It also provides an excellent viewing experience. It’s a lot of fun to watch people barely survive.

The game has additional new features. This includes new weapons such as a mushroom that can turn you into a giant that can crush your opponents or an ice flower that can be used to throw snowballs at other racers. You can grind on rails and ride on walls, though I haven’t mastered either of those advanced skills yet. You can also grab food at drive-through restaurants for a speed boost (and costume change). Additionally, the number of racers is enormous this time around, and it’s further increased by the variety of outfits you can unlock for characters like Waluigi and Peach.

These components significantly contribute to World feeling like a legitimate follow-up. But once more, the core world of World is what gives it a genuinely fresh feel and serves as a display for Nintendo’s newest hardware. The courses in the world are bigger, more complex, and have many different routes, but they are also far more disorganized. Rather than the previous 12 people per race, there are now 24 in the game, and something or someone always seems to blow up on screen. These days, it’s possible to drive on water, which frequently involves racing across enormous waves that are cresting. Many of the stages are brimming with wildlife, including herds of zebras and lumbering dinosaurs. The levels aren’t simply large; they’re vibrant and full of objects to explore and engage with—and dodge.

Nevertheless, I always found the game to be stable and fluid. This was true when playing online (both docked and handheld modes) and in split-screen mode with four players, where there is simply too much information displayed on the screen at once. It is the epitome of chaos. It also functioned flawlessly.

It goes without saying that World is not an open world like Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption II. There aren’t many activities and people to see in this lively area. Surprisingly, though, it’s a family-friendly racing game that lets you ride a motorcycle like a dolphin. You can drive around the map in the new Free Roam mode and explore without any pressure, while the weather and time of day change. Aside from a few simple challenge missions strewn throughout, there isn’t much to do, but I’ve spent a lot of time just taking in Nintendo’s odd creation. The city buses actually stopped to let shy guys and toads on and off, I discovered at one point. Although it is an entirely superfluous detail, it demonstrates how well-considered this establishment is.

While there are a few minor problems with the game, such as the fact that character unlocking is too dependent on luck and that the Free Roam mode doesn’t support split-screen play, these are easily overlooked due to the size, density, and coherence of the World. Because Mario Kart 8 set such a high standard, Nintendo was unable to easily repeat it. Rather, the creators of the game produced something far more intriguing: a setting that seems alive and vibrant. You simply need to speed through it now.

Nintendo Switch 2 users can now play Mario Kart World.