When we saw that new Mario Kart game for Switch 2, we wondered how it’d ever top Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. After all, that game has the biggest track and character roster in the series, some of the best visuals on the entire system, and more options than you can ever imagine. It was the perfect Mario Kart game back in 2017, and it’s held that title well ever since.

But Mario Kart World has just blown it out of the water. Because this Switch 2 Mario Kart title looks absolutely and utterly insane.

Seriously, take a look at the trailer if you haven’t already:

There is so much to go crazy for here. You’ve got the biggest ever roster bar none, with everyone from Hammer Bro to Chargin’ Chuck to a Penguin and even a Moo Moo as playable characters…

You’ve got some of the most impressive tracks ever seen in a Mario Kart game, including desert, savannah and mountain tracks we’re desperate to experience right now…

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Because this game, takes everything you knew about the Mario Kart formula and just smashes it to bits and then some.

Seriously, the open world aspect alone is incredible here. Since now, you don’t just get transported from track to track anymore…

You actually get to drive between them too, exploring a vast world and taking various routes to your next destination in the process. It’s like if you mixed Breath of the Wild or modern Pokémon with Diddy Kong Racing, and we absolutely love it.

What’s more, it doesn’t even have to be limited to standard races either. No, not only is there a knockout system where the last few people to reach each checkpoint get eliminated…

But that’s a full-blown free roam feature too, where you and your friends can explore the world together and take photos with the in-game camera system. It’s literally an open world kart racer sandbox, and we just love every bit of it.

It just blows our mind, and makes us want to play the game this very second.

So yeah, congrats Nintendo! You haven’t just topped Mario Kart 8 Deluxe here, you’ve singlehandedly blown it out of the water in the course of a single trailer. Mario Kart World seems to be the definitive Mario Kart title bar none, and one we’re incredibly excited to play when it launches on June 5th 2025!

Mario Kart World – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2 (YouTube)