Nintendo is set to revolutionize the Mario Kart series with Mario Kart World, a new installment that boasts an open world and doubled the number of racers, building upon the success of its predecessors.
The game’s producer, Kosuke Yabuki, emphasized the significant changes made to the series, stating, “We knew when we came up with this idea that it really would be a big change for the series,” but they had “no idea at the time how many people, how much time, and how much effort that would require to actually achieve it.” Initially conceived for the original Switch hardware, the project faced early development challenges due to its grand scale and eventually transitioned to become a key launch title for the more powerful Switch 2.
Mario Kart World introduces a new “World” where all courses are integrated into a single, expansive landmass linked by various routes, unlike the traditional structure of discrete racetracks. This world is a new location designed from the ground up with racing as its core principle. Yabuki explained that “as you travel through this world, you will see things that remind you of the Mushroom Kingdom,” such as question mark blocks and warp pipes, but the world was “designed for Mario Kart World.”
The open world’s design was not intended to be a realistic or believable simulation of a place. Yabuki stated that “we have to think about not simply recreating real-world patterns in terms of a town or an island. Rather, this world exists purely to make Mario Kart more fun.” The complexity of building this world stemmed from its size and interconnected nature. Altering one element could impact other distant parts of the world, making terrain design a difficult task.
The game’s course design has also been influenced by its open world. In prior Mario Kart titles, developers had more control over player perspective because racing occurred on predefined, linear paths. In Mario Kart World, players can enter and exit courses from anywhere, and continue driving, requiring the development team to consider entry and exit points and their impact on the player’s vantage.
The expanded world inspired new game modes, including Knockout Tour, a battle royale-like experience where players race across the continent with their numbers gradually decreasing. The classic Grand Prix mode has also been altered, with players now required to drive to their next race instead of being automatically transported. Yabuki cited the Japanese four-part story structure known as kishōtenketsu as an inspiration for this change, explaining that it allows for a more varied pace and the development of the game’s story.
The number of racers has doubled from 12 to 24 per race, necessitating a fundamental rebalancing of numerous gameplay elements. Yabuki stated that accommodating the increased number of racers required the development team to “reconsider all elements from their fundamentals,” including road width, kart size, and the impact of collisions on speed.
The series’ tradition of surreal and unusual elements has been maintained in Mario Kart World. The game features diverse characters, including a cow and a Goomba, and allows players to experience strange power-ups. Yabuki found precedent in older Mario titles to persuade the team to incorporate unusual ideas, such as the concept that eating food at a diner could completely change a character’s appearance.
A long-standing mystery regarding the character Toad received a cryptic reference. Yabuki hinted that Toad’s appearance in Mario Kart World, wearing a racing helmet, raises questions about the nature of this helmet. He encouraged players to consider their own theories about Toad’s head when playing the game, particularly when Toad’s helmet transforms into a hamburger.
