Mario Kart racing game series is a staple in Nintendo's line-up of video games. This spin-off is a kind of its own. A Mario Kart game has appeared on many of Nintendo's systems since the SNES. Super Mario Kart was the first Mario Kart game ever released, and now we're at Mario Kart 8.
Game ModesGrand PrixThere are two different versions of the Grand Prix the player can participate in. The Nitro Grand Prix and the Retro Grand Prix. The Nitro Grand Prix section of the Grand Prix contains sixteen brand new courses, where as the Retro one houses remastered courses from previous games. One has to beat a cup, starting from the Mushroom Cup or the Shell Cup, to unlock the next set of races. Each cup ups the difficulty of the rival racers and the courses get longer.Time TrialEvery Mario Kart game features a Time Trial mode. In this mode, players race through the set amount of laps for each course to achieve the fastest time of completion they can. Players usually start out with Triple Mushrooms. Time Trials in Mario Kart 8 can be shared online with other players and, like other gameplay, can be uploaded to YouTube. You can also try to be others time by racing their ghost. If you are to beat somebody's fastest time, you will receive a Miiverse sticker.Battle ModeThe verse mode in Mario Kart has changed significantly. Instead of being in an arena like place, your drive around on the same courses you race on in the Grand Prix. They have everything all the other races have in terms of items. The objective is the same, as you play to remove our opponents balloons through the use of damaging items.FeaturesAnti-GravityAnti-gravity is one of the newest features to the game and was best shown off. Through special parts of the race courses, your automobile will be able to ride along surfaces you usually would not be able to race on, such as the side of a building. It adds more to the game itself, as new strategies are awakened to maintain your position as the Mario Kart champion.Kart CustomizationKart customization is not a new feature, but improved and new to the home based console counterparts of Mario Kart. There are 36 different parts divided into 3 different categories; bodies, tires and gliders. Aside from looking cool and being a great way to show off what embodies you as a race, they actually serve to impact your kart stats. Whether is be to boost your speed at the expense of handling or sacrificing the strength of your mini-turbo to drive faster underwater and during anti-gravity, this is a key to victory.Interactive ObstaclesLike previous installments in the series, Mario Kart has interactive objects on the track that the races take place. From the Giant Egg on Yoshi Valley to the Goombas that parade on any and every track they can. The twist this time around is, in anti-gravity mode, when you hit another racer or certain objects, you spin around and you perform a short burst of speed.List of known Playable CharactersLightweightsBaby MarioBaby LuigiBaby PeachBaby DaisyBaby RosalinaToadToadetteKoopa TroopaShy GuyLakituWendy O. KoopaLarry KoopaLemmy KoopaMediumweightsMarioLuigiPrincess PeachPrincess DaisyYoshiLudwig von KoopaIggy KoopaHeavyweightsBowserDonkey KongWarioWaluigiRosalinaMetal MarioPink Gold PeachRoy KoopaMorton Koopa Jr.Mii*List of known Racing CoursesNitro CoursesMushroom Cup Mario Kart StadiumWater ParkSweet Sweet CanyonThwomp Ruins









Flower Cup Mario CircuitToad HarbourTwisted MansionShy Guy Falls









Star Cup Sunshine AirportDolphin ShoalsElectrodromeMount Wario








Special Cup Cloudtop CruiseBone-Dry DunesBowser's CastleRainbow RoadRetro CoursesShell Cup Wii Moo Moo MeadowsGBA Mario CircuitDS Cheep Cheep BeachN64 Toad's Turnpike









Banana Cup GCN Dry Dry DesertSNES Donut Plains 3N64 Royal Raceway3DS DK Jungle









Leaf Cup DS Wario StadiumGCN Sherbet Land3DS Music ParkN64 Yoshi Valley








Lightning Cup DS Tick-Tock Clock3DS Piranha Plant SlideWii Grumble VolcanoN64 Rainbow RoadDLC Pack 1 Egg CupGCN Yoshi CircuitExcitebike ArenaDragon DriftwayMute City









Triforce CupWii Wario's Gold MineSNES Rainbow RoadIce Ice OutpostHyrule CircuitDLC Pack 2 Crossing CupGCN Baby ParkGBA Cheese LandWild WoodsAnimal Crossing








Bell Cup3DS Neo Bowser CityGBA Ribbon RoadSuper Bell SubwayBig BlueItemsItems are a key element in the Mario Kart series. They can be a determining factor in a race. They can either help you get in first place with the use of a Bullet Bill, or you losing that position because of a Blue Shell. So far, there are four new items and sixteen returning items.Fire FlowerLightningStarSuper HornBullet BillBob-ombMushroomTriple MushroomsGolden MushroomBananaTriple BananasCrazy 8CoinBoomerang FlowerPiranha PlantGreen ShellTriple Green ShellsRed ShellTriple Red ShellsBlue Shell BlooperDLCMercedes Benz x Mario Kart 8The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8