Feature: The Long & Rainbow Road To ‘Mario Kart World’

We’re back for another round of Mario Kart history as we draft our way to the finish line and Mario Kart World on June 5th.

After reflecting on the initial three chapters of Mario’s racing saga, today we’re speeding ahead to the GameCube, DS, and the two-combined-GameCubes editions, as the franchise ventured online and adopted motion controls for the first time.

Before we rev up ‘2’, it’s important to highlight Mario Kart Arcade GP and its follow-up that debuted in arcades during this era. We’ll touch upon those in a future piece—rest assured, they haven’t been overlooked!

Let’s dive in without delay…

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003)

Super Circuit was my entry point into Nintendo’s racing giant, but Double Dash is the title that truly captivated me. I always perceived the GameCube as taking several bold chances with its games: first-person Metroid; cel-shaded Zelda, and the whole concept of Pikmin… Double Dash was no exception, and while the dual-character kart approach may seem like a gimmick now, it genuinely intrigued me back in the day.

Experiencing it for the first time did require a bit of mental adjustment; I had no trouble switching characters and using strategic combos to unlock exclusive items, but what truly threw me off was the absence of the iconic ‘hop!’ while power sliding. It was strange, indeed! However, a few quick laps around Baby Park soon taught me the finesse of boosting.

While I no longer mind that the dual-character system was eliminated, I honestly hoped Nintendo might revisit it for a while. Mario Kart Wii introduced… bikes, I suppose? Cool, and optional motion controls were fun, but Double Dash felt exceptionally distinctive. It will always have a special place in my heart. – Ollie Reynolds

• Noteworthy tracks: Mushroom Bridge, Waluigi Stadium, Baby Park, DK Mountain
• Interesting fact: Double Dash!! introduced several new racers, one of whom—Paratrooper—hasn’t returned since.
• What does Mario Kart World take from this? The ability to swap characters mid-race was definitely a novelty, though it may not fit into Mario Kart World. On the flip side, it paved the way for holding two items simultaneously, and honestly, we can’t picture going back to just one.

Mario Kart DS (2005)

I had dabbled in some MK prior to 2005, but Mario Kart DS is where my true passion for the series began. You can keep your local multiplayer; we’re connecting through DS Download Play and staying up until the crack of dawn!

Everyone owned a DS, and it seemed everyone owned MKDS as well. My brother and I were vehemently addicted at nearly every gathering. Oh, you haven’t unlocked R.O.B. yet? Hand me your DS for a moment while I blitz through some Retro Cup.

And it wasn’t just local competition. Mario Kart DS introduced me to the realm of online gaming in the mid-2000s, and despite the infamously broken ‘snaking’ drift move ruining almost every online match I joined, I still cherish the experience of actually playing alongside strangers from various countries for the first time. Pure magic.

There were countless features that amazed me—retro courses, emblem customization—but the biggest highlight was Mission Mode. Until World, this was the closest the series has ever pursued a single-player campaign, packed with challenges that made handheld racing feel a bit less isolating. The boss stages were especially memorable. Can you imagine explaining the one-on-one King Bob-omb mission to someone who has only played 8 Deluxe? Oof, we had it easy back then. – Jim Norman

• Noteworthy tracks: Yoshi Falls, Wario Stadium, Waluigi Pinball, Peach Gardens & the Nintendo DS Battle Course
• Interesting fact: This is the only Mario Kart entry to not include a Mario-themed circuit in the Flower Cup. The DS’ Mario Circuit appears instead in the Star Cup.
• What does Mario Kart World take from this? Retro courses, online play, Dry Bones… but the emphasis on single-player content appears to be the main highlight here. World’s Free Roam mode surpasses DS’ Mission Mode, yet it’s refreshing to see engaging solo gameplay return.

Mario Kart Wii (2008)

Double Dash is where my true affection for Mario Kart blossomed, but I believe Mario Kart Wii solidified it. When the Wii was released, I was in high school and trying to navigate new friendships in an unfamiliar environment was challenging. Most of my peers didn’t play video games, and those who did were engrossed in Call of Duty or FIFA; none of the RPG or platformer genres.

The Wii was the exception. Everyone owned one, leading to everyone playing Mario Kart. Mario Kart Wii is one of the few games that genuinely made me enjoy motion controls and online competition. I organized matches and events with friends, aiming to outsmart the competition.

The online experience was exhilarating; it seemed like everyone was ruthless. Miraculously, I achieved a three-star rank (the highest) online. I’ve never been as fiercely competitive with any other game, mainly because this game excelled in online play! *side glances at Smash Bros. Brawl*

Returning to Motion Controls, the Wii Wheel made a significant impact. Holding the Wii Remote sideways? Not happening. The added plastic accessory? A brilliant idea to include with the game. I typically don’t use gyro controls in later entries, but it worked well here.

Even offline, I truly enjoyed the game. Up until Deluxe, Wii was the benchmark for character rosters. Rosalina entered the scene, as did Funky Kong — and fans loved that. It’s undeniably unbalanced due to vehicle and character-stat variety and obtaining premium items even when you’re in a high position. Its retro track selection is moderately average.

But I invested countless hours into it, so you know what? Mario Kart Wii may be a chaotic, unbalanced affair, but it’s my chaos and I adore it. – Alana Hagues

• Noteworthy tracks: Coconut Mall, Maple Treeway, Koopa Cape, Mushroom Gorge
• Interesting fact: If you time a ‘hop’ just right, you can actually evade getting hit by a POW block, keeping your item and preventing a spin-out. It’s a one-frame trick, but if you can pull it off consistently? You’re quite skilled.
• What does Mario Kart World take from this? Funky Kong. Where has he gone???? Seriously though, bikes are my preferred vehicle now, so I’m thrilled that variety persists. Mario Kart World has incredible potential to explore this, and we’ve glimpsed a taste of that already.

That concludes the second lap. If you missed our first round, check it out below, and we’ll meet again for the next set!