Feature: The Long & Rainbow Road To ‘Mario Kart World’, From SNES To Switch 2

We’re just a few weeks away from a fresh Mario Kart, and saying we’re thrilled is a massive understatement. The Booster Course Pass, which began rolling out in 2022, rejuvenated Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but the underlying mechanics still mirror the MK8 we’ve enjoyed since May 2014 on Wii U.

Don’t misunderstand us – we’ve relished every moment with the Switch’s best-selling title (we’ve also appreciated Live: Home Circuit, and we found Tour more enjoyable than many), but after a decade of the same experience, we’re clearly eager to expand our horizons and venture into a new realm – perhaps even a Mario Kart World.

As we line up on the starting grid and warm up our engines, let’s take this opportunity to look back and see the remarkable journey Mario has made since his inaugural race in 1992.

In this ‘countdown’ series, NL team members will reflect on each game in the franchise, tracing the racing trajectory from Super Mario Kart to Mario Kart World over an impressive span of 33 years. We’ll examine the innovations introduced in each installment, how they developed with each lap, and what we cherished, what we were glad to move on from, and what elements Mario Kart World inherits from all.

Start your engines…

Super Mario Kart (1992)

I am relatively young in the context of Nintendo’s history, so it took quite some time before I experienced Super Mario Kart. I believe it was on the Wii or potentially the New 3DS Virtual Console that I first encountered its origins. And I must admit…I wasn’t particularly impressed.

I think many of Super Mario Kart’s advantages stem from it being the original. I’m sure if you hadn’t yet played later versions, this would have offered a delightful two-player experience. The sprites are crammed with SNES charm, the concept is quite unique, and the tracks, though rather basic by today’s standards, were an inventive response to the hardware’s 16-bit limitations.

Returning to it in 2025 is intriguing. It’s the title that established the blueprint for the series I adore, and it’s filled with nostalgic appeal that only a hyper-sensitive drift button and flattened item boxes can evoke. However, it lacks the sense of fun and party atmosphere I crave in a Mario Kart.

If you haven’t revisited it in a while, it’s worth a session on NSO, but I can’t confidently say I would choose it over…any subsequent title in the lineup. – Jim Norman

• Notable tracks: Bowser’s Castle 3, Vanilla Lake 2, Rainbow Road
• Interesting tidbit: The game’s manual features unique classification titles for each character: “The Bros.” for Mario and Luigi, “The Dragon and The Lady” for Yoshi and Peach, “The Showdown” for Bowser and DK Jr., and (my personal favorite) “The Small Guys” for Koopa and Toad
• What does Mario Kart World inherit from this? Primarily the entire concept of Mario & Co. driving karts, in addition to items and iconic tracks like Rainbow Road. The whimsical style would flourish later, but this serves as the foundation.

Mario Kart 64 (1996)

Mario Kart 64 was my first experience, and it will always have a special spot on the podium. It was this game, along with GoldenEye, that made clear the advantage of having four controller ports at the front of your console. That said, I didn’t spend a tremendous amount of time playing four-player MK64 — those controllers were pricey!

In reality, most of my 64-bit karting was two-player, and much of that was spent battling it out on Block Fort or Skyscraper, pressing ‘A’ and ‘B’ simultaneously to spin and sneak off a cheeky green-shell hit on my sibling. Occasionally, we’d even manage three-player games, even if only two of us were engaged, as the PAL version would inexplicably run at a faster NTSC-style speed.

I typically chose DK or Wario, but even back then the character sprites felt ‘dated’ compared to the larger polygonal avatars in Diddy Kong Racing. However, the tracks represented a significant upgrade from the flat, 16-bit loops. With multiple routes and environmental challenges, alongside item-wielding opponents, the SNES original feels like a straightforward racer compared to the festive, chaotic environment and countless hazards found here. Completing the wall-jump shortcut at Mario Raceway for three laps in a row is still one of my proudest gaming accomplishments. It may seem trivial, but I treasure that ghost data!

Let’s not forget the music either, permanently etched into my memory. It took me a moment to realize why I was beaming so broadly during the Mario Kart World Direct, but then it hit me: the raceway theme was playing. What a game. – Gavin Lane

• Notable tracks: Royal Raceway, Koopa Troopa Beach, Yoshi Valley, Toad’s Turnpike
• Interesting tidbit: If it becomes overwhelming, you can press ‘L’ to reduce the music volume or turn it off entirely in this version.
• What does Mario Kart World take from this? The first four-player Mario Kart instigated the template for the multiplayer chaos that followed, featuring wild tracks and innovations that shaped the series.

away from traditional racing

Mario Kart Super Circuit (2001)

Mario Kart Super Circuit was my first experience with the franchise, and although I know it’s not regarded highly these days, I genuinely cherish its straightforwardness. While it has fallen a bit in my personal preferences over the years, I can still value its more streamlined design when contrasted with MK64 and Double Dash; it has held up better than Super Mario Kart.

I vividly recall playing it in the backseat of the car during family trips to vacation spots (skillfully angling my original GBA to catch some light); even after I had completed every GP and earned top rankings, I would revisit it repeatedly. The controls felt incredibly smooth, and while I probably favored Superstar Saga and A Link to the Past a little more, Super Circuit remains one of my top GBA titles in terms of gameplay.

Returning to it in 2025, I confess I needed time to readjust to the controls, which isn’t something I would expect with other entries (aside from the original). Drifting, especially, seemed quite sensitive. A few times, I veered directly into a wall or even a lake. Not ideal at all. – Ollie Reynolds

• Notable tracks: Sky Garden, Boo Lake, Sunset Wilds, Bowser’s Castle 3
• Trivia: Super Circuit was the inaugural title to include the Lightning Cup; earlier games featured only the Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special Cups.
• What does Mario Kart World gain from this? One might argue that Super Circuit contributed little to the franchise, but let’s be honest, it’s the first portable entry, right? There are nearly as many handheld Mario Kart games as there are otherwise at this stage!

And there’s the checkered flag. All three games featured here are available on Switch if you have an NSO subscription at the Expansion Pack tier (and SMK can be accessed with a standard subscription), so if this has sparked nostalgia, hit the circuits for a lap or two and share your memories below.

In Part 2, we’ll delve into the GameCube’s Double Dash, Mario Kart DS, and Mario Kart Wii – stay tuned for that next week.

And if you’re curious about where these three rank in the quest for the best Mario Kart, we’ve got a ranked list dedicated to that topic…