Nintendo Direct: Mario Kart World: Every Announcement

The inaugural Nintendo Direct focused solely on a single Switch 2 title has now concluded, offering us a 15-minute in-depth exploration (admit it, that’s a classic!) of all that awaits in Mario Kart World when it debuts alongside the console on June 5th.

If you’ve been following the hands-on reviews after the Switch 2 Direct and the subsequent Switch 2 Experiences, the MKW Direct might not have revealed much beyond what you already knew. However, it did provide an in-depth look at the titular world, the courses it features, and reassured us about the comeback of Battle Mode and more.

Let’s delve in and summarize all the insights from the Mario Kart World Direct.

Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct (April 2025) – The Complete Presentation

If you’re eager to catch up, here’s the full 15-minute MKW Direct, initially streamed at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST / 11pm AET on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

Nintendo Life Live Response

If you’d like to join a watchalong with Felix and Zion, here are their immediate reactions as the Direct unfolded.

Mario Kart World Direct Summary

Alright, enough chit-chat – let’s accelerate right into it…

The Upcoming Courses

First off, we were introduced to a range of new courses, with specific highlights including:

• Mario Bros. Circuit
• Crown City
• Salty Salty Speedway
• Starview Peak
• Boo Cinema – Dracula Waluigi!!

We also revisited several beloved courses:

• Toad’s Factory
• Peach Beach
• Wario Shipyards / Galleon

It was further confirmed that classic courses have been revamped and incorporated into the game (shout out to Koopa Troopa Beach!), with racing options available in both Day and Night settings.

Character Roster

Next, we were presented with an overview of some key characters. This featured stalwarts such as:

• Mario (surprise!)
• Luigi
• Peach
• Bowser
• Yoshi

…alongside some unexpected new racers:

• Goomba
• Spike
• Cow
• Lakitu

Don’t miss our comprehensive guide on the vast array of confirmed characters:

Gameplay Modes

We then glimpsed an overview of the “two main racing styles” — Grand Prix and Knockout Modes — both accommodating 24 racers.

Be wary of cars launching Bullet Bills and attacks from Hammer Bros., which serve as hazards to evade, naturally.

Grand Prix Mode

In GP mode, players select a cup and compete in four courses. So far, so Mario Kart. The twist here is that racers must navigate between courses instead of merely appearing on the next starting grid after crossing the finish line.

Although not explicitly stated, the trailer hinted that completing all the Grand Prix cups would unlock “a certain vibrant course” too. (That’s Rainbow Road.)

Knockout Tour

This section reviewed familiar details, showcasing the elimination-style ‘rally’ mode, Knockout Tour. The Direct revealed Golden Rally, Ice Rally, Moon Rally, and Spiny Rally – thrilling six-course races that eliminate the four racers at the rear after each checkpoint.

We took a liking to this innovative mode when we experienced the game firsthand.

Items

Moving on to items. A mix of classic favorites alongside some new additions were showcased:

• Coin Shell (leaves coins in your path)
• Ice Flower (freezes opponents when tossed)
• Hammer (thrown hammers that linger on the ground for a while)
• Mega Mushroom (a returning item that enlarges the racer)
• Feather (a nostalgic item that allows a big jump, helping avoid attacks)
• Kamek (transforms rivals into different racers/things)

Assistive Features

A quick glimpse at some returning accessibility features for new Mario Kart enthusiasts, including Smart Steering, Auto-accelerate, and Tilt Controls. Just like in Mario Kart 8, everyone is welcome to join the fun.

Cuisine

By grabbing snacks along the route, players can earn costumes. Regional dishes unlock thematic attire inspired by the meal.

This fast food can be found at drive-thru locations worldwide.

New Techniques

Two new moves introduced here that could be game-changers.

The first is Charge Jump, a mini turbo/trick that charges while holding the slide button and going straight. If you leap toward a wall, you can Wall Ride briefly.

More intriguingly, you can now Rewind mid-race! This reverses your movement, allowing you to revisit a jump or shortcut you overlooked. HOWEVER (a significant however), all other racers continue moving forward while you rewind, so it’s essential to have a solid lead if you plan to utilize it. This feature is available in Free Roam mode as well as during races.

Gameplay Modes

Time Trials

Innovative. Ghost data from other online racers can be downloaded!

VS Race

A returning mode with the option of up to 24 racers divided across four teams. Players can choose between the Classic format (three laps of the same track) or opt for Tour style and navigate among different tracks. Custom routes can also be established between courses.

Battle Mode

Alright, now we’re getting somewhere. Balloon Battle makes its return (where you strive to pop your rivals’ balloons), alongside Coin Runners (where your goal is to gather the most coins before the timer expires).

Free Roam

While exploring a rendition of Bob-omb’s Battlefield from Mario 64, different areas of the (Mario Kart) world were presented with an exhilarating ‘explore anywhere, do anything’ atmosphere.

Regarding fresh information, we observed P-Switches scattered throughout the world that trigger tasks such as coin collection, racing to specific locations, and more. Reportedly, there are “hundreds” of these switches across the globe.

You can also discover concealed coins (like the Peach Medallion), secret panels, and additional surprises, and the Photo Mode will allow you to document your adventures and creativity using unique frames and poses.

Multiplayer

The four-player splitscreen mode returns, although it appears the frame rate may suffer (it seemed to us like 30fps, though this is not confirmed yet).

There’s also a local wireless feature, enabling you to connect up to eight Switch 2 consoles, accommodating two players per system (if desired), allowing for 16-player local gatherings.

Transitioning online increases the per-race participant count to 24 players. You can play with friends online, with Free Roam available while you wait for them to join. Alternatively, you can just take a leisurely ride and use GameChat to communicate with your friends.

The game is compatible with the Switch 2 camera, meaning you can see your friends’ faces on screen even when four of you are playing locally – which should help alleviate the “Who’s that in front of me?” confusion before you launch a green shell at their rear.

Poll

And that wraps it up. There was a lot of familiar information there if you’ve been keeping track of the latest updates, but still a solid overview. Honestly, we just want to dive in and play it!

Mario Kart World launches in just a few weeks, so keep an eye on NL’s coverage if you want to stay ahead of the pack – and share your thoughts below on how you would rate the Direct overall.