Customer Ratings & Reviews

I've owned many Mario Kart games over the years and this is the best of them. The amount of characters and tracks to choose from is unprecedented and it's really easy to jump right in and start racing. This is mostly the same game as the Wii-U version, but it's so much more fun because you can play it on the go. Since each cup is probably about 15 to 20 minutes each, it's very easy to play through in short bursts and unlock things. The best new feature is battle mode - although it's not new for the series this was the only thing I think the Wii-U version was missing. Last thing that needs to happen to truly complete this game is the Block Fort level for battle mode - who knows maybe DLC one day! You only need 2 sets of Joycons to play with 4 people, I definitely recommend this for anyone who hosts parties or likes couch multiplayer games.

Some of you may be familiar with MARIOKART 8 as it existed in the Wii U for almost 3 years now. If you are new to the game then I have to tell you that you are in for a treat. Welcome to Mario Kart 8 deluxe edition! What makes it deluxe? There were 2 packs of DLC (downloadable content) that added more tracks(48 total!), more racers(42 total!), more carts(40 total!), and added replayability to an already excellent game. Other than the aforementioned new carts and tracks, there are a few differences to note in this new version. There is a mode called auto steering that is default set on when you first start playing. This mode is akin to the bumpers that protect you from the gutter in bumper bowling, as it stops you from falling off the track and falling waay behind in the race. The sacrifice of having this mode on is that it will slow your cart down and/or redirect you to keep you on track. One of the biggest complaints is why this mode is auto set to be on? The answer however is simple, it's for kids and/or casual gamers so they jump in and not be overwhelmed right away by the complexity of some of the more difficult tracks. It's worth noting that this mode can be turned off before the race on the cart select screen. Hit ± or - and a small 3 option sub menu comes up below the carts stats. Hit L to deactivate auto steering, Y to activate physical driving (using the joy cons as a steering wheel), and R to activate auto accelerate, which I haven't used yet but I hear is pretty good. I feel this needs addressing most as this is the number 1 complaint I see online when it comes to the negatives of this game. It's relatively easy to shut off. Now back to the pros, which is basically the entire rest of the game, gain coins through racing or in the newly revamped battlemode to unlock new carts and custom parts for all of the carts. The battle mode has been redone as well, and makes the game that much more worth it. You can play multi player too, 4 players on one screen(which is tough in portable mode), or up to 8 if you and 7 friends all have a switch and mk8d... Online functionality is good but not great because Nintendo makes you jump through hoops to chat while you play. It doesn't bother me as I'm not one to chat with strangers online, bit I feel as though I'm in the minority on that line of thinking... It's yet to be said if there is to be any new DLC for this version but as it stands it's well worth your money and oh yeah... ITS PORTABLE!!! 3...2....1....GO! (get it)

I am so in LOVE with this game I literally purchased it twice. I have played the newer Switch 2 MarioKart Demo that you can find in the stores and comparing it to this one... I prefer this MarioKart8 by far. I made sure to also purchase the Additional Ad On or Booster for 29.99 and it pretty much doubled the Number of Race Tracks and is a whole new game in my opinion. Well worth it. I play this just about everytime that I am sitting still. It is a great way to pass time on a subway or train ride for myself. Even after more or less mastering 50cc up to the 200cc, I am surprised at how addicting the game is even after beating all the races, always room to improve times and technique and Simply Cannot Get enough.

I fell in love with Mario Kart on the N64. I put countless hours into mastering every track, on every difficulty level, and loved few things more than Mario Kart tournaments with my friends and siblings. Even to this day I break out that old game console and challenge my nephews to a race. When I finally decided to get myself a Nintendo Switch, my first new gaming console since my N64, I knew right away that this was going to be my first game purchase, just like it was back in 1997. I have not been disappointed. The first notable difference from my Mario Kart of old is the sheer scale of this game. It is simply so much bigger. More racers on the track at a time, more characters to choose from, more kart options (and upgrades!), and way, way, WAY more tracks to compete on. I've been playing this game for a few weeks now and still have really only raced on about 2/3rds of the tracks so far. And as a bonus for us old-time Mario Kart drivers, many of the tracks are throwbacks to those on earlier systems. Only now apparently now you can race on the walls and ceilings too, which is still a little mind-boggling to me, and an interesting twist visually. But where this game really shines is in when you get a few friends together and face off against them. The multi-player options are pretty expansive too, with several multi-player game modes to choose from. Battle mode is a heck of a lot more chaotic with 12 characters in the arena as compared to the 4 I was used to, but I haven't decided yet if that's a downside or not. But my personal favorite way to play, just as it was before, is a good old-fashioned race with a four-player split screen. Even my non-gaming mother-in-law is having a good time watching this one! Definitely pick up this title... and don't forget to grab a second set of joy-cons. You're going to be glad you had them for this title!

This is the definitive edition version of Mario Kart 8, and a must buy for those who never owned the Wii U version. For those who already own the Wii U version, the changes may or not be worth it depending on what you're looking for. Without further ado here are the list of changes compared to the Wii U version: 1. 1080p with higher frame rate* when docked (TV mode) instead of 720p (on Wii U). Tabletop mode it's still 720p. Frame rate TV mode is 60fps, off TV mode is 59fps. Yes, one frame makes a difference when comparing side-by-side and/or when you have been playing dozens of hours of the original 2. 5 new characters: King Boo, Bowser Jr, Dry Bones, & Inklings (Boy and Girl) 3. Characters can now carry up to two items at once, even if they don't drag the first item 4. Double Item Box. Get two items when you run through a double item box or two singles. Note that you cannot swap items back and forth 5. "Smart Steering" A mode that prevents you from running off course or into a puddle of water. Good for toddlers or young children getting into the game (especially on the rainbow road courses). If the Smart Steering mode is on, the player's vehicle will have an antenna sticking out its rear end. The antenna blinks when Smart Steering is active. 6. "Auto-accelerate" for beginners. Can be used in conjunction with Smart Steering, essentially you don't have to hold down the accelerate button. Again, good for young children who just want to drive through the track without any stop-gaps. Works well when using the wheel peripheral 7. All DLC (from Wii U) included. Everything is unlocked from beginning except kart parts and Gold Mario. Kart Parts are unlocked by playing through the game and collecting coins. Gold Mario unlocked by winning all of the 200cc grand prix cup 8. Time Trials in the 200cc engine class have been added. Also added are new ghosts of Nintendo employees to race against 9. Ultra Mini-Turbo, denoted by pink/purple sparks that appear after the orange sparks which makes you boost significantly faster. Cannot be used with smart steering on 10. Online Play. -Option to change character and vehicle combinations during an online lobby without having to leave/exit out; this is done by pressing the "Y" button during the course selection screen of an online lobby. - You can see what lap everyone is in, in spectator mode if you finish early -When you win a match you get to wear a crown in the main online menu screen for everyone in the lobby to see. Hat also present when you're in the lead during a match - More icon packs for tournament mode 11. Faster loading times. Just a few seconds, but it adds up overtime. If you purchase Mario Kart Deluxe digital over the physical you get 1-2 secs off each track loading screen 12. New amiibo compatibility. You now get racing suits when scanning in specific amiibo 13. Boo and feather (battle mode only) item return to the game 14. You get the same 48 courses racing courses. But you get 5 additional new battle stages in battle mode + 3 retro stages 15. The Villager in now split between male and female selectable characters with different stats bringing the roster to the total of 42 characters (excluding character variants. Example: different color yoshis/shy guys, create your own mii, etc) 16. Graphical change: Motion Blur, High Quality Shadows, Confetti now drop to the ground showing animation at start of match 17. Battle mode: Biggest change in terms of gameplay. There are 4 battle mode game types: -Balloon Battle. Traditional Arena Style (no more battling in a circle) Mario Kart Battle mode where you use items to pop your opponent's balloons or steal them via feather item in order to score points. -Renegade Round Up. Cops and Robbers style setup. One team with the potted piranha plants try to capture all the other team before time runs out. Once captured your teammate can also free you from your jail cell -Bob-omb Blast. Same as balloon battle, but you only carry bombs -Coin Runner. Collect as many coins in the stage as you can before time runs out -Shine Thief. A keepway style game where you have to hold the Shrine Sprite the longest before time runs out. The driver holding the shrine sprite will have their speed lower the longer they hold it ==Additional notes: - There's 4 player split screen in docked (TV mode) and handheld/table top mode. Note that the screen for table top mode is really small and may be a problem for those who are far-sighted. When playing 2 player it's 60fps, 3 or more on the same screen it'll drops down 30fps -There's no Download Play, so you have to play split screen or have another copy of the game if you don't want to share the same screen or play more than 4 players -Stamps do not make a return since the Switch doesn't have miiverse -No more gamepad/duel screen when playing TV mode, so this time around you cannot see what items everyone is holding by glancing down -No voice chat (as of this review) unfortunately. Was present in the Wii U version with mic hardware (which no one bought). There's supposed to be a smart phone app that takes advantage of voice chat, but no word yet from Nintendo -Statistics of the vehicle parts and drivers have also been changed to make game more balanced -Other balance changes: Fire Hopping have been removed: An exploit in the Wii U version where you can repeatedly hop from left to right to get extra speed from turboboost. Blue shell dodge exploit still present. It's when you fall off the cliff the last second the blue shell is about to hit you, it'll save a lot of time recovering from the hit. Note this cannot be done when smart steering mode is on If a Blooper is about to ink the player as they cross the finish line, the player will still get inked. Red Shell Nerfed: If you're holding an item behind you while in the air, you can block a red shell Easier to break while drifting (advanced tactic) -Luigi still has his signature death stare If there's anything I missed please put it in the comments. Overall, i personally think the best additions are the enhanced battle mode and the portability aspect as I can now play during my break period and commute to work. I already sunk in over 300+ hours on the Wii U version and the upgrade is totally worth it for me as I got more than my money's worth in the original game on Wii U and plan to sync 300+ on the Switch version especially with the ease of use due to it's portability, and 100+ more hours of play in battle mode play with housemates. Well that is my personal perspective, so if you are in a similar situation it's a very good buy. If not, I hope the list of changes helped you in your purchasing decision

The best game I have ever played. If you started on Mario cart Wii this is that but better. They have the classic old tracks with a total of 96 courses! And you still can try to get 3 stars gold everything. This is my favorite game and they matched it to a tea thank you

Mario Kart Deluxe is the ultimate racing game. The multiplayer mode is epic, allowing you to race against your friends and experience intense competitions together. With a variety of characters, each with their unique abilities, the game stays fresh and exciting. The tracks are thrilling, packed with twists, turns, and secret shortcuts. Power-ups add an extra layer of excitement, from lightning bolts to red shells. The graphics are top-notch, and the addictive soundtrack keeps the energy high. Although more tracks and characters would be a nice addition, Mario Kart Deluxe is an absolute blast that guarantees hours of fun and unforgettable memories. Let the racing adventure begin!

The tight, understandable controls of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe really won it over for me as the best mario kart to date. An amazing time, especially with a crowd, and even more so with multiple switches in one room so everyone can pair up on a switch and play a full 12 player local multiplayer race or battle. Bright colors, fun tracks, and a wide array of characters make the game's level of replay-ability unimaginable. If you're like me, and get super competitive, you're wishes will be met with the superb online multiplayer which puts you against racers of similar skill level, and every game has your heart racing till the end. If you have a switch, this game is a must. And if you don't have a switch, games like Zelda, Shovel Knight, Super Bomberman R, Graceful Explosion Machine, Jackbox Party Pack 3, Fast RMX, Lego City Undercover, and World Of Goo should have convinced you this machine is capable of satisfying ANY type of persons play style. With tons of single player, multiplayer and party games alike, mario kart 8 deluxe only solidifies my confidence that buying a Nintendo switch was a great idea, because everyone in my household gets around the tv at least twice a day to play or watch the others. And laugh while doing so.

I've been playing Mario Kart since its inception on the SNES back in 1992. Perhaps that dates me a little bit, but don't be fooled: this old dog is a gamer and can still hang with the best of them. I've played almost every iteration of Kart pretty obsessively with the exception of just a few, so my experience with this franchise is quite extensive. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was simply great, right out of the starting gate. Our family purchased a Wii U a little bit late in its production cycle, and as such we started playing Mario Kart 8 only very recently. We went through most challenges of the game and unlocked just about everything that is unlockable. Shortly after that, we purchased our Switch. The first game we bought was Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, many of the unlockable rewards from Mario Kart 8 are already unlocked. Some may find this to be a treat, especially if coming from Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U where they don't want to be bothered to go through those challenges again. For others, particularly those who are new to Mario Kart 8 in general, that might leave the game a little bit unfulfilling. I'm somewhere in the middle of these two camps, as I feel that while even though the game is "largely similar" it does have enough differences that -- to me -- constitute the need for starting the game at the same baseline as the Mario Kart 8 edition from Wii U and then being required to unlock everything again. You do still need to unlock many of the vehicle customizations, though. All that said, the characters, available bikes and karts, and all of the attributes of the various vehicles really showcase the depth and thought process that went into the driving aspects of Mario Kart 8. It's really quite unlike any Mario Kart game before it. I find it intriguing to see how people use the different combinations of characters, bikes/karts, tires, and gliders to create their ultimate racer. Back in the days of the original Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64, you simply didn't have anything like that available. Interesting tidbit about the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe vehicles: changing your Mii in the Nintendo Switch console changes the available attributes of the vehicle that you can use when you choose your Mii character as a racer when you're in the vehicle selection screen. I'm a tall and thinner build in "real life" but my Mii character on the Nintendo Switch console has a different body type because I want my Mario Kart vehicle to drive a certain way. Through a bit of trial and error, with which I am still experimenting, I have been able to create the ideal vehicle for me. Give it a shot! The online racing feature is greatly improved since the original Wii days. That is great to see. Nintendo has done a really nice job of making the online racing accessible, and I would venture a guess that more people are trying online racing (and online gaming in general) for the first time with this version of the game than in any Mario Kart titles prior to this one. The new tracks in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are absolutely TONS of fun. There is a nice range of very simple to very challenging. I don't know how the developers continue to reinvent the wheel regarding the multitude of great new tracks over the years, but they somehow do every time. The retro tracks are pretty cool to see, too. The one thing with the retro tracks is that they aren't particularly "true" to the originals. While there might be many similarities, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe takes those tracks and adds many new spins on them. For those of us who remember those original tracks, that can be seen as a little bit of a surprise, as the tracks simply do not drive the same with all the new features. Still, though, it's pretty awesome that they recognized some of the classics and brought them into the mix with this newest version of Mario Kart. The Excitebike homage track was pretty darn cool, too. Considering that there have been so many releases of this game, it's amazing to see that the developers have been able to keep it fresh and innovative after 20-plus years. This game delivers on all of that and then some. I highly recommend this game for anyone who loves fun racing games, and/or is a Mario Kart aficionado. You simply will not be disappointed.

This edition is pretty great even though nothing with ever top the N64 version. The cool part os obviously better graphics, more racers, more tracks (some throwback tracks which is fun), and I’d say a lot more user friendly for non gamers. My 7 year old is pretty good and my 4 year old can at least hang without getting too frustrated. All in all its a solid purchase and gets a lot of play.

Great game kids and i love it. Brings back the classic experience of Mario kart

One of my daughters favs,I love this game so easy to play good quality and always keeps up entertain

Great game.. 1 or 2 players!! The kids play it for hours non stop and are getting better everyday!

I already had MK8 on the Wii U, so I was hesitant to double dip again when they released MK8D on the Switch. I waited until a price drop, so when it went on sale for $45, coupled with my GCU discount, it brought the game under $40 and I felt like it was finally time to take the plunge. I already knew what a great game MK8 was, I just now got to enjoy a few more characters, being able to hold 2 items, and the added bonus of portability by taking my Switch on the go. While this is not my favorite Mario Kart, that belongs to Double Dash, this is probably within my top 3 of the series. Absolutely worth a grab if you don't have it yet.

"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" for the Nintendo Switch is a vibrant and exhilarating racing game that brings characters from the Nintendo universe into chaotic, fun-filled races. With its bright, colorful graphics and smooth gameplay, it offers an enjoyable experience for players of all skill levels. The game shines with a variety of tracks, customizable vehicles, and modes including the classic Grand Prix and a revamped Battle Mode. Easy to pick up yet challenging to master, "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is a must-have for any Switch owner looking to share laughs and competition with friends and family

Considering the Switch has been out for two months now, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been definately the greatest multiplayer game out at the moment. Aside from upcoming games such as Splatoon 2 and Arms I personally think Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tops those two anticipating titles. The game offers a variety of characters, vihicles, tires, gliders, and tracks to choose from. Not to mention different types of CC to determine how fast you would like to race. To make it better, the online play is so addicting. I can't seem to stop playing knowing I am competing against other people around the world. A must have for the Switch.

Game is good - the Mario Kart games are about the only reason I buy new Nintendo consoles. My son and I both enjoy them. We've had Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U since it was released, and got the DLC for the new tracks. So this really isn't much of anything new, other than the battle modes, which are as frustrating as they are enjoyable. The graphics are nicer, obviously, since you get a little better resolution on the Switch than the Wii-U. Controls work alright usually, although sometimes when you're at the edge of the reach of the wireless controller from the console (less distance than the Wii-U allowed from its base) the controls get wonky. My complaint though is that this was the chance for them to roll out some new tracks, not just the battle race things, and they didn't. That being the case, I wish they had given us credit for having purchased the original game, as well as the DLC, for the Wii-U since they didn't give us much new here. So paying full price for something you already have is a bit of a bummer. There's some more characters and options for cars, including a setting that helps young players stay on the track better. This is a handy thing if you have young players who haven't quite gotten the hang of driving around. If you have a switch, this is definitely the game to get - we'll play this one the most, and hope that they do some new content soon.

I missed out on Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U so this port is a brand new experience for me on the Switch. This is one of the best Mario Kart games to date and with the Nintendo Switch it is now possible to jump into multiplayer action anytime, anywhere! A must have for any Mario Kart fan! Pros: - Tons of new tracks/characters - Vehicle customization - Battle Mode - Online Multiplayer - Easy to jump into multiplayer with the joy con included with Switch - Portable, console-quality game Cons: - Grind to unlock all kart customization options (max 10 coins per race/battle)

While I enjoy playing the more intense games that are feautured on the Xbox One or PS4; there is something nostalgic about being able to play any Mario games as an adult. I owned Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U and absolutely loved the unique experience of playing the game on that system; the Switch's version is nearly identical with a few minor changes/additions (ability to hold two perks at once for example). The graphics, user interface, & competitiveness is all there in this version... but the added ability to take the Switch with you wherever you go made this game a blockbuster in my opinion! If you own a Switch, this is the game you've been waiting for (besides Zelda BOtW of course!)

This is a very enjoyable game and is great for children of all ages. There are various locations and speeds to race in. You can chose a number of characters to race with and customize your race car. You can play against other players or against the computer. If you link up several switches you can all play together. Overall this is an enjoyable game you and the kids can play when stuck at home.