Customer Ratings & Reviews

Mario Kart is not a significant change from the Wii U version. That said, there is one simply killer feature that made this a must buy for me (other than the portability factor), the driver assists. We have a four year old who loves to play with us, but she's still too young to grasp the controls. On the Wii U, we gave her a disconnected controller. With this, she can actually drive and it accelerates for her and keeps her on the track. It really is a killer feature for making this game more accessible. If you already have this on the Wii U, buying again comes down to whether or not you want portability and the accessibility. That said, it's our favorite family game and if you don't have it, it's a must for the system and GCU makes it an easier pill to swallow.

Mario Kart 8 was such a good Mario Kart game I still considered it my favorite despite its lack of a proper battle mode and certain fan favorite characters. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe fixes some top complaints with Mario Kart 8 and adds new features on top of that. The new battle modes are a lot of fun. Balloon Battle and Coin Runners play like they did in Mario Kart Wii, and Shine Thief plays like it did in Double Dash. I did not find the new version of Bob-omb Blast to be *quite* as fun as the Double Dash version, but I was glad to see it return. The new Renegade Roundup mode plays like cops and robbers, and while it seems like the easiest to unbalance, it is still a lot of fun, and it feels fresh and different. While none of the race tracks are new, it is nice that Deluxe comes with all the tracks and CC levels unlocked (including the DLC tracks and 200cc). You do not get rewards for completing individual cups anymore, but as someone who already unlocked everything in MK8, it is nice to not have to unlock all the tracks and characters again. If you are someone who enjoys unlocking things, there ARE still locked vehicle parts—including new Splatoon ones—that are unlocked by collecting coins. Even though the courses are the same, some of the new mechanics do make a difference. The most visible is the ability to carry two items at once. It allows some Double Dash strategies to return, but the inability to swap the item slots makes it feel more like dragging one item while having another in your item slot in other Mario Kart games. The item changes (and the introduction of the new Boo item) help give the first place player less of an advantage than in MK8 without feeling too unfair. Another new feature is the third level of mini turbo—it is difficult to drift that long on most courses, but the speed boost you get from it feels very satisfying. For advanced players, it sounds like a small change, but the ability to brake while drifting can actually really change how you play some tracks—especially in 200cc. For new players, auto steering and auto acceleration make learning the game much easier (though I wish the switches to turn them on and off were not hidden in the +/− menus). Overall, if you never played MK8, picking up Deluxe is a no-brainer. If you played MK8 and loved it, Deluxe is probably worth it for the new battle modes and the ability to play those courses on-the-go (spontaneous split-screen races in portable mode with Joy-Cons are still a lot of fun). If you hated the core gameplay of MK8, Deluxe does little to fundamentally change the formula, so you might want to try a friend's copy before deciding to buy. For me, this is probably my new favorite Mario Kart game.

TL;DR: This game is literally an enhanced port of the original Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U - with additional features and improved frame rate. Pros: Improved frame rate - especially in split-screen multiplayer, portable local multiplayer with multiple controller options, Battle Mode revamp, 8 player local co-op is possible, stat tiers have been fixed and stat points are no longer lost, Mario Kart is fun, very good purchase for those who never purchased the original. Cons: While 8 player co-op is possible, the game is a bit unclear at conveying that you require 4 Switch consoles to do so. Single joycon controls are the most economical choice to play with a lot of people, but they're fairly uncomfortable to play Mario Kart with. For veteran MK8 players, this is only an enhanced port - the only thing new is the battle mode and 1 new unlockable. Farming coins again can be a chore. Unlockables: most characters/stages/cc modes are unlocked at the start of the game to appeal to the market of players who originally purchased MK8 for the Wii U. There is 1 unlockable character (beat 200cc) and all karts/bikes/wheels/gliders must be unlocked by farming coins once again. Beating 150cc unlocks the gold cups/stars for 50cc and 100cc as well without having to play them. Additional features: DLC only characters and stages from the Wii U version are included. New and improved battle mode included, 8 player local co-op possible (requires 4 Switch consoles - can only do 2 player split-screen per console). Standard 4 player split-screen local co-op is possible on one console. New karts and stat overhaul. Personal review: As a veteran of MK8 Wii U, I purchased this strictly for the ability to play this portable with friends. As I had already unlocked everything and played the original MK8 to death, I found myself not being as immersed in playing single player since I had already 3 starred every track in all modes including 200cc in original MK8 and I got bored quickly and lost interest playing by myself. Online matchmaking is still fun and the new battle modes did warrant a good purchase in my book. The biggest draw was the ability to bring my Switch anywhere and able to set up Mario Kart at parties and game nights for casual and competitive play with friends, only to lose those friendships shortly after over a horribly timed blue shell. I would 110% recommend this to someone who has never played MK8 before, but I would only recommend this to a MK8 veteran only if the things I wrote in the above "Pros" section appeal to them - otherwise, just stick with the Wii U version.

This is the greatest Mario Kart thus far! The battle mode is super fun and the ability to hold 2 items is fantastic. Love the new tracks and the added characters. Must add this game to your Switch collection.

We bought this because our 5 year old had been enjoying MK8 for the Wii U, but we didn't have all of the DLC. He absolutely loves it and wants to play it all the time. It's great for the 3 of us to play together, he has such a great time. It includes options to make it easier for younger players to play, like an option to automatically have the gas pressed so they can focus on turning. Highly recommend if you love the MarioKart games and are looking to have a good time with your children.

I played this the other day and was blown away at the Number of characters and race tracks available, Super Fast gameplay and lots of bonuses you can pick up to thwart your opponent. Highly Recommended!

If you've already owned this game for the Wii U you know what you're getting into. What this game does it is it allows me to play anywhere in the country with any of my friends who also have a Nintendo switch. With the way the controllers work you can have two people playing instantaneously on the same screen. Or if you like to have your own screen you and your buddy can use your own switch. You can have up to 8 players playing this game and the chaos is amazing. The extra levels were well designed you get all the extra characters and you still get to unlock plenty of things as you grow. I highly recommend this game as the most used game I have for the switch with the exception of the new Zelda. Have fun!

Who doesn't love Mario Kart, Great courses, and as always multiplayer is epic with friends and families of all ages

Fun for friends and family, easy to play, and always fun our kids lost our other one just bought replacement lol

Mario Kart 8 for the Wii u was great. Mario kart 8 deluxe takes that same formula and improved on it in many ways, with a very fun new battle mode, new characters, new vehicles, and all the DLC from the Wii U all packaged together. On top of that, there is new auto steering and accelarate features, which really improve gameplay for new or younger players. But the best feature isn't one unique to the game, it is the mobility of the Switch itself. It's so easy to bring to get togethers, parties, or even to restaurants to play a few races while waiting for food. It is a very social and very accessible console for anyone and everyone, with Mario kart being one of the best games on the system.

I really like how they incorporate all the old characters and tracks. Pretty expansive game and fun for family time or settling arguments.

This game has everything you could possibly want from a Mario kart game. Lots of characters and tracks to race on! Fun with friends and family. Looks great when the switch is docked on the TV!

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a masterpiece of multiplayer racing and a must-have game for Nintendo Switch owners. With its addictive gameplay, memorable characters, and exhilarating tracks, it delivers endless hours of fun and friendly competition. The game features a wide variety of tracks, from classic courses like Mario Circuit and Rainbow Road to new ones like Excitebike Arena and Mount Wario. There are also a variety of modes to choose from, including Grand Prix, Battle Mode, and Time Trials. The controls are simple to learn but difficult to master, and the game is full of strategic depth. There are a variety of items to use, each with its own unique ability, and the tracks are designed to be challenging and rewarding. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is also a great game to play with friends and family. Up to 8 players can race at once, and there are a variety of options to customize the experience. Whether you're a casual gamer or a hardcore racing fan, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is sure to provide hours of enjoyment.

Love this game. Full nostalgia from playing the 64 games I grew up with. My daughter loves playing this game with me. User friendly and something the entire family can play.

Such a good game, there is nothing quite like losing friends over who is the best at Mario Kart :)

Great for family game night! lets talk about the tracks, it been a while since I played so to start off the first track Mario stadium I think it's its a great first impression to a mario kart game so at the beginning you have three lanes then you keep going till you hit the anti gravity part you go on a big curve and then you hit that ramp and bam your gliding now oh yea and there is a helicopter there you land and then drive to the finish, then you have this sunken theme park track and it is fire so first you go up the stairs and then you take a sharp turn either to the left or to the right it depends to you go on this track until your under water then you go on a windy tur around some tea cups then you resurface take a turn and now your gliding to the through the bottom of a ferris wheel and there is also a ticket station and past that it the end.

Great game kids love it. We enjoy playing it as a family and the graphics are great too

I hadn't played Mario kart since the Nintendo 64 days, so I was blown away by how good this game looks and how well it plays. The idea that you could play it with one JoyCon via motion controls gave me pause; once I tried it, I saw how lag-free the controls were and kept remarking on how responsive the steering was. The fact that I could play this with four individual JoyCons instead of four complete controllers is a huge, huge benefit. This game is easy to get into and fun to play in a group; the portability of the Switch allows me to bring it anywhere. It's a great game for parties!

For those that are looking for fun racing with friends, you can't go wrong with Mario Kart.

This game was purchased as a gift. While I do not have any experience with the Switch version of this title, I have extensive experience behind the wheel of Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U (on which this is based). Mario Kart 8 was able to reiterate on the series in a way with which to move it forward while still remaining true to its roots as a fun, easy for everyone, racing game. This Deluxe version includes everything from the Wii U version, plus more. The ability to take Mario Kart mobile and share it with friends easily make this a no-brainer recommendation. If you own a Nintendo Switch, this is a must have title.