| WINNER: Best Sports/Racing Game and Best Family Game --The Game Awards 2014 |
Expand your game-play options in the Mario Kart™ 8 game with two DLC packs that feature new tracks, new vehicles, and new characters like Link™ from The Legend of Zelda™ series and Isabelle from the Animal Crossing™ series/franchise. Learn more.
Hit the road with the definitive version of Mario Kart 8. Biggest Mario Kart roster ever The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game has 42 characters to choose from—the biggest roster in the series! Skip characters. Tons of tracks Race for the cup on 48 courses, including ones inspired by Excite Bike. Amiibo in Mario Kart 8. Receive special racing suits for your Mii™ character based on each amiibo character's look. Dress up your Mii like fan-favorite characters such as Mario, Yoshi, Kirby or even Samus Aran. Compatible with the following amiibo figures.
Race upside-down and along walls on anti-gravity tracks in the most action-fueled Mario Kart™ game yet! Take on racers across the globe and share videos of your greatest moments via Mario Kart TV.*
Driving up a waterfall or across the ceiling can provide an intense adrenaline rush, but that’s not all anti-gravity is good for. It also provides a wild new gameplay mechanic: if you collide into other racers in zero-g, you’ll earn speed boosts worth bragging about. Luckily, you can upload and share your best moments and watch your friends’ using the all-new Mario Kart TV.* Returning features include 12-player online play*, gliders, underwater racing, motorbikes, and custom karts. You can even race as Bowser’s seven minions, the Koopalings!
- Race along walls and upside-down on twisting anti-gravity racetracks!
- Share highlight videos of your greatest moments with friends via the Mario Kart TV feature and Miiverse™*
- Race and battle with friends locally* or connect online to play with random players from around the world*
- Fan favorite features from past Mario Kart™ games include gliders, underwater racing, motorbikes, mid-air tricks, and more
- For the first time ever, play as all seven of Bowser’s minions, the Koopalings!
- Crisp HD graphics and fluid animation offers players the most visually stunning Mario Kart™ yet
In-game content available for purchase using stored account funds.
*Wireless broadband Internet access required for online play. Learn more at support.nintendo.com. Additional systems and games are required for multiplayer mode. Sold separately.
Everyone plays Mario Kart games a little differently, and there are lots of different characters and kart parts to accommodate just about any play style (some would say almost too many). Maybe you prefer strong, off-roader karts that can take turns well, or maybe you prefer a slick ride that slides across the track with low friction. Of course, in the face of a blue shell, it can feel like your build doesn’t matter that much, but even that’s something to consider when building your ideal machine/driver combo. While there isn’t necessarily a “best” combo, here are a few thoughts on putting together the best Mario Kart 8 character, kart, and wheels combinations.
The performance of a kart in Mario Kart 8 is determined by five stats, each of which are subtly shifted and adjusted by your chosen character, your kart body, and your wheels. Oh, and gliders, I guess, but not to any substantial degree, so those aren’t really worth worrying about. Anyway, the five stats are:
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Speed: How fast your kart is capable of going overall.
- Acceleration: How quickly your kart can get up to its top speed.
- Weight: How much crashes and impacts knock you around.
- Handling: How much control you have over steering and drifting.
- Traction: How well your kart handles bumpy, uneven terrain.
There are also some “hidden” stats, such as how well your kart drives underwater or handles while gliding, but those are circumstantial to particular tracks, so again, they’re not worth putting a lot of thought into.
Best Mario Kart 8 Combination
Mario Kart 8
Your ideal kart build will rely heavily on how you personally prefer to play the game. I, for instance, prefer a kart that can accelerate quickly and handle well while drifting in order to efficiently chain mini-turbos. Combined with a medium to large-build character for some extra speed, and you get a pretty well-balanced machine. Here’s an example of an acceleration/drifting build:
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch
- Character: Rosalina, Link, or King Boo
- Body: City Tripper, Biddybuggy, Mr. Scooty, or Varmint
- Wheels: Roller or Azure Roller
But maybe drifting isn’t really your bag, maybe you’re all about that raw, straight-line speed. If you’re good at cornering on your own without the kart’s help, you put together some really mean builds that scream down the track like a comet. Just remember that high speed and weight are often mutually exclusive with good acceleration and turning. Here’s an example of a high-speed build:
Mario Kart 8 Download
- Character: Wario, Bowser, or Morton
- Body: Blue Falcon, Sneeker, or Prancer
- Wheels: Slick or Cyber Slick