It’s not fair that only Super Smash Bros. gets to really delve into the more unexpected depths of Nintendo and vaguely Nintendo-adjacent properties. The fact that we can have Sephiroth vs. Yoshi battles is a genuine miracle, but why keep such crossovers limited to just one game series?
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Mario Kart: Every Version Of Bowser’s Castle, Ranked
Nothing says ‘family fun’ like dodging fireballs and banana peels in a fortress.
Mario Kart is the next obvious choice, and sure, it’s already dipped its toes in with characters like the Inklings and Isabelle. But the next game should really take that as a jumping-off point and start reaching for even more characters outside of Mario’s typical buddy group, and there are plenty of candidates.
1
Captain Olimar (And Friends)
Pikmin
Pikmin
Real-Time Strategy
Puzzle
- Released
-
December 2, 2001
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo EAD
- ESRB
-
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
The Pikmin series already has a presence in the Super Smash Bros. games, with Captain Olimar having been a mainstay for some time now. But he’s an explorer, not a fighter, and the same can be said for the rest of his crew (aside from Brittany’s juice hoarding).
Bringing Pikmin into Mario Kart would make perfect sense, and you could even have all of the player characters from throughout the series as alternates like the Animal Crossing Villager. Plus, they’ve all got plenty of experience hurling organic objects at enemies.
2
Travis Touchdown
No More Heroes
- Released
-
January 22, 2008
- Developer(s)
-
Grasshopper Manufacture
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
Mario games are family-friendly, sure. But if Super Smash Bros. 4 can have Bayonetta, then Mario Kart can have Travis Touchdown. Besides, it’s not like he’ll be pulling off beam katana decapitations on the track. He’ll be too busy cursing out Luigi.
Naturally, introducing No More Heroes’ star to Mario Kart would require some finesse. So no cursing, or at least give it the Die Hard TV edit treatment. Plus, if Nintendo decides to make a Mario Kart: Double Dash 2 and bring back special items, it’ll be the perfect excuse to use that glowy George Lucas sword of his.
3
Red And Leaf
Pokemon
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Released
-
September 7, 2004
- ESRB
-
e
If a new game was to include some more non-Mario properties, it would be a Snorlax-sized missed opportunity if Pokemon wasn’t part of the mix. It’s got plenty of iconic characters, even aside from the titular ‘mons themselves.
Between Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Double Dash, Nintendo has really made a case for characters with multiple appearances and versions. So a perfect pick would be Red and Leaf, the player characters from Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, as separate or even alternate racers.
4
Banjo And Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie
- Released
-
June 28, 1998
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- ESRB
-
E for Everyone
A good excuse to bring back special items, Banjo and Kazooie always come as a package deal. Of course, that wasn’t always the case, as seen with Banjo’s debut in beloved kart racer Diddy Kong Racing. So really, including the duo in Mario Kart would be sort of a full-circle situation.
As for effectiveness in Mario Kart, the idea alone of Banjo driving while Kazooie handles items is too cool to pass up. Based on style points, they absolutely deserve an invite.
5
Doc Louis
Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
- Platform(s)
-
Nintendo Entertainment System
- Released
-
October 18, 1987
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo R&D3
- ESRB
-
e
You know, Doc Louis has been around the block a few times. He deserves to kick back a bit. But he also seems the type who would never want to retire to a totally quiet life. So why not stick him in a kart and give him weapons?
Little Mac went off to take part in Smash, and sure, he might need Doc there as a coach from time to time. But the man needs a hobby too. Plus, Mario Kart can always use more believable heavyweight racers.
6
Mio And Noah
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
- Platform(s)
-
Switch
- Released
-
July 29, 2022
- Developer(s)
-
Monolith
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- ESRB
-
T For Teen due to Language, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
There are admittedly a lot of characters who would make ideal dual racers in a Double Dash situation. While Noah and Mio are both individually vital to the story of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, as is the rest of the team, it’s pretty easy to argue that they both stand equally as the main focus.
So, whether as racing partners, swappable alts, or simply separate racers, it would be hard to pick just Mio or Noah alone to join Mario Kart. But giving them both flute-based special attacks could be a nice touch, even if the implications might be a little disturbing.
7
X
Mega Man X
Mega Man X
- Released
-
January 19, 1994
- ESRB
-
e
Smash got Mega Man, so Mario Kart should get X. That’s a proper custody arrangement. Of course, Nintendo could easily make it so that every version of Mega Man is available as an alternate appearance of a single character. But X is cool. Give him a break.
Many still consider the Mega Man X games to be the best in the series, and it’s not difficult to see why. From flashy presentation and gameplay to a more robust cast of characters, it deserves some recognition by the masses so more people can give it a try and really thank Nintendo for the rewind function.
8
Madeline
Celeste
- Released
-
January 25, 2018
- Developer(s)
-
Extremely OK Games
- Publisher(s)
-
Extremely OK Games
- ESRB
-
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
Celeste isn’t a Nintendo property, but it’s on the Switch, so it counts. Sephiroth originated on a Sony console for crying out loud and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate gets a pass, so Mario Kart is grandfathered in with that allowance. Don’t even get started on the Sans Undertale Mii outfit. Let some new members into the family please, Nintendo.
Madeline is a super enjoyable and relatable character, and her synthesized vocal stylings would fit perfectly in Mario Kart. That’s not to mention the trans representation she’d bring to the series. The only downside is that it would be difficult to capture the same charm in a 3D model that she exudes in 2D. Maybe they could make her a sprite like Donkey Kong Jr. in Mario Kart Tour. Either way, she’d better have great handling with that upper body strength from all the climbing.
9
Samus Aran (Metroid Dread Suit)
Metroid Dread
Action
Adventure
Metroidvania
- Platform(s)
-
Switch
- Released
-
October 8, 2021
- Developer(s)
-
MercurySteam
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- ESRB
-
T for Teen: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
Samus is an easy pick for Mario Kart. She’s been in Smash since the start and is as much a Nintendo staple as anyone this side of Astral Chain. The Metroid series remains beloved, even if it doesn’t get the same consistent love from the company itself.
But she’s got to join the Mario Kart party in style. Few of her suits are as sleek and frankly aerodynamic as her Metroid Dread look, and it would be perfect to cut down on that wind resistance. A space bounty hunter would be very familiar with practical armor.
10
Some Fire Emblem Dude
Fire Emblem
- Platform(s)
-
Switch
- Released
-
January 20, 2023
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- ESRB
-
T for Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
It’s a Nintendo crossover. It needs a Fire Emblem dude. Which Fire Emblem dude? Who knows? But it’s a Nintendo thing with a theoretical roster of various properties, so of course there’s got to be a Fire Emblem dude somewhere.
Maybe Corrin, Marth, or Lucina so Nintendo can just reuse models from Smash. Or how about someone new like the duty-bound fan-favorite Edelgard or a wildcard like the often-benched Bunet? Just one Fire Emblem dude will do, but it feels obligatory.
11
Neku Sakuraba
The World Ends With You
- Released
-
July 27, 2007
- ESRB
-
T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
The wonderfully unique The World Ends With You spent a considerable time as a Nintendo DS hidden gem before finally spreading out to fulfill its destiny as a mobile and Switch hidden gem. But it remains an important piece of Nintendo history, as does its protagonist Neku.
After everything he’s been through, Neku deserves a break from all the fighting. In this case, a break means full contact kart racing. He’d be a great addition with a look that would kind of mesh with the Inklings. Though maybe he’d think they’re a weird new kind of Noise.
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