Changes The Game Should Make From Mario Kart 8

Summary

• New vehicle types should be introduced for more variety in gameplay and level design.
• Online mode needs improvements like more incentives to play, private lobbies, and shareplay.
• Return to the basics by ditching gimmicks, focusing on great level design, nostalgic courses, and appealing characters.

While the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 has the company’s fans excited, there was a subtle detail about the reveal trailer that may have slipped under some fans’ noses. The first look at Mario Kart 9 seems to indicate it will be one of the console’s launch titles, coming over a decade after Mario Kart 8 was first released for the Wii U.

Fans don’t know much about this next Mario Kart game, so there remains a lot of mystery over what will be in the final version. However, even a few days after the announcement, fans have already begun writing up their wish-lists for what this new Mario Kart game builds upon compared to Mario Kart 8 and its Switch expansion, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

10

New Vehicle Types

There Should Be More Than Karts And Bikes

Mario Kart Wii was the first entry in the series to expand beyond typical karts and introduce bikes, while Mario Kart 8 featured another vehicle type in ATVs. However, there are still a lot of places to go in terms of new vehicle types. Some of these could even incorporate gameplay mechanics from the series’ most recent installments.

Some courses could allow players to race in boats or planes, while hovercrafts could be perfect for characters like Bowser or Bowser Jr., who often ride the Clown Car in the games. These new vehicle types could also add variety to a character’s specific weight and speed, making some options better for heavier characters versus bikes and karts.

9

Expand Online Mode

Nintendo Games Always Have Lackluster Multiplayer

Online mode was first introduced in Mario Kart Wii, but Mario Kart 8 didn’t make many changes to its formula. It allows 12 players to join in online matchmaking, but aside from that, there’s not a lot to it to make the online mode more interesting than racing against CPU opponents.

Perhaps an easy fix would be to encourage players to go online through achievements, rewarding players more than they normally are by playing more online matches. Private lobbies could also be more of a focus, encouraging players to join up with friends via the internet. The Nintendo Switch 2 could also introduce shareplay, so only one copy is needed for a group to play together.

8

Ditch The Anti-Gravity Gimmick

Bring Mario Kart Back To Basics

The big innovation of Mario Kart 8 was zero gravity racing, allowing courses to force players to ride along walls or even upside-down. It was a great way to add variety to the series, but functionally, zero gravity racing was nothing more than a clever aesthetic. Races aren’t more or less difficult, since the camera will always stay in the perspective of the racer.

Hopefully, Mario Kart 9 has a brand-new gimmick they can show off in levels, but if not, that’s fine, too. It’s been over a decade since the last normal Mario Kart game, so perhaps the best way to introduce the Nintendo Switch 2 would be by making a Mario Kart that has no gimmicks. All players really need is great level design, a good character roster, and a lot of replay value.

7

Courses Should Represent The History Of Mario

Let Players Race Through Iconic Levels

There have been many courses based on locations from the Mario franchise, but in Mario Kart 9, it could be fun to lean into the nostalgia of the series. Games like Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy could be referenced by having courses take place in Delfino Plaza or the Comet Observatory, or even New Donk City from Super Mario Odyssey.

Another great way to pay tribute to Mario’s history is by including courses from spin-off titles, like a Paper Mario-inspired level, or even one based on Super Mario RPG, which recently got a remake on the Nintendo Switch. Either way, more Mario-inspired levels would be great, while they can ditch courses like Electrodome which have no relevance to the franchise.

6

Alternate Characters Become Costume Changes

The Roster Shouldn’t Be Padded

The roster of Mario Kart 8 was controversial at the time for including a lot of slots taken up by non-unique characters. Costumed versions of Mario and Peach, as well as the baby forms of many characters, took precedence over Diddy Kong and Birdo, both of whom were made available via DLC expansions years later.

Like Super Smash Bros., a lot of these alternate characters could simply be costume changes, which would even add a new level of fun by seeing what costumes each character has. Mario could have Dr. Mario, while Luigi could have Mr. L from the Paper Mario games. Plus, the roster’s slots could be saved up for characters that would get players a lot more excited.

5

New Characters Make Their Kart-Racing Debut

Fan-Favorites Should Make The Cut

There are some iconic Mario characters who have yet to appear in the Mario Kart series. Take, for instance, King K. Rool, who made his Super Smash Bros. debut in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Other beloved Mario characters, like Geno and Mallow from Super Mario RPG, could also make for exciting additions to the Mario Kart 9 roster.

Of course, there are also more predictable choices for the series, like Captain Toad, Nabbit, and Professor E. Gadd, some of whom already appeared as playable in the mobile-exclusive Mario Kart Tour. There could even be new additions from spin-off franchises like WarioWare, allowing 9-Volt, Ashley, Mona, and Orbulon to become playable.

4

Re-Introduce One Specific Non-Mario Character

Nintendo’s First Racer Deserves A Second Chance

Mario Kart 8 already introduced non-Mario characters: Link, Villager, Isabelle, and Inklings. While it’s unlikely for the franchise to fully become “Super Smash Kart,” there’s one other Nintendo character who deserves a spot on the Mario Kart 9 roster: Captain Falcon. The beloved Smash Bros staple was Nintendo’s original racer in the abandoned F-Zero games.

Several F-Zero-inspired tracks (and even a Blue Falcon kart) appeared in Mario Kart 8 via DLC, which made it even more egregious that Captain Falcon was left out of the roster. Hopefully, Mario Kart 9 remedies this by giving one of the most iconic Nintendo characters another chance to hit the tracks.

3

Mario Kart Should Have A Story Mode

Increase Single-Player Appeal

Mario Kart games have never had much of a story. However, even a loose framing device could do a lot for the series. Perhaps, like Classic Mode of Super Smash Bros., there could be one-on-one races that encourage players to complete with different characters, and incentivize them by making others unlockable via this single-player mode.

This could also be a great way to re-introduce an abandoned mechanic from Mario Kart DS: boss battles. Characters like King Bob-Omb, Eyerock, and King Boo were all battled in the DS title’s Mission Mode. Bringing this mode back with a little more narrative to it would be a fun way to innovate this franchise.

2

Team-Ups Return From Double Dash

A Creative Way To Mix Up Races

One of the most beloved entries in the Mario Kart franchise was Mario Kart: Double Dash. In this game, players choose two characters to ride in one kart, with one driving while the other throws items. This could allow for lots of unique combinations of riders, such as Mario and Bowser or Petey Piranha and Yoshi, but it could also lead to some fun new gameplay mechanics for Mario Kart 9.

With the series’ new focus on each character having different weights and preferences for karts, this could be a good way to encourage strategic racing. Some parts of courses could work best with a lighter driver, while others might require a firm and grounded heavy rider. It could even allow for two players to control one kart at the same time.

1

Players Should Be Able To Make Their Own Courses

If Mario Maker Can Do It, Why Can’t Mario Kart?

One gameplay mechanic that has never been included in any Mario Kart title is course creation. Other Nintendo spin-offs, like Super Smash Bros. and Super Mario Maker, have implemented this as a way for players to share their creations online and make games their own. Mario Kart 9 making this a main mechanic would be a great way to engage players (as well as off-load level design onto them).

Obviously, there are limits to how creative a course could be in a customizable Mario Kart, but even aesthetics aside, players could create some challenging courses that make Rainbow Road look like a cakewalk. Hopefully, one of these wishes will come true when the Nintendo Switch 2 (and presumably, the next Mario Kart) is explored in April’s upcoming Nintendo Direct.