Characters We Want To See In Mario Kart 9

Summary

• Mario Kart 9 could feature lesser-known characters like Dixie Kong and bring new dynamics to the game.
• Kamek, a magic-wielding character, could add unique gameplay elements if included in Mario Kart 9.
• The potential inclusion of characters like Hammer Bro, King Bob-Omb, Honey Queen, R.O.B., Donkey Kong Jr., and Petey Piranha could diversify the roster for Mario Kart 9.

Nintendo’s Switch 2 reveal trailer in January 2025 contained footage for the first new installment in the Mario Kart series for nearly a decade, showing off a large roster of characters. The initial teaser mostly consisted of safe and obvious picks, including series staples like Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, and Bowser.

However, there is also the potential for other, lesser known characters to show up. While speculation usually centers around brand-new characters for the series, a lot of other dark horse picks already have history with Mario Kart. These are the characters who fans want to see come back the most.

8

Dixie Kong

Excluding Her Is Totally Bananas

While Donkey Kong has been in the Mario Kart series from the start, and Diddy Kong has been a recurring mainstay since Double Dash, the latter’s girlfriend Dixie Kong hasn’t had as much time in the spotlight, despite being one of the Donkey Kong games’ most popular characters.

She has so far only appeared in the mobile spin-off Mario Kart Tour. However, her appearance in that game was well-received, and demand for her in a mainline game is high.

Like Diddy, Dixie would specialize in throwing bananas on the track, which could make racers slip and lose control of their vehicle, making it easier for other players to drive ahead of them. She is also generally one of the lightest characters in the game, which gives her access to relatively fast karts, but takes damage more easily than heavier characters.

7

Kamek

Bringing The Magic To Mario Kart

One of Bowser’s closest advisors, Kamek is a wizard who is usually portrayed as the arch-nemesis of Yoshi, appearing as the main villain in games like Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Woolly World. He can use his wand to cast various spells, both to help his allies and to harm the player. Kamek made his Mario Kart debut in Mario Kart Tour, and was subsequently added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as a DLC character.

In Mario Kart, Kamek is a middleweight character, which often means he is very balanced but doesn’t excel at a particular stat. His signature item could be his wand, which he could use to cast spells on rival players, such as slowing them down or shrinking them, or to summon random items.

6

Hammer Bro

Stop, Hammer Time! You Can’t Touch Them!

A close relative of the Koopa Troopas, Hammer Bros have been some of the most prominent reoccurring enemies in Mario games, and while they’ve mostly been nonplayable background characters in Mario Kart games, they made their playable debut in Mario Kart Tour. It’s very possible that Mario Kart 9 could mark their debut in a mainline game in the series.

As their name suggests, Hammer Bros attack by throwing hammers at opponents, and this was their signature ability in Mario Kart Tour. Hammers can be thrown either in front of or behind the opponents. It’s likely that in Mario Kart 9, a playable Hammer Bro would also be able to use hammers as weapons, and the game could revamp the item to balance the gameplay better.

5

King Bob-Omb

A New Boss Explodes Onto The Scene

King Bob-Omb debuted as the first boss battle in Super Mario 64, and has since become a recurring character in countless Mario spin-off games.

Unlike the likes of Petey Piranha and King Boo, other boss characters who are larger versions of common enemies, he has not become a recurring character in Mario Kart, and was not introduced to the series until Mario Kart Tour. He was highly requested for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Pass, but failed to make the cut.

Mario Kart 9 could be the perfect opportunity to incorporate him into the mainline game. He’d likely be a heavyweight character like Petey and King Boo, and his signature item could be the Giga Bob-Omb, like he had in Mario Kart Tour. The Giga Bob-Omb is similar to regular Bob-Ombs, except that they have larger blast radiuses.

4

Honey Queen

Her Absence Really Stings

Of all the boss characters from Mario games to make it into Mario Kart, arguably the most surprising was Honey Queen from Super Mario Galaxy appearing in Mario Kart 7.

Not only was she a one-off boss, but she was not even based on an iconic Mario enemy like others were, and her appearances in spin-off games have been very limited since then. If she is brought back to Mario Kart 9, it would be a big surprise, though a pleasant one for fans of Galaxy.

While a lot smaller than her mainline counterpart, Honey Queen is still one of the heaviest characters in the game, and is quite fast for a character of her speed. However, her acceleration skills are poor. Her signature kart, the Bumble V, is based upon the body of a bee, and re-appeared in Mario Kart Tour despite Honey Queen herself being absent.

3

R.O.B.

A Real Robot Racer is Ready

The Robotic Operating Buddy, or R.O.B. for short, is a peripheral toy that was compatible with a pair of video games made for the NES in the ’80s.

While he didn’t appear in either of the video games themselves, he did make an unexpected appearance as a secret unlockable character in 2005’s Mario Kart DS. In that game, R.O.B. is a heavy and fast character but struggled with the drifting mechanic, but his signature kart is one of the best in the game.

R.O.B. has not appeared in a Mario Kart game since DS, but his subsequent inclusions in the Super Smash Bros. games have kept him in the spotlight since then, and he played a major role in Super Smash Bros. Brawl’s story mode, the Subspace Emissary. With Mario Kart starting to feature guest characters from other games, it’s possible that NIntendo goes back to the games’ very first guest to shake up the roster.

2

Donkey Kong Jr.

The Ape Is Back In Pixelated Glory

Donkey Kong Jr. is the son of the original Donkey Kong from the 1981 arcade game, who debuted the very next year in the aptly titled Donkey Kong Jr. His game was a role reversal from the original, with DK Jr. having to save Pauline from Mario rather than the other way around. He would appear as a playable racer in the first ever Mario Kart game, Super Mario Kart for the SNES.

However, he would be mostly absent from future Mario Kart installments, being replaced by the Donkey Kong from Donkey Kong Country starting in Mario Kart 64 (although some fans theorize they’re the same character). The one exception, though, was in Mario Kart Tour, where he, in his SNES sprite form, was a surprise character.

1

Petey Piranha

He’ll Bite The Competition

Petey Piranha, a giant Piranha Plant, was introduced in Super Mario Sunshine as a boss battle. He would make his debut in the Mario Kart series a year later in Mario Kart: Double Dash, alongside fellow GameCube villain King Boo from Luigi’s Mansion. While King Boo would make sporadic appearances afterward, Petey would not be playable again until Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass.

Still, Petey is a popular villain, and many Mario fans would be pleased to see him be used more often. Like other boss characters, Petey is a heavyweight character, making him more battle-resistant, but he’s also one of the slowest characters in the game. His signature weapon is the Boomerang Flower, a projectile that, when thrown, will eventually come back to the player.