Taking place during the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 reveal trailer, Mario Kart 9‘s teaser lasted for just 15 seconds, but that was more than enough time for Nintendo to hint at some bold new features potentially coming to the series. Based on the brief footage, it seems likely that Mario Kart 9 will introduce 24-player races, along with some wider tracks to accommodate the larger lobby.
If Mario Kart 9 is going to have 24-player lobbies, then it’s going to need a sizable roster. Fans think they’ve already spotted around 20 characters in Mario Kart 9‘s teaser, ranging from franchise staples like Mario, Luigi, and Peach, to newer additions to the sub-series like Super Mario Odyssey‘s Pauline. The rumored roster already has plenty of fan-favorites, but there are plenty of other Nintendo characters who finally deserve a shot behind the wheel.
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Super Mario Characters Who Should Appear in Mario Kart 9
Toadsworth
Introduced in Super Mario Sunshine, Toadsworth is Princess Peach’s oldest advisor, and he’s an adorable fan-favorite character. Toadsworth has had plenty of appearances over the years, ranging from Mario Golf and Mario Tennis to Mario Party and Mario & Luigi. Toadsworth even appeared in Mario Kart: Double Dash, taking the lead position in the victory parade. But despite all that, Toadsworth has never been a playable driver in Mario Kart, and it’s about time that changed.
Professor E. Gadd
The in-universe inventor behind Super Mario Sunshine‘s FLUDD and Luigi’s Mansion‘s various Poltergust iterations, Professor E. Gadd has primarily appeared in the Luigi’s Mansion series and the Mario & Luigi series, though he’s had a few cameos in games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Professor E. Gadd was cut from Mario Kart DS‘ roster, and for years, fans have wanted Nintendo to rectify that.
Goomba
One of Super Mario‘s most iconic enemy types, Goombas have appeared throughout the Mario Kart series, often taking on the role of a stage hazard. But it might finally be time for Goombas to get behind the wheel, with them being just as deserving of a proper spot as Shy Guys, Dry Bones, or any other Mario enemy.
King K. Rool
For a while now, Donkey Kong characters have been a sizable part of Mario Kart‘s roster, with the titular gorilla and some of his relatives appearing several times over the last few decades. Mario Kart 9 should embrace Donkey Kong more so than ever before, and King K. Rool should be the first new DK character to join the roster.
Other Nintendo Characters Who Should Appear in Mario Kart 9
Mario Kart 8 added a handful of crossover characters to the roster, including Splatoon‘s Inklings, The Legend of Zelda‘s Link, and Animal Crossing‘s Isabelle. While Mario Kart 9 should prioritize bringing long-requested Mario characters to the table, it’d be great to see a few more crossover drivers in the upcoming sequel.
F-Zero’s Captain Falcon
A new F-Zero might still be a pipe dream, but getting Captain Falcon in Mario Kart 9 shouldn’t be. Mario Kart 8 already had tracks and karts inspired by F-Zero, so it would feel like a natural progression for Captain Falcon to join Mario Kart 9‘s roster.
Metroid’s Samus
Samus Aran is one of Nintendo’s most iconic mascots, and she deserves a spot on Mario Kart 9‘s roster. Her appearance could also be perfectly timed, with Metroid Prime 4 rumored to be a Nintendo Switch 2 launch title alongside Mario Kart 9.
Star Fox’s Fox McCloud
Much like F-Zero, the Star Fox series also seems to be on indefinite hiatus. But Mario Kart 9 has the opportunity to keep the series alive by adding Fox McCloud to the roster.
- Released
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April 27, 2017
- ESRB
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e
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
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