For Switch 2: Mario Kart World gets an open world like Forza Horizon

For Switch 2: Mario Kart World Gets an Open World Like Forza Horizon 94 Comments

For Switch 2: Mario Kart World Gets an Open World Like Forza Horizon

Nintendo has revealed more details about Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2 via a Mario Kart World Direct Livestream. The title will be released directly at the launch of the new console on June 5, 2025, and is also included in the console’s bundle. Mario Kart World is getting an “open world” in the style of Forza Horizon.

Summary :

Racetracks in a Large Open World

New, familiar, and newly interpreted routes can be found in Mario Kart World in a large open game world in which players can and must move freely. The open world offers additional challenges that allow players to upgrade their characters away from racing. And if you stop at a restaurant, you can dress up in a new outfit based on the meal. Photoshoots, i.e., the targeted creation of screenshots, are also possible in the open world.

Grand Prix, Knockout Race, and More

In addition to the classic Grand Prix races, which focus on reaching the top of the season, there will also be a new Knockout Race mode, in which the driver can only participate in the next race if they haven’t been eliminated in the last race. Time trial races against your own best times or recordings from players around the world are, of course, also possible.

Familiar, but also a new character for Mario Kart World

New power-ups and abilities

Surprisingly, there are also some new power-ups. With the power jump, obstacles can be overcome or even driven over walls or obstacles in certain locations.

Recall in the current race

With the rewind function, players can, for example, if they fail to jump to an abbreviation, rewind their own race course and try again, while all other participants’ races continue in the meantime.

Up to 24 players in multiplayer

It was already known that up to 24 players could participate in an online race. With wireless play, eight consoles can also be linked wirelessly with up to two players per console. Up to four players can drive on the split screen on one console—if desired, their facial images are displayed via the game’s driver.

Help for Beginners

Features like Smart Steering, which keep the player on the track, also make it easier to succeed in Mario Kart World in the series. These features were already available in Mario Kart 8.