If you are anything like me, you have probably been waiting for the new Mario Kart World game for a while. This latest entry in the much-loved series is a big deal, especially since it is arriving right alongside the new Switch 2 console. It promises to change things up quite a bit. Nintendo surprised everyone with a last-minute adjustment to the game's install size. It will be a bit smaller than first announced, coming in at under 22 GB. This little change, made without much fuss, happened just days before the game's launch. It shows that even with huge releases, there are still tweaks happening right up to the very end.
The 2025 version of Mario Kart is coming out on June 5. It is only for the Switch 2, which also launches that day. Because of the brand's popularity and how many games the series has sold over time, Mario Kart World is set up to be the biggest title for the Switch 2's start. This means a lot of people will be playing it right away. Gamers everywhere are eager to see how it shapes up. I know I am ready to get behind the wheel.
In the lead-up to the game's release, Nintendo quietly changed the publicly listed file size. Both the US and Japanese eShop listings for the Switch 2 game now say it needs 21.9 GB of space. Before, it was listed as 23.4 GB. This is a small decrease, about 6.41%. Many other country-specific eShop pages, like those for Canada and the Netherlands, also reflect this smaller number. Nintendo usually does not talk about technical details like game compression. The reason for this change is not clear and we probably will not hear more about it. Even with a smaller initial size, it does not mean the game cannot grow later through updates or big content additions. We saw this with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe which got its first major content pack years after it first came out.
Taking A Closer Look At Mario Kart World's Open Environment And What It OffersHow The Game's Free Roam Sections Stand Up Against Other Popular Racing Titles
I have only played a few hours of it, but I am already starting to think that Mario Kart World might be better named Mario Kart Knockout Tour. The new last-one-standing race mode is truly a highlight. It adds another layer of pressure and wild action to the already chaotic racing. This new addition deserves to be in the spotlight. So, I find it a curious choice that Nintendo is putting the Switch 2 launch game's open environment as the main draw. I get it from a marketing view. A Mario Kart game not tied to regular tracks has been something fans wanted for a long time. But after trying the free roam myself recently, it left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
When you think of an open-environment racing game, it is fair to compare it to games like Forza Horizon. That series has mastered this kind of game. Its latest one even won awards. Each game in that series has a carefully built open environment that has challenges, surprises, and most importantly, fun. I would be lying if I said I found much of those good qualities in the roughly half an hour I spent speeding around Mario Kart World’s large area. It feels mostly empty. It does not have much atmosphere. It also oddly lacks things to do. I spent a lot of my time in free roam speeding across flat grasslands, deserts, or slightly choppy seas. I was looking for something to do.
There are some challenges to try, but I found them mostly repetitive. They were little more than small distractions. They mainly involve hitting P Switches, which start short time trials. These were fun at first. But I quickly saw that they are mostly the same: collect coins or go through checkpoints within a time limit. These challenges rarely take more than 10 or 15 seconds to finish. So, they quickly lose their newness. It is not a good sign to finish a demo feeling like you have already seen all the fun a game’s side activities can offer. I hope that finding more secrets in the world will reveal more fun. But another thing makes me worried about how it all plays out.
You get a new sticker to put on your kart when you finish these P Switch challenges. But this is pretty much all you get to unlock in the free roam. It feels strange that game progress is still tied mostly to the series' long-standing tradition of racing in Grand Prixs. This open environment seems like a perfect chance to hide new characters and karts in secret spots. You can find new outfits by driving through one of Yoshi’s many restaurants on the island. But these are just as easy to get in race scenarios. It feels like a missed chance, especially since other 3D Mario games are full of secrets. That feeling of wonder you often get when finding something off the main path just does not seem to be here. The closest I got was finding a big green warp pipe that just sent me a few meters down the road. Why do not these lead to hidden areas with their own challenges?
The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally launching soon with many games and new features. Find out when you can get your hands on the console and what to expect.
New Race Modes And Movement Mechanics That Promise Big Excitement
From The Intense Knockout Tour To Innovative Rail Grinding And Wall Riding
Despite some of my thoughts about the open environment, I need to remind myself that kids and adults will have a great time moving around this colorful paradise. They will zoom around and see the sandy beaches and winding city streets. Also, I would be lying if the seven-year-old part of my brain did not get excited when I drove into a large truck, took over its controls, and caused havoc. I ran into every other vehicle and breakable coin-filled brick in sight. This was a rare moment of wonder and Nintendo creativity that seemed oddly missing elsewhere. Yes, there is changing weather, a day-night cycle, and a changing soundtrack that shifts based on where you are. But none of these nice touches really added to the main fun factor.
The open environment is important for Mario Kart World beyond its free roam mode. The way these open areas connect tracks is very clever. It allows for more varied course combinations. Also, the exciting new Knockout Tour would not be the same without it. The way it moves across the country through different places is impressive. I could see this mode being much less fun if it only took place on many laps of the same track. This environment has its good points, just not in the way you would think to discover it.
The new Knockout Tour mode is sure to be one of the most played and loved additions. This mode has 24 players racing across a large map. It stitches four Mario Kart World tracks together into one. The last four racers are eliminated at regular checkpoints. Being at the back of the pack as time runs out gave me a feeling of pressure and competitive worry. I usually only feel this when I am in the final two of a battle royale game. It is wild in the best way. I would often go from first, all the way back to last, and then right back to the top again. The long race allows for great comebacks and laugh-out-loud moments. It is truly thrilling. When I made it to the final stage and almost won, I felt like a legend. I could have played Knockout Tour all day and been happy.
Nintendo has also made some real changes to the game's core ways of playing. Karts can now grind on rails and even ride on walls. These things are new to the series. Every track and even the non-track parts of the open world are built with these ways of moving in mind. Getting good at them will be key to winning. This is especially true when a blue shell ruins everything. Nintendo added a new move where if you hold the drift button without turning, your racer will charge up a small vertical jump. This jump helps you get onto rails and walls. You can also use it to avoid certain obstacles and even shells coming your way. It takes a few seconds to get the jump ready, so you cannot just decide to ride a wall whenever you want. You need to know each track and plan ahead. This is something free roaming will also help with since you can drive freely on each track without worrying about other racers.
The long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here. We are looking at how to get your hands on one, what games to play, and what the future holds for Nintendo's new console.
Anticipating The Full Experience And What The Future Holds For Mario Kart World
Looking Ahead To How The Game Will Be Received And Its Place In The Series History
Even after several hours with Mario Kart World, I feel like I have only seen a small part of it. Its open environment parts are appealing, but there is much more to see before I can call it a true success. Multiplayer also felt great in the controlled setting I experienced. But I need to try it in a real online situation. And, there are tracks I still have not seen. I will be sure to share my final thoughts soon. If my time with the game so far is any sign, Mario Kart World will be something special. It could once again define a Nintendo console generation.
In general, Mario Kart World is a strong beginning for the Switch 2. It has traditional modes alongside new and exciting ones like Knockout Tour. While the open environment might not be what everyone expects, it still offers a relaxed way to enjoy the world between races. The smooth performance and engaging new mechanics make for a fun time. I am excited to see how players react to this different approach to the series. It has the potential to be a standout title for the new console.