Mario Kart World Hands-on Preview – Racing evolved

We were invited to the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in Melbourne and went hands-on with Mario Kart World. It’s safe to say this isn’t just a sequel, it’s a reinvention.

After playing several modes on the new Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, including a Grand Prix race on Airship Fortress and a full-scale Knockout Tour with 16 other attendees, it’s clear this game earns its fresh title. Mario Kart World feels instantly familiar yet rebuilt from the ground up. The game has tighter controls, dynamic tracks, more racers, and a mode selection that injects genuine new life into the series.

The first part of our demo paired we played two-player on the same console and got to see how the Nintendo Switch 2 truly performs. Using the new Joy-Con 2 Grip racing through Airship Fortress felt like Mario Kart as you’d expect, but with a noticeable difference. Drifting now feels heavier, which took some getting used to for a second. The game now includes 24 karts per race which truly ups the anty.

The other immediate thing we noticed was the blast of colours from the LCD screen on the Switch 2. Even in handheld mode, the colours pop, the frame rate and motion is smooth, and the added detail in each track really stands out.

Then came the main event: Knockout Tour. This frantic mode eliminates the lagging racers lap-by-lap until only one remains. A commentator hyped us up over loudspeakers as we blasted through Spiny Rally, tackling courses like Boo Cinema, Starview Peak, DK Pass (DS), Salty Salty Speedway, Peach Beach (GCN), and Wario Shipyard.

This mode completely changes the pace of Mario Kart. You’re not just racing to win but you’re racing to survive. When you’re in the middle of the pack, fighting to avoid elimination by milliseconds, it’s an adrenaline rush like no other. I personally got knocked out in the third or fourth round by the split of a hair and it was agonising but so much fun. One of those experiences you will only get at something like the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience event, with 16 other people, an entire crowd in the room, and a person actually commentating about how you just got blue-shelled. A moment I won’t forget.

Everything about Mario Kart World feels more alive. Courses are dynamic and no two laps stay the same as each has a different route or part of the track that you’ll take. Platforms are moving all over the place, jumps will change, and the terrain will switch up from sandy beaches to water slides.

The item pool has exploded too. Classic picks like red shells and bananas return, but now they’re joined by the Mega Mushroom, hammer, and a food item that gives you additional boost. There are 50 characters already confirmed, and of course Cow was the popular pick of the day. Unfortunately, there were a few unplayable, like the Penguin (which I really wanted to race as) but I’m sure that means we’ll have something to unlock and work towards when the game is in our hands.

After spending time with Mario Kart World, I left completely convinced that this a generational leap. It’s faster, more lively, more competitive, and somehow even more chaotic. The addition of Knockout Tour alone will keep me coming back for some incredible couch multiplayer nights with friends.

Mario Kart World is out on 5 June 2025 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. The Nintendo Switch 2 Experience is in Melbourne from 10-11 May for those lucky enough to get an early hands-on.