Summary

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains a top seller for Nintendo.
• Recent updates add new content, keeping the game relevant.
• Some Nintendo franchises receive less attention, leading to speculation on future inclusions.

Despite having been released in the summer of 2017, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to be a financial juggernaut for Nintendo. It must be one of the few games to be the best-selling title on two consecutive consoles, Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U and its Deluxe incarnation on the Nintendo Switch. It's a game for players of all ages and skill levels and a flagship franchise for the Japanese developer. Additionally, its frequent updates and additions of new content help maintain its popularity and player engagement. Through these updates, the aging game manages to remain relevant and engaging.

With the recent rollout of tracks old and new with the Booster Course , the number of courses available to play has reached a staggering 96 tracks. Many of these tracks are themed after various Nintendo IPs, with everything from Animal Crossing, Yoshi’s Island, to F-Zero being represented with content. Such a smart practice is not only an excellent way to honor other great Nintendo franchises but also to promote those that may have a new game available or soon to be. However, not all franchises have been shown equal love, and the Paper Mario series is one of those franchises.

Paper Mario Goes Unmentioned In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Paper Mario DLC Would Be An Excellent Way To Promote The Series

The Paper Mario series has seen a lot of buzz lately due to the hotly anticipated release of the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, a GameCube-era staple. The original game was hailed by critics upon its 2004 release and is considered to be a classic of the RPG genre. However, any mention of the series seems to be vacant in Deluxe, while even Excitebike, a franchise that hasn’t seen a new installment since 2009, gets its own themed track. Excitebike was a hit on the original NES, but Paper Mario is a far more relevant franchise in 2024.

The paper gliders could be interpreted as a hint at the Paper Mario series, but there is nothing about their design that seems to directly reference the series specifically. This is odd, considering both games star the titular Mario. At a time when multiverses have become immensely popular in pop culture, keeping the paper version of Mario separate from the rest of the Nintendo universe seems like a missed opportunity. A few Paper Mario assets added to Deluxe would have been a great ment for TTYD's remake.

Mario Kart 9 May Feature More Nintendo Properties

Rumors Suggest Pikmin & Star Fox Being Featured In The Next Mario Kart

Paper Mario is not the only series to go with little or no mention in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Pikmin went without mention until a Pikmin racing suit was added with an update. Star Fox, too, is a franchise that has gone without reference, including Fox McCloud and friends. Additionally, popular franchises like Metroid and Kirby are also absent, despite some minor references with Mii racing suits. Many have been hopeful for future updates to fix this, but they may need to continue waiting. Despite these omissions, the game still manages to capture a wide array of beloved Nintendo properties.

Deluxe has become one of the highest-selling video games of all time, and it's inevitable that a Mario Kart 9 will eventually be made. While there is no way to confirm their validity, rumors suggest that many characters from other franchises will become playable characters in the next installment. Some have suggested that Mario Kart 9 must go the route of Smash Bros. Ultimate by making every character and track from past games available again, including bringing back double-racer karts from Double Dash!!. Until that new installment comes, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will remain a must-play title on the Switch.