Summary
- Mario Kart 9 needs to incorporate fresh ideas to stand out from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's success.
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been a smash hit for a decade, but new games in the series typically innovate.
- Potential new features could include a single-player story mode, more non-Mario series characters, and new items/power-ups.
The next Booster Course releases. After that long of a run, and being so cemented in the hearts of Mario Kart players, Mario Kart 9 has a lot to live up to.
At the time of writing, Mario Kart 9 has not been announced, although it is speculated to arrive sometime around the release of Nintendo's next console, following the Nintendo Switch. Whether it is a launch title or soon after that, it is unlikely that there is much more to squeeze from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and a new console provides the perfect opportunity for its debut. In order to convince buyers to pick up a brand-new Mario Kart, a new game will need to have a lot of fresh ideas incorporated to make it stand out.
How To Beat Your Friends At Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Tips & Tricks For Pro Players)
Though there is no foolproof trick to win Mario Kart 8 Deluxe every time, there are several things that can increase the chances of winning.
10 Single-Player Story Mode
Provide More For Solo Players To Do
Obviously, a big story isn't needed to convince people to play Mario Kart, yet having some kind of narrative-driven career mode or story for single-player racing would be a treat for the series. Even on a small scale, having a silly story behind the races could provide a little extra weight to the game. It could also give players something extra to do while practicing their skills and learning new tricks for their driving.
9 More Non-Mario Series Characters
Learn From Super Smash Bros.
One of the things that has made Super Smash Bros. Ultimate such a successful title is the inclusion of characters from many of Nintendo's properties and even other guest characters, and Mario Kart could benefit from following suit. Currently, in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, there are a couple of non-Mario characters, such as Link from The Legend of Zelda or Isabelle from Animal Crossing. These types of characters could be added as optional DLC content for those who would like them, so as not to disrupt the traditional Super Mario theme.
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8 New Items & Power-Ups From Modern Mario Games
Give A Fresh Spin To The Banana
The items in Mario Kart games can add a lot of fun and change up the dynamic of a race, making it even more of a fun party game. Though the classic banana peel and blue shell should never be removed, it is time for some new options to enter the track. Super Mario Bros. Wonder has recently introduced many unique power-ups that would be fun to see, such as adding an Elephant trunk to attack other cars or even the ice flower to freeze enemies or make slick areas.
Every New Power-Up In Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Ranked
Super Mario Bros. Wonder could be giving players a unique and truly wondrous experience with the new and unique power-ups added to this adventure.
7 Achievements & Challenges With Trophies
Perhaps With Unlockable Rewards
One thing other games and platforms have learned is that trophies and achievements can be highly motivational for encouraging players to keep trying. Although there are trophies for winning Cups in Mario Kart, there is more that Mario Kart 9 could do to expand on this idea. Having unique challenges of a silly nature or trophies for gliding or balancing in a pose for a certain amount of time would go far in the eyes of players, especially if there were extra cosmetic unlocks tied to the award.
6 In-Game Coin Shop For Spending Coins Gained In Races
Not For Microtransactions
Earning coins in the Mario Kart races currently boosts a racer's speed and adds up to being able to automatically unlock karts, wheels, and gliders, yet collecting these coins does not feel rewarding in the current Mario Kart 8 Deluxe setup. Mario Kart 9 could make this more rewarding by having an in-game shop to spend the coins rather than automatic unlocks. Taking the money earned and getting to pick out what items to spend it on adds another layer to the game. Ideally, this concept would not be used for microtransactions though.
5 New Modes For Local & Online Multiplayer
Let People Switch It Up
As one of the ultimate party and multiplayer games on the Nintendo consoles, Mario Kart would benefit from having a greater selection of multiplayer activities, especially online. In the modern world, online play is almost a necessity, and it should be opened up for more activities. Races should always remain the core gameplay in the series, but having more unique and engaging Balloon Battle-type activities for friends to engage in can give more variety.
Mario Kart 8 DLC Has Created A Huge Problem For The Switch 2
Mario Kart 8 continues to be a popular game and Nintendo has done amazing at providing updates and new content. But what about the Switch 2?
4 Fresh, Unique Tracks
Not Just Bringing Back Old Ones
In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course , which offered DLC content with additional tracks for the game, very few of the added tracks were truly unique additions. Like the base game's tracks, many were remade versions of tracks from several of the Mario Kart games over the years, which provide a fun bit of nostalgia and are nice to see, but not unique. In Mario Kart 9, there should still be many of these classic, beloved tracks, but it would be wonderful to have more new ones such as the Squeaky Clean Sprint provided in Wave 5.
3 Additional Mario Series Characters
There Are Still Many Who Haven't Appeared
As many characters as there are in Mario Kart, it is hard to believe that there are still more who have not gotten behind the wheel. Characters such as Nabbit, Poochy, and Captain Toad, for example, have not appeared in Mario Kart games other than Mario Kart Tour. These iconic characters are well known and deserve their spot in the lineup, especially after Nabbit was recently one of the playable character options in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
2 Character Costumes To Customize The Look
Like In Mario Kart Tour
One successful feature that Mario Kart Tour included in its mobile racing game was the massive selection of costumes and outfits for the characters that could be collected. Mario Kart 9 could steal this idea and feature a selection of outfits for players to customize their gameplay, perhaps in an in-game shop using the coins collected on the track as listed above. The Princess Peach: Showtime!'s transformations should provide more than enough ideas for Peach's outfits.
1 Track Maker Mode
Build & Share Custom Tracks
The greatest thing that should be added, and which would provide a nearly endless replay value, is the chance for players to make and share custom tracks using Mario Kart parts and features. Even dating back to the original Excitebike in 1985, there was a track design feature, yet this has been a sadly absent feature in Mario Kart games. Super Mario Maker's success has further proven the creativity and joy that comes from custom tracks, and Mario Kart 9 would be the perfect opportunity for this to be made available.
Mario Kart World
- Released
- June 2, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, s Interact
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
Developed and published by Nintendo, Mario Kart 9 is the long-awaited sequel to Mario Kart 8. The title was reported to be in development in January 2022.
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Franchise
- Mario Kart
