It's hard to deny the scale and ambition on display throughout every part of roster that includes obscure characters and enemies, Mario Kart World is easily one of the biggest titles in the series so far. Moreover, the game's wealth of new additions aren't merely there for the sake of expansion, but seem to help elevate the sense of chaos and unpredictability that makes Mario Kart so enjoyable and replayable.

As exciting as these new additions may be, there's one mode being introduced in Mario Kart World that immediately grabbed my attention. As someone who's adored the Mario Kart series for so many years, this new mode looks to fulfill one of my biggest desires for the franchise. If that wasn't enough, this new mode could serve as the wild change that the series is in need of, making me more excited for Mario Kart World's eventual release.

I Used To Love Exploring Mario Kart Courses

I Always Wanted To Go Beyond The Track Itself

Like many others, I've spent countless hours in the Time Trials mode throughout multiple entries within the Mario Kart series. However, when I was much younger, instead of racing for a new record as you're expected to do, I often went on scenic drives along each course to take in the sights that surrounded the track. While certainly unconventional, a large reason why I did this was because of the large amount of detail that was carefully added to the backgrounds of each course, which helped to create this sense of immersion.

Mario Kart 7 allowed you to drive from a first-person perspective, giving a much clearer view of the track and the landmarks surrounding it. The game remains the only instance in the main Mario Kart series where this feature was included.

This is most apparent in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which contains the most breathtaking and vibrant environments that the series has seen. Whether you're blasting your way through the village found in Wild Woods, or you take a moment to gander at the illuminated city under N64 Rainbow Road, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is simply not content with having you speed across a range of basic tracks. The game makes each course feel part of a real, tangible world, giving each track a sense of life that it otherwise wouldn't have.

Yet, as much fun as I had taking in the sights of the Mario Kart series' many courses, I always found myself disappointed by how I was restricted to the track at all times. The detailed environments of many courses are begging to be explored, and the intriguing landmarks that I encountered would pique my curiosity, making it all the more painful that I couldn't reach them. While exploration has never been the main focus of the Mario Kart series, I've always hoped that the franchise would allow for more open gameplay, allowing me to drive wherever I want to.

Mario Kart World Lets Me Live Out My Childhood Dream

The Free Roam Mode Is Exactly What I've Been Looking For

Thankfully, Mario Kart World looks to fulfill my childhood dream with the introduction of Free Roam mode. This mode allows you to explore each of the game's courses freely without the need to race your way through each track, or without barriers that prevent you from going off course. I immediately fell in love with the idea of the Free Roam mode in Mario Kart World, providing me with the opportunity to explore in the way that I had always wanted to, while also allowing me to truly soak in the game's fine attention to detail.

This freedom to explore in Mario Kart World is only emphasized by the expansive open world that connects every track to one another. The Mario Kart series has attempted to create an interconnected world in the past, by having certain tracks visible in the background of courses, as seen in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. However, the confines of the Grand Prix structure prevented each course from ever feeling truly connected, something Mario Kart World fixes by having you seamlessly travel from one track to another.

Never before has a Mario Kart game encouraged this level of exploration and interactivity with its courses.

By allowing for travel between courses, Mario Kart World achieves a much greater level of immersion compared to previous series entries. No longer does each course seem disconnected from one another, but they are now part of a single world with no barriers between them, building upon what I loved so much about taking those scenic drives before. Never before has a Mario Kart game encouraged this level of exploration and interactivity with its courses, and it makes me far more excited to dive into Mario Kart World and see what it has to offer.

Free Roam Is The Fresh Addition Mario Kart Needs

The Mode Is A Huge Shake-Up To The Formula

The addition of Free Roam mode in Mario Kart World is also exciting because of how it shakes up the series formula. A major concern I had prior to Mario Kart World's reveal was the title merely continuing the traditional series formula that would have made the game feel redundant, especially as a direct successor to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The Free Roam mode not only adds to Mario Kart World's huge scale, but it also provides a refreshing change of pace compared to the modes that players are already familiar with, allowing this title to stand out.

That's not even mentioning the many aspects of Free Roam mode that are being kept under wraps. Nintendo is keeping quiet on extra details surrounding Mario Kart World in anticipation of the game's dedicated Direct showcase on April 17, 2025, and this could include more information on the Free Roam mode. With Mario Kart World's initial reveal only scratching the surface of what the game has to offer, the Free Roam mode has huge potential to expand beyond a simple means of exploring courses, offering unique challenges or features that add to the title's huge sense of variety.

Despite Nintendo choosing to refrain from sharing certain details, previously unannounced information regarding Mario Kart World has been leaked, including the return of Rainbow Road.

Only time will tell how Mario Kart World fares against the series' many beloved entries. Yet, I can't help but get excited over the Switch 2 launch title, as it looks to fulfill a dream I have had for the Mario Kart series for so many years. The addition of Free Roam mode and an open world not only allows me to relive one of my favorite Mario Kart experiences, but it serves as the change that the series needs to move forward in a new, ambitious direction.