Mario Kart 8[c] is a 2014kart racing game developed and published byNintendo for theWii U. It retains the gameplay of previousMario Kart games, with players controlling characters from theMario series and other Nintendo characters in races around tracks. Tracks are themed around locales from theSuper Mario series populated withpower-ups that help players gain advantages in races. Different difficulties are selectable prior to a race; harder difficulties make gameplay faster. In the newanti-gravity sequences, players drive on walls and ceilings.Mario Kart 8 contains a variety ofsingle-player and local and onlinemultiplayer game modes, includingGrand Prix racing and arena-based battle modes.
Nintendo revealedMario Kart 8 in 2013 and released it in May 2014. Both paid and freedownloadable content (DLC) was released after its launch, including additional tracks and a new difficulty setting. It was rereleased on theNintendo Switch in April 2017 asMario Kart 8 Deluxe,[d] including the DLC, a revamped battle mode and other gameplay alterations. From March 2022 until November 2023,Deluxe received additional DLC,Booster Course Pass, which added 48 race tracks and eight characters.
Mario Kart 8 was a critical success; reviewers praised its gameplay and presentation, but the battle mode was criticized. Critics praisedDeluxe as the definitive version for its improved battle modes and presentation. Both releases have been named by critics as among the bestMario Kart games, have won and been nominated for several awards, and have named among thegreatest video games.
Anti-gravity racing was introduced inMario Kart 8.
Mario Kart 8 is akart racing game in which players control characters from theMario universe,The Legend of Zelda,Animal Crossing,Splatoon (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), or the players'Miis, to race ingo-karts around a course. They may hinder their opponents or improve their performance usingpower-ups found initem boxes throughout the course.[3] It includes four different difficulties, each differing in speed which may be selected before the race.[4][5] "Mirror Mode" horizontally inverts all courses.[6] Returning features from previous installments includemotorbikes and 12-player racing fromMario Kart Wii, andhang gliders, underwater racing, and vehicle customization fromMario Kart 7.[7][8] Up to four players can play together on a single system, up to eight can play together through a local wireless connection (Switch only), and up to twelve can play together via online multiplayer.[5][9]
The signature new feature ofMario Kart 8 isanti-gravity racing, in which certain parts of a course allow racers to drive on walls and ceilings.[10] In these sections, players who collide with other racers or special bumpers trigger speed boosts. New characters include theKoopalings and Pink GoldPeach. The vehicles include karts, motorbikes andall-terrain vehicles. There are four new items: theBoomerang Flower, which can be thrown to attack players; thePiranha Plant, which attacks nearby racers and obstacles and provides a speed boost; the Crazy Eight, which gives the user eight different items; and the Super Horn, which can be used both to attack nearby opponents and defend against items, including the previously nearly unavoidableSpiny Shell.[11][12][13] The 32 courses are spread across eight cups, with an additional 16 courses released asdownloadable content (DLC) in four additional cups.[14]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for theNintendo Switch includes alldownloadable content (DLC) for the Wii U version ofMario Kart 8, including characters, courses, and vehicle components.[15][6] These features do not need to be unlocked.[16] In addition to previous DLC, several new characters were introduced inDeluxe, including theInklings fromSplatoon,Bowser Jr.,Dry Bones, andKing Boo.[17][18] Characters from third-party franchises, includingSonic the Hedgehog,Mega Man andPac-Man, are present as costumes for the Mii character unlocked by scanningamiibo, in addition to those based on Nintendo characters.[19] Other changes include the ability to hold two items at once,[20][21] andaccessibility features to assist newer players, such as auto-acceleration or smart steering, which prevents players from veering off course.[17][6]Deluxe also reintroduces theBoo item, which allows the player to temporarily become invisible and steal an opponent's item, and in Battle, reintroduces the Feather, which gives the player a small jump boost, which allows you to jump over your opponents.[22][5] InDeluxe's "Booster Course Pass", several courses have differing layouts in every lap, condensing multiple variations of a course into one.[23]
In Renegade Roundup, the authority playerBowser Jr. (left), using aPiranha Plant, aims to captureIsabelle (right), who is trying to free her captured renegade teammates from a cage by driving over a key switch.
The largest addition toMario Kart 8 Deluxe is the updated battle mode.Deluxe includes five new battle mode-exclusive courses and three battle courses adapted from previous entries in theMario Kart series. These battle courses are designed specifically for the mode, featuring layouts that allow for easier item play, rather than repurposing standard race courses likeMario Kart 8.[24] The Feather item, reintroduced from previous entries in the series, is exclusive to this mode and allows the player to get a small boost in height when it is activated.[21][22] There are five rulesets in battle mode.[15] In Balloon Battle, players use items to destroy each other's balloons.[15] Unlike in previous incarnations, the mode is point-based rather thanlast-man-standing, meaning that the winner is whoever destroys the most balloons before the match ends.[24][25][4] Bob-omb Blast is a variation of Balloon Battle with all the items replaced with bombs.[24][26][6] In Shine Thief, players must maintain control of theShine Sprite for as long as possible;[20] the player or team who possesses it for the longest wins.[6][26][27] In Coin Runners, players scavenge coins from around the course and steal them from other players, aiming to have the biggest hoard.[15][4][26] The final mode is Renegade Roundup, which involves a team of "renegades" trying to avoid the "authorities" armed withPiranha Plants, which takes inspiration from the children's game "cops and robbers".[20][26] Renegades may free their captured teammates by driving over switches under the cages controlled by the authorities.[26][15][7][4]
Mario Kart 8 was originally released for theWii U.
Nintendo confirmedMario Kart 8 in a January 2013Nintendo Direct presentation and unveiled it atE3 2013. Some members ofBandai Namco Games received special thanks in the credits.[28] The "8" in the logo was designed to resemble aMöbius strip, as was Mario Circuit, one of the courses.[29] Early in development, the idea of using a drill to penetrate the ground was considered but discarded as less interesting than anti-gravity.[30] Courses were designed with anti-gravity in mind, and tracks from older games were redesigned to use it. Other courses had gliding and underwater sections added.[31]
A replica of the standard kart fromMario Kart 8 atE3 2013
Nintendo's launch promotions ofMario Kart 8 include a limited edition with a spiny shell figurine and themed console bundles, with a hat, strategy guide,Wii Remote Plus controller, Wii Wheel, and GamePad protector.[32] In North America, Europe, and Australia, players who purchased and registeredMario Kart 8 onClub Nintendo before July 31, 2014, received a download code for a selected Wii U game.[33][34] As part of a promotional campaign withMercedes-Benz,Mario,Luigi, andPeach were featured in a series of Japanese commercials for theMercedes-Benz GLA, and three karts based on past and present Mercedes-Benz vehicles were added as part of a downloadable update on August 27, 2014.[35][36][37] In 2014, thefast food companyMcDonald's releasedHappy Meal-branded toys based on the characters and karts.[38] An album containing 68 tracks was made available as an exclusive reward available to Club Nintendo members shortly before the service was discontinued in 2015.[39]
In March 2023, Nintendo halted online play forMario Kart 8 andSplatoon due to asecurity vulnerability.[46] The problem was fixed with an update, and online play resumed on August 3.[47] Online services for Wii U, includingMario Kart 8 online play, were terminated on April 9, 2024.[48]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was announced alongside and exclusively released for theNintendo Switch.
NintendoteasedMario Kart 8 Deluxe with the announcement of the Nintendo Switch in October 2016,[49] and revealed it at the Nintendo Switch presentation on January 12, 2017.[50] The trailer showcased mechanics such as smart steering and crossover elements from theSplatoon series.[51] Additional crossovers withThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild were added in an update after launch.[52]Deluxe was released on April 28, 2017, following the Switch's March 3 launch.[51][50] Nintendo also announced asteering wheel accessory for the SwitchJoy-Con controller to allow formotion-controlled steering.[53] An overview trailer revealed details about the battle mode including several battle mode-exclusive courses, and the return of the Shine Thief mode fromMario Kart: Double Dash.[54] After the release of the trailer, severalinternet memes circulated surroundingDonkey Kong appearing to perform a celebratorydab.[55]Mario Kart 8 Deluxe revamps the battle mode, adds a second item slot, among other minor gameplay improvements.
Shortly after launch, Nintendo released asoftware update that changed one of the victory gestures done by the Inkling Girl. Prior to the update, the Inkling Girl performed a gesture that consisted of placing her hand on a flexedbicep and pumping her fist into the air.[56] In Japan, the gesture means something similar to "bring it on!",[57] though inEuropean andLatin American countries,[58] it was likened to thebras d'honneur, an offensive gesture that can be interpreted as "up your ass", "fuck you", or similar meanings.[59] After the update, the Inkling Girl no longer clenches her fist around her flexed arm, instead simply performing a "fist pump",[60] though the rest of the gesture was unchanged.[61][62][63]
A series of updates in 2018 added compatibility withNintendo Labo, atoys-to-life kit that usescardboard to create motion-controlled toys with Joy-Con controllers.[64] The first update enabled the Toy-Con Motorbike as a controller forMario Kart 8 Deluxe, allowing the player to use the physicalthrottle,handlebars, andgyroscope present on the Toy-Con Motorbike,[65] while actions like braking, drifting, and item pickups are still performed using the standard controller buttons.[66] A later update added compatibility for the Toy-Con Car, Pedal, and Key to control actions like braking, drifting, and using the horn on the steering wheel to launch items.[67][68] An update released on December 7, 2022, added an item customization option for certain modes, allowing players to choose which items are obtainable in a race or Battle.[69][70]
During a February 2022Nintendo Direct, it was announced thatMario Kart 8 Deluxe would get a paid downloadable contentseason pass called the "Booster Course Pass". Courses in the "Booster Course Pass" are largely remastered from their incarnations in previousMario Kart games.[71] The "Booster Course Pass" was released in six waves, with each wave containing eight courses split into two cups, totaling to 48 additional tracks that were released between March 2022 and November 2023.[72] It can be accessed by purchasing it on the Nintendo Switch'seShop, or by having an activeNintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.[71] The first wave of the "Booster Course Pass" was released on March 18, 2022, containing the Golden Dash Cup and the Lucky Cat Cup.[73] Wave 2 was released on August 4, 2022, containing the Turnip Cup and the Propeller Cup.[74] It also featured Sky-High Sundae, an original course not introduced in a previousMario Kart game.[75] Alongside the release of Wave 2, Nintendo released an update to the Wave 1 courseWii Coconut Mall that changed the cars at the end of the course to performdonuts, rather than remaining stationary, except for inTime Trials.[76] This change was widely praised, especially after many were disappointed that the cars were stationary in the "Booster Course Pass" to begin with.[e] Wave 3 was released on December 7, 2022, containing the Rock Cup and the Moon Cup. The ability to remove certain items from "VS Race" mode and online races was also added.[80][81] Wave 4 was released on March 8, 2023, in North America and March 9 elsewhere, containing the Fruit Cup and the Boomerang Cup. It also featured a brand new original course based onYoshi's Island (1995).[82][83] Wave 5 was released on July 12, 2023, containing the Feather Cup and the Cherry Cup. It also featured a brand new course, Squeaky Clean Sprint.[84][85] The final wave, Wave 6 was shown off in a Nintendo Direct on September 14, 2023, and released on November 9, 2023, containing the Acorn Cup and the Spiny Cup.[86] Wave 6 adds a music player featuring music from all courses, and 18 additional costumes for the Mii racers.[87]
Mario Kart 8 received "generally favorable" reviews, according toreview aggregator websiteMetacritic,[109][f] whereasDeluxe received "universal acclaim".[110][g] Overall, reviewers heldMario Kart 8 in high esteem among racing games,[h] but consideredDeluxe the definitive version.[i]Deluxe was called one of the best games in theMario Kart series or one of the best racing games of all time.[j] Some reviewers considered it an essential purchase for Nintendo Switch owners.[96][25][5] Improvements inDeluxe made certain features ofMario Kart 8 feel worse in retrospect.[9][3] However, many reviewers criticized the initial lack of new content inDeluxe compared toMario Kart 8.[k]
The main racing mode was widely praised.Eurogamer called it the "most vibrant home console racing game in years".[93] Therubber-banding mechanics were criticized,[9][8] thoughGame Informer said that "fans accepted that pitfall as a series mainstay long ago".[6] Finding the core racing unchanged, they saidDeluxe is still "the same great title from the Wii U".[6]GameSpot andNintendo Life also consideredDeluxe's racing to be as strong as the original.[24][17] Minor mechanical changes, such as the ability to hold two items,[20][3] were praised, with many liking how it added more strategy toDeluxe's item play.[l] Accessibility options like smart steering and auto-acceleration received mixed feedback. Many felt that the additions madeDeluxe the most accessibleMario Kart game,[9][6] and others appreciated how they helped less experienced players enjoy the game, though making it too easy for veteran players.[m] However, some reviewers disliked how smart steering was enabled by default,[18][15][3] and how it could overcorrect or interfere with precision inputs.[16][4]
The main criticism levied atMario Kart 8 was its battle mode, which was less well received than previous entries.Easy Allies called it "abysmal",[9] andKotaku said it was "borderline unplayable".[3]Giant Bomb panned the use of repurposed race courses for battle mode in lieu of dedicated battle courses like previous entries, which made it difficult to find opponents to engage with.[100] By contrast,Deluxe's revamped battle mode received widespread acclaim.Easy Allies andKotaku claimed that the new battle mode far outshined the original game,[9][3] andPocket Gamer said thatDeluxe returned battle mode to its "original arena-battling glory".[8]VentureBeat said that they remedied the issue with the originalMario Kart 8's battle courses.[108] However,Electronic Gaming Monthly said that the battle mode was "not so much a point forDeluxe that these modes are included as it is a retroactive demerit for the originalMario Kart 8".[18] Many critics considered Renegade Roundup to be the best ofDeluxe's battle modes,[n] thoughGameRevolution andUSgamer said it was their least favorite.[96][4]
Reviewers also focused on the visual style.Eurogamer praised both the vast sense of scale and the "exquisite details" of the courses.[93]Digital Foundry deemed it "near perfection" with "phenomenal attention to detail", featuring a "magnificent visual package" and "magical playability". Their technical analysis attributes the smoothness of motion and overall gameplay to the consistent performance of 60frames per second (FPS), with the split-screen mode's effective 30 FPS nonetheless comparing favorably with industry standard.[113] Reviewers forDeluxe echoed this praise,[o] with some saying that the graphics ofDeluxe were an upgrade from the Wii U original.[96][25]GamesTM praised the "incredible"lighting ofDeluxe, saying that courses likeRainbow Road and Electrodrome stood out as "fantastic showcases for the Nintendo universe and its creative spirit".[25]IGN felt that the "great art direction" inMario Kart 8 andDeluxe was "a major reason" for the graphics remaining "gorgeous".[15]Easy Allies called the soundtrack "something special", saying that both original and returning songs were "fantastic and downright catchy".[9]Eurogamer called the soundtrack "outrageously upbeat", and thatDeluxe's "defining moment" was the live band rendition of theSuper Mario Kart theme.[20]
Upon announcement, the "Booster Course Pass" received mixed reception from fans. Many disliked that additional content for a previous game was being prioritized over a new entry in the series, citing how it had been nearly eight years sinceMario Kart 8 first released on theWii U.[114][115] The graphics of the courses in the "Booster Course Pass" were also a point of contention, with some saying that they fell short of the standards set byDeluxe.[114]
The graphical differences between the base game courses (Wii Moo Moo Meadows, left) and the courses in the "Booster Course Pass" (DS Shroom Ridge, a Wave 1 course, right) were a point of contention.
After release, critics were mixed—according to Metacritic, Waves 1 & 5 received "mixed or average reviews",[116][117][p] and Waves 2-4 & 6 received "generally favorable reviews".[118][119][120][121][q][r] Criticism focused on the graphics, which were lower in detail compared to courses from the main game.[122][123][124]Digital Foundry attributed this to the courses being built upon their versions fromMario Kart Tour.[123] On the other hand, many reviewers felt that the courses that originated inTour were among the best gameplay-wise,[s] and Ninja Hideaway in particular was praised as a highlight of Wave 1.[t] Some courses in Wave 2 were lauded, withNintendo Life calling Waluigi Pinball's graphics "stunning".[127] Another common criticism was that the earlier courses did not includeMario Kart 8's signature anti-gravity or underwater features.[u]GameSpot lamented how the "Booster Course Pass" initially only introduced new courses, rather than new characters or customization parts.[125]Nintendo Life praised the audio design, calling it "stellar"[127] and "a delight".[122] The addition of courses that vary every lap was praised withNintendo Life wishing it would become a "mainstay" feature of the series.[127]
Readers and staff ofEurogamer votedMario Kart 8 their game of the year,[128][129] andGameSpot gave it the award of "Best Wii U Game".[130] It was nominated for "Best Wii U Exclusive" inGameTrailers' 2014 Game of the Year Awards;[131] for "Best Game" inGiant Bomb's 2014 Game of the Year Awards;[132] and for "Overall Game of the Year" and "Wii U Retail Game of the Year" inNintendo Life's Reader Awards 2014,[133] and it won both awards for both categories in their Staff Awards 2014.[134] It won "Game of the Year" byThe Guardian.[135] InIGN's Best of 2014 Awards, it was nominated for "Best Multiplayer" and "Best Racing",[136][137] and won the award for "Best Wii U Game".[138]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also earned recognition at year-end awards in the 2017–2018 season. It was nominated for "Best Switch Game" and "Best Remake/Remaster" inIGN's Best of 2017 Awards.[139][140]Destructoid nominated it for its "Best Switch Game" in their Game of the Year Awards in 2017,[141] and it was awarded "Old Game of the Year" atGiant Bomb's 2017 Game of the Year Awards.[142]
In its first four days on sale,Mario Kart 8 became the fastest-selling Wii U game, with more than 1.2 million copies sold worldwide.[153] Within a month, it increased to 2.82 million.[154] As of September 2021, more than 8.46 million copies were sold worldwide, making it thebest-selling Wii U game.[155][156] Based on the sales data, more than half of Wii U owners own a copy.[157] In the United Kingdom, shortly after the release ofMario Kart 8, week-on-week Wii U console sales rose 662%, withMario Kart 8 bundles accounting for 82% of consoles sold.[158]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold 459,000 copies in the United States on its launch day, making it the fastest-selling entry in theMario Kart series, ahead of 2008'sMario Kart Wii by 25,000 units.[159] Roughly one year after launch,Deluxe had sold 9.22 million copies.[160] It surpassedSuper Mario Odyssey as thebest-selling game on the Nintendo Switch in 2019,[161] andMario Kart Wii as the best-sellingMario Kart game in 2021.[162] Since its release in 2017,Deluxe has been a consistent top-selling game on the Nintendo Switch.[163][164][165][166][167] As of November 5, 2024[update],Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold 64.27 million units, making it one of thebest-selling games of all time.[168]
"Luigi's death stare" is anInternet meme describing the automatic facial expression displayed byLuigi toward other characters upon attacking or passing them during a race, in which he gives them a disapprovingglare. It was featured in severalviral videos and animatedGIFs,[169][170][171] and the phenomenon was covered byWNYW in early June 2014.[172][173] Nintendo referenced the meme in theirE3 2014 digital event.[174]VentureBeat praised Nintendo's handling of the meme, noting that it was a "slick way" of acknowledging fan culture.[175] The meme was nominated for the Best Gaming Moment at the 32ndGolden Joystick Awards.[176]
^abcdefSwalley, Kirstin (May 2, 2017)."Review:Mario Kart 8 Deluxe".Hardcore Gamer. DoubleJump Publishing.Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. RetrievedNovember 7, 2022.
.jpg)
