Main Theme (Mario Kart World)
"Main Theme"[1] is a musical theme inMario Kart World. It is ablues-style composition with acall-and-response structure and a prominent ♭7̂ - 1̂- ♭7̂ - 1̂ motif,[2] the latter which is used as a recurring motif throughout the game. The theme also arranges "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen" and "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" in its bridge section, based off of the arrangement in "Mario Kart 7 Title Screen".
An extended, looping version of this theme was heard in theMario Kart World: Invitational 2025 live stream.
History[edit]
Mario Kart World[edit]
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- See also:Mario Bros. Circuit (theme)
InMario Kart World, "Main Theme" plays upon starting the game. An additionalharmonica solo is played upon starting the game for the first time. The track is cut short and transitions into acoda if the player entersFree Roam while the track plays.
The theme that plays in the course selection screen in VS Race and Time Trials incorporates quotes of "Main Theme".
The main motif of "Main Theme" is incorporated into the chorus section of the track that plays inMario Bros. Circuit, likewise titled "Mario Bros. Circuit" in the game's pause menu.
The theme that plays inPeach Stadium, titled "Peach Stadium" in the game's pause menu, incorporates asyncopated version of the ♭7̂ - 1̂- ♭7̂ - 1̂ motif.
Brief arrangements of "Main Theme" are incorporated into the cutscene that plays before unlocking theSpecial Cup.
The motif is also incorporated into the track forRainbow Road, likewise titled "Rainbow Road" in the game's pause menu:
- On section 3, the first two bars of "Main Theme" are quoted along with the motif.
- On section 4, a call-and-response section incorporates the motif, adapting it to the form ♮7̂ - 1̂- 7̂ - 1̂ instead to fit the major scale.
The themes that play during introduction ofKnockout Tour rallies, when spectating players online during these (titled "Spectating"[1]), and when viewing theirHighlight Reels (titled "Replay"[1]), incorporate arrangements of "Main Theme".
"Main Theme" is arranged in the theme that plays during thestaff credits. "Mario Bros. Circuit" and "Peach Stadium" are also arranged along with the motif.
A version of "Main Theme" featuring a harmonica solo in the last section and the outro was used in thegame's first trailer.
List ofSuper Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Original | "Main Theme"[1] | |
| Arrangement | |||||
| Arrangement | "Mario Bros. Circuit"[1] | ||||
| Remix | |||||
| Arrangement | "Peach Stadium"[1] | ||||
| Remix | |||||
| Arrangement | "Rainbow Road"[1] | ||||
| Arrangement | |||||
| Arrangement | "Spectating"[1] | ||||
| Arrangement | "Replay"[1] | ||||
| Arrangement |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | メインテーマ[1] Mein Tēma | Main Theme | |
| Korean | 메인 테마[1] Mein Tema | Main Theme | |
| Polish | Motyw przewodni[1] | MainLeitmotif |
References[edit]
[Edit] Mario Kart World | ||
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | ||
| Core roster | Mario •Luigi •Peach •Daisy •Yoshi •Donkey Kong •Bowser •Bowser Jr. •Koopa Troopa •Toad •Toadette •Lakitu •King Boo •Shy Guy •Wario •Waluigi •Birdo •Pauline •Rosalina •Baby Mario •Baby Luigi •Baby Peach •Baby Daisy •Baby Rosalina | |
| NPC drivers | Dry Bones •Wiggler •Hammer Bro •Chargin' Chuck •Nabbit •Monty Mole •Cow •Pianta •Pokey •Para-Biddybud •Penguin •Spike •Sidestepper •Snowman •Cataquack •Fish Bone •Dolphin •Peepa •Swoop •Goomba •Stingby •Rocky Wrench •Piranha Plant •Coin Coffer •Cheep Cheep •Conkdor | |
| Vehicles | ||
| Karts | Standard Kart •Rally Kart •Plushbuggy •Baby Blooper •Zoom Buggy •Chargin' Truck •Hot Rod •Ribbit Revster •Roadster Royale •B Dasher •Biddybuggy •Tiny Titan •Stellar Sled •Reel Racer •Bumble V •Carpet Flyer •Cloud 9 •Blastronaut III •Big Horn •Li'l Dumpy •Mecha Trike •Pipe Frame •Billdozer | |
| Bikes | Standard Bike •Cute Scoot •Rally Bike •Mach Rocket •Hyper Pipe •Tune Thumper •W-Twin Chopper •Fin Twin •R.O.B. H.O.G. •Dolphin Dasher •Loco Moto | |
| ATVs | Funky Dorrie •Junkyard Hog •Lobster Roller •Dread Sled •Rallygator •Bowser Bruiser | |
| Courses | ||
| Mushroom Cup | Mario Bros. Circuit •Crown City •Whistlestop Summit •DK Spaceport | |
| Flower Cup | Desert Hills •Shy Guy Bazaar •Wario Stadium •Airship Fortress | |
| Star Cup | DK Pass •Starview Peak •Sky-High Sundae •Wario Shipyard | |
| Shell Cup | Koopa Troopa Beach •Faraway Oasis •Crown City •Peach Stadium | |
| Banana Cup | Peach Beach •Salty Salty Speedway •Dino Dino Jungle •Great ? Block Ruins | |
| Leaf Cup | Cheep Cheep Falls •Dandelion Depths •Boo Cinema •Dry Bones Burnout | |
| Lightning Cup | Moo Moo Meadows •Choco Mountain •Toad's Factory •Bowser's Castle | |
| Special Cup | Acorn Heights •Mario Circuit (1 ·2 ·3) •Peach Stadium •Rainbow Road | |
| Knockout Tourrallies | Golden Rally •Ice Rally •Moon Rally •Spiny Rally •Cherry Rally •Acorn Rally •Cloud Rally •Heart Rally | |
| Battle courses | Mario Bros. Circuit •Moo Moo Meadows •Peach Stadium •Salty Salty Speedway •Chain Chomp Desert •Dino Dino Jungle •Big Donut •DK Pass | |
| Overworld | Routes •Choco Island 1 •Choco Island 2 •Ghost Valley 1 •Ghost Valley 2 •Ghost Valley 3 •Koopa Beach 1 •Vanilla Lake | |
| Other | ||
| Item Box items | Green Shell •Triple Green Shells •Red Shell •Triple Red Shells •Banana Peel •Triple Bananas •Dash Mushroom •Triple Mushrooms •Fire Flower •Ice Flower •Boomerang Flower •Star •Feather •Blooper •Bob-omb •Spiny Shell •Lightning •Bullet Bill •Boo •Super Horn •Mega Mushroom •Hammer •Coin Shell •? Block •Kamek | |
| Course elements | Enemies, animals, and other species | Armadillo •Batadon •Bob-omb Car •Bomber Bill •Bone Piranha Plant •Boom Boom •Boomerang Bro •Brachiosaurus •Buffalo •Bulber •Bully •Butterfly •Camel •Cataquack •Chain Chomp •Chargin' Chuck •Charvaargh •Charvaargh (sand) •Cheep Cheep •Cheep Chomp •Chill Bully •Coin Coffer •Conkdor •Cow •Crocodile •Dolphin •Dragoneel •Dry Bones •Elephant •Fire Bro •Fire Piranha Plant •Fire Snake •Fish Bone •Flying Shy Guy •Freezie •Frost Piranha •Fuzzy •Giraffe •Goomba •Goomba Tower •Hammer Bro •Hermity Cone •Ice Bro •Innertube Goomba •Jellybeam •Lava Bubble •Manta Ramp •Monty Mole •Moose •Nabbit •Para-Biddybud •Peepa •Penguin •Piranha Plant •Pokey •Porcupuffer •Ptooie •Pteranodon •Robo DK •Rocky Wrench •Shoe Goomba •Sidestepper •Signal Bug •Skating Goomba •Skeeter •Snake jar •Snow Pokey •Snowboarding Shy Guy •Snowman •Spike •Spiny •Star Thwomp •Stingby •Sumo Bro •Super Koopa •Swoop •Thwomp •T. rex •Tokotoko •Treaded Grrrol •Triceratops •Ty-foo •Whale •Whamp •Wiggler •Zebra |
| Obstacles | Anchor •Banzai Bill Cannon •Barrel •Barrel Cannon •Beach ball •Boulder •Bouncy Cloud •Brick Block •Bubble •Burner •Cactus •Cloud Lift •Conveyor Belt •Crate •Crusher •Current •Empty Block •Geyser •Grindrail •Ivy Piranha Plant •Jar •Lava •Lava Geyser •Mud •Mushroom Trampoline •Note Block •Oil drum •Poison swamp •Quicksand •Snowball •Spike Ball •Tire stack •Tornado •Traffic cone •Trampoline •Turnip •Water •Whirlpool | |
| Vehicles | Bus •Car •Cargo truck •Dash panel ramp truck •Pickup truck •Train •UFO | |
| Utility objects | ? Block •? Panel •Arrow field •Binoculars •Cannon •Dash Panel •Glide Ramp •Goal Pole •Lakitu's Cloud •Pipe Cannon •P Switch •Ring •Vending machine •Warp Pipe | |
| Background characters and species | Bats •Boo Crew •Boohemoth •Heavy Fire Bro •Koopa Paratroopa •Lakitu (Mario Kart referee) •Luma •Pianta •Seagull •Shy Guy •Sledge Bro •Small bird •Toad •Yoshi | |
| Techniques | Rocket Start •Drift •Mini-Turbo •Jump Boost •Spin Turn •Charge Jump •Rail Ride •Wall Ride •Rewind | |
| Battle modes | Balloon Battle •Coin Runners | |
| Events | Australia and New Zealand | No Thumbs? No Worries! •No Hat, No Play! |
| Europe | European September Circuit •European November Knockout | |
| Japan | Natsuyasumi no udedameshi •Survival no aki | |
| Music | "Main Theme" • "Mario Bros. Circuit" | |
| Miscellaneous | Ask the Developer •Cup •Dash Food •Finish line •Gallery •Get to know GameChat and GameShare with these games •Glitches •Missions •Mario Kart Band •Mario Kart World Jigsaw Puzzle 300 Pieces •Mario Kart World Multiplayer modes •Mario Kart World Tips & Tricks •Outfit names in other languages •Peach Medallion •Rally •Sponsors •Staff •Stickers •Yoshi's •Yoshi's locations | |
