Mario Kart World is a kart racing game. As in previous Mario Kart games, players race as characters from the Mario series in one of many selectable go-karts. The game features 50 playable characters; 24 of the playable characters have alternate unlockable costumes accessed by consuming food items found throughout races, while most of the remaining characters additionally exist as obstacles on the game's tracks.[1][2][3] It supports up to 24 players, twice as many compared to previous Mario Kart games,[4] and includes features such as an open-world design, a free-roaming mode, off-roading segments, boat racing, rail grinding and wall jumping and riding.[5][6]
Unlike prior Mario Kart games, the Grand Prix mode does not consist of four separate races; rather, racers must drive to each course.[7] Outside of Grand Prix, it is possible to race on tracks for three laps like in previous Mario Kart games.[8] Mario Kart World features some past courses from the series that have been reimagined to fit the game's open world design and to include a shift from day to night.[9] In addition, a mode called Knockout Tour is introduced in the game; the 24 racers compete in one much longer race spanning the game's world, with four eliminations at each of the six intermittent checkpoints.[10][11]
Battle Mode returns from previous games; players compete against one another to pop each other's balloons in Balloon Battle, eliminate others to become the last player standing in Bob-omb Blast,[12] or collect the most coins in Coin Runners.[13] "Mirror Mode", which horizontally inverts the entire map, also returns from the previous games.[14]
Another new mode called "Free Roam" is introduced in World; players are permitted to drive to any location (with Rainbow Road as the sole exception[15]), including those that are off-road or outside of race tracks. Numerous missions, such as finding collectibles, are present in this mode. In addition, players can also take photos of their chosen driver.[13]
