Developer – Nintendo

Publisher – Nintendo

Platforms –  Nintendo Switch

Release Date – April 28, 2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the latest addition to the popular series by Nintendo. This game is essentially a continuation of Mario Kart 8, which was released for the Nintendo Wii U in 2014. However, when the game was launched again in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch, it came with enhanced gameplay mechanics that made full use of the console’s abilities. Even though it features the same characters and race tracks as the Wii U version, it received more appreciation for its overall quality.

Nintendo has not only re-released Mario Kart 8 as a Deluxe version, they have also provided better support for it than any other game from the company. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comes with significant upgrades, such as the revamped Battle Mode for online play, which introduces new courses and modes.

The main single-player experience that will take up most of your time in this game will be Grand Prix where there are five different “difficulties” with 50cc, 100cc, 150cc, 200cc, and mirror which will have you race on every track in reverse. The base game has a total of 12 different cups ranging from the Mushroom Cup all the way to the Bell Cup. With each cup series consisting of four maps that means there are 48 tracks to begin with before purchasing the Booster Course Pass.

The Booster Course Pass brought more content than Mario Kart fans could ever dream of. It consisted of six waves with each wave guaranteeing two new cups with eight maps from past titles, as well as some original ones exclusive to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Furthermore, the last few waves of DLC for the game introduced eight new characters that were completely unexpected.

With the additions of Funky Kong, Petey Piranha, Wiggler, Kamek, Peachette, Pauline, Birdo, and Diddy Kong, the character roster now boasts 48 selectable characters. The amount of different combinations you can have in an online or local battle feels endless and that’s a great positive for games in this era.

You also can’t forget about the Mii Costumes that have come with the game over time bringing another unique element. The amiibo feature in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will give you specific Mii Costumes for that character, but it will only work for a select amount of amiibo.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe excels in the area of customization. It’s a straightforward process where you can select from a range of karts that become available as you progress through the game. Additionally, you can customize your kart with different styles of wheels and choose a glider with a variety of themes. In order to earn more customized parts, you must earn coins in a race. There is a limit of 10 coins per race and as you continue to participate in offline or online races you’ll earn a reward for every 50 coins earned.

Online Play brings a whole new experience with the ability to race or battle against the world or if you prefer to stay in your region you can do just that. The enhanced Battle Mode went back to arena-style courses with a total of eight and three of them are classics from older games. There’s also quite a variety of modes including Balloon Battle, Shine Thief, Bob-omb Blast, Shine Runners, Coin Runners, and Renegade Roundup.

The Battle Mode game types are an underrated part of the game as Mario Kart is always portrayed as a racing game. If you’re looking to take a break from the main point of the game, Battle Mode is a great option. Tournaments are also another feature for those looking for a competitive experience. You can search for Tournaments happening all day long that also come with customized settings.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s gameplay is the best we’ve seen in the series with the constant ability to drift through the left and right turns. Transitioning from docked to handheld is seamless and there aren’t any issues with either. The variety of items that can be obtained during a race makes the gameplay in this series exceptional.

It’s no surprise that the latest Mario Kart game, released on Nintendo’s newest console, is the best-looking in the series. The design of each track is unique to itself and takes you into the experience of that world whether it’s Rainbow Road, Animal Crossing, DK Mountain, and many others.

Overall, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a fantastic game for fans of the series and will be hard for new entries to top it. The only feature that seems to be missing from the game is Double Dash’s two-person karts.