Mario Kart 8

Overview

Mario Kart 8 is a 2014 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It retains the gameplay of previous Mario Kart games, with players controlling characters from the Mario series and other Nintendo characters in races around tracks. Tracks are themed around locales from the Super Mario series populated with power-ups that help players gain advantages in races. Different difficulties are selectable prior to a race; harder difficulties make gameplay faster. In the new anti-gravity sequences, players drive on walls and ceilings. Mario Kart 8 contains a variety of single-player and local and online multiplayer game modes, including Grand Prix racing and arena-based battle modes.

Nintendo revealed Mario Kart 8 in 2013 and released it in May 2014. Both paid and free downloadable content (DLC) was released after its launch, including additional tracks and a new difficulty setting. It was re-released on the Nintendo Switch in April 2017 as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, 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 praised Deluxe as the definitive version for its improved battle modes and presentation. Both releases have been named by critics as among the best Mario Kart games, have won and been nominated for several awards, and have named among the greatest video games.

Official trailer

Trailer. Watch on YouTube

Gameplay

Mario Kart 8 - Longplay | Wii U, Project Longplay. Watch on YouTube

Screenshots

Game details

Genres

Racing, Arcade

Developer

Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development

Publisher

Nintendo

Series

Mario Kart

Platforms

Wii U

Age rating

ESRB E

Modes

Single player

Yes

Co op

No

Local multiplayer

Yes

Online multiplayer

Yes

Age ratings

ESRB

E

CLASS IND

L

PEGI

3

ACB

G

CERO

A

USK

0

Release dates

Editions

Check out the store

DLC

Paid DLC added 16 courses in four cups, with extra characters and karts. It can no longer be bought since the Wii U eShop closed on 27 March 2023; owners can download it again.

Playable today

Playable offline todayPartly

Races and local play still work; online play closed on 8 April 2024.

Online

Plays offlinePartly

Reception

Aggregates

Outlet	Platform	Score	Scale
Metacritic	Wii U	88	100

Critics

Outlet	Score	Scale
IGN	9	10
GameSpot	8	10
Game Informer	9.25	10
Nintendo Life	9	10
Destructoid	9	10
Eurogamer	10	10
Electronic Gaming Monthly	3	5
GamesRadar+	4	5
VentureBeat	85	100

Staff and cast

Staff

Role	Name
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
Director	Kosuke Yabuki
Producers	Hideki Konno, Yasuyuki Oyagi
Programmer	Yusuke Shiraiwa
Artist	Masaaki Ishikawa
Composers	Shiho Fujii, Atsuko Asahi, Ryo Nagamatsu, Yasuaki Iwata

Notes for collectors

• Anti-gravity sections let karts drive on walls and ceilings for the first time.
• A free update added 200cc and amiibo support.
• Mario Kart TV saved highlight replays to share on Miiverse and YouTube.
• Up to 4 players on one console and 12 online; online play closed with Nintendo Network on 8 April 2024.
• The best-selling Wii U game, with 8.46 million copies sold.

Credits

Publisher

Nintendo

Developer

Nintendo EAD

Director

Kosuke Yabuki

Released

2014-05-29

Age rating

ESRB E

Region

US

Time to beat

about 8 hours