“Mario Kart” has been a fan-favorite video game staple for over 30 years now. Starting with “Super Mario Kart” on the SNES in 1992, the series has taken Nintendo’s most iconic characters on countless high-octane, chaotic races. “Mario Kart” has come to every major Nintendo platform since (with the exception of the complete failure that was the Virtual Boy), with each new release reflecting the company’s evolution. What’s retained in every entry are engaging track designs, distinct environments, and a set of usable items to keep the races unpredictable.
That said, not every “Mario Kart” is created equal, with some titles standing head and shoulders above the rest. With that in mind, we’re highlighting the greatest games in Nintendo’s racing franchise and how well they each capture the overall fun factor that gamers have come to expect from “Mario Kart.” These are the games that truly define the series and often stand among the most successful releases for their respective platforms. From ’90s classics to must-play modern installments, here are the top five “Mario Kart” games, ranked.
5. Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Released for the GameCube in 2003, “Mario Kart: Double Dash!!” is the fourth main entry in the “Mario Kart” franchise. Coming up with “Double Dash!!” was tough for Nintendo, which strived to breathe new life into the series by changing things up: The game’s defining trait is that each kart is manned by two racers simultaneously. The racer at the front drives the kart as usual while the racer on the back handles the usage of power-ups. This mechanic can be done solo or cooperatively with another player to add to the usual mayhem.
Even though it’s at the bottom of this particular list, “Mario Kart: Double Dash!!” is still worth playing more than two decades after its release. It provides players with a fun and unique twist on the usual “Mario Kart” gameplay, and, beyond this gimmick, the game itself is a solid entry in the series that also laid a template for subsequent installments to follow. Arguably the most underrated “Mario Kart” game out there, “Double Dash!!” definitely has its own distinct charm.
4. Mario Kart Wii
“Mario Kart Wii” was released in 2008 for Nintendo’s motion sensor platform. The game features 32 tracks, with 16 of them brand-new and 16 taken from prior games in the series. While it doesn’t actually support the Wii’s signature motion control inputs for its steering, it’s the first game in the series to feature online multiplayer on a home console. The game has four main modes: Grand Prix, Time Trials, Versus, and Battle, with the latter two capable of multiplayer.
“Mario Kart Wii” is one of the best Nintendo Wii games of all time, regardless of genre or series. The gameplay is fast and furious, though still accessible to newcomers to the franchise. What holds this title back from taking a higher position is its particularly unforgiving rubberbanding, which unfairly favors CPUs whenever they fall behind. But “Mario Kart Wii” is a blast to play with friends, preferably through local multiplayer rather than Nintendo’s shaky early online steps with its hardware.
3. Mario Kart 64
“Mario Kart” made the leap to 3D in 1996 with “Mario Kart 64,” an early hit for the Nintendo 64. The game utilizes 2D sprites for its racers and items, letting it run more smoothly in terms of the actual gameplay throughout its 3D environments. It’s packed with memorable tracks (including Wario Stadium and the most serene iteration of Rainbow Road to date) that remain entertaining and engaging to this day — one “Mario Kart 64” shortcut wasn’t discovered for a whopping 24 years.
There’s a reason why gamers keep coming back to “Mario Kart 64” and it’s not entirely due to nostalgia: The game really is where the series perfected its multiplayer features. Yes, it looks a tad aged now, and it does noticeably push the Nintendo 64 hardware as far as it can go (especially when more than two players are involved) but the fun factor remains. Without a doubt one of the best Nintendo 64 games of all time, “Mario Kart 64” fully deserves its place on this list.
2. Mario Kart DS
“Mario Kart” boasts a strong line of handheld console titles, too, dating back to 2001’s “Mario Kart: Super Circuit” for the Game Boy Advance. The best native handheld “Mario Kart” game is “Mario Kart DS,” released in 2005 for the Nintendo DS. The game takes full advantage of the DS, using its touchscreen display to provide not just a map, but also make item usage more intuitive. It was also the first game in the franchise to allow for online multiplayer.
From its refined gameplay to the addition of online multiplayer, “Mario Kart DS” marked a big leap forward for the franchise. Beyond that, the game is just a lot of fun, providing more balanced gameplay than its home console counterparts and offering a bevy of imaginative, highly replayable tracks. Many argue that it’s actually the best Nintendo DS game of all time, and we agree with that assessment. “Mario Kart DS” still makes for a rollicking good time on the go.
1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The fastest-selling “Mario Kart” game in the series is also its best, with “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” bringing high-octane thrills to the Nintendo Switch. An update of the original “Mario Kart 8” for the Wii U, the 2017 game incorporates all the DLC from the original title. This is augmented by its own wave of DLC, adding 48 tracks and eight racers to the already-impressive selection available in the base game. In an innovative move for the series, the game allows players to choose and customize their vehicles while also offering boost mechanics at key moments in a given race.
As a testament to its appeal and accessibility, “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” got more popular every year well after its initial launch. That underscores just how spectacular and ambitious the title is, with Nintendo perfecting its online capabilities while providing a worthy standalone experience. The handling is superb, the breadth of options available to players is staggering, and the tracks are easily the most engaging in the series to date. Still the definitive game in the franchise nearly a decade after its release, “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” is Nintendo’s racing masterpiece.
