'Mario Kart World': Release date, confirmed characters, where to buy, new features and more
Mario Kart World, the ninth edition of Nintendo's beloved racing game, comes out next week. And while fans of the games (and perhaps the movie, and the Universal theme park rides) can expect to see a lot of familiar Mario Kart elements, there's also plenty of new stuff to look forward to — and a whole new Nintendo device to secure so you can play. Here's everything you need to know before playing Mario Kart World, including where you can pre-order the game, how to get the Nintendo Switch 2, new game modes, confirmed courses and more.
Pre-order Mario Kart World
Pre-order the Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 bundle
Mario Kart World comes out on June 5 in conjunction with the Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders are open now for the new game.
Pre-order Mario Kart World
The cost of the new Mario Kart game starts at $79. You can also bundle the game with the new device you'll need to play it. The Nintendo Switch 2 on its own costs $450, or with the game bundle, $499 — saving you $30 on Mario Kart World.
Pre-order game at Walmart
Pre-order game at Best Buy
Check bundle stock
Mario Kart World will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, so if you were wondering, "Can I play the new Mario Kart game on my original Nintendo Switch?" the answer, unfortunately, is no. You can, however, order a bundle that includes the new Mario Kart World game and the Nintendo Switch 2.
Here are the game courses confirmed by Nintendo so far:
Airship Fortress
Boo Cinema
Cheep Cheep Falls
Choco Mountain
Crown City
Desert Hills
Dino Dino Jungle
DK Pass
DK Spaceport
Faraway Oasis
Great ? Block Ruins
Koopa Troopa Beach
Mario Bros. Circuit
Moo Moo Meadows
Peach Beach
Peach Stadium
Rainbow Road
Salty Salty Speedway
Shy Guy Bazaar
Sky-High Sundae
Starview Park
Toad's Factory
Wario Shipyard
Wario Stadium
Whistlestop Summit
The new Mario Kart game features two flagship modes: Grand Prix mode, which consists of a series of four races in pursuit of the podium and a Cup (of which there are seven), and Knockout Tour mode, where you race in elimination-style matches.
There are also Time Trials, Vs. Race, Battle Mode and Free Roam, which allows you to drive around and explore the whole of Mario Kart World.
There's rumor of a Reverse mode after characters were spotted racing in reverse in a Japan-only Mario Kart World ad. Perhaps an unlockable mode to replace Mirror mode? Time will tell if that rumor proves true.
Mushroom Cup
Flower Cup
Star Cup
Shell Cup
Banana Cup
Leaf Cup
Lightning Cup
The number of players you can have in Mario Kart World varies for each multiplayer mode. The game can have four players in split-screen multiplayer, and up to eight players (via local wireless multiplayer) if four players have their own Nintendo Switch 2s. Up to 24 players can get in on the action in online multiplayer or battle mode.
Classic characters and newcomers will be available to race in the new Mario Kart game, including:
Mario
Luigi
Peach
Daisy
Yoshi
Toad
Wario
Waluigi
Bowser
Koopa Trooper
Rosalina
Pauline
Baby Mario
Baby Luigi
Baby Peach
Baby Daisy
Lakitu
Toadette
Bowser Jr.
Baby Rosalina
Shy Guy
Donkey Kong
Birdo
King Boo
Wiggler
Dry Bones
New:
Nabbit
Cow
Goomba
Coin Coffer
Hammer Bro
Conkdor
Piranha Plant
Chargin' Chuck
Sidestepper
Cheep Cheep
Snowman
Monty Mole
Rocky Wrench
Penguin
Dolphin
Fish Bone
Stingby
Para-Biddybud
Peepa
Pokey
Cataquack
Swoop
Spike
Pianta
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
Americans Share Shocking Tariff Costs Hitting Wallets
On May 12, President Trump reached a deal with China that cut tariffs on imported goods from the country from 145% to 30% for 90 days. But for companies that had to restock while the higher tariffs were in effect, like the open-source hardware retailer Adafruit, the costs of the highest tariffs are still being felt. In a blog post about its tariff bill, Adafruit wrote, "We'll have to increase the prices on some of these products, but we're not sure if people will be willing to pay the higher cost, so we may well be 'stuck' with unsellable inventory that we have already paid a large fee on." The co-founder and president of Popsmith and Franklin's Popcorn also took to X to share how the tariffs are affecting his business: He went on to clarify that yes, the tariffs will cause higher prices. Some companies have announced layoffs related to the higher costs of doing business under Trump's tariffs. Higher prices are also beginning to show up on store shelves. It can be harder to tie these increases directly to the tariffs because big American companies are currently not being very transparent about how these new import taxes are affecting prices. For example, this Target employee captured the moment they changed an imported 6-foot USB cable's price from $9.99 to $17.99 in mid-May, before the highest tariffs were paused. The timing would seem to line up with the tariffs' first round of effects, but there's nothing on the price tag to indicate why the price went up by so much so quickly. BuzzFeed has reached out to Target for comment, but they did not immediately respond to our request. A Walmart employee also shared the price jump on an 8-ounce container of cocoa powder from $3.44 to $6.18. Walmart recently announced that it would be raising some prices due to the tariffs. If you work in retail, please pop into the comments and let us know what you're seeing in your store — and post pics if you've got 'em! Or, if you'd like to remain extra anonymous, email me. On the other hand, some smaller brands, like the inclusive underwear company tomboyx, have started showing a tariff charge on their products. The company explained on its website, "The tariff surcharge helps us stay sustainable while we move quickly behind the scenes—developing new styles and expanding production to other countries. We're adapting fast, but building responsible manufacturing relationships takes a bit of time — and we refuse to compromise on the quality you expect from us." And people genuinely appreciate the transparency: Meanwhile, at the "old-fashioned" grocery store, this Iowa shopper noticed a wild price tag on a container of pre-cut imported fruit: Restaurant prices are also creeping up. One restaurant owner told CBS News, "We're not importing fresh ingredients like vegetables, but everything else around it — spices, seasonings, even our beers. Now it's double. Who's going to pay $20 for a beer?" If you've got kids who maaaybe do a little online shopping, you should probably talk to them about the tariffs to avoid any nasty surprises like what this parent discovered: And if you're planning to buy any new shoes or clothing for the summer season, be warned: most of these products are manufactured in Asia. Scientists who are lucky enough to still have funding for their research are now facing higher prices on lab equipment: While all of this is going on, many everyday shoppers are still asking, "Are 'import charges' the same thing as tariffs?" The answer is yes, yes they are. Finally, before you say "just buy American," there are many things that people and businesses rely on to survive that we do not (or in some cases, can not) make here. It could take years for manufacturing to gear up, and paying high prices in the meantime is a financial pain that few Americans are equipped to meet. Now it's time for Comment Corner. A few weeks ago, I shared some of the first tariff receipts making the rounds online, and members of the BuzzFeed Community joined the conversation to share where they've noticed the tariffs going into effect. Here's what they had to say: "Jasmine rice is usually imported from Thailand. Costco is already showing how tariffs affect consumers and hardworking citizens like me. In March 2025, a bag of jasmine rice cost $15.99 (25 lbs). April 2025: $17.99 (25 lbs). In the month of May, it already jumped to $25.73 (25 lbs)." —Anonymous, 41, Florida "I'm an assistant store manager at Skechers, and maybe a week ago, we were given updated/higher prices for EVERYTHING in our store — shoes, socks, backpacks, apparel, and even the cleaning supplies we have for your shoes!! I wish I was kidding when I say our three pack of quarter crew socks went from prices between $14.00, $16.00, and $18.00 (which was already, in my opinion, kinda pricey) to $20.00." "The cost of my home repairs is three times the amount previously quoted due to an increase in materials costs. I canceled all repairs unless absolutely needed. I'll just sell my house 'as is' or not at all. Someone quoted me $18k to put up a fence. Not going to happen." —Anonymous, 66, Florida "I own a small wedding company in California. I have noticed that people are opting for the less expensive package we offer, which is just elopements. Flowers for weddings are going sky high. People are just cutting way back and not having the wedding they've always dreamed of." "My contact lenses went from $750 last year to $1,248 this year. They updated the prices the week before my appointment, saying it was due to the tariff charges." —Anonymous, 35, North Dakota "I work for a patio furniture company. Two weeks ago, they started raising all of our prices up 40-70%, which is an incredible amount. We had a chaise lounge chair go from an already high of $1,000 to $1,600 while others doubled. I don't believe all these increases are due to tariffs. A lot of companies see an opportunity to raise prices on a product that wasn't necessarily hit that high simply because they can. We have no way of actually knowing if that product was really part of it." "I was laid off from my job because of tariffs. When they called me in, they said that because they were an 80% import business, they were decreasing their staff by 25% because of the Trump tariffs. I was on track to be promoted next month." —Anonymous, 48, Los Angeles "I have a small business where all of my stock comes from overseas. There simply aren't any US-based producers. My suppliers started raising their prices in January due to 'expected tariffs,' and they're still rising. What cost me $3 a year ago now costs me $6.50. This is unsustainable for businesses and customers." And finally, "My partner and I were in the process of purchasing an apartment here in Spain (he is Spanish, I am American) when the bank rescinded our mortgage offer due to 'economic uncertainty in the global market caused by Trump's changing policies.' Even abroad, we can't escape the effects of all this." —Anonymous, 36, Spain Have you been charged a tariff fee or noticed prices going up on imported goods? Tell us all about it in the comments or via this anonymous form:
Indianapolis Star
3 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
IndyCar to return to Detroit Grand Prix for at least 3 more years
DETROIT — The Detroit Grand Prix is coming back for 2026 and beyond. As confirmed by Penske Corp. vice president of community and government affairs Letty Azar, the Grand Prix has signed a three-year contract with the Detroit City Council, with an option for a fourth year. That should keep IndyCar's grand prix on the streets of Downtown Detroit through 2028 (and possibly 2029) on the current deal. In 2021, Detroit Grand Prix officials agreed to a contract with the Detroit City Council to hold the grand prix in downtown Detroit for three years starting in 2023. It marked a return to a downtown street course that the grand prix started with in 1982 before moving to Belle Isle for stops and starts between 1989 and 2022. One potential issue surrounding the future of the race is the uncertain fate of the Renaissance Center, which currently has plans to have two of its buildings demolished. Grand Prix president Bud Denker said the RenCen's potential deconstruction creates a situation that is still "TBD" for the Grand Prix. "That's still a little ways off, because a couple of things have to happen in 2027," Denker said, referring to Ford Field hosting the 2027 Final Four. According to Denker, that event will require hotel rooms provided by the Marriott hotel inside of the Renaissance Center to take place. "Nothing is going to be going away here from what we understand until past 2027," he said. Denker also poured cold water on the possibility of extending the track, currently the shortest street course on the IndyCar circuit at under 1.7 miles. To extend it to the east would bring it to a residential neighborhood, while extending it to the west would bring it closer to the Huntington Center, which would leave little to no room for safe turnout areas on the fastest stretch of the course. When asked if it was possible to make the course wider, Denker said no, saying the blocks that hold the base of the walls are already on top of the street curbs. Denker highlighted the growth of the 2025 race, saying that the Grand Prix outsold its total 2024 ticket volume by Friday, May 30 — two days before the race.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Walmart Is Selling a 'Fast' $70 Solar Phone Charger for Just $18, and Shoppers Say It's a 'Must-Have'
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Walmart Is Selling a 'Fast' $70 Solar Phone Charger for Just $18, and Shoppers Say It's a 'Must-Have' originally appeared on Parade. Walmart has dropped the price of its bestselling Solpowben Solar Phone Charger to $18 from its regular $70, giving shoppers a chance to grab a backup charger without spending much. A lot of shoppers say they've bought it to have as a backup during camping trips, travel days, or power outages at home. It has two USB ports for charging more than one device at a time. Reviewers mention it being 'fast' and using it for phones, tablets, cameras, and e-readers while traveling. One reviewer even said, 'It charges my Galaxy A15 5G twice as fast as plugging it in does,' while another mentioned, 'It will recharge my phone three times on a remote trip.' One thing buyers appreciate is that you can recharge the power bank either through a regular wall outlet or by using the built-in solar panel when you're outdoors. 'I recommend everyone should have one for everyday use…and for emergency situations like power outages,' one shopper wrote, with another adding, 'It works great and holds a strong charge.' Some shoppers also mention getting a charge from the solar panel even on overcast days or when sitting near a sunny window: 'It charges even in cloudy weather, or indoors under a normal table lamp.'The 'must-have' built-in flashlight is another beloved feature. It has steady, SOS, and strobe settings, which several reviewers say have come in handy during blackouts or while camping. 'Its two LED lights also work well, and I haven't yet run it down even after daily use for an hour or more,' wrote one reviewer. With over 1,000 reviews and a 4.3-star average rating, shoppers call the Solpowben Solar Charger a reliable, affordable option that's worth having on hand for everything from outdoor adventures to emergencies at home. As one shopper put it, 'What can you say bad about this? Nothing! Go get one!' Grab yours while it's still under $20. Walmart Is Selling a 'Fast' $70 Solar Phone Charger for Just $18, and Shoppers Say It's a 'Must-Have' first appeared on Parade on May 31, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
