Summary
Mario Kart Worldrepresents a major evolution of one of Nintendo’s oldest series, with a refreshing take on the familiar formula that should resonate more with modern gamers who crave the scale and freedom that only open-world games can offer. While it isn’t technically anopen-world gameitself,Mario Kart Worldnonetheless offers players a more expansive and liberating way to experience the world ofMario Kart, with plenty of activities to complete and collectibles to boot. Among those collectibles are a wide variety of different costumes players can unlock for the game’s playable racers, even further solidifyingMario Kart Worldas a game that values player agency over its own prerogative.
Mario Kart Worlddoesn’t just give players these costumes after they hit a certain milestone or hand over piles of hard-earned coins. Instead, these costumes are unlocked via its new Dash Food system, which is an entirely new mechanic for the series. Ultimately, what makes the Dash Food system so unique is how layered it is as opposed to straightforward, and how the system overall invites players to experience all thatMario Kart Worldhas to offer, both on the track and off.
Mario Kart World Blends Style With Speed in a Clever New Way
Dash Food Unlocks Incentivize Exploration Across All Game Modes
At its core, Dash Food does more than merely unlock different costumes forMario Kart World’s playable charactersto wear during their next race. Rather, it incentivizes exploration across all ofMario Kart World’s game modes, whether players are in Grand Prix, Knockout Tour, or Free Roam.
In order to unlock newcostumes inMario Kart World, players are encouraged to look for Dash Food items on the side of the road. In appearance, these items resemble gold takeout bags and can be collected near Yoshi food trucks found throughout the world. After collecting Dash Food and then using it, the racer will take on a different appearance and permanently unlock that outfit for players to choose from in the character select menu — unless, of course, they’ve already collected that particular costume.
What makes the Dash Food system so unique is how layered it is as opposed to straightforward, and how the system overall invites players to experience all thatMario Kart Worldhas to offer, both on the track and off.
Effectively, this encourages players to keep an eye on the side of the road during races, but especially to go out of their way to search for these items inMario Kart World’s Free Roammode. Sure, this does leave which costumes players unlock up to a bit of RNG, but it’s a lot more fun and immersive than simply cashing in after obtaining enough coins or winning a certain race.
Mid-Race Transformations Add Visual Flair to the Competition
While the permanent unlocks offered byMario Kart World’s Dash Foodare among their most desirable aspects, the fact that players can change their appearance in the middle of a race by using the item adds some visual flair to the competition. Add to that the fact that using Dash Food gives players a small boost, and the whole system feels like a multi-layered way to earn some optional cosmetics.
By tying unlocks to in-race pickups and exploration,Mario Kart World’s Dash Food mechanic weaves fashion into gameplay in a way that feels both spontaneous and rewarding. Whether players are chasing new looks or just wanting that sudden mid-race transformation, there’s always a reason to veer off the main road and engage with the world differently. It’s a subtle but effective way to make every race feel more personal, more dynamic, and far more stylish.
