Mario Kart Worldhas officially launched on the Nintendo Switch 2. As the newest entry in Nintendo’s beloved kart racing series, and the premier game for the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s no surprise that players are eager to jump into the action. Notably, whileMario Kart Worldsignifies a massive evolution for the franchise, with its Knockout Tour elimination mode, Free Roam options, and new courses, one character is stealing the spotlight.
Often seen grazing in the pasture and waddling across the streets of Moo Moo Meadows and Moo Moo Farm, Cow has officially become one of 50 playable characters inMario Kart World. First introduced inMario Kart 64in 1996, Cow was one of the most recognizable and beloved NPC figures in the franchise. Now, with their grand debut as a racer in the newestMario Kartgame, it’s no surprise that the bovine celebrity is quickly becoming the most-picked character.
Cow Is Everywhere in Mario Kart World
Everyone Wants to Play As Mario Kart World’s Cow
Mario Kart Worldstands out for implementing previously unplayable NPC creatures into its racing roster, such as Cow, Dolphin, Goomba, Monty Mole, and Sidestepper. Although some fans previously criticized Nintendo for not naming Cow “Moo Moo,” it seems all is now forgiven as players rush intoMario Kart Worldto race as them. Unfortunately, while Cow and the other NPCs don’t haveunlockable costumes inMario Kart Worldlike mainline characters such as Daisy and Luigi, this hasn’t stopped players from flocking to Cow in droves.
The popularity of Cow cannot be overstated, as fans of the adorable farm animal are taking to social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) to share pictures of them. Some lobbies even consist entirely of Cow, with no other characters in sight, racing to the finish line in a stampede of fellow Cow enthusiasts. With many now past the initial shock that Cow is aplayable character inMario Kart World, some players are declaring that Cow is taking over the game, but they aren’t upset about it.
With players declaring Cow the best character inMario Kart Worldand proudly calling themselves “Cow mains,” it’s clear that fans are having an ‘udderly’ delightful time. From racing Cow across the tracks on magic carpets, toperforming tricks inMario Kart Worldto generate more boost, there’s no doubt that Cow is the new star of theMario KartIP. Even as far back as the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in April, many people were observed selecting Cow during the loading stages.
There May Be More to Cow Than Meets the Eye
Cow’s implementation as a fully-fledged addition to the roster began with a sketch of them driving a truck, with a polite smile on their face and not a thought behind those eyes. Inan interview with IGN, art director Masaaki Ishikawa commented that when the designers saw this sketch, they “realized the course surroundings actually contained a lot of untapped resources.” As such, this opened the floodgates for otherMario Kart WorldNPCs, such as Cheep Cheep and Pokey.
However, the 2025 racing title may have some darker undertones. One ofMario Kart World’s features, Dash Food, lets players pick up snacks from Yoshi’s drive-thrus scattered across the map to obtain new outfits. Some players were horrified to spot Cow snacking on a burger in some of the promotional content for the game, which traditionally contains meat, potentially even beef. To clear up the mystery,Mario Kart Worldproducer Kosuke Yabuki was asked what exactly Cow was eating in a roundtable interview. Unfortunately, Yabuki remained tight-lipped, replying, “Sorry, that’s top secret. I can’t say.”
