Summary
The recently released Nintendo Switch 2 may not have much of a launch lineup, but what it does have isMario Kart World, and that has to count for something. It has now been over a decade since the world has seen a newMario Kartgame, meaning the series has had plenty of time to reinvent itself — and it has certainly done that. While not technically anopen-world gameas it was initially perceived to be,Mario Kart Worldis still the series' most expansive entry yet, not just in square footage, but in the seemingly endless wonder and joy it offers in its plentiful content.
When it comes to launching a new console, game companies always have to ask themselves which titles will be released alongside it in order to increase the value of the console’s launch. While the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch lineup has been fairly divisive due to the pricing of new games and the lack of major exclusives on day one,Mario Kart Worldis still one of the safer routes Nintendo could have gone with a headlining launch title. Even being a safe route for it to take, however, didn’t mean thatMario Kart Worldwould have to be just anotherMario Kartgame, and it certainly took that seriously.
Mario Kart World Proves ‘Safe’ Launch Titles Can Still Be Revolutionary
Why a New Mario Kart Game Was a Safe Option for a Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Title
Games launching alongside any new console are a tricky thing. Attempting to introduce unfamiliar IPs with a brand-new console can make the console itself feel less desirable, as fans have little to no context for or emotional attachment to what they’ll be playing on it. As such, mostgame developerslean heavily on existing franchises to drive early sales and reduce risk.
Even being a safe route for it to take, didn’t mean thatMario Kart Worldwould have to be just anotherMario Kartgame, and it certainly took that seriously.
Such is the case with the Nintendo Switch 2, which launched with only two first-party new‑IP titles —Mario Kart Worldand theWelcome Tourpack — and then supplemented it with ports and enhanced editions of classicgames likeZelda: The Wind Waker.Mario Kart World, of course, is the headliner for the Switch 2’s launch, but it’s also a franchise that fans are already familiar with. On account of that, it requires less marketing and less “push” in order to convince those who have been waiting for a newMario Kartgame for over ten years to purchase it.
Mario Kart World Changes the Game Over a Decade Later
That being said, whileMario Kart Worldmight have been one of the safest options for aNintendo Switch 2 launch title, that doesn’t mean it plays it safe when it comes to its formula. For all intents and purposes,Mario Kart Worldisn’t just anotherMario Kartgame. Rather than simply feeding fans a bunch of new tracks, vehicles, and characters,Mario Kart Worlddoes that and more by quite literally taking players out of bounds for aMario Kartexperience they’ve never had. With new modes, mechanics, systems, techniques, tracks, characters, vehicles, and more,Mario Kart Worldis chock-full of evolution and progress.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis another example of a safe bet that actually ended up being a game changer on all fronts.
In other words, on the surface,Mario Kart Worldseems like a pretty safe bet. Launching the Nintendo Switch 2 alongside a newMario Kartgameis likely not to deter fans too much. But rather than just having a visual upgrade or a larger roster, it takes the franchise’s core ideas and expands upon them in unprecedented ways.Mario Kart Worldis a game that doesn’t look like it’s reinventing anything at first glance, but the more time players spend with it, the more obvious it becomes that safe bets don’t necessarily have to be predictable.
