Mario Kart World's Open World: A Bold but Flawed Adventure

After three hours of play, Mario Kart World feels more like a thrilling elimination race than the open-world spectacle its name suggests. The new last-one-standing mode steals the spotlight, injecting intense excitement into the chaotic kart racer, making it a standout feature worthy of top billing. Yet, Nintendo’s choice to highlight the Switch 2 launch title’s open world as its main attraction feels puzzling. While the idea of a Mario Kart free from fixed tracks is a fan-favorite dream, my recent hands-on experience with the open-world mode left me wanting more. Here’s why.

When imagining an open-world racing game, comparisons to Forza Horizon are inevitable. Playground Games has perfected this niche, earning accolades like an IGN Game of the Year for its vibrant, engaging worlds filled with challenge and charm. Sadly, the half-hour I spent exploring Mario Kart World’s expansive map felt lackluster. The environment seemed sparse, missing the lively atmosphere and diverse activities that define the genre’s best.

My time in free roam was spent speeding across flat plains, deserts, or gentle waves, searching for meaningful engagement. While some challenges exist, they felt repetitive and uninspired, mostly involving P Switch tasks that trigger brief time trials. These quick coin-collecting or checkpoint-racing activities were fun initially but grew stale fast, often wrapping up in under 15 seconds. Leaving a demo feeling like I’d already seen all the side activities had to offer is concerning, and I’m skeptical that deeper exploration will uncover much more. Another issue dampens the experience further.

Completing P Switch challenges earns you a shiny sticker for your kart, but rewards stop there. It’s odd that progression remains tied to the series’ traditional Grand Prix races, as the open world seems tailor-made for hiding unlockable characters or vehicles in its corners. New outfits can be snagged by driving through Yoshi’s restaurants scattered across the map, but these are just as easily found in race modes.

The joy of stumbling upon hidden treasures, a hallmark of exploration in games like Forza Horizon’s barn finds, feels absent here. Those missions, which involve hunting for hidden vehicles like buried treasure, are a highlight of Playground’s series. My preview showed no signs of similar secrets in Mario Kart World, a missed opportunity given the rich discovery in 3D Mario platformers. The closest I came was finding a green warp pipe that merely teleported me a short distance down the road, offering no unique challenges or areas to explore.

The lack of meaningful progression or engaging activities makes me question how much time I’ll spend in this open world. Collecting Peach Medallions offers some challenge, requiring skillful use of new rail grinding and wall riding mechanics, but they only unlock stickers. While fun for its own sake aligns with Nintendo’s philosophy, I can’t shake the desire for more substantial rewards, like the cosmetic unlocks tied to excess moons in Super Mario Odyssey’s shops.

Perhaps I’m just a jaded thirty-something, but I must acknowledge that players of all ages will likely enjoy zooming through this vibrant world, soaking in its beaches and city streets. A highlight was driving into a giant truck, seizing control Cappy-style, and smashing through coins and vehicles—a rare spark of Nintendo’s signature creativity that feels scarce elsewhere. Features like a dynamic weather system, day/night cycle, and a biome-shifting soundtrack add polish, but they don’t elevate the core fun.

The open world plays a vital role beyond free roam, cleverly linking tracks to create varied course combinations. The thrilling Knockout Tour mode thrives on this interconnected design, weaving through diverse environments in a way that wouldn’t work on repetitive laps. While the world has its strengths, exploration isn’t one of them.

Treated as a playful sandbox rather than a sprawling open world like Forza Horizon or Burnout Paradise, Free Roam offers some enjoyment. But with an $80 price tag, the open world’s lack of lasting impact is disappointing. The racing, especially the electrifying Knockout Mode, remains the heart of Mario Kart World, deserving the spotlight over its underwhelming open-world ambitions.