Mario Kart World is doing something different for the franchise. It features an interconnected world where players can drive wherever they want, across cities, plains, a desert, and even the ocean. Races can also be impacted throughout the world’s various regions and feature dynamic weather conditions and a day/night cycle. During the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo revealed that the game will launch with the release of Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5. Today, Nintendo released a Mario Kart World-focused Direct that shared new details on the courses, characters, modes, techniques, items, and more.

Mario Kart World being an interconnected world means things are done a little differently than in previous titles. Players will have to go to the different races in Grand Prix in order to participate in them. They don’t just happen automatically. Players are also free to explore the world in free roam. Throughout the world, players can find various secrets like hidden coins, or hit P switches that unlock missions that can help improve driving skills.

Alongside Grand Prix, Battle Mode, Time Trials, and VS, Knockout Tour is a new mode joining the mix. Players will race from one end to another with checkpoints along the way. If a player doesn’t make the cut, they’re out of the race.

Mario Kart World features many of the characters fans know and love such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser but will introduce new characters to choose from such as Goomba, Spike, and Cow. Up to 24 participants from around the world. Modes like Grand Prix and Knockout Tour allow up to 24 players to compete.

New courses include Crown City, Starview Peak, and the spirited Boo Cinema. Nostalgic courses from previous Mario Kart games have been reimagined to feel-at-home within this vast, new world, offering fresh experiences on classics.

In addition to the new courses, characters, and modes, Mario Kart World features new items and new techniques.

Players can make pit stops at Dash Food that will give players a speed boost and sometimes unlock outfits.

Coin Shells can knock rivals off course and make coins appear that will increase the speed of whoever collects them. The Ice Flower can freeze the competition in their tracks. A Mega Mushroom allows players to grow big and squash the other racers. The Feather can be used to leap to new heights. Kamek’s magic can transform racers into something surprising and cause unexpected chaos on the course.

With Charge Jump, players will be able to leap over obstacles, dodge attacks and jump on a wall to ride it for a short time. Wall-rides can be chained together to uncover hidden routes. Rewind is available to reset a vehicle to its original position if something went wrong. However, other racers will still be moving forward normally so players will have to keep that in mind.

Players will be able to utilize the new Nintendo Switch 2 function, GameChat. Players can voice chat with friends. Players can also connect a camera like the Nintendo Switch 2 camera to see your friends’ reactions when they play. When playing locally, a single camera can detect up to four people’s faces that will be shown in-game as well.

If anyone needs assistance, features like Smart Steering will keep you on course. Auto Accelerate and Tilt Controls can be turned off for motion control steering are available to turn on or off whenever you like.

Mario Kart World launches June 5 for $79.99. It will also be available as part of a Nintendo Switch 2 bundle that will cost $499.99.