Deluxe - Mario Kart 8

April 17, 2026

Because Nintendo has turned it into a live-service titan without ever calling it one.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe suffers from the Smash Bros Ultimate problem. They put so much content into one game that the sequel feels impossible. Any Mario Kart 9 will likely launch with 32 tracks. After playing 8 Deluxe for nine years, going back to 32 tracks will feel like going from a buffet to a vending machine. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

If you own a Nintendo Switch, there is a statistically high chance you own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe . In fact, it isn’t just a game; it’s practically the console’s operating system. It’s the title we boot up when the Wi-Fi drops, when a friend says “got any party games?” or when we just want to turn our brains off for fifteen minutes.

But as a product —as a piece of software designed to create fun between humans—it is arguably the greatest racing game ever made. April 17, 2026 Because Nintendo has turned it

4 minutes

Critics initially panicked over the "mobile game" visuals, but by Wave 6 in late 2023, the tracks were dripping with personality. We got Vancouver Velocity , Rome Avanti , and Piranha Plant Cove . Suddenly, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe wasn't a port anymore. It was a museum. A greatest-hits album that now boasts . Any Mario Kart 9 will likely launch with 32 tracks

Let’s address it. We are in 2026. The Switch 2 (or whatever Nintendo calls it) is looming on the horizon. Rumors of a new Mario Kart have swirled for years.