Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is arriving just around the corner this Friday, so I’d think it’ll be fun to look back at the Mario Kart games before the one coming out to stores. And yes, this is a different type of Vintage Review. I’ll give out the rating for each game at the end. Arcade installments will NOT be included in this ranking, because I haven’t had much experience with them. With that said, let’s a go!
10. Super Mario Kart (1992)
Platforms: Super Famicom/SNES (OG and Mini), Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U, New 3DS), Nintendo Switch, PC
Yes, I am aware that this game alone started the whole Mario Karting franchise. Heck, we wouldn’t have all of those clone go-karters that copied off the success from this game (though there are plenty that are really good). However, I decided to give this the last place treatment because it’s not really my type. The handling is terrible, the item balance is not very good, and the AI is absolutely rubbish here. Don’t believe me? They use items that we can’t in every single race! Sound rigged? Definitely. Also, if you get to the Special Cup, this game can get quite brutal really quickly, ending off with probably the hardest Rainbow Road in history.
Favorite Character: Toad – he opposes the game’s bad handling
Favorite Course: Bowser Castle 2? I don’t like the game’s Rainbow Road, or maybe I just suck at this game. 😛
9. Mario Kart Tour
Platform: Mobile
If I judged every game based on the launch version, then this game would be dead last. However, this game has gone through several improvements, but not enough to a higher spot on the list. As of now, you can race with your phone flipped horizontally and you can even race with other people online! I’d also like to mention the number of cups available and how it’s changing a lot with new tracks, remixes, and challenges, but the driving experience kind of sucks as a whole. To get the full experience, you need to pay hundreds of dollars to get everything you could possibly want (characters, karts, etc.). That is something that I won’t want to invest in. It’s Nintendo being greedy.
Favorite Character: Yoshi (casual play only)
Favorite Track: Vancouver Velocity – This might be something that would fit very well in MK8DX.
8. Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Platforms: GBA, 3DS (via Ambassador Program), Virtual Console (Wii U), PC
This game was pretty revolutionary as it is the first Mario Kart you can play on the go. However, it doesn’t feel like it innovated that much as it’s basically Mario Kart 64, but slightly worse. I know that it’s the GBA’s limitations, but all of the tracks are rather flat and you do need to find another player that has a GBA to play Battle Mode.
Granted, this game does have Quick Run in which you can race a track anytime (you can pick from 3 to 5 laps). Not only that, but you can unlock all of the SNES tracks if you’re a dedicated gamer. Also, this course does have some unique ideas like Cheese Land, Sky Garden, Sunset Wilds and Ribbon Road.
This game is the hardest of the bunch to control aside from Super Mario Kart and creating drifting boosts are a random chance. Also, it is nigh impossible to get a 3-star rank in every cup unless if you’re a god at this game. Super Circuit is a cute game and all, but I’d rather play the DS or the 3DS editions for handheld Mario Kart (and let’s put 8 Deluxe as a home console version to avoid any debates).
Favorite Character: Yoshi
Favorite Track: Sunset Wilds
7. Mario Kart 64
Platforms: N64, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U), PC
I know a lot of disagreements are going to be made since a lot of people are really nostalgic about the game. However, when you take off your nostalgia goggles, it isn’t that great of a game. Heck, I will say that I agree with Nathaniel Bandy that it is pretty overrated.
I will say that it’s the best of the Mario Karts that came before the GameCube. The tracks are much longer and more varied than the SNES game as the lap count is reduced from 5 to just 3. Not only that, but the International versions have Mario as the announcer! This adds to the charm that the game already has. Speaking about charm, it’s also the only game to feature onomatopoeia. I don’t think that you’ll ever see onomatopoeia like “Poomp!”, “Boing!”, “Crash” and “Whirrr” in other titles. This game also introduced Mirror Mode (Toad’s Turnpike in this mode is exceptionally difficult), but it’s only played in 100cc.
Mario Kart 64 is also the first game to introduce four-player multiplayer, and it can get quite hectic…if I had some friends to play the game with me! It also has Block Fort as a battle map.
In terms of driving, drifting actually works pretty well when compared to the 2D titles and having the triple acceleration recovery for lightweights (and Bowser) is a nice feature to help get yourself back on track. However, the AIs are an absolute bitch in this game. Even if you manage to take a huge lead in GP mode, the computer players will go at inhuman speeds to catch up to you. Also, if an AI is way ahead in 1st place, forget about getting the golden trophy. Crashing in this game is also weird as you’ll either spin out or just stop.
While this game may be quite the revolutionary one back in the day, you can’t help but feel that this game looks empty and a bit broken nowadays.
Favorite Character: Yoshi
Favorite Track: Toad’s Turnpike
6. Mario Kart Wii
Platform: Wii
This was the first Mario Kart game that I played, and being an absolute noob back then, I just picked something that has the highest speed and set drifting to automatic. Not only that, but I played with the Wii Wheel. Granted I evolved from that point and used a Gamecube-ish controller (Wiimote w/ Nunchuk also works well).
If you do play with motion controls, then the handling is garbage, if you don’t, then it’s actually pretty good. Not only that, but this game has an impressive cast of characters for its time. If you want Funky Kong in Mario Kart, then there you go. The variety here is quite astounding. Also, it takes time to unlock every single character and every fast staff ghost in this game. This is definitely the ultimate game for 100% completion.
The tracks are some of the most creative Nintendo has ever made in this game. From the halfpipes at DK Summit to the rivers of Koopa Cape, it’s easy to see why this is a popular game back in the day. Heck, the last three original courses might be some of the most insane tracks ever made (apparently, Moonview Highway has no speed limits).
Also, this is the first game where there are 12 racers instead of 8, making the races quite chaotic. Not only that, but online mode can feature 12 people in one match (and you can have up to two players per screen). Also, there’s Mario Kart Channel that doesn’t work anymore. While this game’s Balloon Battle ain’t the same from DS, Coin Runners is a pretty cool feature (and yes, the objective is to get the most coins). Bikes also make their first appearance here. While they lose a bit of speed and weight, they make up in literally everything else. You can even do wheelies with them, making the bikes go faster and making them a bit broken.
Granted, the game’s pace is pretty slow, and I see myself coming back to Double Dash!! more after 100%ing this game. Not only that, but it does take a very long time to recover from a hit. Also, drifting is slightly altered so it’s timed rather than done manually. And there’s an automatic drifting option where you don’t drift at all. Also, if you have a vehicle that’s low on weight, expect to fall off a lot on tracks that lack guardrails. Wii may not be as good as the installments discussed later in the list, but it’s still a very enjoyable game.
Favorite Combo: Daisy + Mach Bike
Favorite Track: Koopa Cape
5. Mario Kart 7
Platform: 3DS
Who remembers spending hours playing online mode in this game? I know I have. This online mode was insanely customizable as you could create communities and race with friends met via StreetPass. Heck, a regular online race is quite easy to jump into. I remember getting this game for the 3DS (pre-owned copy) back in 2014 and it was a pretty cool deal back then.
This game really changed the scope of future Mario Karts. First of all, there is the option to customize your kart build. Granted you could technically do that staring with the Gamecube installment, but it never got really deep until this game. Not only do you get to choose the body, but you also choose the tires and the glider.
Speaking about the glider, racing on land isn’t the only option. You can go underwater, and even to the skies (but only for a short amount of time). A lot of tracks in this game really utilize the new elements quite well.
Also, this game is a lot more balanced than Wii. Blue shells come up a lot less often and recovering from a hit is slightly faster. This is also slow-paced, but I do think shortening up the tracks do make the races go by quicker. Speaking about Wii, you can play with motion controls if you enable first-person view. The controls are a bit clunky in this mode, but it’s still a rather cool gimmick.
Speaking about tracks, this game also features tracks that are one giant lap, but are split into three sections. While plenty of people don’t like these tracks, I am a fan of them, especially the last one. Also, the retro track selection is really great. While some tracks do get ruined thanks tot the new mechanics (lookin’ at you Maple Treeway and Koopa Cape…), we got absolute slappers like Koopa Troopa Beach (Koopa Beach in the USA), Waluigi Pinball, and Daisy Cruiser.
What hurts the installment from getting a higher rank is that there is NO single-player versus mode, so players with spotty Wi-Fi might be a little disappointed at this game. Also, Waluigi’s not a playable character here, but Honey Queen and Wiggler are. How these two characters are playable is beyond me. They don’t even fit in the kart!
Favorite Combo: Yoshi + Pipe Frame + Roller + Flower Glider
Favorite Track: Rainbow Road
4. Mario Kart 8
When I saw the trailers for that game, I knew I wanted a Wii U so badly. This actually became the Wii U’s best selling game at 8.45 million copies, but it wasn’t enough to make the console succeed.
When I played it, I was mighty impressed. While it is akin to 7, 8 manages to do even more with racing in anti-gravity, and giving more replay options to your races in the form of MKTV. The character selection, while quite massive, is somewhat of a waste here. While it is nice seeing the Koopalings in a racer, they do take up too many slots. Also, whoever thought of making more clones for Mario and Peach should be fired.
The biggest drawback is the game’s battle mode. Instead of racing on arenas, you race on modified race tracks, which makes battles themselves be too boring and a slog to get through. Also, Balloon Battle is only offered here. It really turns the mode from a favorite pastime to an afterthought.
Aside from those complaints, the rest of the game is quite incredible. The tracks are some of the best the series has to offer, retro tracks are changed quite considerably, you can play Grand Prix with up to FOUR players, 200cc (offered in a later update) is an excellent alternative to people that feel like 200cc is too slow, and the tunes are orchestrated (though jazz is their main genre like in Super Mario 3D World, another fantastic Wii U game). Online play is also not too shabby either and the DLC is incredible at such an affordable price.
Favorite Combo: Waluigi + W 25 Silver Arrow + Roller + Hylian Kite
Favorite Track: Mount Wario (All-Time Favorite)
Favorite Retro Track: GBA Ribbon Road
3. Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Platform: GameCube
This game was a bold attempt at making Mario Kart fresh. By the third game, things do start to feel the same, so the team had to come up with a unique idea for the fourth game. And lo and behold, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! was born. Is it still fun after all of these years? Definitely.
Probably the greatest feature about this game is that there are two characters per kart and it’s also the first game where you can choose your own kart. Not only that, but unlockable content has been taken even further. This gives players a reason to go through the lower CC classes to unlock all of the karts, characters (there’s just four more aside from the standard 16), and even Battle Mode tracks.
The gameplay is quite the fast-paced experience and is the most wacky – something all Mario Karts should strive for. Each character does have their unique special items, which makes races more varied and character combos more strategic.
Probably the game’s highest selling point is the extra perks cleverly tacked on into this game. VS and Battle Mode is insanely customizable even though you need more human players. You can set the custom number of laps in VS mode and Balloon Battle’s not the sole battle game here (there’s also Shine Thief and Bomb-omb Blast. This game also features All-Cup Tour, something I wished later installments would have (there is an option to have all tracks be played randomly in VS mode starting in DS, but it’s not the same).
Favorite Combo: Toadette + Paratroopa + Rattle Buggy
Favorite Track: Rainbow Road
2. Mario Kart DS
Now we move into the best of the best. I had a hard time deciding if DS should be #2 or #1. I decided to give it the 2nd place spot because there were way too many blue shells thrown.
This game was THE Mario Kart that helped me become a better player. I discovered Mirror Mode, learned to drift, and discovered ROB was in the game thanks to this. It was also the Mario Kart that I spent the most hours on mainly because this game was quite a gem for a portable edition.
Looking back at it, I can say that this game still holds up today. It is quite a trendsetter as it’s the first game to have an insanely customizable single-player VS Mode (it’s probably the only game where a race ends once one crosses the finish line) and a single-player battle mode. Playing Balloon Battle with 7 computer players really reminded me of that one flag game I played at my elementary school back in the day. Plus, getting a one-star rank in at least everything felt like a big accomplishment in itself and it took practice to accomplish that feat.
Perhaps the coolest feature found in this game is Missions Mode. Basically, you go through all of these missions that have varied requirements and you’ll get a rank based on how fast you’ve done these missions. There are 7 levels (the last one requiring all missions from the first 6 levels to have at least a star) with a boss from Super Mario 64 DS serving as the end of the level. This mode really helped me become a better player in general and I’d probably won’t be as good without it.
Mario Kart DS is also home to some of the best tracks ever made. Who wouldn’t want to go for a race on Waluigi Pinball or Tick Tock Clock (even if you don’t get the reference in the latter like I did at first, it’s still an immensely fun course to play on)? Also, Shroom Ridge needs to be remade in a future Mario Karter.
Favorite Combo: Dry Bones + Dry Bomber – I was going to say any of the ROB karts, but that combo just feels so good to play with.
Favorite Track: Waluigi Pinball (Tick Tock Clock’s a close second)
And the number 1 is…
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Take everything you loved about the original Mario Kart 8 and make it even better. That’s all I would say about this game.
In seriousness, this is Mario Kart at its most perfect. The gameplay is fast-paced (though not in the manner of Double Dash!!), fire-hopping has been removed, and we don’t have to play on the crappy battle courses from the OG version!
Speaking about Battle mode, it is completely revamped as we now play on actual Battle Courses (5 new, 3 retro) including one that’s from Splatoon! Not only that, but there’s 5 modes to choose from with 2 returning from Double Dash!! and a brand new one. Speaking about the modes, there is an option to go over all 5 modes in one sitting, making this mode feel like a variety plate. My favorites are Shine Thief and Renegade Roundup (that’s a new mode).
All characters plus DLC return from the original, plus a couple more like Inkling, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr. Not only that, but all of the DLC stuff plus 200cc are included here. While online mode is a bit fussy on my TV, it works exceptionally well in handheld mode.
Racing has been slightly altered. You can now hold up to 2 items at once a la Double Dash!! While the races can get a bit more chaotic, this is a great strategy to employ for first-placers if you’re tired of getting just coins.
This was the first game that I got to experience on any Nintendo Switch (before I owned one), and I have got to say that 4 players in table top mode is quite possibly the greatest local multiplayer experience I’ve ever had. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the king of the series and I don’t think future installments can be topped.
Favorite Combo: Mii (Medium) + BiddyBuggy + Roller + Flower Glider
Favorite Battle Course: Urchin Underpass
And that’s the ranking of Mario Karts in a nutshell. Here are the ratings for each and every Mario Karter (in terms of how well it stacks up):
5/10:
- Super Mario Kart
- Mario Kart Tour
6/10:
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
7/10:
- Mario Kart 64
- Mario Kart Wii
8/10:
- Mario Kart 7
9/10:
- Mario Kart 8
- Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
10/10:
- Mario Kart DS
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
For Home Circuit, I think it’ll fit between Super Circuit and 64. What did you think about this ranking? Let me know in the comments.
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