Mario Kart's Open World Falls Short of Expectations

Having spent just three hours with it, I’m already sensing that Mario Kart World might be better dubbed Mario Kart Knockout Tour. The new last-one-standing race mode truly steals the spotlight, injecting fresh tension and chaos into the already wild kart racer, making it a 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 freed from fixed tracks is a fan-favorite dream, my recent hands-on with its free-roam mode left me underwhelmed. Here’s why.

When envisioning an open-world racing game, comparisons to Forza Horizon are inevitable. Playground Games has perfected this subgenre, earning an IGN Game of the Year for its latest release. Each title boasts a vibrant open world brimming with challenge, awe, and, above all, fun. Sadly, the half-hour I spent zooming through Mario Kart World’s expansive map felt empty, lacking atmosphere and meaningful activities to dive into.

My time in free roam was largely spent racing across flat grasslands, deserts, or slightly choppy seas, searching for something engaging. While there are challenges to tackle, they felt repetitive and uninspired, mostly involving P Switch tasks that trigger brief time trials. These involve collecting coins or passing checkpoints within a time limit, but their 10-to-15-second duration quickly grows stale. Leaving a demo feeling like you’ve already exhausted the side activities isn’t a great sign. And while I hope deeper exploration uncovers more, another issue raises concerns about the mode’s longevity.

Completing P Switch challenges earns you a shiny sticker for your kart, but that’s about the extent of rewards. It’s odd that progression remains tied to the series’ traditional Grand Prix races, as the open world seems ripe for hiding new characters or karts in its nooks. New outfits can be grabbed by driving through Yoshi’s restaurants scattered across the island, but these are just as easily found in race modes.

The thrill of stumbling upon hidden treasures, so common in other open-world games, feels absent here. In Forza Horizon, barn finds—quests to uncover hidden vehicles like buried treasure—are a highlight. If Mario Kart World lacks similar secrets (and my preview showed no signs of them), it’s a missed opportunity, especially given the secret-packed 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 a fun challenge, requiring mastery of new mechanics like rail grinding and wall riding, but they only unlock stickers. While fun for its own sake is Nintendo’s hallmark, I can’t help but wish for more substantial rewards, like the cosmetic shops in Super Mario Odyssey that make use of excess moons.

Perhaps I’m just a jaded thirty-something, but I must acknowledge that players of all ages will likely enjoy zooming through this colorful world, soaking in its sandy beaches and twisty city streets. Driving into a giant truck, seizing its controls Cappy-style, and smashing through coin-filled bricks sparked a childlike joy. Yet, such moments of Nintendo’s signature creativity felt rare. The dynamic weather, day/night cycle, and biome-shifting soundtrack are delightful touches, but they don’t elevate the fun factor.

The open world plays a key role beyond free roam, cleverly linking tracks to create varied course combinations. The thrilling Knockout Tour, weaving through diverse environments, wouldn’t shine as brightly without it. This world has its strengths, just not in exploration.

When viewed as a playful sandbox rather than a sprawling open world like Forza Horizon or Burnout Paradise, Free Roam offers some enjoyment. But don’t expect it to leave a lasting mark, especially given the $80 price tag. The racing remains Mario Kart’s heart, and the electrifying Knockout Mode makes it feel fresher than ever. It deserves the spotlight, not to be overshadowed by a lackluster open world.