World of Mario Kart (Nintendo Switch 2)

Okay, so here’s the scoop, or my chaotic take or whatever, on Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2. Most folks who jumped on that new system are knee-deep in the game by now, right? At least that’s what I’m guessing. Are your engines still burning rubber, or did you just ditch it after the first few laps? Let’s, uh, dive in and see what’s what under the hood here.

First off, it’s been, what, forever since we had a brand-new Mario Kart? And now we got World. It’s gotta deliver big time. And 24 racers? Count ‘em, 24! It’s a bit much. Not gonna lie, but hey, more tracks, more chaos. Somehow, they’re wider. Like, no more getting stuck in some tiny loop, getting pounded by shells from a mile back. I can dig it.

So, there’s racing solo, with buddies? Or online — which is a whole trip, honestly. Played with my PN pals once, and yeah, I actually won a couple. Rare occasion, folks. Real smooth experience, and the game chat? Free for now. Tweak the window views to your heart’s desire. You’ll kick things off alone, most likely, ya know, to get a feel for it — or wheels, whatever.

Now, the modes. Grand Prix, Time Trials, VS Race — all the classic stuff. But this Knockout Tour thing? Kind of wild. Bottom four just out, no break, just full throttle. I swear, you might forget to blink. PSA: check settings, ‘cause it’s set to “Smart Steering” by default for some reason.

Okay, now, what about Battle Mode? I didn’t touch on that, huh? Right now, you get Balloon Battle and Coin Runners. It’s a bit meh? Like Mario Kart 8 vibes on Wii U but with a twist. Feels like wandering, looking for opponents. Longtime fan here, since the Nintendo 64 era, so hoping for improvements down the line, fingers crossed.

And, oh, don’t miss — there’s a map icon buried somewhere on the main screen. Roam around vast spaces. How’d they hide this feature so well? Maybe they’re betting on the Knockout thing more. Go figure.

Let’s talk Free Roam. Super chill, I gotta say. Just driving around — collecting coins? Costumes? Photo ops? And that day-night shift is neat. Could easily forget I’m supposed to be racing but end up just cruising around.

The P Switches, though? Tough stuff. Not relaxing at all. Missions that slap you with new moves like rail riding. They change color when done, but something’s off. Like missing pieces in a puzzle. A bit of polish needed here.

Some updates wouldn’t hurt. Like tracking missions better. Costume overload much? Simplifying the interface would be nice, Nintendo. Stickers feel tacked-on, like, “Oh, let’s throw this in, too.” Just saying.

I’ll admit, I’m a bit torn on the track connections. They’re fun; it feels very World-like. But maybe less iconic due to that traditional loop drop. Older tracks feel borrowed. The new roster’s smallish, and with a lot of repeats — Choco Mountain, again? Toad’s Factory makes a return which is cool, though. DK Spaceport, anyone? Gotta unlock DK, though, so there’s that.

Despite all, fans and newcomers might have a blast. Racing as a cow? No idea why that stuck with me, but it did. Eager to see where it morphs from here.

Weeks into this game now, feeling like I’ve actually settled my thoughts. It’s a solid ride — looks, sounds, and plays great on the Switch 2. Worth the bundle? Sure. On its own? It’s missing some bells and whistles from older titles. But add in some hoped-for free DLC, and it could really shine. It’s a game worth checking out — crossing that finish line proud.