Every Mario Kart Game Ranked From “Meh” to “Holy Cow, This is Amazing!”
Okay, let’s be real—Mario Kart has been the undisputed champ of chaotic racing since the SNES days. Whether you’re the type who throws blue shells like confetti or someone who actually practices drift boosts (weird flex, but okay), I’ve played ’em all. And I mean all of them. So grab a coffee, and let’s settle this once and for all.
How I Ranked These Bad Boys
- Gameplay: Does it feel smooth or like driving a shopping cart with a wobbly wheel?
- Tracks: The good, the bad, and the “why does this even exist?”
- New Stuff: Game-changers vs. stuff that flopped harder than a Wii Remote strap.
- Multiplayer: On a scale from “fun rivalry” to “I will never speak to you again.”
- Looks: Not comparing 1992 pixels to 4K, obviously.
The Ultimate Mario Kart Ranking (Fight Me)
12. Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA, 2001)
Details: 32-bit, 20 tracks (16 new + 4 SNES throwbacks), 4-player link cable
Portable? Sure. Fun? Ehh. The screen was so dark, you’d think Nintendo expected us to play in direct sunlight. And let’s be honest—most of us didn’t even know this existed until years later.
Final Take: The game your cousin had but never talked about.
11. Super Mario Kart (SNES, 1992)
Details: Mode 7 graphics, 20 tracks, 2-player split-screen
The one that started it all. But go back and play it now—it feels like driving a brick. And don’t get me started on that weird pseudo-3D effect. Cool for its time, rough by today’s standards.
Final Take: Like your grandpa’s car—historic, but you wouldn’t wanna drive it daily.
10. Mario Kart 64 (N64, 1996)
Details: 8 tracks (with 4 reverse versions), 4-player splitscreen, 30fps
Four-player chaos was revolutionary. But the AI? Straight-up cheats. Like, “I’m in first place and suddenly get hit by three red shells in a row” levels of cheating.
Final Take: Fun with friends, rage-inducing alone.
9. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GameCube, 2003)
Details: 16 tracks, 20 characters, 60fps
Two drivers per kart? Genius. Baby Park? Absolute madness. But the weight classes were all over the place—some characters were just objectively worse, which kinda sucked.
Final Take: The experimental phase we all kinda loved.
8. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (Switch, 2020)
Details: AR hybrid, needs a physical RC car, 4-player local
Turning your living room into a track is magical… until your dog decides it’s a chew toy. Or your little brother “accidentally” kicks it. Yeah, that happened.
Final Take: Cool idea, but not exactly practical.
7. Mario Kart Tour (Mobile, 2019)
Details: 100+ tracks, portrait mode controls, gacha mechanics
Surprisingly decent for a mobile game. But those microtransactions? Brutal. Spending $40 on rubies feels worse than getting hit by a blue shell on the final lap.
Final Take: Perfect for killing time, terrible for your wallet.
6. Mario Kart 7 (3DS, 2011)
Details: Gliding/underwater mechanics, 32 tracks, StreetPass
First game where holding an item behind you became a legit strategy. Changed the game forever. Also, the 3D effect? Actually kinda neat.
Final Take: The best handheld version—until the Switch came along.
5. Mario Kart Wii (2008)
Details: 32 tracks, motion controls, 12-player online
Bikes. That’s it. That’s the tweet. They completely broke the game, but in the best way possible. Also, the Wii Wheel was just a plastic shell—we all knew it, but we pretended it mattered.
Final Take: Peak Wii energy.
4. Mario Kart DS (2005)
Details: First online play, 32 tracks, dual-screen use
Snaking. Oh man, snaking. If you know, you know. Also had the best battle mode maps—Block Plaza was legendary. Schoolyard multiplayer at its finest.
Final Take: Low-key one of the best.
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch, 2017)
Details: 48 tracks (96 with DLC), 1080p/60fps, 12-player online
Took everything great about the Wii U version and fixed the one flaw—no proper battle mode. Now it’s the ultimate party game. And those DLC tracks? Chef’s kiss.
Final Take: The king right now, no question.
2. Mario Kart 8 (Wii U, 2014)
Details: Anti-gravity tracks, 30 characters, 60fps
This game looked like a Pixar movie. No joke. But thanks to the Wii U’s… let’s say “limited popularity,” most people missed out. A damn shame.
Final Take: Deserved way more love.
1. Mario Kart: The Open Road (Switch 2, 2025?)
Rumors: Open-world hubs, dynamic weather, cross-platform play
If the leaks are true, this could be the Breath of the Wild of Mario Kart. Or it could flop. Nintendo’s weird like that—sometimes they nail it, sometimes they give us… well, Mario Kart Live.
Final Take: Potential to be the best. Or the most disappointing. No in-between.
Final Thoughts
At its core, Mario Kart is about one thing: pure, unadulterated chaos. MK8 Deluxe is still the champ, but who knows? Maybe Nintendo’s got something wild up their sleeve. Until then, keep those blue shells flying.
Your Turn!
🔹 Which Mario Kart gives you the most nostalgia?
🔹 Double Dash—love it or overrated?
🔹 How many friendships have you ruined with a well-timed red shell?
Source: IGN – All Games
