The nextMario Kartgame is on its way alongside the Nintendo Switch 2, finally endingMario Kart 8’s decade-long reign in favor ofMario Kart World. It looks like the right game for the new console to lead with, as it could be the biggestMario Karttitle ever in every sense of the word. Forming the rare merger of an open world and a kart racing game,Mario Kart Worldwill allow players to freely explore its game world in addition to the usual races. That alone makes for a dramatically differentMario Kartexperience, and it doesn’t end there.
In addition to a Free Roam mode that can be played alone or with friends,Mario Kart Worlduses its open formatto take races beyond their standard courses. Now, Grand Prix, Knockout Tour, and, if players allow them, VS races, will all feature interstitial roads between larger racetracks, keeping players in the action for longer. Taken together,Mario Kart Worldplayers should gradually get a feel for the in-game map’s layout thanks to longer exposure and the need to consider optimal routes. Regular races will benefit from this, but the new Knockout Tour has the most to gain fromMario Kart World’s fresh format.
Knockout Tour Isn’t Like Mario Kart World’s Other Modes
Grand Prix and Free Roam Help Knockout Tour Stand Out
Unlike Grand Prix, which currently consists of six four-race cups with an unlockable challenge after they’re done, Knockout Tour features eight rallies with six courses each. Although the finalnumber of racetracks inMario Kart Worldhas not been confirmed yet, previews of its world map suggest that there will not be forty-eight distinct courses in the game at launch. Instead, Knockout Tour is more defined by the routes of its rallies through the Mushroom Kingdom than their component courses, featuring regular overlaps with different entrances, exits, and placements for its player-eliminating checkpoints.
Grand Prix, Knockout Tour, and Free Roam may all use the same courses and roads, but Knockout Tour does the most to make racing through them feel like a distinct experience. By weaving different routes through single-lap courses across the map, Knockout Tour essentially remixes each track’s appearance in every rally, and also distinguishes it from its appearance in any ofMario Kart World’s other modes. Nothing else in theMario Kartseries has tried this approach, and althoughWorld’s own Grand Prix does feature Crown City in two different cups, Knockout Tour could end up standing out in the long run.
Mario Kart World’s Offering Is Better With Knockout Tour
Out of all ofMario Kart World’s modes, Knockout Tour seems to best capitalize on the game’s strengths anddifferences from otherMario Karttitles. The use of twenty-four racers, the highest in the series, is applied to a pseudo-battle royale format. An interconnected world of larger, more multifaceted race courses is covered in larger chunks. Finally, the space in between each course essentially becomes elevated to an equally important part of the overall rally, ensuring even the most well-trodden areas ofMario Kart World’s map will feel unique thanks to their assigned context.
Knockout Tour Could Represent Mario Kart’s Future
It’s too early to say if Knockout Tour will become a fan-favorite mode, but it’s done everything it can to position itself as one. Nintendo could even give it a shot in the arm down the line, as whileMario Kart Worldgains hypothetical DLC racersand courses, Knockout Tour can simply have more rally routes patched in. The mode offers a compelling way to recycle content designed for other modes without changing much, and that needs to be milked for all it’s worth. If Knockout Tour proves to be a hit, thenMario Kart Worldwill have the perfect avenue for making old racetracks feel new again.
