Summary
Mario Kart Worldwill be released on July 10, 2025, as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. It will introduce several new features and characters to theMario Kartfranchise. Several of these new characters have appeared in previous games as background characters, markingMario Kart Worldas their playable debuts in both theMario KartandSuper Mariofranchises.
Possiblydue to the new 24-player races, 20 new characters have joined the roster. These characters come in a range of shapes and sizes, friend and foe, usually seen in the background or as a supporting cast. The following is a list of the most exciting and surprising additions set to appear in the upcomingMario Kart World, ranked in terms of who we can’t wait to race as.
20Coin Coffer
The Moneybags Replacement
Coin Coffers are enemies fromSuper Mario 3D Land, they look like a cross between a coin purse and a frog. They react similarly to the Moneybags fromSuper Mario 64, running away from the player and spitting coins out.
Coin Coffers are only playable to a certain degree, and they can be encountered and captured inSuper Mario Odyssey. It only makes sense to include this character inMario Kart Worldbecause of how much coins matter in various Mario games.
19Conkdor
Dipping Bird Ostriches
Conkdors are comically disproportionate bird enemies that first appeared inSuper Mario 3D World, idly standing on the ground and attacking by slamming their heads forward like a dipping bird toy. They appear as obstacles in various minigames from theMario Partyseries, or as background characters in other games, but never in aMario Kartgame.
In the grand scheme of things, the Conkdor is a relatively new addition to the franchise.Mario Kart Worldwill solidify itspresence in the franchiseand make a fun appearance as a racer.
18Snowman
No Longer A Frosty Obstacle
The Snowmen were introduced back inSuper Mario 64, living in the Snow World and Snowman’s Land. In theMario Kartseries, these Snowmen appeared as obstacles in snowscape courses, first appearing in Frappe Snowland inMario Kart 64.
These snowmen pop up in a variety of other materials released by Nintendo, and often serve as background characters or props.Mario Kart Worldwill introduce the Snowman as a playable character; no longer an obstacle, but a legitimate, albeit armless racer.
17Sidestepper
The Original Scuttlers
The Sidesteppers, or Crabs, first scuttled about in the original 1983Mario Bros.game, and typically appeared as simple cameos. They usually appear on the roads in theMario KartseriesafterMario Kart 64, walking sideways and pinching the air.
Driving into the Sidestepper makes the players’ kart spin, but now it seems the Sidestepper will get behind the wheel themselves.
16Cheep Cheep
The Winged Pufferfish
Cheep Cheeps are the pufferfish-like creatures that first appeared inSuper Mario Bros.in the underwater levels, known for their jumping behavior. They come in a variety of colors, including orange, green, blue, and more, but the red with a white patch on the stomach is most common.
Cheep Cheeps appear in almost every Mario game and in a lot of Nintendo materials, and the closest to playing them is inSuper Mario Odyssey. Now, instead of swimming and bouncing around like obstacles, they will be driving around alongside the other racers.
15Fish Bone
Cheep Cheep Bones
Fish Bones are underwater enemies that first showed up inSuper Mario World(1990), implied to be the reanimated bones of dead Cheep Cheeps, similar to the Dry Bones counterpart of Koopa Troopas. In theMario Kartseries, they first appeared inMario Kart 7and were found in Wario Shipyard,where racers could collidewith them and lose speed.
Aside from finding hints of Fish Bones in the background ofMario Kart 8in the underwater section of Twisted Mansion, they typically appeared in artwork, as minor enemies, and as background NPCs in theMario Partygames.
14Peepa
The Goofy Extroverted Boos
Peepas are the less shy counterpart of Boos, with a silly signature buck-toothed face and happier eyes. Peepas appeared first inSuper Mario 3D Land, acting as obstacles that remain either in place, or circling an area.
In theMario Partyseries, Peepas appear in a few minigames as enemies or barriers. Now these mischievous spirits will race alongside Boo and the others inMario Kart World.
13Stingby
The Buzzing Bee Foe
The Stingbies made their debut inSuper Mario 3D Land, a creature that feels like an instant classic already fitting into the franchise. This bee with a stinger on its face made a few other appearances as foes in aMario Kart 7battle course and asenemies inPaper Mario: The Origami King.
The Stingby is caught buzzing by in theMario Kart Worldtrailer in a kart that matches its character design. There appear to be more unique karts themed after each character in terms of color and style.
12Cataquack
The Catapulting Duck
Cataquacks are duck-like enemies that first appeared inSuper Mario Sunshine, and are known for aimlessly wandering Gelato Beach until sensing Mario and charging at him and catapulting him in the air.
Cataquacks are encountered inSuper Mario Galaxyas well, and are a general nuisance in theMario Kartseries. This time, instead of blocking items on the track or slowing racers down, the Cataquack is returning as a playable character.
11Para-Biddybud
Colorful Ladybugs With Feathered Wings
The Parabiddybuds are the winged variant of Biddybuds, resembling multicolored ladybugs and first appearing inSuper Mario 3D Land. They show up as cameos in the background ofMario Party: Island TourandSuper Mario Party Jamboree.
They’ve never appeared in aMario Kartgame, butMario Kart 8features a kart designed in their image, known as the Biddybuggy. TheMario Kart Worldtrailer shows a Para-Biddybud driving a kart that looks like them, an altered design from the one seen inMario Kart 8.
