I opted for the slightly more expensive digital download for convenience. As a Mario fan, I knew I wouldn’t be trading this in, so having it ready to play without the faff of swapping cartridges made sense.
The game didn’t disappoint and does enough to mix things up from Mario Kart 8. The most immediate standout is the visuals. It looks fantastic, with deep horizons, incredible detail and a world packed with character and subtle touches. On my TV, the 4K presentation is stunning, and it still looks excellent in 1080p in handheld mode. The frame rate holds steady at 60fps, which really enhances the experience, especially during the more chaotic races where there’s a lot happening on screen.
There’s plenty of personality too, with fun character animations and a strong roster of unlockable characters. The same applies to the karts, with new options gradually opening up as you progress, giving a real sense of reward.
Although I’m still early in my playthrough, it’s clear I’ll get plenty of hours out of this. While some have criticised the price, I’m confident I’ll get my money’s worth. It was, after all, one of the main reasons I upgraded to the Switch 2.
These are just my first impressions…
When you first start up the game and take in the open world, it’s worth pausing to appreciate it and I did a bit of free roaming. The menus and options are sleek and easy to navigate. You can choose between single and multiplayer modes online or wireless. There are 28 tracks (seven Grand Prix) to select from initially, plus an additional Grand Prix (4 tracks) unlocked after completing the first seven, which expands your track selection to 32. This is complemented by other modes and the free roaming.
I’ve now completed all the tracks available at launch using 50cc karts and I will explore the higher cc next. One of the biggest gameplay changes comes within Grand Prix mode itself. Instead of simply jumping between tracks, you now race across connecting sections that lead you into the next course. It adds a real sense of journey. Races now feature 24 players instead of 12, which ramps up both the competition and the chaos, with more shells flying and more happening at any given moment. Though I am not sure if I love the tracks as those in Mario 8 ?!?! – maybe I will change my mind as I continue playing.
Difficulty also feels slightly tweaked. Even at 50cc, it’s a bit more competitive than in Mario Kart 8. It’s harder to build a comfortable lead, and once you’re ahead, you really have to stay sharp. Maybe as the vehicle is slower?
I’ll continue to update this post as I spend more time with the game, experimenting with different characters, karts and modes. Early on, I’ve noticed that some character and kart combinations feel trickier than others. For example, using “cow” felt noticeably harder to drift with compared to Mario.
The music is fairly decent. It flows more like a continuous radio mix, blending seamlessly from one track to another. Combined with no loading times, it creates a really smooth, immersive experience.
Is it better than Mario Kart 8? It’s too early for me to say. My gut feeling is that both games offer something different, and Mario Kart 8 will remain relevant for a long time. I’ll definitely keep going back to it.
Looking ahead, the future for this new entry feels exciting. It’s hard to imagine there won’t be updates and downloadable content over time. I’m especially looking forward to exploring more of the open world, as you can freely roam between tracks and hunt for hidden items. So far I’ve focused on racing, but there’s clearly much more to discover when free roaming.
One thing that is missing though is a stats page! Hopefully these will get added in a future update as this is a pretty important function to track your progress and performance.
As someone who’s enjoyed PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo over the years, I’m hoping the Switch 2 continues to deliver strong AAA exclusives. That’s where Nintendo still has a real edge.
I will add that as a big Kart racing fan, Team Sonic Racing was on sale and I have bought also. Keen to do a comparison and I will do a follow up soon.
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