Mario Kart World Brings Massive Changes: New Items, Tricks, and Game Modes You Don’t Want to Miss

This one’s for the kart racers who like their bananas chaotic and their burgers collectible.

Nintendo just dropped a major info bomb with the latest Mario Kart World Direct, and if you thought you were just getting another safe sequel, think again. This new Switch 2 launch title is shaping up to be the wildest ride in the franchise yet, with overhauled items, trick systems, and a whole buffet of game modes (some of them literally food-related). It’s not just a new Mario Kart—it’s an evolution.

Here’s a deep dive into the coolest new features and why longtime fans and fresh-faced rookies alike should be paying attention.

A Feast of Items: Classic Chaos Meets Culinary Madness

Let’s start with the goodies you’ll be throwing at your friends.

Mario Kart World is going all in on its item roster. The Bullet Bill, Lightning, and Feather all make their return, but with surprising new twists. Bullet Bill is still your go-to for a full-track leap ahead, and Lightning still shrinks your opponents—but now it triggers a downpour on the track too. Yep, weather effects are here, and they’re part of item strategy.

The Feather lets you hop over more than just turtle shells now. You can launch onto high rails, secret platforms, and off-the-map shortcuts if you time it right. The level design clearly leans into verticality more than ever.

Now, the new items? Absolute bangers.

• The Coin Shell is like a shiny breadcrumb trail—chuck it, and it drops coins as it goes. Help yourself or bait your friends into a trap.
• Kamek, the wizard Koopa, transforms your rivals into random objects. It’s total chaos, and yes, it’s as hilarious as it sounds.
• Sticky Hammers embed into the track, creating temporary hazards.
• And the Ice Flower can now spin out multiple racers at once—less targeted trolling, more area denial.

But the weirdest and most delightful twist has to be the Dash Foods.

These collectible snacks—think sushi rolls, burgers, kebabs—can be found across the world map and munched for cosmetic unlocks. Imagine your Mii pulling up in Moo Moo Meadows, scarfing down a burger mid-race, and unlocking a new outfit. It’s ridiculous in the best way. And yes, the Moo Moo Cow can also eat food. Canon confirmed.

Next-Level Tricks and Movement Mechanics

Mario Kart World’s trick system has been juiced up in a big way. Tricks have been around since Mario Kart Wii, but now they’re integrated into the core of the gameplay loop.

First off, there’s a new charged jump, letting you leap higher than ever to clear obstacles and reach alternate routes. Think of it like bunny hopping, but turbocharged. It’s great for both offense (dodging shells) and exploration (nabbing high-up item blocks).

You can now grind on rails, bounce off walls, and even chain wall hops to find secret areas and cut massive time off your laps. It’s platforming-meets-racing in a way that gives off serious Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater vibes.

And if you mess it all up? There’s a Rewind button. Missed a jump? Overshot a shortcut? Rewind a few seconds and try again. It’s forgiving, but not exploitable—you’ll still need skill to chain tricks efficiently.

Game Modes Galore: Knockouts, Photo Ops, and Open World Roaming

You’ve still got the old faithfuls—Grand Prix, Time Trials, and VS Races are all here. But Mario Kart World brings in new modes that feel like full-on genre shifts.

• Knockout Tour is a survival race mode where the slowest players get booted off the track mid-race. It’s tense, punishing, and absolutely perfect for streamers.
• Time Trials now support global ghost data downloads, so you can race the best from around the world without needing to find them in matchmaking.
• Fan-favorite battle modes like Balloon Battle and Coin Runners return with upgraded maps and expanded item pools.

There’s also a full-fledged Photo Mode now. Stop mid-race (if you dare) to snap a pic of your kart catching air or a friend eating a red shell. Expect the internet to be flooded with stylish slow-mo shots the second this game launches.

But the biggest change? The open-world mode.

Mario Kart World finally lets you freely roam a massive connected map, discover races at your own pace, and collect items scattered across the environment. It’s like the adventure mode fans have always wanted. You can do it solo or with friends, and all your race wins, Dash Food unlocks, and trick challenges carry over.

Think Forza Horizon, but with Rainbow Road instead of real roads.

What About Switch 2?

Mario Kart World launches June 5, day-and-date with the Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders are still in limbo after delays in the U.S. and Canada, and Nintendo hasn’t revealed the full console price yet, much to the frustration of fans who flooded the Direct chat with “DROP THE PRICE” spam.

Still, judging by the gameplay we’ve seen, this is shaping up to be the Switch 2 launch title. And if even half these mechanics work as advertised, Mario Kart World could end up defining the next generation of kart racers.

Summury

Mario Kart World drops June 5 on Switch 2 with classic items now triggering weather effects and new platforming tricks. Dash Food adds bizarre burger-based cosmetics, and revamped tricks bring wall hops, grind rails, and even a rewind button. New modes like Knockout Tour and a full open-world roam mode round out the biggest shake-up the series has seen in years.