What I Learned Playing Mario Kart World for the First Time

The moment I loaded Mario Kart World on the new Nintendo Switch 2, I could tell it wasn’t the same game I’d been playing for years. It felt familiar — yes, it still had drift boosts, item boxes, and characters like Yoshi, Daisy, and Waluigi — but the layout? Totally different. You’re no longer just selecting tracks in a menu; everything is interconnected now. The open-world map shifts the whole structure of the game and adds so many side secrets that I almost forgot I was supposed to win races.

One of the first things that tripped me up? Smart Steering. It was on by default. I get it — it’s meant to help you stay on track, but it felt like the game was driving for me. Once I turned it off (which you can do right on the kart selection screen with the X button), the game finally opened up. Steering was way looser, and while I crashed more often, it finally felt like I was in full control.

Then I discovered something wild — the Boo item lets you bypass off-road penalties. You’re invisible, yeah, but also you can zip through grass or dirt without losing speed. I tested it out on some grassy corners, and it’s true. Combine Boo with a shortcut? You’re golden. It’s like a sneaky mushroom, but stealthier.

And get this: you can now aim items left and right. Not just forward or back. If you tilt the right stick to the side before tossing something, like a green shell, you can blindside someone next to you. It’s a bit awkward unless you tweak the controls, but it’s incredibly useful in tight races.

What really blew my mind, though, was the rewind feature in single-player. A Blue Shell locked on, and instead of just accepting my fate, I hit rewind. The Shell fell in front of me, exploded, and I kept going like nothing happened. You lose some distance, sure, but it beats spinning out in first place.

Mario Kart World builds on the franchise’s long-standing mechanics while introducing new techniques, features, and strategies. One of the major innovations is the open-world hub connecting tracks, which allows players to explore between races. This structure encourages exploration and introduces various secrets and unlockables, like Mirror Mode and costume tracking.

Smart Steering is enabled by default for all new players, a feature designed to guide players who are unfamiliar with the controls. However, it can be disabled directly from the kart selection screen or in-race pause menu, allowing more experienced players greater control over their driving.

The Boo item now offers strategic utility by removing off-road penalties while active, giving racers more opportunities to take unconventional routes without sacrificing speed. This adds depth to item usage, rewarding players who think tactically about when and where to deploy Boo.

Players can now throw items to the left and right — a first in the series — by using the right stick to look and aim before throwing. The direction of the left stick still determines the angle, but visibility is enhanced through the new aiming mechanic, which is especially valuable in crowded areas of the track.

Single-player races benefit from a unique feature: the ability to rewind. While it’s disabled in multiplayer, rewinding in solo mode can be used to dodge Blue Shells, preserving a player’s momentum and items. This feature adds an additional layer of strategy for those attempting to earn three-star completions in the Grand Prix cups.

I also found a cool Easter egg — drive into the giant stained-glass Peach at Peach Stadium in Free Roam, and boom: Mirror Mode unlocks. The track flips are surprisingly disorienting, but that’s what makes it fun. It’s unclear if you need to beat Special Cup first (I did), but the animation unlock confirms you’re on the right path.

Another neat thing: if you win at 150cc, it auto-awards you the 100cc and 50cc trophies too. So there’s no point grinding every cup three times. Just do the hardest one and you’re good. That’s a massive time saver if you’re aiming for 100% completion.

Costume tracking? Also handled smartly. Go to the last page on the character select screen — the silhouettes show which characters still have missing outfits. And on the map, hover over their icons to see what’s locked vs unlocked. I love this because it means I don’t have to keep notes or guess.

Rail grinding is new too. You hop onto these grind rails, gain drift boost while riding, and then you must trick off the rail with R or ZR to claim the bonus. It’s a small detail, but missing that trick is like wasting a perfect drift — hurts every time.

Mario Kart World also gives players the option to choose between point-to-point and lap-based races in Versus mode. Unlike the main Grand Prix, which often uses single-lap sprints, Versus lets players return to the traditional three-lap format for more structured competition. This versatility helps balance the exploration-heavy world with the series’ classic racing experience.

Overall, Mario Kart World enhances its formula without discarding what made the series fun. Its subtle changes — from item aiming to open-world navigation — make the game feel new again, especially for veterans. It’s more than a visual upgrade. It’s a mechanical evolution. For beginners and returning fans alike, these features form the foundation of a more flexible and experimental Mario Kart experience.