Mario Kart World has the wildest character roster we’ve ever seen

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This week has been quite a long one. As a resident on the West coast of the United States, I found myself wide awake at 5:30am to cover the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct event on Wednesday. Since then, the thrill hasn’t waned, but it’s been tempered by growing concerns about global events. The upcoming Mario Kart World game will cost $80, and there’s a lot of chatter online about that price point. Due to new tariffs imposed in the U.S., Nintendo has postponed pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 within the country, which could potentially lead to an increase in the console’s price. As we approach the weekend, I thought it would be a nice change of pace to discuss some of the over-the-top characters you can play as in Mario Kart World, based on what has been revealed so far.

Mario Kart World’s character roster is full of unexpected characters

Over the past ten years, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch has been my go-to for an unparalleled Mario Kart adventure. Originally released with a stellar lineup of Super Mario characters, it introduced fresh faces like all eight Koopa Kids, a character who rescues you when you fall off the track, and surprisingly, Pink Gold Peach, Metal Mario’s counterpart. The game also featured cross-over characters such as the Inklings from Splatoon, Villager and Isabelle from Animal Crossing, and Link from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Additional DLC packs later expanded the roster, ultimately offering a grand total of 48 characters, eight of which were added as downloadable content.

From the previews, it seems like Mario Kart World might surpass its competitors. This assumption is reasonable, considering the game’s expansive scope and larger number of racers. A unique mode in Mario Kart World is called Roam Mode. In this mode, players can drive freely to explore tracks or venture into the broader world. Unlike the usual twelve racers per race, Mario Kart World will have twenty-four racers in each race to keep things interesting. It’s logical that they would expand the roster to maintain variety. We’ve certainly come a long way from Mario Kart 64, which only had eight playable characters.

In the gaming world I inhabit, it seems like almost every character from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has made an appearance in the trailers for Mario Kart World so far. The exceptions appear to be the majority of DLC characters, the crossover ones, and those lesser-known Koopa Kids. However, what’s got everyone talking online is the introduction of some new additions that have really stirred up excitement!

Initially, the Cow character from the iconic “Mario Kart” track Moo Moo Meadows has been transformed into a playable character. Additionally, a Penguin and Dolphin have also joined the lineup of characters. It’s possible that the Penguin originates from Sherbet Land, while the Dolphin might hail from Dolphin Shoals; however, it would be wise to hold off on confirmations until more details are revealed.

Some additional characters from the “Super Mario” series are included in this version, such as Hammer Bro, who wields a new hammer item during a race, and Goomba, who now drives a vehicle. Other returning enemies include the Coin Coffer, Monty Mole, Chargin’ Chuck, Piranha Plant, Wiggler, Fish Bone, Cheep Cheep, Spike, Snowman, Sidestepper, Pianta, Para-Biddybud, and Nabbit. I assure you, these are all real characters and not fabricated for this game. This looks set to be the most bizarre and wild “Mario Kart” roster yet.

Could it be that characters such as Fish Bone and Cheep Cheep might be playable in the upcoming Mario Kart World? Or perhaps the game will introduce enemies to race alongside, to fill out its expansive world? As of now, it’s hard to say for certain. However, I personally find the idea extremely exciting if all these unusual characters are indeed included. The enthusiasm on the internet is palpable, with Cow fan art taking over social media like wildfire.

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2025-04-05 03:02