Mario Kart World Direct Reveals New and Returning Courses, Even More Characters

Nintendo hosted a Mario Kart World Direct this morning, showing off all the features of the upcoming launch game for the Nintendo Switch 2. Amid all the new tricks and modes, Nintendo also confirmed a slew of new and returning tracks and racers for Mario Kart World.

On the course side, there were several new courses shown off as part of the roamable world. From the streets of Crown City to the water of Salty Salty Speedway, there are plenty of places to explore and shortcuts to discover. Mechanics like wall-riding and grinding seem like they’ll add quite a bit for players to uncover. Here’s what we spotted in today’s Direct.

Mario Kart World Confirmed Courses Shown in Today’s Direct

• Mario Bros. Circuit
• Crown City
• Salty Salty Speedway
• Starview Peak
• Boo Cinema
• Toad’s Factory
• Peach Beach
• Wario Shipyard
• Whistletop Summit
• DK Spaceport
• Desert Hills
• Shy Guy Bazaar
• Wario Stadium
• Airship Fortress
• DK Pass
• Sky-High Sundae
• Koopa Troopa Beach
• Faraway Oasis
• Crown City
• Peach Stadium
• Dino Dino Jungle
• Great ? Block Ruins
• Rainbow Road

But what’s a world full of courses without a universe’s worth of racers to speed across them? Mario Kart World looks to be making some deep pulls from Mario’s history. The usual suspects of Mario, Peach, Luigi, and Yoshi are joined by the likes of Spike, Conkdor, Penguin, and more. Here’s everyone we spotted in a kart during today’s Mario Kart World Direct.

Mario Kart World Confirmed Racers From Today’s Direct

• Mario
• Luigi
• Peach
• Daisy
• Rosalina
• Pauline
• Yoshi
• Toad
• Koopa Troopa
• Baby Mario
• Baby Luigi
• Baby Peach
• Baby Daisy
• Baby Rosalina
• Wario
• Waluigi
• Bowser
• Goomba
• Spike
• Cow
• Lakitu
• Toadette
• Bowser Jr.
• Birdo
• King Boo
• Shy Guy
• Donkey Kong
• Nabbit
• Pirahna Plant
• Hammer Bro
• Monty Mole
• Sidestepper
• Cheep Cheep
• Dry Bones
• Wiggler
• Cataquack
• Pianta
• Rocky Wrench
• Conkdor
• Chargin’ Chuck
• Penguin
• Stingby
• Swoop
• Dolphin
• Para-Biddybud
• Pokey
• Coin Coffer
• Peepa
• Snowman
• Fish Bone

It’s quite a line-up so far, and will probably only expand as we learn more about this game. Today’s Mario Kart World Direct went over everything from Grand Prix and Knockout Mode to the camera-fueled social options.

Mario Kart World is set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch day, June 5, as an exclusive for the newest Switch console. There certainly seems to be quite a bit to do here, which will hopefully measure up to its $80 price tag. The newest Kart is being sold both standalone and as part of a hardware bundle though, and given Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s massive popularity, World is likely to find a home on many Switch 2 consoles.

You can catch up on everything announced at today’s Direct right here.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.