Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Review and Gameplay 2024

Since we have to give you a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review, we hoped on and spent almost 12 hours playing this game. And let us tell you, we played many racing games, but they were not as addictive as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

This game was a time machine that took us on a nostalgia trip of classic Mario Kart racing.

Not to mention the ridiculous number of tracks and game modes that kept us addicted for 12 hours. You wouldn’t be surprised that Switch’s graphics look more cool and better. Let’s get started with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review:

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Overview

When Mario Kart 8 was released in 2023, it had some difficulties. The creators were like, “We won’t give up,” and then released it with more upgrades. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the upgraded version of Mario Kart 8.

If you think Mario Kart 8 was a failed project, then you are quite wrong. Mario Kart 8 was a critical success, but the battle mode was not getting the praise it should have. Even we had difficulties playing Mario Kart 8, so we switched to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Nintendo Switch blessed us with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on April 8, 2017. You can also get the Nintendo Switch Roms version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

It’s the first Super Mario game on Switch. Can you guess the excitement we, as kids, got when we first saw the Deluxe on the Switch? It was fantastic!

Back to the Deluxe, it has a better battle mode, and developers also fixed some glitches that Mario Kart 8 had. You will also find some new characters in Deluxe with overhauled battle modes and new courses.

If you get the Mario Kart 8-Booster Course Pass paid DLC, you will see new race courses and some returning characters. The game also has an addition where booster course passes are activated from the start. The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle (Game+ Booster Course Pass) includes everything from the start.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Storyline

Unlike many other Mario games, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe does not feature a traditional storyline. The main focus of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is fun and interesting Kart racing. Which is why developers didn’t bother to put any story behind it.

But you may see some narrative elements sprinkled around the game to keep the players engaged. For example, we enjoyed the conflict when Bowser tried to steal the Golden Special Cup.

The first story we enjoyed was about Mario and his friends having to race through a bunch of cups and collect coins. Unlocking the rainbow road was the only way to confront Bowser and save the Golden Cup.

Each character has a short intro animation and voice line before each race. The game gets interesting when those voice lines start to reveal the motivations and rivalries of each character.

Another interesting part we liked was the track themes and their storytelling visuals. The different tracks sometimes tell each character’s story through their visuals and music.

For example, Sweet Sweet Canyon takes you through a candy-coated wonderland, while Electrolanda City blasts neon lights and futuristic vibes.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Characters

Size and weight always influence every character’s acceleration, so consider that while choosing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe characters. With our experience, we can guarantee that the heavier characters are on top, the medium is all-rounders, and the light ones are the best with speed.

Here are the main characters of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario (Medium-Heavy)

Ah! The OG Mario with his best handling skills—I mean, who doesn’t want Mario as their playable character? He is easy to control, a friendly figure, and, most importantly, our childhood best friend.

We figured out Mario’s strength is being a well-rounded racer with good acceleration, top speed, and handling. He is a versatile character, which makes sense when he handles things easily.

The downside is that he is not the fastest, strongest, or lightest character, which can leave him in the back.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Mario	No	Lower top speed than Mario and is more prone to spinouts.	Not the fastest and strongest

Luigi (Medium-Heavy)

We all know Luigi as Mario’s taller and greener brother, who is best at his unpredictable drifts and hidden potential. He has a slightly lower top speed than Mario but makes up for it with superior handling and the ability to pull off insane shortcuts.

We love Luigi for his handling and drifting, which are great strengths during a race. But the lower-top speed almost outshines Mario’s, but he’s not a jealous brother and always makes it up.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Luigi	No	Great Handling, Skilled Drifter, Can Take Surprising Shortcuts.	Lower top speed than Mario, more prone to spinouts.

Peach (Medium)

Peach, the Princess, gracefully races through the tracks while maintaining her royal status.

If you choose Princess Peach, you should know that she excels in technical tracks with her smooth handling. It’s her straight ways that make her race struggle.

Moreover, she can be vulnerable to items and have a lower top speed, which might set her apart from other characters.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Princess Peach	No	Excellent handling, precise steering, and good cornering.	Lower top speed than some characters, vulnerable to items.

Daisy (Medium)

Let’s just say Daisy is Peach’s tomboyish counterpart with a fiery spirit. Daisy has a competitive edge on the race track, which you can see in her higher acceleration.

Surprisingly, Daisy has top speed compared to Peach but sometimes sacrifices handling for that extra punch.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Daisy	No	Higher top speed and acceleration than peach, competitive spirit.	Lower handling than peach, more vulnerable to being bumped off course.

Rosalina (Heavy)

The developers had to add a mysterious cosmic princess, which we call the one and only Rosalina. We enjoyed Rosalina’s gravity-defying abilities, which just glided through the competition.

Overall, Rosalina is a character who is a master of technical and zero-gravity tracks. As a player, we loved her precise control and anti-gravity prowess.

But likewise, every character has a weakness, including Rosalina (we know it’s sad). Unfortunately, if you choose Rosalina, you must experience her lower speed on non-gravity tracks. It’s a tricky part for beginners, but once you master it, there won’t be any problems anymore.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Rosalina	No	Lower top speed on non-gravity tracks can be tricky to master for beginners.	Lower top speed on non-gravity tracks, can be tricky to master for beginners.

Toad (Light)

Who doesn’t want this adorable, bubbly character? Toad is that loyal mushroom with a surprising seep and agility.

At first glance, no one would think Toad is a strong character with nimble handling and quick acceleration. But if you have played with Toad before, you will know he can weave through traffic and take tight corners.

We appreciate Toad’s high acceleration, handling, agility, and maneuverability. However, his one weakness can sometimes outshine him; when heavy characters push him, he can be vulnerable.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Toad	No	High acceleration, good handling, agility and maneuverability	High acceleration, good handling, agility, and maneuverability

Koopa Troopa (Light)

You would recognize Koopa Troopa as a member of Bowser’s Koopa Army. His appearance might trick you into thinking he is a weak racer. Well, the first impression might be true because he is a slow but sturdy racer.

He compensates for his lack of speed with good item defense and the ability to throw shells with greater accuracy. So, his being a slow racer might not hurt the competition.

You can play these main characters with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but here is a twist. These characters also have baby characters (ex. Mario Baby) that are also lightweight. You will also find some characters who do not have interesting strengths but can be enjoyable.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Koopa Troopa	No	Good item defense, strong shell throws, and decent handling	lower top speed, vulnerable to being overtaken.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe New Characters

King Boo

King Boo is the newest character in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, who is kind of mysterious but also a little dumb. He somehow pops up from nowhere and steals opponents’ bananas. Yeah, we also find it hilarious.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	King Boo	Yes	Great handling, phasing ability for shortcuts, and item stealing.	Lower top speed and are vulnerable to fire and certain items.

Pink Gold Peach

Peach’s glamorous alter ego, Pink Gold Peach, radiates glitz and confidence on the racetrack. She has the highest top speed in the game, but her handling might take time to master.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Pink Gold Peach	Yes	Unmatched top speed and powerful boosts.	Challenging handling, vulnerable to being bumped off course.

Pauline

If you were thinking Peach was Mario’s girlfriend, then you are going in the wrong direction. He might save her from evil, but Mario’s original sweetheart is Pauline.

Thanks to the creator, because this time, they didn’t forget to add Pauline as a playable character. She has a mix of speed and handling, making her a versatile choice for any track.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Pauline	Yes	Balanced stats, good acceleration and handling.	Balanced stats, good acceleration, and handling.

Diddy Kong

Diddy Kong is another character in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is kind of unnecessary in our opinion but somehow survived through the critics. Although he has excellent drifting skills, his smaller size makes him vulnerable to heavier characters.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Diddy Kong	Yes	Superb handling, excellent drifter, agile and maneuverable	Lower top speed and strength, vulnerable to being knocked around

Peachette

Peachette is a fusion of peach and Toadette (we know it sounds wrong), but she combines charms with surprising speed. She is also similar to the original princess, from her strengths to her weaknesses.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Peachette	Yes	Balanced stats, good acceleration and handling, cute and cheerful	Doesn’t excel in any specific area

Funky Kong

The laid-back surfer dude brings his Hawaiian flair and relaxed attitude to the races. He has the highest handling stat in the game, which is quite impressive to us.

Image	Character Name	New in Deluxe 8?	Strength	Weakness
	Funky Kong	Yes	Lower handling than peach and is more vulnerable to being bumped off course.	Unmatched handling, expert drifter, chilled-out vibes

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Gameplay

we weren’t surprised to see that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features most of the base and DLC content of Mario Kart 8. But we can see some changes in the battle mode of Deluxe. 

The good side is that the characters that were unlockable or exclusive to download are now available in Deluxe from the start.

Moreover, the characters can carry up to two items at once, even if they don’t equip them.

If you turn on the Smart Steering mode, your vehicle will have a black antenna sticking out of your rear end. The antenna will blink yellow and bend when your Smart Steering gets activated.

Players can experience the lap count or timer during an online race or battle. But we couldn’t see the lap count when crossing the finish line or the full results in multiplayer.

Now, the game renders in native 1920×1080 resolution TV mode instead of the dynamic 1280×720. To be honest, the graphics and sound system on the Nintendo Switch were fantastic.

Some technical issues we saw in the Mario Kart 8 have been fixed in the deluxe, such as the added 200cc engine class for time trials. Overall, we enjoyed the game and did not have any issues with it.

Game Controls

We find Mario Kart Gaming controls to be in perfect balance for being accessible for newcomers and giving satisfying depth for veteran players. Some of our players were new to these control systems, and they loved them.

The Steering, braking, and drifting feel natural and immediate to us. We had precise control over the cart, which was very satisfying. Basic controls are also simple to understand which makes the game approachable for skilled players like us.

We mastered the drifting and anti-gravity sections, which helped us unlock advanced techniques for the gameplay. It was time-consuming but in the end, every hard work paid off.

Several control options, like tilt controls and auto items, allowed us to customize them, which felt like childhood. We loved the combination of responsive controls. The diverse characters and exciting tracks make for a truly enjoyable experience.

Even though we loved the control, we also found some flaws in the system. While basic controls are easy to master, the drifting and anti-gravity sections take practice and dedication.

Moreover, tight controls might not be for everyone which requires precise movements and sometimes lack the accuracy of analog sticks.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Battle Modes

While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe shines on the race tracks, its battle mode gives a completely different kind of thrill, pure chaotic fun built on popping balloons, stealing bananas, and unleashing mayhem.

Balloon Battle

The classic! Pop your opponent’s balloons with items of sheer driving skill while protecting your own. The last kart standing wins the crown. It’s like we are playing our childhood dreams.

Renegade Roundup

Our absolute favorite! Work together (if you choose) to get the designated “renegade” by surrounding them with your Karts. Teamwork and item usage are the keys here to win the battle.

Bob-Omb Blast

We loved this returning mode from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! It gave us a taste of nostalgia, except we couldn’t play that on the switch. The rule is to throw and dodge bob-bombs to blast your opponents off the course.

Coin Runners

Collect the most coins scattered around the map. Then use items for strategic driving to outmaneuver your opponents and become the coin king. Easy peasy!!

Shine Thief

steal and hold onto the golden shine for as long as possible. You will get points for holding the dhikr and eliminating the shine holders. It’s a tense and dynamic battle!

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Types of Vehicles

Biddy Bug

This tiny kart is adorable and the driver is even more adorable, Yoshi Offspring. It might not look like much, but its ultra-high acceleration and sharp handling make it surprisingly competitive.

Speeder

It’s a sleek and futuristic kart all about raw power and top speed. We loved Speeder because it thrives straightways and has open tracks while letting us blaze past opponents with the wind whipping through our hair.

Super Blooper

We were surprised when we first tried the super blooper. It is a menacing clown car that might be slow on land, but the incredible underwater handling dropped our jaw!

Standard Kart

Yes, the classic we all loved since we were small kids. Standard Karts will always be in our hearts for their reliability and balanced stats.

you will find many Mario Karts But these are our favourites.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Unlocking Criteria

Gold Mario

This shiny gold version of Mario needs you to win gold trophies in all Grand Prix cups on all difficulties (50cc, 100cc, 150cc, and mirror).

Karts and wheels

yes, you have to unlock some karts and wheels to use them. You have to unlock them by collecting coins throughout the game and completing specific challenges.

Gold parts

You have to earn all three gold stars on every expert staff ghost in Time Trials to unlock all gold parts of your Karts. Once every part is unlocked, you will get a kart that Princess Peach can’t even afford.

Alternative Voice Clips

So what do you want your specific character to have cute voices? then you have to complete certain in-game challenges.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC Wave 5

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC wave 5, released in July 2023, zoomed onto the scene with a mixed bag of offerings. We did not try DLC wave 5 but saw some reviews of mixed emotions on the internet.

While it brought beloved characters and tracks, it also left some fans feeling a bit…underwhelmed.

The Feather Cup had Tokyo Blur 2(GBA), Shimizu Driftway (SENS), Sky High Sundae, and Sweet Sweet Canyon (GBA). Fans tried these tracks and did not find them that interesting to play.

I mean, we have already seen these tracks before; they were not new to the fans, which was the number one reason for them to be flops.

While some tracks, like Tokyo Blur 2 and Sizimu Driftway, warmly welcomed us for their technical challenge and nostalgic charm, others, like Sweet Sweet Canyon and Baby Park, left us wanting more.

Overall, Wave 5 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass is a mixed bag. While we saw some fantastic tracks and beloved characters, the overall selection didn’t quite hit the mark for everyone.

Mario Kart 8 vs. 8 Deluxe: Which one is Better?

The battle of Mario Kart 8 vs. 8 Deluxe has always been on the Internet for a good reason and also got some mixed opinions. So decided to hop on the switch and try both Mario Kart 8 and 8 deluxe to see how it overall feels, and we got some unbiased opinions!!

First, let’s talk about Mario Kart 8—It’s the core Mario Kart experience with a bunch of characters, engaging tracks, and fun gameplay. We think Mario Kart 8 is perfect for newcomers to the series or those who prefer a slightly simple control scheme. The 8 deluxe might be advanced and best for players who already had some skills, to begin with.

You get another advantage from Mario Kart 8 which is that there are no DLC tracks or characters, meaning a more concentrated focus on the original content. Also, playing Mario Kart 8 felt like a real childhood and we prefer experience and nostalgia over everything.

Let’s not forget about the lower price point of Mario Kart 8, which can be found at a more affordable price than the deluxe version. It’s just too good to be true because you are getting a bunch of things at a lower price point.

On the other hand, the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features all the content of the original Mario Kart 8 plus DLC Tracks characters and features along with five new battle mode-exclusive courses that Mario Kart 8 didn’t feature.

It means you are getting the experience of free stuff from Mario Kart 8 by playing the 8 Deluxe which we think is a win-win situation. But the cost can be a bit downside for most people because your parents will not spend that much money. or will they?

So deluxe 8 gives us a layer of depth and excitement with zero-gravity challenges and other mysterious missions that weren’t available on Mario Kart 8. We get a bunch of new characters and karts that were absent in the original Mario Kart 8 which was overall fun to play.

So in the end, if you prefer a basic Mario Kart experience with a lower price point, we suggest you play Mario Kart 8. It is more accessible to people with low budgets, and you will get fun activities with the original Mario experience.

But if you want the ultimate bells and whistles, including anti-gravity sections and additional content, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the clear winner.

Our Overall Experience

We are absolutely in love with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a karting champion, no doubt. We found the tracks diverse and challenging and those characters are blasting with addictive online chaos.

Sure, it has its rough spots, but the pure joy of mastering a tricky corner and outsmarting an opponent with a well-timed item kept us addicted for 12 hours. The graphics and soundtracks were on point and we have no complaints.

Final Thoughts

So, how was your Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review journey? Are you excited to try this racing game? We enjoyed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to the fullest and will recommend everyone to try it.

Even though there were some lackings in the game, those shortcomings won’t be noticeable. We had to notice everything for the sake of this review. But if you are a seasoned player, this is the best Mario Kart game you will ever find. Happy Gaming!

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