Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8
Wii U cover art
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)
  • Kosuke Yabuki
  • Yusuke Shiraiwa[b]
Producer(s)
Programmer(s)Yusuke Shiraiwa
Artist(s)
  • Masaaki Ishikawa
  • Masahiro Kawanishi[b]
Composer(s)
  • Shiho Fujii
  • Atsuko Asahi
  • Ryo Nagamatsu
  • Yasuaki Iwata
  • Kenta Nagata[b]
SeriesMario Kart
Platform(s)
ReleaseWii U
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: April 28, 2017
  • CN: March 16, 2020[2]
Genre(s)Kart racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Mario Kart 8[c] is a 2014 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It retains the gameplay of previous Mario Kart games, with players controlling a Mario character in races around tracks. Tracks are themed around locales from the Super Mario series populated with power-ups that help players gain advantages in races. Different difficulties are selectable prior to a race; harder difficulties make gameplay faster. In the new anti-gravity sequences, players drive on walls and ceilings. Mario Kart 8 contains a variety of single-player and local and online multiplayer game modes, including Grand Prix racing and arena-based battle modes.

Nintendo revealed Mario Kart 8 in 2013 and released it in May 2014. Both paid and free downloadable content (DLC) was released after its launch, including additional tracks and a new difficulty setting. It was rereleased on the Nintendo Switch in April 2017 as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,[d] with original DLC, a revamped battle mode and other gameplay alterations. In February 2022, Nintendo announced a new DLC, the Booster Course Pass, which added 48 circuits and eight characters.

Mario Kart 8 was a critical success; reviewers praised its gameplay and presentation, but the battle mode was criticized. Critics praised Deluxe as the definitive version for its improved battle modes and presentation. Both releases have been named by critics as among the best Mario Kart games, have won and been nominated for several awards, and have been cited in following years as being among the greatest video games ever made. Mario Kart 8 is one of the best-selling video games of all time, at over 71.36 million sold. It is also the best-selling Wii U game at 8.46 million sold and the best-selling Nintendo Switch game at 62.90 million.

  1. ^ "NINTENDO REVEALS MARIO KART 8 LAUNCH DATE OF 31st MAY ON Wii U". nintendo.com.au. February 14, 2014. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "《马力欧卡丁车8 豪华版》3月16日正式发售 - 腾讯Nintendo Switch官网". www.nintendoswitch.com.cn. Retrieved May 3, 2024.


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