Mario Kart World Reveals Open-World Gameplay

After just three hours with Mario Kart World, it's striking how its brilliant last-one-standing race mode feels like the true headliner – so much so that "Mario Kart Knockout Tour" might've been a more fitting title. Nintendo's puzzling promotion of the Switch 2 launch title focuses heavily on its open world, a feature fans have clamored for since the series' early days. While conceptually exciting, my hands-on experience with the free roam mode left me surprisingly disappointed.

Empty Roads Ahead

The inevitable comparisons to Forza Horizon highlight where Mario Kart World stumbles as an open-world experience. Unlike Playground Games' masterfully crafted racing playgrounds – packed with challenges and genuine discovery – Mario Kart World's sprawling map feels strangely barren during my 30-minute exploration. Vast grasslands, deserts, and coastal areas stretch emptily between the occasional repetitive challenge, lacking the density and creative spark expected from Nintendo's flagship racer.

The P Switch challenges initially provide brief entertainment – typically involving coin collection or checkpoint races – but their cookie-cutter design (rarely lasting more than 15 seconds) quickly becomes grating rather than gratifying. Nintendo's normally impeccable sense of rewarding exploration feels absent here, replaced by sticker rewards that pale next to Horizon's barn finds or Odyssey's costume shops.

A World Without Wonders

Progression remains oddly tethered to traditional Grand Prix racing rather than leveraging the open world's potential. While Peach Medallions offer some platforming-inspired fun requiring mastery of new mechanics like rail grinding, they ultimately unlock yet more stickers rather than meaningful upgrades. Even discovering warp pipes (normally gateways to secret delights in Mario games) merely teleports players short distances rather than revealing hidden challenges.

The childlike joy of commandeeping a massive truck Mario Odyssey-style serves as a fleeting reminder of Nintendo's creative potential – precisely what's missing throughout most of the open world. Dynamic weather and biome-specific music demonstrate technical polish, but fail to enhance the fundamental gameplay experience.

Saving Grace

The open world redeems itself as connective tissue between traditional tracks – particularly enabling the excellent Knockout Tour's cross-country chaos. This elimination mode brilliantly utilizes environmental diversity, proving far more engaging than repetitive laps would allow. As a racing sandbox rather than a true open-world destination, Mario Kart World shows flashes of promise.

Ultimately, Knockout Mode deserves center stage rather than playing second fiddle to an underdeveloped open world – especially at $80. Series veterans may find more satisfaction sticking to traditional races, while younger players will likely enjoy the colorful playground regardless of its limitations.