Mario Kart World confirms new modes and features for Nintendo Switch 2 Michael Beckwith Published April 17, 2025 3:41pm Updated April 17, 2025 3:41pm Mario Kart World is offering a lot but is it enough to justify its price tag? (YouTube) Today’s Nintendo Direct has revealed a number of new details about Mario Kart World, including new driving techniques and missions in the open world. Although it’s only been a couple of weeks since the last Nintendo Direct, which revealed the first real details about the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has followed that up with another much shorter livestream focused on Mario Kart World. The game served as the opening announcement for the previous Direct and is a game we’ve already been hands-on with ourselves, but Nintendo has revealed a number of previously unmentioned new modes and features. The new Direct spent a lot of time reiterating information already shared in the previous Direct, as well as Nintendo Treehouse livestreams, but there were at least some new details to be gleaned, including information on the open world and new driving techniques. Mario Kart World’s open world is the standout feature of the game, and allows you to drive from one racetrack to the next during Grand Prix and the new Knockout Battle mode. It’s also freely explorable, but it was never clear if there was anything tangible to do aside from the races. Attendees of the recent Switch 2 preview event in London uncovered hidden vehicles scattered around the world, but Nintendo has confirmed there are other secrets throughout, that warrant going off-course. Blue P-switches can be pressed to activate different kinds of missions, like collecting blue coins within a time limit. Nintendo hinted at other secrets too, like collectible medallions and panels, but it’s unclear what rewards there might be for finding these. Nintendo also went into a bit more detail about other gameplay modes you can experience, both solo and with friends. Time trials and battle mode are back, as well as team races. In previous games team races only split players across two teams. With Mario Kart World supporting up to 24 players, you can have up to four teams duking it out at once. For the hardcore Mario Kart players, Nintendo confirmed a new charge jump technique, which anyone who attended the London preview likely stumbled across. By holding down the drift button while driving in a straight line, you can leap into the air, which, with the right timing, can be used to dodge incoming obstacles and items. This can also be used to drive up and alongside walls, making this something of an evolution of Mario Kart 8’s anti-gravity mechanics. In that game, this was limited to specific sections of the racetrack, whereas it seems Mario Kart World will let you drive up any wall, but only for a short period of time. Perhaps the most surprising addition is a rewind feature, essentially letting you undo any mistakes you make. So, if you botched a jump and missed a shortcut, you can rewind and try again. It appears this is restricted to single-player though, and Nintendo warned that rewinding only affects the player. Opponents will carry on as normal, so the rewind can’t be used to cheat. More Trending Beyond all this, there were no major revelations and very little mention of playing solo, so while the game looks great this Direct isn’t going to quieten complaints about its exorbitant price tag. That said, Nintendo used the Direct as an opportunity to promote the console bundle that comes with a digital copy of the game. In typical Nintendo fashion, it didn’t mention the price, even though that’s public information, but it’s a very good deal. For £429.99 you get the Switch 2 console and a digital copy of Mario Kart World, meaning you’re only paying £34 for the game instead of £66.99 (digital) or £74.99 (physical). This offer will only last till this autumn though. Despite the promotion, Switch 2 console pre-orders still haven’t gone live on the My Nintendo Store, with Nintendo restricting it to those who’ve been sent an invitation email, although you can pre-order physical Switch 2 games. Nintendo really needs to be pushing this more (YouTube) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy