If there’s one Nintendo game that we’ve been wanting to get our hands on for a long time now, it’s Mario Kart 9.
Sure, we’ve enjoyed playing the new courses that keep cropping up, but not that many are actually new, with Nintendo just pushing out updated versions of old courses.
And don’t forget that Mario Kart 8 actually came out on the Wii U in 2014, making it almost 10 years old now.
As your faithful Retro Gaming aficionados, we’ve been scouring the internet to find all of the leaks, rumours, and release date information on Mario Kart 9 for you to soak up like a sponge.
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What Can We Expect From Mario Kart 9 Gameplay?
Nintendo hasn’t changed the Mario Kart formula for many-a-year now. Ok, there was that short blip with Double Dash, but the same ‘race, fire shell, gloat at mates’ system has been the core to every game since the SNES.
Now, however, talk of new features such as tackling other opponents SSX Tricky-style is on the cards, as well a boosting via shaking Joycon remotes as opposed to finding red mushrooms.
As we all know, Nintendo need to mix things up a little with this new release, with gaming analyst Dr Serkan Toto saying that there needs to be some serious twists thrown in to keep fans coming back for more.
We’re talking pit stops and a pit-crew team like the Nickelodeon Racing games, and taking on damage just like F-Zero X.
That would make sense for Rainbow Road alright!
That would mean getting health or coins to keep your kart on track, and while it would appeal to some users, I think many gamers that just like the fun of tootling around the track would feel alienated.
So, if you’re listening Nintendo, pit-stop yes, damage no, ok?
The Best Selling Racing Game In US History
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe still sells faster than Toad’s special mushroom burgers at Peach’s holiday cookout, which is probably why Nintendo haven’t released Mario Kart 9 yet. Still, that game first came out in 2014 on the Wii-U, which means it’s time for a change.
It’s sold over 40-million copies for crying out loud, making it the best selling racing game in US history!
The past few years have been jam-packed full of rumours for a new Mario game, and we’ve had one new remake in the form of the Super Mario RPG Remake and an announcement for Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
That makes Mario Kart 9 dropping next even more likely, especially now the Metroid Prime 4 Release Date has leaked along with other titles such as the Ocarina of Time Switch edition.
Mario Kart: Home Circuit
I know we’ve had Mario Kart Home Circuit around since 2020, but I’m not counting that as a main Mario Kart title. It’s more of a gimmick, and don’t think we’ll be seeing any of that in the new Mario Kart game.
What we want is that same wow factor the first time that we turned on Mario Kart on the Wii U.
But how are Nintendo going to top that?
The Main Mario Kart 9 Rumours
The biggest of all the Mario Kart 9 rumours is that the character roster is set to be more akin to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate rather than just being set on the same-old Nintendo characters.
That means as well as the introductions of the likes of Pauline, Zelda, and Tom Nook to the series, we could be seeing Pac-Man, Sonic, Marth, and many more characters entering the fray.
That’s not as wild as you might think either – Sonic and Mario have teamed up plenty of times with their Olympics games, after all, so why not again now!
I for one would love to have Ganondorf going up against Zangief from Street Fighter. New characters keep gamers coming back time and time again, and unlocking them is something that Mario Kart should definitely implement.
Mario Kart 9 Vehicles
Another hot topic on the internet is the cars that people will be racing in. We’ve had multiple karts and bikes so far, with some pretty weird and wacky creations making the cut.
A lot of chatter is suggesting that Mario’s new racer might finally be giving a nod to Diddy Kong Racing and allowing players to head through the air too, and not just on gliders.
Wario in a plane is something I think we all want to see, right? Or maybe Mario in the Odyssey!
Driving over water in a hover craft won’t be on the menu as Mario Kart 8 had so much going on underwater.
But, just as TotK turned to the sky to add new depth to the game, Mario Kart 9 looks set to do the same.
Latest Mario Kart 9 News
Mario Kart Tour is ceasing to get new updates, which has to mean that Mario Kart 9 is just around the corner.
And that’s not all…
The final Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC is also set to drop on (you guessed it) October 4th!
Essentially, Nintendo are tying up their final loose ends and paving the way to some new Mario Kart action.
And, as I’ve said multiple times on Retro Dodo for years now, it’s about time!
Mari Kart 9 Courses
Of course, one of the main selling points of any Mario Kart title is the levels.
Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe have introduced more courses that don’t follow the circular route structure of standard race tracks (with the same start line also being the lap line and finish line), and we’d like to see more of this.
You know what I’m thinking – a winding course through Hyrule with Bokoblins to dodge as you’re driving.
Maybe we might see some Sonic Frontier’s themed courses, or a Metroid inspired route. The backgrounds are key, and it would be great to interact with them more as we play.
What Is The Mario Kart 9 Release Date?
Sources close to Nintendo claim that Mario Kart 9 is ready to be released, with a Summer 2024 release date most likely.
Think about it; that would be 10 years since the previous Mario Kart game, which is long enough for anyone to wait to get some new Mario Kart goodness.
And by this point, Nintendo will have exhausted the amount of unlockable tracks for us to play on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, meaning that they will have done everything they can with it without adding even more DLC, which I don’t think they would do.
Plus, with the news that Mario Kart Tour and the Switch DLC are both coming to an end, that Summer 2024 release date is so likely that we can hardly contain our excitement whenever we think about it!
There is speculation that Mario Kart 9 could come with the new Nintendo Switch 2, however, and it would definitely be a great selling point if Nintendo were to drop a new console.
For us, it’s a toss up between a new Mazza Kart or Super Mario Odyssey 2 dropping with a new Switch.
Which one do you think is most likely?
Join us on the Retro Dodo Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages and let us know!
Is Mario Kart On Nintendo Switch?
Yes, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is on Nintendo Switch. It released on April 28th, 2017.
When Did The Last Mario Kart Game Come Out?
Mario Kart 8, the last main Mario Kart game came out in 2014 on the Wii U.
We’ve had a Deluxe Version for the Switch since then and Mario Kart: Home Circuit, but we’ve not seen a new Mario Kart game as such for almost 10 years now.
Why Is Mario Kart So Good?
Mario Kart is a game that anyone can play no matter their gaming ability thanks to auto-steer and accelerate (both of which can be turned off). It’s bright, family friendly, and above all else, incredibly fun to play.
Mario Kart is one of the least threatening games out there, and you can play with your friends online all over the world too!
The characters are memorable and it’s super addictive to play. Plus, the battle modes are perfect for rainy Sundays hanging out with friends.
Who Is The Best Mario Kart Character?
Bowser Jr. is the best Mario Kart character with great acceleration, handling, and weight stats.
Twinned with the Pipe Frame kart and either Mr Scooty, the City Tripper, or the Varmint bike, he’s a serious force to be reckoned with.
Check out our article on the Best Mario Kart characters for more details!
When Is Mario Kart 9 Coming Out?
Mario Kart 9 will most likely be available to buy in Summer 2024.
That would be 10 years after the last game released, and Nintendo love their landmark dates alright!
Seb Santabarbara has bought every Nintendo console that has ever been released in his 33 years on Planet Earth. His favourite game franchise is Zelda, and he’s patiently waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to come back to the fold. When he’s not playing games, he’s travelling the world in his self-converted camper van.
