Mario Kart World has quite literally taken the world by storm since it was announced during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2nd, 2025. A new Mario Kart game with an open world map that requires us to race between courses, with 40 characters comprised of new and old faces from Nintendo's history.
While regulars like Yoshi, Mario, Bowser and Peach return, new characters that don't have arms like Goomba and Pokey are somehow going to be in charge of vehicles and be in with a chance of becoming Mario Kart Champions. There's certainly a character for everyone below, and yes... Monty Mole is back.
Here's the list of characters confirmed for Mario Kart World so far. Bear in mind that more characters will undoubtedly be released over the coming months and years, so I'll be keeping this list up to date when new characters arrive on the track!
1. Baby Daisy

- First Game Appearance: Mario Kart Wii (2008)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario Kart Tour (2019)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Wii (2008)
2. Baby Luigi

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
- Last Game Appearance: WarioWare: Move It! (2023)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Double Dash!! (2003)
3. Baby Mario

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
- Last Game Appearance: WarioWare: Move It! (2023)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Double Dash!!
4. Baby Peach

- First Game Appearance: Mario Kart Wii (2008)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario Kart Tour (2019)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Wii (2008)
5. Baby Rosalina

- First Game Appearance: Mario Kart 8 (2014)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario Kart 8 Tour (2019)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart 8 (2014)
6. Biddybud

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario 3D Land (2011)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart World (2025)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
7. Birdo

- First Game Appearance: Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003)
8. Boo

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart World (2025)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
9. Bowser

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Super Mario Kart (1992)
10. Bowser Jr.

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003)
11. Cataquack

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
12. Chargin' Chuck

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario World (1990)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party: Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Tour (2019)
13. Daisy

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Land (1989)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party: Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003)
14. Dolphin

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario World (1990)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario Party Superstars (2022)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Wii (2008)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
15. Donkey Kong

- First Game Appearance: Donkey Kong (1981)
- Last Game Appearance: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart 64 (1996)
16. Hammer Bro

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Bros (1985)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Tour (2019)
17. King Boo

- First Game Appearance: Luigi's Mansion (2001)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003)
18. Koopa

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1995)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario Party Superstars (2022)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Super Mario Kart (1992)
19. Lakitu

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Super Mario Kart (1992) Mario Kart 7 (playable) (2011)
20. Luigi

- First Game Appearance: Mario Bros - Game & Watch (1983)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Super Mario Kart (1992)
21. Mario

- First Game Appearance: Donkey Kong (1981)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Super Mario Kart (1992)
22. Monty Mole

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario World (1990)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Tour (2019)
23. Moo Moo

- First Game Appearance: Mario Kart 64 (1996)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart 64 (1996)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
24. Nabbit

- First Game Appearance: New Super Mario Bros. U (2012)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Tour (2019)
25. Goomba

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
26. Pauline

- First Game Appearance: Donkey Kong (1981)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Tour (2019)
27. Peach

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Super Mario Kart (1992)
28. Peepa

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario 3D Land (2011)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart World (2025)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
29. Penguin

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario (1996)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart 64 (1996)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
30. Pokey

- First Game Appearance: Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Double Dash!! (2003)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
31. Rosalina

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Wii (2008)
32. Shy Guy

- First Game Appearance: Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart: Super Circuit (NPC) (2001)
33. Sidestepper

- First Game Appearance: Mario Bros (1983)
- Last Game Appearance: WarioWare: Move It! (2023)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
34. Spike

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart World (2025)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
35. Stingby

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario 3D Land (2011)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart 7 (2011)
- First Time Playable In A Mario Kart Game
36. Toad

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Super Mario Kart (1992)
37. Toadette

- First Game Appearance: Mario Kart Double Dash!! (2003)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Double Dash!! (2003)
38. Waluigi

- First Game Appearance: Mario Tennis (2000)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart Double Dash!! (2003)
39. Wario

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992)
- Last Game Appearance: Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Mario Kart 64 (1996)
40. Yoshi

- First Game Appearance: Super Mario World (1990)
- Last Game Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
- First Mario Kart Appearance: Super Mario Kart (1992)