Mario Kart is one of the most successful franchises in Nintendo history and several tracks from the series are so iconic that they are virtually ingrained in fans' minds. When Mario Kart 8 was first released in 2014, it brought together several of the best tracks from throughout the history of the franchise for fans to enjoy.
After Mario Kart 8 was ported over to the Nintendo Switch as a Deluxe edition, the developer also gave fans the opportunity to play through even more of the classic tracks by putting together DLC as well. It remains one of the most popular games available on any Nintendo console for good reason, and some of the tracks that have featured throughout Mario Kart series are among the best from any racing game.
10 Rainbow Road - Mario Kart 7 & Mario Kart 8
Rainbow Road is without a doubt the most iconic Mario Kart tracks and there have been several different versions of it throughout the series. The version that is most fondly remembered by a lot of fans was released with Mario Kart 7, and it's a fantastic example of what makes Mario Kart such a fun sports game.
Not only is the Rainbow Road track in Mario Kart 7 longer than its predecessors but its also mapped out as one lap split into three sections, instead of three laps of the same track.
9 Koopa Troopa Beach - Mario Kart 64 & Mario Kart 7
Koopa Troopa's are a classic enemy from the Mario universe and their beach is home to one of the most iconic tracks in Mario Kart history. This course features in both Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart 7 with very little differences between the two games, other than graphics updates and aesthetic changes.
The crabs littered throughout the track are a nightmare and there's an item box containing a spiny shell hidden in the track, allowing players to cause chaos if they make the right moves.
8 Baby Park - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Baby Park has the simplest design of any Mario Kart track and many fans consider it among the easiest ever. Normally that would be a negative, but the use of items in Mario Kart quickly transforms what should be straightforward into something chaotic.
Because racers are never too far apart, items get thrown from every angle and a blue shell can easily take out plenty of opponents if timed well. With so many laps in Baby Park, it's easy for the track to become littered with bananas too.
7 Bowser Castle 3 - Super Mario Kart & Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Bowser's castle is the setting for several different Mario Kart tracks throughout the series, and Super Mario Kart on the SNES saw three tracks take place there. The final trip to Bowser's castle is the one that caused players the most problems, and is often regarded as one of the most difficult in series history.
Any course surrounded by lava is going to be difficult but the number of jumps and sharp turns make this harder than most. With several hidden dash panels, experienced players could do well regardless of how tricky the track was.
6 Tick-Tock Clock - Mario Kart DS & Mario Kart 8
Given that the series had been going for over a decade by the time Mario Kart DS was released, it was always going to be difficult to come up with new ideas. Tick-Tock Clock was a fantastic example of ingenuity though, being set inside a giant clock and using gears to create challenges and advantages.
One element allows players to get a boost if they choose the forward-moving gear and slows down those that make the wrong choice, while clock-hands can cause trouble if they're not avoided.
5 Neo Bowser City - Mario Kart 7 & Mario Kart 8
Neo Bowser City is definitely among the hardest Mario Kart tracks ever, and that's why it remains memorable for so many fans of the series. The track had a number of tight turns that might have encouraged players to drift, if not for the puddles spread throughout as well.
The course has a tight S-bend that can either be devastating or fantastic depending on how good the player is at drifting, and a huge turn towards the end of the track that makes for a great finish if taken well.
4 Wario Stadium - Mario Kart 64
Wario Stadium is one of the longest tracks in Mario Kart history and is a big part of why Mario Kart 64 is one of the classic entries into the series. There's several dirt-ramps littered throughout the course and a well-timed mushroom or two can give players a huge boost.
The number of twists and turns in Wario Stadium make drifting a necessity and anyone who isn't at least proficient probably isn't going to win the race, and no amount of items is going to make up for it.
3 Wario Colosseum - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Wario Colosseum is the longest track in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and is limited to two laps as a result. It still left an imprint in many fans' memories though, thanks to its great design and the fact that it often caused players to fall off.
There are a ton of dash panels littered throughout the course and with plenty of bumpers, it encouraged players to be reckless as they progressed. This false sense of security was taken advantage of at opportune moments, when the bumpers were removed and plenty of players careened off course.
2 Moo Moo Meadows - Mario Kart Wii & Mario Kart 8
Part of why Mario Kart 8 was regarded as one of the best first-party sports games on the Nintendo Switch was the fact that it allowed players to revisit beloved tracks from old games. Moo Moo Meadows is one of those tracks, as it is often fondly remembered from its introduction in Mario Kart Wii.
The course looks charming and pleasant, but looks can be deceiving. It has a lot of high grass to slow players down, alongside moo moos and monty moles as regular obstacles to trip players up.
1 Maple Treeway - Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 7, & Mario Kart 8
Maple Treeway is a relatively recent addition to the series that makes good use of foliage with a fall setting. It's one of the most attractive Mario Kart tracks and makes good use of leaf piles by hiding items inside, revealing them when players crash through.
It's a relatively easy course with a few shortcuts available that can shave off some time; and although pairs of wigglers at different points in the track can be devastating, they are pretty easy to avoid for an experienced racer.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is available now on the Nintendo Switch.