There are few racing games as iconic as the Mario Kart series. For decades, Mario Kart has entertained millions with no age bracket dividing the fun. Players have enjoyed the lovable Mario characters, ecstatic music, wacky tracks, and of course, those pesky blue shells, for years, with many more to come.

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There’s a very good reason why Mario Kart remains one of the best racing games of all time, and it starts way back with the first iteration of the SNES. Mario Kart has seen plenty of titles, with each new game adding something new. Yet, with so many choices, which is the best Mario Kart game?

Updated on November 9, 2023, by Jake Fillery: Mario Kart remains the most iconic racing game series of all time thanks to its mix of iconic characters, weapons, and fun tracks. Mario Kart 8 just released the final wave of its Booster Course Pack, bringing in even more celebration of Mario Kart's past. With a franchise spanning decades and multiple consoles, what is the best Mario Kart? This update will provide answers to that question with some pros and cons of each title, as well as the addition of the Metascore to provide an insight into how critics and fans felt about the title.

10 Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (2020)

Metascore: 75

Mario Kart at home may seem like a good idea, but if players want to truly enjoy Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, they’re going to need a lot of living room space, and no carpets. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit takes the racing away from the couch, and places it into the real world, as players can create their custom courses with as many obstacles as they want in the way.

It’s an innovative game that makes use of a few assets and purchases, but the problem with Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit comes from the accessibility and the replayability. Players may be able to create their tracks, but they will never have the enjoyable chaos of Rainbow Road.

9 Super Mario Kart (1992)

Metascore: n/a

As the very first Mario Kart title, Super Mario Kart laid the foundation and showed the possibilities that could happen in the future. Super Mario Kart was the start of it all, featuring a varied roster of characters and tracks. However, considering the original Mario Kart is over 30 years old, it doesn’t hold up as well as the others.

Considering Super Mario Kart was the start of the franchise, it’s not surprising that many factors limit the game through technology. The map takes up half of the screen, and it’s hard to see the track ahead because of the graphics, but that doesn’t stop Super Mario Kart from being a classic.

8 Mario Kart Super Circuit (2001)

Metascore: 93

The Mario Kart franchise enters the Game Boy Advance era and takes elements from the previous games to evolve the franchise. In essence, the game is a better version of the original SuperMario Kart, starting with the fact that the map is now a “mini-map” and doesn’t take up half of the screen. There are still disadvantages to Mario KartSuper Circuit, but that doesn’t mean it is not fun.

Experiencing the game now, players will find the traction too low, meaning players will spin and turn in an unresponsive manner unless they hop across the track. Mario Kart Super Circuit has some fun courses but is once again limited as a product of its time compared to other titles.

7 Mario Kart 64 (1997)

Metascore: 83

The 2D Mario Kart franchise bursts onto the 3D scene thanks to Mario Kart 64. Tracks are immediately upgraded thanks to the detail of expansive racing tracks, providing players with a grand sense of speed to make the racing feel even more intense and dangerous when competing against friends or computers.

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There’s a bout of nostalgic value for Mario Kart64, all in part thanks to the new items and classic tracks. Despite the nostalgia, new fans of the series can still enjoy the Mario Kart game that paved the way for superior titles.

6 Mario Kart Tour (2019)

Metascore: 59

When Mario Kart went mobile, many fans were left underwhelmed. Mario KartTour features some great tracks spanning across global locations, but the problem with Mario KartTour lies within the in-app purchases to unlock characters and items, as well as the often difficult use of touch controls that completely differ from a controller.

There’s a relatively safe experience with Mario KartTour, especially when one considers that the game is free for all mobile devices. However, the awkward touch controls make racing more challenging, even if gameplay and graphics are more modern than other titles.

5 Mario Kart 7 (2011)

Metascore: 85

Like all Mario Kart games before it, Mario Kart 7 makes bold new additions to the franchise, with the permanent inclusion of gliders and underwater racing tracks. Mario Kart7 innovates above and beyond for 3DS players, even if the controversy surrounding Waluigi’s exclusion from the roster leaves many fans dissatisfied with the replacement of the Honey Queen.

Nonetheless, Mario Kart 7 fully utilizes 3D graphics to make some great tracks that will have players on the edge of their seats with their handheld console. Mario Kart7’s further adaption of the customizable kart options made for a new varied experience in play.

4 Mario Kart DS (2005)

Metascore: 91

With Mario Kart DS, players had a lot of new experiences waiting for them. Not only could players experience Battle Mode, or the racing modes from previous entries, but now they had Mission Mode. This entirely new setting allowed for players to take on unique challenges and missions for rewards and entertainment.

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Mission Mode aside, Mario KartDS features some creative circuits to bring in some of the best Mario Kart tracks across the franchise, allowing players to enjoy the random and varied chaos across multiple tracks. Although, many fans were happy the Snaking Technique never returned.

3 Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003)

Metascore: 87

Two is better than one as they say, and Mario Kart: Double Dash makes co-op a necessity to gameplay. Each racer now has a passenger that can switch racers and fire weapons. There’s a high level of intensity in Mario Kart:Double Dash, not only from the great and un-complex racing tracks but from the varied mayhem of two players sharing a kart.

The appeal of Mario Kart: Double Dash comes from the joys of the co-op. Players will find an endless supply of fun from the character roster, game modes, and tracks. The randomness and joy mean that anyone has a chance to win, providing a different experience in each race.

2 Mario Kart Wii (2008)

Metascore: 82

Near enough to everything in Mario KartWii is perfect for many fans. The music is exhilarating as players race through the classic and innovative wacky tracks. The character roster is large and plentiful, and the kart customization gives players the freedom of choice for how they’re going to try and take first place, although most players always chose Funky Kong.

The addition of the Wii Remote as a steering wheel allowed for a new and immersive way to play Mario KartWii, even if it wouldn’t stop the flurry of red and blue shells that are on their way to first place. Although the addition of bikes was controversial for their unbalanced speeds, Mario KartWii remains one of the best Mario Kart games for many reasons.

1 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)

Metascore: 92

Although Mario Kart 8 came out in 2014 for the Wii U, Mario Kart 8 received a Deluxe edition for the Nintendo Switch in 2017, which was by far the definitive way to play this Mario Kart title. It’s not a surprise that Mario Kart 9 has yet to see the light of day when one considers how popular and accessible Mario Kart 8 Deluxe truly is. The game does so much right, that it’s hard to find its faults.

There’s a huge character roster, a track list so extensive that the DLC content of the Booster Course Pack only elevates the game further than one thought possible. Mario Kart8 Deluxe offers varied ways to race with the extensive customization system, and with both online and offline play, the game has never been more fun to pick up and try and win.

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