Even as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to thrive, demand for Mario Kart 9 is high. Leakers painted the picture of a compelling new Mario Kart game featuring lots of guest characters and Item Box reworks, but instead Nintendo recently revealed the Booster Course Pass DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe that gives the Switch title more tracks five years after launch. It's a shame that Mario Kart 9 doesn't appear to around the corner, but at least the Booster Course Pass is a valuable opportunity for fans to experience a broader range of Mario Kart history - especially for players who haven't tried Mario Kart Tour.
The first wave of Booster Course Pass courses includes a number of courses from Mario Kart Tour, emphasizing the mobile game's tracks based on real-world cities, but Lucky Cat Cup also features Ninja Hideaway. This ninja-filled dojo premiered in Mario Kart Tour in 2021 and puts players' navigation skills to the test with a layered design offerings lots of optional paths. Ninja Hideaway is a particularly rich addition to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and it ought to be a symbol of the franchise's future. Mario Kart 9 deserves more clever course designs like Ninja Hideaway.
Why Ninja Hideaway Stands Out
Mario Kart courses are generally linear since all players need to share the same objectives, but that doesn't stop Ninja Hideaway from pushing its limits. Many of the courses added in Wave 1 of the Booster Course Pass are pretty strictly organized. Tracks like Choco Mountain and Sky Garden have some unique obstacles and the occasional shortcut, but they're ultimately simple paths that keep all racers on the same road. Ninja Hideaway couldn't be more different; full of branching paths and multiple levels that keep racers relatively in the same place, but with varied options to try and outmaneuver opponents.
Racing on more linear Mario Kart tracks can feel repetitive with time, but in Ninja Hideaway no two races are identical. Players can stick to the ground level in search of shortcuts, ride through the roof to avoid opponents, or weave between the two to keep other players guessing. That inventive design makes Ninja Hideaway a worthy representative of Mario Kart Tour and a strong addition to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Mario Kart is always a solid party game, but tracks with options like Ninja Hideaway really enhance replayability.
Inspiration for Mario Kart 9's New Tracks
Ideally, Ninja Hideaway should have a major impact on Mario Kart 9's course design. The next Mario Kart game will need some traditional, linear racetracks for a classic racing experience, but it also needs to think outside the box in other courses. Mario Kart tracks with lots of layers and optional side roads could make Mario Kart 9 much more engaging overall thanks to the additional split-second decisions that players need to make.
It's possible that Nintendo included Ninja Hideaway in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's new DLC on purpose. The DLC is a great way to get more feedback on Mario Kart Tour's course design, and that feedback could help inform the old and new tracks that Mario Kart 9 features. So far, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe players seem thrilled with Ninja Hideaway, so hopefully that response is getting through to Nintendo. As a solid member of the Booster Course Pass, Ninja Hideaway ought to be a role model for Mario Kart 9. More courses with such creative structures would be invaluable.
Mario Kart 9 is rumored to be in development.
