Highlights

  • Nintendo is likely developing the next Mario Kart title, given the series' popularity and consistent release schedule.
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is currently the most successful game in the franchise, potentially making it difficult for fans to move on to a new installment.
  • The next Mario Kart game will need to introduce innovative mechanics and surpass the content of its predecessor in order to make a significant impact.

While nothing has been officially revealed yet, there is a strong chance that Nintendo is hard at work developing the next Mario Kart title. The series is one of the biggest that Nintendo has, and not a console goes by without a brand-new entry. So, if the studio is working on a new console, then it is probably working on a Mario Kart as well. And if it actually is, Nintendo will have to try extremely hard to make fans care about it.

Based on the franchise's history, the next Mario Kart will probably be a success no matter how much content it has. However, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has cemented itself as the biggest title in the franchise to date. Because of that, it may be hard to convince fans to leave it behind for whatever comes next. Just like with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, once a studio crafts the ultimate version of its franchise, it is almost impossible to go any bigger.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder DLC Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Mario Kart's Future May Have a Hard Time Beating Its Present

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Has Become the Premier Mario Kart

As of now, Mario Kart 8 has been the focal point of the franchise ever since the Wii U era. The game launched in 2014 and took the series to new heights by delivering a fantastic kart racing experience. It was then further expanded upon with DLC, which was a first for the series. That support and quality made it the best-selling Wii U game of all time, which is why it was probably expanded upon when the Switch rolled around.

Instead of moving on to a new title, Nintendo ported Mario Kart 8 over to the Nintendo Switch through Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It included all the DLC, improved upon the weaker parts of the original, and introduced several new elements. Fans seemed to love it, as seen by the fact it has become the best-selling Switch game of all time. And while players thought the Mario Kart 8 fun would end there, Nintendo surprised everyone when it announced a new wave of DLC in 2022.

The Booster Course Pass expanded Mario Kart 8 Deluxe greatly by doubling the track count over the course of six waves. Not only did it bring back fan-favorite courses from Mario Kart's past, but it also introduced a few new ones along with some new characters. All of that helped make it the biggest Mario Kart experience to date, with some even comparing it to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Mario Kart 9 Will Have to Try Hard to Make an Impact

Now that the DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is seemingly over, all eyes are on what Nintendo will do next with the franchise. While Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit was an interesting twist on the formula, most players are waiting to see where the mainline series goes from here. And because Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has become the premier kart racer, that next step does not seem very obvious.

A ninth Mario Kart is likely on the horizon, and it may be hard for it to make an impact. If it launches with less content than the eighth game currently has, then fans may have little reason to make the jump over. Unless it introduces a slew of exciting new mechanics and delivers a game unlike any other, it could be overshadowed by its predecessor.

If Nintendo is not careful, then Mario Kart may quickly be forgotten about. Even though the DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been fantastic, delivering all of that content in one game just makes it so that the next game has to blow audiences away, and hopefully Mario Kart 9 will be able to do just that.