With the release of Wave 4 of the Booster Course Pass,Mario Kart 8 Deluxecontinues to add new content for the players, indicating there’s no rush to work on a sequel.Mario Kart 8 Deluxeis the best-selling Nintendo Switch game, but there’s one way to makeMario Kart9break those numbers on the Switch or the next Nintendo console. Nintendo could take aSuper Smash Bros.approach and incorporate other Nintendo franchises into the next racing game.
ASuper Smash Bros.version of aMario Kartgame just makes sense. Not only would a Nintendo Kart garner a lot of attention and popularity in the gaming world, it would also be a potential bestseller if fans from other gaming franchises see their favorite characters racing along Mario and friends.Mario Kart 8 Deluxeand other pastMario Kartgames have already included non-Super Mariocharacters into games already, although those special guest characters rarely stick around, aside fromNintendo’s Miis.
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Nintendo Could Bring Back All Racers to Mario Kart 9 Similarly to Smash Ultimate
The newMario Kartgame should imitateSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateby returning all racers from previous games into the new roster. EveryMario Kartgame always introduced new characters who often didn’t stay for sequels. For instance,Mario Kart 7featured Wiggler, who didn’t return toMario Kart 8.Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s latest DLC has already shown the game’s ability to perform a similar idea toSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate’s “Everyone is Here!” asBirdo makes her return to theMario Kartbase gamesfor the first time sinceMario Kart Wii.
Wave 4 of the Booster Course Pass forMario Kart 8 Deluxealready revealed five more DLC character slots, hinting at the possibility of new or returning characters. Fans would be ecstatic to see beloved characters return to the racetrack, including Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, and R.O.B. Yet, if those racers don’t make the roster forMario Kart 8 Deluxe, they should be included in theMario Kartsequel as part of a big reunion with the cast and the players.
More Nintendo Franchises Should Appear in Mario Kart 9
Nintendo already has the formula and assets to createaSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateracing game.Mario Kart 8 Deluxealready included several non-Super Mariocharacters in the base game, including the Inklings fromSplatoon, Link fromThe Legend of Zelda, and the Villagers and Isabelle fromAnimal Crossing. It also has several courses based in non-Super Mariolocations, such as Excitebike Arena and Hyrule Circuit. Interestingly enough,Mario Kart 8 DeluxeincludesF-Zerocourses Big Blue and Mute City, yet Captain Falcon doesn’t appear as a racer.
NewMario Kartcharacters from other Nintendo games would have to be some of the most famous ones. Some characters that come to mind are Kirby, Pikachu, Samus Aran, and Princess Zelda. All four of those characters come fromNintendo’s most popular video game franchises, and they would add on to the popularity ofMario Kartwith their appearances. Players would find it adorable seeing Kirby and Pikachu driving karts and doing tricks in midair. Meanwhile, Samus and Zelda would add on to the growing female cast.
Of course, with every newMario Kartgame, there’s always new tracks to be added. Nintendo could take inspiration from other Nintendo games for building fun and unique racetracks. For example, it would be cool to have a course taking place in a wild location reminiscent ofPokemon Snap, where players race around a track surrounded by various types of Pokemon. Nintendo could also remake courses fromKirby Air Ride, which should be nostalgic for those who played the game.
It wouldn’t be a newMario Kartwithout new vehicles either. There are a lot of properties in Nintendo video games that could look really look great as vehicles, as two examples are Samus' iconic gunship and Kirby’s own Warp Star. Nintendo may not reveal any progress on a newMario Kartgame for a long time, but the company should be ambitious with the project. For now, players will have to settle and see what comes in the remaining twowaves of the Booster Course Pass.
