This has become the go-to game whenever friends come over. Someone always suggests Mario Kart and everyone’s immediately on board.
Teaching people who’ve never played before is always fun. Watching them figure out drifting for the first time or discover they can hold items behind them for protection. Everyone starts out driving straight into walls on Rainbow Road but by the end of the night they’re pulling off shortcuts. The progression from complete chaos to actually racing is hilarious every time.
The best part is how it becomes this recurring thing. Friends who barely play games will text me saying they want to come over and play more Mario Kart. They want their rematch from last time. Everyone remembers that one race where they almost won or that perfect red shell hit. These grudges carry over between sessions.
I try not to go too hard when playing with friends. Nobody wants to be the person winning every race by half a lap. I’ll pick lighter characters or weird kart combinations to keep things closer. We stick to 150cc usually or drop down to 100cc if someone’s never played before. Still usually win though. Can’t help it when someone drives straight off the track three times in a row.
Battle mode is perfect for mixing things up when people get tired of racing. Balloon battles get way too competitive with the right group.
The game just works for any skill level. Complete beginners can stay on the track with smart steering. People who know what they’re doing can turn all that off and actually race. Four player split screen runs perfect and everyone can follow what’s happening on their quarter of the TV.
40 hours might not sound like much but that’s 40 hours of actual local multiplayer. No online randoms. Just friends yelling at each other about blue shells and arguing about who actually crossed the line first. That’s what makes this game special.
Still the ultimate crowd pleaser. Every friend group needs that one person with Mario Kart ready to go.