Need a hand picking a Mario Kart World kart and setup? We can help with that. Here are our picks of the best options, be it a car, a bike, or a flame-covered sled. Remember to look at the stats of your kart options - speed, acceleration, weight, and handling all play a part, even if the aesthetics are the main thing many of us go for. Mario Kart builds aren't a factor here, so I'm sticking with the cutest kart.
We also have a guide on every Mario Kart World character so you can properly pick a driver alongside your kart, and if you're not sure how to transfer to Switch 2, we can help out with that, too. Plus, here are some recommendations for new Switch games to pick up and test out.
The best Mario Kart World karts
We're still getting to grips with the new karts on offer and reuniting with our favorites, and how builds work, in Mario Kart World. Here are our top picks of the best Mario Kart World karts so far:
Standard Kart
You can't go wrong with a standard option. Mario's ride or die since day one, the standard kart offers good stats across the board and will see you zooming over the finish line in no time. It's back again after appearing in previous Mario Kart entries like Wii and 8.
Roadster Royale
New for Mario Kart World is the Roadster Royale. It's a pretty car with a pink design, inspired by none other than Princess Peach. But don't let it fool you, this car can get some speed going.
Dread Sled
While the regular karts are fun, we're partial to an ATV - an all-terrain vehicle - now and then, especially now that Mario Kart World lets you drive pretty much anywhere. The Dread Sled has skis, allowing you to glide around. Plus, this one has flames, so it makes you go faster - that's just science.
Big Horn
Our new favorite character in the game is the cow, so naturally, we love the Big Horn kart that is almost certainly made for the cow herself. It has horns. It's got a golden nose ring. It looks excellent, and handles just as well.
Billdozer
As the name suggests, the Billdozer is themed around the Bullet Bill, a classic Mario enemy. Specifically, the Bomber version that has a mouth and flames coming out of its back end… for extra speed on the track. I love this design. I also love the Bullet Bill item that lets you zoom past your opponents, so maybe I'm just hoping it lets me do the same.
Bumble V
Bees. Everyone loves bees. And what better way to intimidate opponents on the road than with a kart equipped with a huge, metal stinger at the front? We recommend driving the Bumble V (get it, like a bumble bee?) as Stingby for the full experience.
Mach Rocket
Moving back to bikes, we're looking at the Mach Rocket. Wanna go fast and do it in style? This is the vehicle for you. It seems to follow the same theme as the Mach Bike from Mario Kart Wii, but with a more modern design.
Bowser Bruiser
Another brand new addition to the Mario Kart World lineup is the Bowser Bruiser. It's an ATV and, you guessed it, resembles Bowser and his aesthetics. ATVs are a little thin on the ground in the game, with this being one of a handful of current vehicles. It also appears to replace the Standard ATV, as that's not included in the roster. Plus, the Bruiser is the only ATV with four wheels at this time.
Are there Mario Kart World setups?
In Mario Kart World, there are no setups like previous titles. World doesn't feature multiple components for you to switch out - Mario Kart builds are a thing of the past as the new vehicles come as they are, but we believe that items and food will boost your performance on the track.
You may notice, though, that different characters can affect the stats of certain karts - large, medium, and small types can give boosts to speed, overall performance, and handling, respectively. We're working out which characters are which, and we'll update with more information as soon as we finish these laps.
How do I get more karts in Mario Kart World?
Unlocking new karts is thankfully quite easy. Each new kart costs 100 coins, but earning them comes naturally as you play Grand Prix, Knockout Tours, and even the Free Roam modes.
How many karts are there in Mario Kart World?
In total, there are 40 available karts in Mario Kart World. You start Mario Kart World with ten vehicles unlocked. These are:
- Baby Blooper
- Chargin' Truck
- Cute Scoot
- Funky Dorrie
- Mach Rocket
- Plushbuggy
- Rally Bike
- Rally Kart
- Standard Bike
- Standard Kart
As you play the game and collect coins, you can randomly unlock the following vehicles:
- B Dasher
- Biddybuggy
- Big Horn
- Billdozer
- Blastronaut III
- Bowser Bruiser
- Bumble
- Carpet Flyer
- Cloud 9
- Dolphin Dasher
- Dread Sled
- Fin Twin
- Hot Rod
- Hyper Pipe
- Junkyard Hog
- Lil Dumpy
- Lobster Roller
- Loco Moto
- Mecha Trike
- Pipe Frame
- ROB HOG
- Rally Gator
- Reel Racer
- Ribbit Revster
- Roadster Royale
- Stellar Sled
- Tiny Titan
- Tune Thumper
- W-Twin Chopper
- Zoom Buggy
Those are our picks for the best Mario Kart World karts so far. If you're looking for a way to upgrade your real-life setup, we recommend you grab some of the best Switch 2 accessories, including the camera, to kit out your Switch. You can also see what we know about a new Zelda game and any other new Mario games coming up.