Every returning track in Mario Kart World
By Ryan Woodrow
As is tradition in the Mario Kart series, a whole host of tracks from older MK games will be returning in the upcoming Mario Kart World, though things are a little different this time. With the game’s new open world format and extra mechanics like wall riding and rail grinding, the returning tracks in this game will be undergoing slightly more substantial changes than in previous games.
Still, many of them are easily recognizable as beloved tracks from older games, so we’re going to run through them all and identify which games they’re from. If you want to know more of what's the game, check out our list of every character in Mario Kart World.
Desert Hills – Mario Kart DS
There is one desert track or another in every Mario Kart game, and World is pulling from the DS’s library for Desert Hills. World is changing the vibe a little, though, as it’s looking a lot greener than it was before, looking more like an oasis than the barren desert of the original. This is the third time the track has appeared in the series, also appearing in MK Wii.
Shy Guy Bazaar – Mario Kart 7
This is a nice night-time track from MK7 which is themed around an Arabian Bazaar, though with the Shy Guys populating it in this instance. It was known for being a track with disappointingly few shortcuts, so we’ll see if World changes that. This marks the first time this track has reappeared in the series since it was originally introduced in MK7.
Wario Stadium – Mario Kart 64
Wario Stadium is finally getting its time in the spotlight, as thanks to the DS version of this track stealing its thunder, this was the only MK64 track that hadn’t been included in a future game until World came along. The classic version of this track is back, though, for the first time since MK64, and we’re sure it won’t disappoint.
Airship Fortress – Mario Kart DS
Airship Fortress was one of the most requested tracks when the MK8 DLC was being unveiled over the last few years, and while we didn’t get it then, it’s finally back in World and looks to have received a fair few changes that make some of its plainer sections more interesting. This is the third time this track has been in the series, last appearing in MK7.
DK Pass – Mario Kart DS
MKDS seems to be getting a lot of love in World, with this winding snowy mountain track offering a perilous race across thin roads with huge drops on either side and giant snowballs rolling down to crush you along the way. This is the third appearance for this track in the series, most recently returning for MK7.
Sky-High Sundae – Mario Kart 8
The only Mario Kart 8 original track to make it into World, this track was released in the second wave of DLC on the Switch and was later released for Mario Kart Tour, too. It’s a very fun chaotic track and some of the precarious sections with lots of jumps and drops are sure to be wild with 24 racers.
Wario Shipyard – Mario Kart 7
From a stadium to a ghostly shipyard, Wario sure runs a weird variety of businesses. This promises to be one of the more watery tracks in the game and will no doubt benefit from World’s new feature of riding on top of the water rather than racing into it, so we might see some big changes in this one. This is the first time this track has returned for a Mario Kart game since it debutted.
Koopa Troopa Beach – Mario Kart 64
This is perhaps one of the more forgettable tracks from MK64, so we wouldn’t be surprised if it underwent a significant overhaul for World, especially in the aesthetics department, as it’s quite a plain beachside track. This is the third time this track has been in the series, last featuring in MK7.
Peach Beach – Mario Kart Double Dash
While it has a nice look, thanks to being set on Isle Delfino from Mario Sunshine, this track has quite a simple layout and stays pretty flat throughout, something we hope World will remedy with its take on the track. Still, it’s nice to see some Double Dash representation. This is the third time we’ve seen Peach Beach in a Mario Kart game, the last time being in Mario Kart Wii.
Dino Dino Jungle – Mario Kart Double Dash
Dino Dino Jungle is one of the more complex tracks we’ve seen and easily one of the most fun to look at, thanks to all the dinosaurs wandering about the place. We can’t wait to see how they look on the Switch 2, and hopefully, it will add some more innovations from recent Mario Kart games. Like a lot of classic tracks, this is the third time it has featured in an MK game, with its last appearance coming in MK7.
Moo Moo Meadows – Mario Kart Wii
Something of a sequel track to Moo Moo Farm from MK64, this Wii track is bound to be quite the chaotic affair with 24 racers in World. While the layout is quite simple, it has narrow paths with grass on either side and sections where there are plenty of hazards to bump into. I’m starting to feel like a broken record, as this is the third time that this track has been in an MK game, most recently appearing in the base game of Mario Kart 8.
Choco Mountain – Mario Kart 64
Choco Mountain is one of the most notably different tracks from the glimpses we’ve seen of it in World, however, we’re sure it’ll still capture the unsafe and hilly vibe of the original. While it’s quite simple layout wise it has its fair share of hazards, and the high canyon walls will no doubt offer some great wall-riding opportunities. This is the fourth time Choco Mountain has been in a Mario Kart game, previously appearing in MKDS and MK8 as DLC.
Toad’s Factory – Mario Kart Wii
Another track people were disappointed got left out of MK8’s DLC, but Toad’s Factory is back and, hopefully, better than ever in World. Its square layout made for a unique track, especially with all of the fun hazards you could encounter along the way. This marks the first time Toad’s Factory has reappeared in a Mario Kart game since it debutted.