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Play Overview
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017) is a go-kart racing game where you race against Nintendo characters around different circuits, picking up power-ups, attacks and speed boosts. It is frantic and chaotic but still requires skills to do well.
Mario Kart tries to balance things between the different abilities of players. At the back, you go a little faster and get better power-ups. This results in good races for a range of players. Even so, experienced players can stay ahead by slipstreaming other karts, skidding around corners to get a boost and learning shortcuts.
Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 4 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 7 months ago.
Mario Kart tries to balance things between the different abilities of players. At the back, you go a little faster and get better power-ups. This results in good races for a range of players. Even so, experienced players can stay ahead by slipstreaming other karts, skidding around corners to get a boost and learning shortcuts.
Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 4 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 7 months ago.
There are lots of games similar to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Here are some we picked for you:
Play Style
This is an Action, Race and Traversal game with Battle elements. You can play with 1 to 4 players in the same room or as a 12-player online game. In most Mario Kart games you can play 4 players split-screen on one system. On Mario Kart 8, you can play with up to 12 other people:
You can race against ghost laps of other players. These appear on the course when you race, and represent the best lap. From Mario Kart 64 onwards, you can race the best times of the developers via the Staff Ghosts. You have to unlock this in Mario Kart 64, with a fast lap time. Mario Kart DS offers one unlockable Staff Ghost per track. Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7 offer two Staff Ghosts per track. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, there are two Staff Ghosts, one for 150cc, and one for 200cc.
- -4 players locally (1 Switch and 1 copy of the game).
- -8 players locally where each person has the console and game (8 Switches and 8 copies of the game required).
- -12 players locally with two people per Switch (6 Switches and 6 copies of the game required).
- -12 players online where each person has the console and game (12 Switches and 12 copies of the game required).
You can race against ghost laps of other players. These appear on the course when you race, and represent the best lap. From Mario Kart 64 onwards, you can race the best times of the developers via the Staff Ghosts. You have to unlock this in Mario Kart 64, with a fast lap time. Mario Kart DS offers one unlockable Staff Ghost per track. Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7 offer two Staff Ghosts per track. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, there are two Staff Ghosts, one for 150cc, and one for 200cc.
You can play this game in the following styles:
- Competitive Local
- Competitive Online
- Multiplayer With Portable Devices In The Same Room
- Asynchronous Play
This has been enjoyed by families in the following styles:
Benefits
This game is good if you want to:
- Play games good for autistic diversity
- Play your first racing game
- Play games not needing fine motor control
- Compete On Separate Devices
- Use motion controls rather than sticks
- Play with one button
This game has helped players develop their Behaviour, Belief and Experience as part of the following pathways:
This game has been the inspiration for the following activities:
Kiwi Co Kits
MAKING AND DESIGNING
Age Ratings
Content Rating
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.
Skill Level
5+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it’s important for parents and guardians to ensure they understand in-game purchases and have spending limits set-up. One family told us, "My niece (5 years old) loved playing Mario Kart 8 with her dad using the acceleration and steering assists." This keeps you on track and makes the other karts easier to steer.
Our Game Pathways reveal how 5-year-olds play this game:
- 5-year-old: Practicing with Challenge
Costs
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe usually costs £49.99.
Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U offered in-game purchases, packs and a season pass for additional characters, tracks and vehicles. These are all included in the Switch version of the game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This game on Wii U and Switch supports Nintendo's amiibo, figurines and cards that can be purchased separately to unlock in-game items.
The additional content came with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch. However, you can purchase downloadable content on the Switch via the Booster Course Pass. This can be purchased as a pack or comes as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
Mario Kart Tour on iOS enables you to start for free if you link your Nintendo account, it then offers in-game purchases to advance and upgrade in the game.
There are Mario Kart games available on many different platforms:
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
- In-Game Purchases: Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.
- In-Game Pass: Purchase a season/battle pass to gain access to limited in-game purchases, reward items and other aspects of the game.
Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U offered in-game purchases, packs and a season pass for additional characters, tracks and vehicles. These are all included in the Switch version of the game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This game on Wii U and Switch supports Nintendo's amiibo, figurines and cards that can be purchased separately to unlock in-game items.
The additional content came with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch. However, you can purchase downloadable content on the Switch via the Booster Course Pass. This can be purchased as a pack or comes as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
Mario Kart Tour on iOS enables you to start for free if you link your Nintendo account, it then offers in-game purchases to advance and upgrade in the game.
There are Mario Kart games available on many different platforms:
- Super Mario Kart (1992) on SNES with two players.
- Mario Kart 64 (1996) on N64 with four players split screen.
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001) GBA
- Mario Kart: Double Dash (2003) Gamecube with two players on one kart
- Mario Kart DS (2005) DS with online multiplayer
- Mario Kart Wii (2008) Wii with motion controls
- Mario Kart 7 3DS (2011) with 3D visuals and flight
- Mario Kart 8 (2014) Wii U with anti-gravity racing and flight
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017) Switch
- Mario Kart Tour (2019) iOS
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Game Details |
Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships. |
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