Mario Kart Tour is available for download now on iOS and Android. The classic kart racer transitions well to playing on the phone, but comes with some interesting monetization options including the Gold Pass.
In addition to working on iPhones, Mario Kart Tour can also be played on the iPad. While iOS and the upcoming iPadOS allow connecting a DualShock 4 or Xbox One controller, Mario Kart Tour only plays through the touchscreen.
Once you start the game you will be greeted with the first of the monetization models. After completing cups and events, you will get gems which you can use to win new drivers, karts and gliders.
Swipe the Pipe
Praise the Pipe
You can also purchase gems, with the lowest set going for 3 gems for $1.99 all the way to 93 gems for $49.99. The gems allow you to test your lucking winning new items in a pipe or buy selected items in the shop.
What makes this Gacha system unique compared to most is how items factor into gameplay. Other games with this system have focused on items being more cosmetic, while Mario Kart Tour’s items give you different bonuses depending on what items are used.
Some of these bonuses are more passive like increased bonus points, but others have deep gameplay implications like the number of items you get when you hit an item box. Players can also purchase more content through the Gold Pass.
Subscribe With Gold Pass
Thank you for letting me pay you $5 Nintendo
Another way to spend money on Mario Kart Tour is with the Gold Pass. For $5 a month, you will get rarer items through racing, badges for competing events and access to 200cc racing.
$5 a month for some new items and faster racing may seem like a stretch too far, especially with Apple Arcade costing the same amount and Nintendo Switch Online being a dollar less a month. Gold Pass does come with a free two-week trial to try out.
Mario Kart Tour does a tremendous job converting the feel of playing Mario Kart on a controller to the phone. However, at the moment the monetization options might push some away who are looking for a less obtrusive experience.
To learn about Mario Kart Tour, go to mariokarttour.com.
