Mario Cart is a beloved Nintendo franchise that has existed since 1992 and is still hugely popular today. From Circuit Roads to Jungles, Mario Kart has seen it all. But have you ever wondered what the best 10 Mario Kart tracks are?
Nintendo introduced eight new tracks with its latest Wave 4 addition. Tour Singapore Speedway, Tour Bangkok Rush, Wii DK Summit, Tour Amsterdam Drift, GBA Riverside Park, DS Mario Circuit, GCN Waluigi Stadium, and Yoshi’s Island. As good as these are, though, not all of them cut when it comes to which is best.
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The 10 Best Mario Kart Tracks of All Time
In fact, the best ten Mario Kart Tracks of all time are widely considered to be Wario Stadium, Rainbow Road, Airship Fortress, Coconut Mall, DK Summit, Rainbow Road, Mount Wario, Mute City, Hyrule Circuit, and Animal Crossing. The real debate is the order, so we’re here to set the record straight. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
10. Mute City Track from Mario Kart 8
Mute City Track is similar to F-Zero and captures the pure essence of high-speed racing in a futuristic setting. You must drive to pit areas to collect ten coins to get off to your max speed. There are only a few shortcuts, especially at the end of the corner; the player can drive straight to the finish lines. The track is full of jumps and boosts, making it one of the series’ most exciting the franchise has ever seen. Also, the coins are not naturally present on the course, and you must drive through the recharge pads to collect these coins. This adds an extra challenge to the experience.
9. Hyrule Circuit from Mario Kart 8
Hyrule Circuit blends the Mario Univers with the Zelda Universe. It replaced Coins with Green Rupees, Deku Babas with Piranha Tress, and Keese replaces Swoopers. If you love Zelda, you’ll love Hyrule. The track takes place inside the Hyrule Castle, and you can hit all anti-spinners and unlock the ramp that leads to the sword endowed with the triforce pedestal. Do not forget the sound effect from the original game, The Legend of Zelda, which is something to be remembered as you speed your way through its twists and turns.
8. Animal Crossing from Mario Kart 8
This track collaborates with Animal Crossing, and the course contains contents from the Animal Crossing franchise. Town Hall, Able Sister’s Shop, and many familiar villages can be seen throughout. If you are playing in GP mode, you can pick up typical fruits from trees at the beginning, giving you small boosts. You will find a fan-favorite Animal Crossing character Mr. Resetti at the end of the track. The track includes four variations that randomly change, bringing extra excitement to the game. Sure, it’s a track for AC nuts, but there’s plenty about the design that well earns its place on our list.
7. DK Summit from Mario Kart Wii
This is the racecourse of the Flower Cup in Mario Kart Wii, and the track is located between snowy mountains. Clearly, it’s inspired by the idea of snowboarding. The action begins by blasting up to the top of the hill. Driving off from ramps and flipping off from the edges to stay ahead of the competition makes this one of the most thrilling tracks in the game. The track was rereleased in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with minor graphical tweaks, making it even better. The tracks Barrel Cannon are aimed at the mountain like in DK Mountain in Mario Kart Double Dash and are covered with snow and various snow piles similar to DK Pass in Mario Kart DS. This brings a unique experience combining these two tracks that we can’t get enough of. Still, it doesn’t quite make our top 5.
6. Mount Wario from Mario Kart 8
Similar to Summit, Mount Wario focuses on racing through the snow-capped mountains in Mario Kart 8. It differs, though, since it is a one-way course with no loops. You start by driving off the plane and landing on a snowy Mount Wario. From there, the track has an extensive watery caves section with various jumps and sharp turns. You must go through the trees and feel like you are in the Olympic games at the end section. The track does not loop race series; instead, it has three sections. Players experience these different sections Only on a few tracks in Mario Kart, and for that novelty, it surpasses Summit on our list.
5. Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 64
Rainbow Road is one of the most fun and challenging tracks ever conceived in a Mario Kart game. It is a long track that takes racers through space, with sharp turns and an incredible view. It is also the most extended track of the game, with a length of 2000m. Players love the shortcut at the beginning of the track, which cuts off half of the distance and adds an element of strategy to the experience. The faster and upgraded version of the Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8 is still fantastic but does not come close to the one in Mario Kart 64. This track has rails throughout the course, which is a significant difference from other Rainbow tracks, and colliding with rowing chomps will throw you into the air making it more challenging the winning.
4. Wario Stadium from Mario Kart 64
This is the first race course of Mario Kart 64 and the second-longest Race in the game, with a 1591 m distance. The track is filled with all sorts of bumps and jumps. There’s even a giant ramp right before the finish line, and placing Traps and Bananas to spin opponents here makes it one of the most strategic tracks. Unfortunately, it has not been replicated in future game installments, and we definitely miss it. Also, there are very sharp turns, and with the bumps, the track is outstanding compared to other tracks in the same period. Nintendo, if you’re listening, bring back Wario Stadium!
3. Airship Fortress from Mario Kart Ds
Airship Fortress is one of the game’s most engaging tracks, allowing players to race on an Airship. Going to the Airship while it shoots bullets directly at you is always a blast (no pun intended). However, once you board the Airship, Rocky Wrenches pop up and attempt to stop you from winning. This track is among the most challenging, thrilling, and a favorite among players which marks its position at third place on our list. The track was remade in Mario Cart 7 and received considerable fan attraction. Also, players will remember the soundtrack of Airship Fortress, which also appeared in the Mario & Sonic series.
2. Coconut Mall Track from Mario Kart Wii
This is the second course of the Flower Cup in Mario Kart Wii, and the track is located in a shopping center in Isle Delfino and become our second-most favorite track of all time. This was remade in Mario Kart 7 and 8, but it is still the best. It is trendy for its iconic music, striking visuals, and enormous size. Coconut Mall is a massive track with many escalators and fountains. This makes it one of the most legendary tracks in the series, especially with its outstanding music.
1. Rainbow Road Track from Mario Kart 7
So here comes the number one track of all time in the Mario Kart Series Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 7. All the Rainbow courses in the game have something unique on their own. However, Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 7 is undoubtedly one of the best. The track takes the players on a fantasy ride with its stunning visuals and soft background music. There is a gliding section with considerable air time and distance cut off if you hug off the right side of the Saturn planet. Also, the moon section with light gravity makes you feel you are in outer space. Driving on Moon and Saturn Rings is a different experience than other Rainbow series tracks in the game. The track gives a very different experience for players with different planetary racing experiences, outstanding music, and scenarios making it top of the list.
So, these were the 10 Best Mario Kart Tracks of All Time in the Mario Kart Series. So, pick one of them, start racing, and have an exciting experience! Enjoy!