The Unwritten Rules of Mario Kart World Explained

Summary

Coins are vital for speed and unlocking vehicles in Mario Kart World, making them essential to collect.
Hold defensive items in Mario Kart World for protection and to stun rival racers.
Performing tricks in Mario Kart World not only looks cool but also gives players a speed boost.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and while it may be lacking in launch titles, Mario Kart World is nonetheless an excellent way to break in the new console. With a fresh take on the familiar Mario Kart formula, Mario Kart World has plenty in store for longtime fans of the franchise as well as newcomers, with its Free Roam mode being one of its most notable new features.

With Mario Kart World taking the franchise in a whole new direction and the fact that it marks the first original console Mario Kart game since Mario Kart 8 debuted in 2014, players of any experience may need to get acquainted with a few unwritten rules about its mechanics and certain aspects of its new modes before they hit the tracks. While some of these rules are relevant to the series as a whole, there are a few things about Mario Kart World, specifically, that would benefit players to know ahead of time.

How to Get & Use Stickers in Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World’s Stickers are a way of customizing your kart and showcasing your progress in the game. Here’s how to get and use them.

What Mario Kart World Players Need to Know

Coins Are More Valuable Than Ever

One of the main things players should be aware of in Mario Kart World is that coins are now more valuable than they have ever been in the series. Firstly, coins have long increased the player’s top speed during a race, and they still do in Mario Kart World. During a normal race, players can collect up to 20 coins, so keeping those maxed out at all times is a way to ensure they arrive at the finish line long before the other racers do.

With a fresh take on the familiar Mario Kart formula, Mario Kart World has plenty in store for longtime fans of the franchise as well as newcomers, with its Free Roam mode being one of its most notable new features.

However, coins now do more than just increase top speed. Whereas coins have been used to unlock vehicle parts in previous entries, they now contribute towards unlocking a vast array of fully assembled vehicles in Mario Kart World, so players wanting to collect every vehicle in the game should pick up any coins they find. One of the most efficient ways to do this is to play Mario Kart World‘s Free Roam mode, as there are coins scattered throughout the game world for players to find.

Items Can Be Held for Defense on the Tracks

This next one is one of the oldest tricks in the Mario Kart playbook, but it’s still worth mentioning. While players might be tempted to use items as soon as they acquire them during a race, some of those items are more effective when they’re held and used for defense — especially when players are ahead in the race. For example, shells can be held rather than fired to protect the player’s rear during a race in Mario Kart World, should another racer behind them send a shell hurling toward them. These items are also useful for taking out any racers that attempt to pass players, as getting hit by them can briefly stun the opposing racer.

Tricks Aren’t Just for Show

Something else players should note about Mario Kart World is that tricks aren’t just meant to make them look cool while they’re racing. Rather, performing tricks in Mario Kart World can help them get ahead in a race, as it will grant them a small boost once they land after doing the trick. To do a trick, players simply need to find a ramp of some sort, or even a steep incline, and press R just as they are leaving the edge of the ramp while tilting the left control stick in any direction they wish. Their racer will then perform a trick, and the boost will automatically be granted to them once they land.

Mario Kart World: How to Unlock All Characters

Mario Kart World has 18 unlockable characters to play as, and here’s how to get them all.

New Techniques Can Help Players Reach Special Areas

Among Mario Kart World‘s most distinctive features as a Mario Kart title are its new Techniques — particularly Charge Jump, Rail Ride, and Wall Ride. These aren’t just fun gimmicks, however, as they are actually some of the most useful abilities in Mario Kart World. In Free Roam, specifically, these new Techniques can help players reach areas that have special rewards like coin piles, medallions, P-Switch missions, and more. Charge Jump is an especially useful skill if players want to reach a higher area without finding another way around it.

To Charge Jump, players simply need to hold down R without tilting the left control stick and then release it once the ability charges.

Rewind Is the Most Efficient Way to Try Again

Speaking of new abilities, Mario Kart World‘s Rewind skill is brand-new to the franchise, although other racing IPs have implemented a similar function. Essentially, by holding down on the D-Pad during single-player in Mario Kart World, players can rewind time, thereby allowing them a chance to correct their mistakes. Since this ability can’t be used in multiplayer for obvious reasons, it is most effective when used in Mario Kart World‘s Free Roam mode, as it’s very easy to make mistakes during P-Switch missions or when attempting to reach otherwise hard-to-reach locations.

Always Be on the Lookout for Dash Food

Finally, it’s important that players always be on the lookout for Dash Food in Mario Kart World, thanks to its versatility as an in-game collectible. These special items are gold and look like a take-out bag, but while they may initially appear to be just like any other item in the game, they are far from it. By collecting and using a Dash Food item, players can not only transform their racer to take on a different appearance, but they can also potentially permanently unlock a new skin for that racer, if it happens to be one they haven’t obtained yet. Additionally, using a Dash Food item grants players a small boost, so they’re useful for more than one reason.