Mario Kart World’s Fan Favorite Character is Already Clear

Mario Kart World has officially launched on the Nintendo Switch 2. As the newest entry in Nintendo’s beloved kart racing series, and the premier game for the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s no surprise that players are eager to jump into the action. Notably, while Mario Kart World signifies a massive evolution for the franchise, with its Knockout Tour elimination mode, Free Roam options, and new courses, one character is stealing the spotlight.

Often seen grazing in the pasture and waddling across the streets of Moo Moo Meadows and Moo Moo Farm, Cow has officially become one of 50 playable characters in Mario Kart World. First introduced in Mario Kart 64 in 1996, Cow was one of the most recognizable and beloved NPC figures in the franchise. Now, with their grand debut as a racer in the newest Mario Kart game, it’s no surprise that the bovine celebrity is quickly becoming the most-picked character.

Mario Kart World Almost Cut Two Core Series Items

Two of the most iconic power-ups in the Mario Kart series were almost left out of Mario Kart World due to the game’s new framework and mechanics.

Cow Is Everywhere in Mario Kart World

Everyone Wants to Play As Mario Kart World’s Cow

Mario Kart World stands out for implementing previously unplayable NPC creatures into its racing roster, such as Cow, Dolphin, Goomba, Monty Mole, and Sidestepper. Although some fans previously criticized Nintendo for not naming Cow “Moo Moo,” it seems all is now forgiven as players rush into Mario Kart World to race as them. Unfortunately, while Cow and the other NPCs don’t have unlockable costumes in Mario Kart World like mainline characters such as Daisy and Luigi, this hasn’t stopped players from flocking to Cow in droves.

The popularity of Cow cannot be overstated, as fans of the adorable farm animal are taking to social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) to share pictures of them. Some lobbies even consist entirely of Cow, with no other characters in sight, racing to the finish line in a stampede of fellow Cow enthusiasts. With many now past the initial shock that Cow is a playable character in Mario Kart World, some players are declaring that Cow is taking over the game, but they aren’t upset about it.

With players declaring Cow the best character in Mario Kart World and proudly calling themselves “Cow mains,” it’s clear that fans are having an ‘udderly’ delightful time. From racing Cow across the tracks on magic carpets, to performing tricks in Mario Kart World to generate more boost, there’s no doubt that Cow is the new star of the Mario Kart IP. Even as far back as the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in April, many people were observed selecting Cow during the loading stages.

There May Be More to Cow Than Meets the Eye

Cow’s implementation as a fully-fledged addition to the roster began with a sketch of them driving a truck, with a polite smile on their face and not a thought behind those eyes. In an interview with IGN, art director Masaaki Ishikawa commented that when the designers saw this sketch, they “realized the course surroundings actually contained a lot of untapped resources.” As such, this opened the floodgates for other Mario Kart World NPCs, such as Cheep Cheep and Pokey.

However, the 2025 racing title may have some darker undertones. One of Mario Kart World‘s features, Dash Food, lets players pick up snacks from Yoshi’s drive-thrus scattered across the map to obtain new outfits. Some players were horrified to spot Cow snacking on a burger in some of the promotional content for the game, which traditionally contains meat, potentially even beef. To clear up the mystery, Mario Kart World producer Kosuke Yabuki was asked what exactly Cow was eating in a roundtable interview. Unfortunately, Yabuki remained tight-lipped, replying, “Sorry, that’s top secret. I can’t say.”