Mario Kart Tour

 iOS
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 25
  3. Negative: 5 out of 25
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  1. Destructoid
    Sep 27, 2019
    45
    Mario Kart Tour is a blemish on the franchise it shares its name with. The genre-defining creativity found in past entries is completely absent here, replaced by a hollow experience that's simply coasting on the name and goodwill of the games that came before it. I can only hope this is Nintendo's mobile initiative hitting rock bottom, and that it's all uphill from here. Because I can't stand the thought of another one of my favorite series having its reputation dragged the mud in search of a quick buck.
  2. 4P.de
    Sep 27, 2019
    42
    No multiplayer, but a multitude of point- and currency-systems. Even though you can unlock a lot for free, the finance model takes a toll on the game design – too much to make this an entertaining party game.
  3. Screen Rant
    Sep 27, 2019
    40
    It's entirely possible to enjoy Mario Kart Tour without spending a dime, but the game can never quite escape the sleazy shadow of its true nature - a loot box delivery system.
  5. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 29, 2020
    30
    I sincerely hope that investors see this as a wake-up call that's harmful to Nintendo's long-term reputation. [Issue #43 – November/December 2019, p. 26SW]
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  6. Metro GameCentral
    Sep 29, 2019
    30
    A good looking but shallow repurposing of Nintendo’s classic kart racers, transforming it form the world’s favourite racing game to a cynical, and disturbingly persistent, cash grab.
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  1. The Daily Dot
    Sep 26, 2019
    This game could suck a lot of your time—and battery life—if you try to max out every conceivable level and configuration for every tour.
  2. The Verge
    Sep 26, 2019
    That core is bland and inoffensive, doing just enough to feel like Mario Kart. The problem is so much of the game feels designed around monetization, as opposed to just being a fun game.
  3. Vice
    Sep 26, 2019
    The racing portion Mario Kart Tour is bad, it’s Mario Kart with guard rails. Maps are pulled from the series greatest hits and races are limited to two laps. The finger controls work well. I placed my finger below the racer, holding before the starting gun to get a little boost, and drifting side to side to toss blue sparks and blast ahead of the rudimentary competition. But there is no sense of stakes or risk thanks to the guardrails on the levels. Mistakes didn’t send me careening into a field or off a cliff, but bounded me back on to the track.

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best iOS Game of 2019
1
#1 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2019

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
4.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 318 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 318
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 318
  3. Negative: 178 out of 318
  1. notmyfallout
    Sep 26, 2019
    0
    The worst in Nintendo's line up of mobile app offerings, Mario Kart tour preys on a younger audience, using aggressive monetization practicesThe worst in Nintendo's line up of mobile app offerings, Mario Kart tour preys on a younger audience, using aggressive monetization practices to make revenue from gaming whales. The app itself is a shambles and here’s why:

    • The game is free to play, yet on launch day was plagued by multiple users running into server connectivity issues, unable to play the game.

    •‘Mario Kart Tour’ tries to trick you into thinking there is a multiplayer component by including a ‘multiplayer’ option in the home screen menu of the app when in fact you are playing against CPU opponents exclusively. This is made worse by the use of player usernames in-game to trick the user into thinking they are playing against real people around the world.

    • Rarity rates for characters are ridiculous, with chances of obtaining certain characters being as low as 1%. Furthermore, some of these rare rate characters are also locked behind timed events, prompting players to try to obtain them before they disappear forever. This will cause players to spend more time and money in game and is a monetization model that has been made famous by ‘Fortnite’ introducing scarcity to drum up revenue.

    • 10 minutes before the game was released, a ‘gold pass’ subscription was announced costing $4.99 a month. This pass paywalls certain modes in the game such as a 200cc mode, and will allow users to unlock specific characters, carts and cosmetics. This amounts to $60/year which is a lot of money for a free to play game. Nintendo have not been upfront about this ongoing charge through the adverts for the game, as they know how egregious this is. How can anyone justify the price of content offerings from a Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass when it costs more that an annual Switch Online subscription? Or apple arcade for that matter!

    • The app utilises ‘Gacha’ mechanics introducing loot boxes, in game currency and gambling type systems to keep users engaged, and spending more money.

    • The game is 100% pay to win. When the user first launches the game often win races and place high in rankings. As time progresses users will need certain cars, characters or items that make the player faster or increase player rewards. This means free to play players are at a disadvantage. Remember, all of these take place in a single player experience.

    • This one is subjective but the gameplay is as casual as it can get, and honestly is quite boring. Exceptions can be made for this being a mobile experience, but there is no skill to driving and every track ends up feeling the same because of the lack of control the player has.

    It’s worth mentioning that this project was outsourced to Chinese app firm, yet Nintendo would still have approved every decision made. This sets a worrying trend for the future of gaming and the future of Mario Kart on Nintendo consoles. If you enjoy Mario Kart, you could buy both MK8D and a Nintendo Switch and still end up paying less than this app could cost you in the long run.    … Full Review »
  2. Hyuugaraul
    Sep 26, 2019
    10
    I really can't understand all the hate with this game. The same thing that happened in a different way with Mario run. The currency system isI really can't understand all the hate with this game. The same thing that happened in a different way with Mario run. The currency system is irrelevant if you play the game because you earn good rewards as well by playing the Cups.
    And the gameplay is really amazing for a mobile game. I'll only subscribe in some months after I'm sure that I'v already beaten every cups.    … Full Review »
  3. hkjhkjh
    Sep 26, 2019
    0
    Yesterday I looked in the shop, the rubies that you need for opening the tubes, from which you can get the drivers and cart parts, just cost 7Yesterday I looked in the shop, the rubies that you need for opening the tubes, from which you can get the drivers and cart parts, just cost 7 € for 10 pieces (if you decide for the second cheapest offer) , for information: One tube opening costs 5 rubies, that is, one tube opening costs 3.5 € wtf

    By the way, you can get the same item out of the tubes several times (it was the case for me with the free rubies you get), they go up in the level or something, so you have to put in more money, if you really want to get everything    … Full Review »
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