Mario Kart 8

 Wii U
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2023 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,789 out of 2023
  2. Mixed: 86 out of 2023
  3. Negative: 148 out of 2023
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  1. TrueIcee
    Dec 20, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mario Kart 8 isn't really anything new, but it still makes a fun racer for the whole family to enjoy from time to time. The tracks are really great, mainly thanks to the new Anti-Gravity gimmick that ties the whole function of Mario Kart 7 together. I think that I should mention that this game's presentation is top notch. It looks very nice, while running at 60 FPS with one or two players, online included.

    The 32 Tracks shouldn't leave you bored, especially with some really good new tracks, like the Electrodrome and Mount Wario, and even fan favorite N64 Rainbow Road makes it's return.

    That doesn't mean this game isn't without it's problems. Honestly, this game's roster is easily one of the worst of a Mario Kart game. Half of the game's 30 characters are just clones of others, and fan favorites like Diddy and Birdo are missing. Function wise, the Coin power-up can completely break the item balance, ultimately dooming the person in 1st even more so then ever, Super Horn or not. The online may not be perfect, but for the most part it runs rather well, but be prepared for some random disconnects once in a blue moon.

    Overall, Mario Kart 8 is a good racing experience for the Wii U. I highly recommend it.    … Expand
  2. skulltulainahat
    Dec 15, 2014
    10
    With fantastic music, great colorful and vibrant graphics, and a good variety of tracks (some new and some returning) there is nothing bad I can say about Mario Kart 8. The perfect kart racer and my favorite Mario Kart game thus far.
  3. GurinJaw
    Dec 13, 2014
    10
    Gotta love this game! Super fun and addicting! Playing online against people around the world on a competitive level has a great feeling into it, I also loved the Zelda DLC, Nintendo knows how to pull off DLCs the right way!
  4. midway23
    Dec 10, 2014
    9
    Even if this game doesn't differ from previous iterations in the series, it would be a shame if it did. Mario Kart 8 brings enough new things to the table while keeping the core kart racing experience better then ever. Run's beautifully, looks amazing, plays great and is an absolute joy to play with friends. Is it worth buying a Wii U for Mario Kart 8? I'd like to say yes.

    This is the    Even if this game doesn't differ from previous iterations in the series, it would be a shame if it did. Mario Kart 8 brings enough new things to the table while keeping the core kart racing experience better then ever. Run's beautifully, looks amazing, plays great and is an absolute joy to play with friends. Is it worth buying a Wii U for Mario Kart 8? I'd like to say yes.

    This is the best Mario Kart game yet.    … Expand
  5. WordofthePlay
    Dec 7, 2014
    10
    A must own game. Entirely familiar but exciting new stages and players. This game has the best offer on DLC right now. It's something youll actually get use out of.
  6. kasparius
    Dec 5, 2014
    10
    I've been waiting to write a review of the game for a while. I've had the game since day one and loved it. But for me the true test of a great Mario Kart is how long I'll be playing it. This is a game I pick up at least once a week on my own, and even more so if friends are over, or if I'm playing online with my family abroad. Simply put, it is by far the greatest Mario Kart ever made. TheI've been waiting to write a review of the game for a while. I've had the game since day one and loved it. But for me the true test of a great Mario Kart is how long I'll be playing it. This is a game I pick up at least once a week on my own, and even more so if friends are over, or if I'm playing online with my family abroad. Simply put, it is by far the greatest Mario Kart ever made. The DLC that Nintendo made for the game is an incredible value for the price, as you get 8 new tracks that are all as great as the tracks that come with the game. It is a must own for anybody who loves video games.… Expand
  7. camilosanchez16
    Dec 4, 2014
    9
    Sin duda el mejor apartado gráfico que hasta el momento Nintendo ha creado y uno de los mejores que el 2014 ha sacado a luz, junto con InFAMOUS SS, jugabilidad, excelente DLC y pistas únicas, con un contra que es el modo batalla, el cual no juzgo pues no lo juego.
  8. PyxyGames
    Nov 27, 2014
    9
    Now, this isn't the BEST game in the Mario Kart series, (my favorite was Mario Kart Double Dash) but honestly, I LOVE this game! New anti-gravity modes, Great HD graphics, A great attention to detail, and oh my god, don't even get me started on the new features! Parachutes, new car customizations and so much more! Lot's of playable characters and a nice sense of progression! 9/10 for sure!Now, this isn't the BEST game in the Mario Kart series, (my favorite was Mario Kart Double Dash) but honestly, I LOVE this game! New anti-gravity modes, Great HD graphics, A great attention to detail, and oh my god, don't even get me started on the new features! Parachutes, new car customizations and so much more! Lot's of playable characters and a nice sense of progression! 9/10 for sure! But once again, Mario Kart 8 isn't the BEST game in the Mario Kart series EVER, but it sure is close.… Expand
  9. HawkeyeWii
    Nov 26, 2014
    10
    Easily one of the best Mario Kart games and still one of the best games released from this new generation of consoles. It looks gorgeous and plays so smooth. One of hte more amazing factors is that the game continues at a 60fps pace even in two player spilt screen. Lets hope there is no end in sight for this gem of a franchise.
  10. TheGamingCrypt
    Nov 26, 2014
    10
    Absolutely brilliant! very fun to play especially with friends! off and online! amazing graphics and great Gameplay! you wont get games of this quality anywhere else other than Nintendo
  11. LuigiCuau
    Nov 24, 2014
    9
    Después de años desde el juego de Wii, llega este juego con la innovación de la gravedad, que la verdad se ve maravilloso, pistas padrisimas y un game play excelente, Mario Kart 8 es un juego que te ara pasar horas de diversión, sin embargo no logra el 10 por las siguientes razones:

    1 No hay escenarios para batalla de balones, jugar en las pistas no son divertidas 2 Senda arcoiris muy    Después de años desde el juego de Wii, llega este juego con la innovación de la gravedad, que la verdad se ve maravilloso, pistas padrisimas y un game play excelente, Mario Kart 8 es un juego que te ara pasar horas de diversión, sin embargo no logra el 10 por las siguientes razones:

    1 No hay escenarios para batalla de balones, jugar en las pistas no son divertidas
    2 Senda arcoiris muy pobre, se supone que debe ser la pista más difícil y más larga y es lo contrario muy corta y muy fácil
    3 personajes que no convencen, metal peach, baby rosalinda ¿quieren más ?

    De hay en fuera el juego es exelente    … Expand
  12. Detrucci
    Nov 22, 2014
    10
    This game is fantastic, Yes it has a couple of bad things like the new battle mode. But the replayability of this game is brilliant. I play it with my 3 children and we have great fun with races. Sometimes we change it to custom modes for added craziness like Shells only.
    The brand new DLC is fantastic. There are influence from F Zero and the Legend of Zelda. There are many characters to    This game is fantastic, Yes it has a couple of bad things like the new battle mode. But the replayability of this game is brilliant. I play it with my 3 children and we have great fun with races. Sometimes we change it to custom modes for added craziness like Shells only.
    The brand new DLC is fantastic. There are influence from F Zero and the Legend of Zelda. There are many characters to unlock, tons of stages and vehicle unlocks. The graphics are solid at 1080p 6fps    … Expand
  13. ShadowUchiha73
    Nov 20, 2014
    7
    Mario Kart 8 is a very good game, but is it really the best Mario Kart, let only best Wii U game; how about no. Mario Kart 8 has a few noticeable problems like coins being items, ruining Battle Mode, and a few problems with Mario Kart in general I always had: No Campaign, some luck involved with the items, Green shells being too slow, and the Leader Shell. Regardless, it's still a greatMario Kart 8 is a very good game, but is it really the best Mario Kart, let only best Wii U game; how about no. Mario Kart 8 has a few noticeable problems like coins being items, ruining Battle Mode, and a few problems with Mario Kart in general I always had: No Campaign, some luck involved with the items, Green shells being too slow, and the Leader Shell. Regardless, it's still a great game and I recommend it to any Mario kart fan but I still can't say I enjoyed that much.… Expand
  14. Red-Opposom-098
    Nov 20, 2014
    9
    Really fun game, the zero gravity is innovative and it's something fresh then just an average shooter (even though I enjoy playing them) I had a lot of fun playing
  15. pinball123
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    Do you like previous versions of mario kart? If you do buy this now, if you don't don't buy this. Simple as that. As a fan of the series I loved this game.
  16. rhaynes7
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    I haven't gotten into Mario Kart this much since the DS. This game is gorgeous, and the mechanics have improved so much since then. My only gripe is that a few of the retro stages have been changed for the worse, in particular the unnecessary addition of water sections and confounding zero gravity in some retro stages. It's also a shame that the staff ghosts on time trials areI haven't gotten into Mario Kart this much since the DS. This game is gorgeous, and the mechanics have improved so much since then. My only gripe is that a few of the retro stages have been changed for the worse, in particular the unnecessary addition of water sections and confounding zero gravity in some retro stages. It's also a shame that the staff ghosts on time trials are relatively easy to beat.

    Otherwise, this might be one of the most solid Mario Karts with excellent visuals to complement excellent track selection, and online play that is usually very capable of keeping up with the action.    … Expand
  17. theodorethebear
    Nov 17, 2014
    9
    It's fun to play with friends. The tracks are created beautifully and creatively. Although there are glitches and un- fair-played NPC, this is a masterpiece.
  18. hornwes
    Nov 16, 2014
    10
    This is by far the best game that I have played in years, it even had my roommate debating whether to buy a Wii U for the purposes of playing one game. MK 8 combines impeccable controls and amazing graphics with the usual top-notch level design you come to expect from Nintendo.
  19. rtheczar
    Nov 14, 2014
    10
    This is the best racing game I have ever played. It gets better and better the more I play. Having a blast playing the add on tracks. Stunning graphics, perfect gameplay. Huge variety of tracks and customizations.
  20. Mefiresu
    Nov 13, 2014
    5
    i'm not best fan of Mario. It's good racing. it's fun fine game levels from others games of Mario universe. But it's still not best game for Wii u system at all.
  21. micorial1
    Nov 12, 2014
    9
    This game provided countless hours of fun going through the grand prix and unlocking everything. This game is also very entertaining with many friends. the online was fun and it skill matched you with others of your caliber. The game pad was also well done being able to us it for many different things in the game gave many players different uses for it
  22. sonic4president
    Nov 11, 2014
    10
    Easily the best mario kart in the entire series, and the fact that dlc is very soon on the way makes it even better. Nintendo have once again made a fun multiplayer experience.
  23. sanluis20
    Nov 10, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart makes it long awaited appearance in HD and this game doesn't disappoint. The game is extremely fun, however for the love of God could Nintendo get rid of the blue turtle? At least, disable it on the final lap. I don't know how many games I've lost because of it. I know Nintendo does it for the kids, but I wish you could disable it, and other annoying items so it would makeMario Kart makes it long awaited appearance in HD and this game doesn't disappoint. The game is extremely fun, however for the love of God could Nintendo get rid of the blue turtle? At least, disable it on the final lap. I don't know how many games I've lost because of it. I know Nintendo does it for the kids, but I wish you could disable it, and other annoying items so it would make the game slightly more skill based. Nevertheless this is still an excellent game for the Wii U.… Expand
  24. Kahisys
    Nov 10, 2014
    10
    Nintendo kept a good path and created another Mario Kart that'd remain a must-buy for its system. It holds to the series by making a hectic racing game with gorgeous and/or fun tracks to play through. We get what we ask for : sense of mess, speed and fun.

    Enhanced with the quicker reload of the item boxes, it is easier to get items to beat others with...or to be beat with. The new    Nintendo kept a good path and created another Mario Kart that'd remain a must-buy for its system. It holds to the series by making a hectic racing game with gorgeous and/or fun tracks to play through. We get what we ask for : sense of mess, speed and fun.

    Enhanced with the quicker reload of the item boxes, it is easier to get items to beat others with...or to be beat with. The new tracks are damn fun and very well put together, and the remakes of the old ones fit well the new gimmick of this opus, which is the anti-gravity racing. Said gimmick is also worth noticing as it allows a new point of view on racing, making you bump into other racers to get a speed boost instead of avoiding them as usual.

    The online is a big part of the game, and of course it's well organized, making it easy to join whenever you wish to get some challenge from across the world, either against strangers or your friends. Sadly I can't review on the quality of the connection since mine is naturally very bad.

    Some would complain about the lack of character diversity, which I could get behind, but it's not dramatic or that much of a bother. Also, the anti-gravity isn't that much noticeable since the camera always adapts to you. Those details are just a bit of nitpicking.

    2 DLCs are planned so far, for a price that is very correct seing it adds in total 4 more cups. Nintendo seems to know how to balance their prices on DLCs.    … Expand
  25. CoreyintheHouse
    Nov 8, 2014
    0
    When I first played Mario Kart 8, I had very high expectations. However I was met with the most disgusting racing game ever to be assembled in human history. DO NOT BUY!! a waste of money. People should buy a real game, like Corey in the House for the nintendo DS
  26. dkxcalibur
    Nov 5, 2014
    10
    The best in the series for sure! One of the best games on the Wii U for sure! One of the best looking games on any system!

    The tracks are brilliantly designed and each one feels unique. The tracks are bright, colorful, and beautiful. The music that accompanies each track is perfect and you'll have them stuck in your head for days. I believe they are performed by an orchestra.    The best in the series for sure! One of the best games on the Wii U for sure! One of the best looking games on any system!

    The tracks are brilliantly designed and each one feels unique. The tracks are bright, colorful, and beautiful. The music that accompanies each track is perfect and you'll have them stuck in your head for days. I believe they are performed by an orchestra. Every character that you care about from the world of Mario are present. I could have done with less baby characters and a few more Mario enemies but they don't take away from anything. The controls are perfect. I prefer the classic style of control but the motion control is included and has been improved upon Mario Kart Wii's motion controls. The online features have also been improved and there are a lot more options when racing online then in past games from the series.

    Since release, it's been announced that DLC is on the way that will bring Link and Animal Crossing characters; and both additional track and karts to the game in the future.

    Stop questioning if the Wii U has games. Buy a Wii U and buy this game!    … Expand
  27. StrippuhGenes
    Nov 4, 2014
    10
    I was never really a fan of the Mario Kart series. I bought the Wii U for Zelda Wind Waker HD and for the future Smash Bros. I bought Mario Kart 8 because of the split screen and the hype around it. In all honesty, I was blown away by the game play. The silky smooth frame rate, the amazing graphics, and the game play caught me by surprise. I have over 40 hours racked up in the game and II was never really a fan of the Mario Kart series. I bought the Wii U for Zelda Wind Waker HD and for the future Smash Bros. I bought Mario Kart 8 because of the split screen and the hype around it. In all honesty, I was blown away by the game play. The silky smooth frame rate, the amazing graphics, and the game play caught me by surprise. I have over 40 hours racked up in the game and I will be playing a lot more and I can't wait for the release of the November DLC!… Expand
  28. ll33ee
    Nov 1, 2014
    9
    Un juego excelente.
    Tiene un gran Multiplayer, pero el modo Batalla no es tan bueno, al menos para mi, ya que usa las mismas pistas de las carreras.
    No hay que olvidar los 2 DLC, que lucen bastante bien: 4 Copas y Personajes a un buen precio ¿no creen?
  29. rushiosan
    Oct 29, 2014
    6
    A 10/10 game if you look back at what the franchise achieved since 1990's, but a 6/10 in a matter of gameplay.

    Mario Kart 8 suffers from major problems of item balancing and the gap between skill / luck that spoiled previous entries, but this time things got even worse. To put in simple words, it punishes good players. It's not a goot thing to stay in first, second or third places    A 10/10 game if you look back at what the franchise achieved since 1990's, but a 6/10 in a matter of gameplay.

    Mario Kart 8 suffers from major problems of item balancing and the gap between skill / luck that spoiled previous entries, but this time things got even worse. To put in simple words, it punishes good players. It's not a goot thing to stay in first, second or third places because your item sorting was greatly nerfed to either coins (absolutely useless) and bananas all the time. Forget green or red shells if you're 1st to 3rd place. The game is meant to punish good players even at vs CPU races, which's absolutely atrocious and frustrating. Why is there content to unlock by winning single-player cups then? This setting works perfectly for multiplayer parties because it gives everyone in the room a chance to win against a good player, but throwing that at CPU matches is absolutely non-sense.

    I put this game down after finishing all mirror cups and I rarely play now. Videogames are meant to be enjoyed, not to frustrate you. Leave the "luck" aspect to board games and stuff.    … Expand
  30. knifeandfork
    Oct 27, 2014
    9
    Before the gravity mechanic of MK8 was revealed, I expected it to be just another Mario Kart game, with few actual new ideas. But I was proven wrong. In Mario Kart 8, Nintendo has created their best Mario Kart in years. There's an abundance of ideas in this new entry, which makes it a joy to play.

    One of the most exciting things about MK8 is the fact we're finally getting a Mario Kart    Before the gravity mechanic of MK8 was revealed, I expected it to be just another Mario Kart game, with few actual new ideas. But I was proven wrong. In Mario Kart 8, Nintendo has created their best Mario Kart in years. There's an abundance of ideas in this new entry, which makes it a joy to play.

    One of the most exciting things about MK8 is the fact we're finally getting a Mario Kart in HD. And it doesn't disappoint. The game looks amazing, constantly throwing in another welcome visual surprise. Mount Wario, for example, is a wondrous sight. The visuals in it are varied all the way through and you'll see a variety of views. What about Sunshine Airport? This intricately crafted track has you crossing a wide variety of terrain, with the visual spectacle of seeing a plane soar above you as you glide to the end of each lap. It's clear that there are a lot of points in the game which serve the purpose to simply amaze you visually again and again. With the fluid animations and crystal-clear graphics, it's impossible to complain about the visual side of things at all. What's more, the new anti-gravity mechanic makes it even more spectacular. You'll see things you never thought you's see in a Mario Kart game.

    But what about the sound? Simply put, it's wonderful. Much of the music is recorded live, giving a much richer quality than in past Mario Kart games. All the various pieces are excellent, contributing to the polish of MK8.

    However, the graphics and sound are merely an afterthought compared to MK8's revolutionary gameplay. Though gliders, kart customisation and all the rest of it return, the focus is on the brand-new mechanic that changes everything: anti-gravity. You can drive up walls, upside down, up a waterfall, and more. This new mechanic is used in many ways, and apart from the visusl thrill of driving upside down, it grants the gameplay a lot too. In Toad's Turnpike- which is actually a remake of the N64 version- you get the choice of driving on the walls the whole time, or staying on the road. This gives gameplay a whole new strategy. Also, when driving in anti-gravity, slamming into another racer doesn't slow you down, it instead gives you a speed boost. This means that now, even if you're playing as Mini Mario, you'll want to hit Bowser or DK to get that speed boost, completely overturning everything we knew about Mario Kart. Of course, MK8's other big innovation is Mario Kart TV- a feature that creates highlight reels of a race, with impressive camera angles, slow motion and the ability to edit the reel. You can then share these short videos on Miiverse and Youtube, a pleasant surprise from a tentative company when it comes to online. MKTV works well with anti-gravity because during gameplay, the camera still stays right behind you when you go upside down, meaning you still see it from the racer's perspective. However, MKTV shows the highlights from other camera angles, so you'll see your racer on their side or upside down- an impressive sight. On the whole, MKTV is an excelent addition which gives you the chance to share the best moments with friends.

    As for the multiplayer in MK8, it's a lot of fun. It's disappointing that you still have to play split-screen in spite of the Gamepad, but multiplayer is so fun that's easily forgivable. Online is great, with the well thought out voting system making a return so that a variety of courses can be played. There's no voice chat during play, and I wish you could type messages yourself between races, but the online is nevertheless solid.

    So far, I've been very positive about the game, though there are a few small complaints I have. The fact the Gamepad has the map is no longer a flaw since the update, so I can count that one out. However, the amount of characters you can play as is small. I appreciate the inclusion of the Koopalings, but overall the roster is underwhelming. And the less said about MK8's horrendous battle mode, the better. It was an enjoyable distraction from the main game in previous MK titles, but in this one, the battle stages have inexplicably been replaced by ordinary tracks, making it a mundane experience.

    These are small flaws when compared to the quality of the majority of the game. MK8 is one of the best entries in the series, with some of the most innovative game design I've seen in years and an impressive feature enabling you to share highlight reeks of races. Despite a couple of odd slip-ups, it's an outstanding game overall.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best Wii U Game of 2014
2
#2 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2014
4
#4 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 82 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 80 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 82
  3. Negative: 0 out of 82
  1. GameCritics
    Sep 18, 2014
    80
    Mario Kart 8 is pretty great in many ways, but undoubtedly moreso with a collection of friends to play with, or when facing off against other players online.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Aug 25, 2014
    85
    No revolution here, but still it’s an absolute must-have for every Wii U owner. [08/2014, p.68]
  3. Universo Nintendo
    Jul 31, 2014
    95
    A beautiful and fun racing game, which uses the possibilities offered by its host platform to emphasize and renew the truly universal appeal of the series.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »