Mario Kart Wii

 Wii
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1245 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,039 out of 1245
  2. Mixed: 155 out of 1245
  3. Negative: 51 out of 1245
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  1. MoCBallyhoo
    Nov 20, 2017
    9
    Just the main theme gives this game an automatic 10/10 and speaking of that the entire soundtrack is good, on top of that the motion controls work beautifully for an early Wii game sadly, the item distribution is complete $%&! so bad it knocks it down a point. (sorry)
  2. tomflanders
    Mar 31, 2018
    9
    Aside from reception issues between the Wii remotes and the Wii, this was the perfect Mario Kart. Everything had been thought through and the skill curve was on going.
  3. ViniOfficial
    Apr 2, 2018
    9
    Usou muito bem os controles de movimento, pistas variadas e musica fantastica! Um dos melhores jogos do Wii!
  4. FNaF
    Dec 12, 2018
    9
    This was my first Mario Kart game I ever played, & I will miss the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
  5. Oreox4
    Aug 16, 2019
    9
    This is one of my favorite wii games. This is definitely the best Mario kart game I've played. The game play is really fun, especially if you pick the right vehicle. The turning on the mach bike is one of the coolest things ever. The abundance of shortcuts is really satisfying too. I remember a couple days ago i was trying to get the lake cut in toad's factory. It took a whole 3 laps and iThis is one of my favorite wii games. This is definitely the best Mario kart game I've played. The game play is really fun, especially if you pick the right vehicle. The turning on the mach bike is one of the coolest things ever. The abundance of shortcuts is really satisfying too. I remember a couple days ago i was trying to get the lake cut in toad's factory. It took a whole 3 laps and i got last place, but when i finally got it, i didn't care. It was a great and satisfying experience. The community for this game is still very active today, especially with the CTGP mod (which did not affect this rating), being implemented. It's kind of amazing how this game lasted this long, and it's obvious why.… Expand
  6. DarCbrGr
    Jun 26, 2021
    9
    The main game itself is probably an 8, but the amount of stuff in the mod community propels this to a 9.
  7. relicofficial
    Sep 25, 2019
    9
    Such a good game with great mechanics. Also why can’t I write a 5000 word essay on why I think Mario Kart Wii is a 9/10 game?
  8. ItzGray
    Sep 25, 2019
    9
    Oh boy, where do I begin with my nostalgia for this game.
    Honestly, I feel like every single "nitro" track design is at least 6 out of 10, except for Moonview Highway. But I believe many MK64 fans would advocate the track as being a return to Toad's Turnpike from that game.
    The retro tracks are loads of fun too, and I will give this a 9/10 even never experiencing the online. I love this    Oh boy, where do I begin with my nostalgia for this game.
    Honestly, I feel like every single "nitro" track design is at least 6 out of 10, except for Moonview Highway. But I believe many MK64 fans would advocate the track as being a return to Toad's Turnpike from that game.
    The retro tracks are loads of fun too, and I will give this a 9/10 even never experiencing the online.
    I love this game, definitely on par with MK8DX. MK7 honestly can't compete with this game.    … Expand
  9. LouistheHelms
    Oct 3, 2022
    9
    Coming from someone who hasn't played Double Dash, or the GBA title, or Super Mario Kart, PLUS this being a game I played an obscene amount of in my childhood... This game is brilliant.

    Not to overinflate, but this game kind of has everything. - The UI is charming. It feels like it's from the future - The roster is pretty respectable, a decent spread of Mario characters (I think I    Coming from someone who hasn't played Double Dash, or the GBA title, or Super Mario Kart, PLUS this being a game I played an obscene amount of in my childhood... This game is brilliant.

    Not to overinflate, but this game kind of has everything.
    - The UI is charming. It feels like it's from the future
    - The roster is pretty respectable, a decent spread of Mario characters (I think I speak for everyone when I say WHERE'S SHY GUY)
    - The new tracks in this game are so iconic (CNut Mall, Mushroom Gorge, Wario's GMine, etc.)
    - The music is great
    - I like it

    There are maybe two slights I could recognize against this game (one of which is easily fixed):
    - The models and a few animations are reused from Double Dash
    - Waggle controls (just play with a gamecube controller (or w/ nunchuck))

    Either way, pretty terrific game. I'd be surprised if Nintendo could top it. Maybe in 4 or so years when they come out with a new Mario Kart it'll be as spectacular.    … Expand
  10. SkywalkerMcD
    May 11, 2020
    9
    I had this game originally on the Wii. Loved it and completed 100% of the Unlockables. I stopped playing and gave my copy to an ex girlfriends son a couple of years ago. I decided to revisit the game and found a good working used copy and I’m glad I did. I have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Switch and had it for Wii U. MK8 is a great game but I still prefer the feel of MK Wii.I had this game originally on the Wii. Loved it and completed 100% of the Unlockables. I stopped playing and gave my copy to an ex girlfriends son a couple of years ago. I decided to revisit the game and found a good working used copy and I’m glad I did. I have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Switch and had it for Wii U. MK8 is a great game but I still prefer the feel of MK Wii. Online is off now, has been for over a year, which is why I gave the game 9 instead of 10. I’d say, if you are an MK fan and still have a Wii or Wii U this game is essential. Unique courses, challenging Unlockables and lots of fun. I’d love to see a remaster if this game for Switch! But I know that I’m dreaming.… Expand
  11. NintendoFan9501
    Jul 19, 2020
    9
    So many memories! This is my favourite mario game in the series! The courses are great, and so are the characters!
  12. patrickmurphy09
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    While Double Dash had its own unique charm as well as objective improvements, Mario Kart Wii was the first installment -- for me -- since Mario Kart 64 that really put its mark down. With vast improvements to the design, gameplay, music, stages, characters, and yes, even the joy o using optional motion controls (let alone the cutesy wheel peripheral you could also buy), Mario Kart Wii wasWhile Double Dash had its own unique charm as well as objective improvements, Mario Kart Wii was the first installment -- for me -- since Mario Kart 64 that really put its mark down. With vast improvements to the design, gameplay, music, stages, characters, and yes, even the joy o using optional motion controls (let alone the cutesy wheel peripheral you could also buy), Mario Kart Wii was a delight to pick up. For me, this game will remain emblematic of playing with friends in the dorm room, usually losing because I didn't master the game but still could find great fun in the gameplay. Mario Kart Wii does the job yet again here!… Expand
  13. eeveegms
    Aug 7, 2020
    9
    This the most entertaining mario kart game, you can unlock characters by doing certain things and also has some of the most memorable tracks
  14. VenoMateo15
    Sep 16, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The truth is that it is quite an entertaining game, I have been playing it for a long time and its statistics for example (if you choose a small vehicle you go fast but the bigger ones knock you down, in the case of the big ones you can't knock them down so easily but they are slower). I have seen its pro's (such as game mode and the new pirouette that it does when moving the controller) and its counter (the battle mode should have been online, nothing more, I think). In conclusion, it is a perfect game to play with friends, it is by far the best Mariokart game, and I understand why it is the game with the most fangames is the Mariokart saga.… Expand
  15. deycd
    Aug 13, 2021
    9
    Los sensores de movimiento no se sienten forzados en este juego, consiguen una muy buena inmersión. recomiendo jugarlo con alguien. La jugabilidad es diferente, no es la mejor, prefiero la de Mario Kart 7 o Mario Kart 8, pero lo compensa el gameplay, los personajes y los circuitos.
  16. Chebic
    Apr 5, 2021
    9
    TLDR; Great tracks, mediocre character/kart selection, and amazing modding community

    Before I begin I'd like to note Mario Kart Wii is my first ever video game (or at least one of my first) and that I've only played 3 other Mario Karts, DS and 8 in specific. So obviously I may be slightly blinded by nostalgia and may not know the true peaks of Mario Kart and consequently can't fully    TLDR; Great tracks, mediocre character/kart selection, and amazing modding community

    Before I begin I'd like to note Mario Kart Wii is my first ever video game (or at least one of my first) and that I've only played 3 other Mario Karts, DS and 8 in specific. So obviously I may be slightly blinded by nostalgia and may not know the true peaks of Mario Kart and consequently can't fully judge this game perfectly.

    Nevertheless this game is quite amazing. All of the tracks are incredible, it's so fun to just mess around with friends on, it had the biggest character roster of all the games at the time, AND it has Funky Kong. You can't really go wrong with this one, I only have two major complaints. First is the battle mode, it's notoriously one of the worst of all time, you're forced to play with teams, you're forced to have a timer, and elimination doesn't even affect players. It's really bad. The second is the stat balancing, notoriously this game has the funky/flame runner combo that straight up dominates the meta. Now while I do definitely dislike this I must chime in and note that while Funky/Flame is the objective best it's not by a lot, every character is near identical bar one or two stats they've been boosted in and all the inside drift bikes are relatively competitively viable. In total this causes this criticism to only take effect in extremely competitive races where you need to take every advantage you can get. There's also the extreme randomness everyone seems to complain about but from personal experience the item distribution seems to be pretty fine excluding the rare case when you are blue shelled nine times and then red shelled another five.

    Now for most games I'd end their, probably rate it an 8/10 for being a great party racing game but having a pretty shallow battle and competitive mode, but instead the masssive Mario Kart Wii fandom that somehow manages to still grow has got me their. Maybe this is cheating a little but I wholheartedly believe the fandom makes this game 10x better. The shear quantity of mods is insane. CTGP-R, the largest and most popular mod, adds over 216 new tracks. For reference that is almost 7 Mario Kart Wii's worth of new tracks. Obviously not all are the best but the meager fact that MKWii has such a massive modding scene that you could possibly septuply the amount of content by downloading one mod is insane, this isn't even accounting for all the new game modes that totally shake up the formula these mods also add. The modding scene is so massive that at least half of the people still playing this game are almost always using some mod. It's crazy to me how massive the modding scene is for this game and due to just how much it adds to the game it immediately bumps it up a number.    … Expand
  17. Markflakez
    Mar 4, 2021
    9
    The glitches, courses and controls are unique.
    I played it back when I was a kid and still play it to this day. It has a large modding community that still keeps it alive. It isn't that luck based as others (for example: Mario Kart 8 where you only bag and spam items and no risky shortcuts can be done. You get also instantly picked up by Lakitu. So you don't lose a few second as a    The glitches, courses and controls are unique.
    I played it back when I was a kid and still play it to this day. It has a large modding community that still keeps it alive. It isn't that luck based as others (for example: Mario Kart 8 where you only bag and spam items and no risky shortcuts can be done. You get also instantly picked up by Lakitu. So you don't lose a few second as a punishment). In this game you have to be strategic with them.
    Unfortunately they turned off the servers a bit early in my opinion.    … Expand
  18. TropicalNayr
    Mar 31, 2021
    9
    I would give this a 89%
    This is one of the best Mario kart game it is a fun game I like some specs they added to it, it has great music great maps and just a great game over all the graphic you can tell had time into it and it is just a fun game!
  19. Ardho
    Sep 8, 2021
    9
    Mario Kart wii is an excellent game, good graphics, good gameplay, good drifting, a lot of new things too, but I hate playing this game in 150cc, where luck is more important than skill
  20. RealOcto24
    May 3, 2021
    9
    This is an extremely fun game. The tracks are all unique and the soundtrack is phenomenal. It’s great when playing alone or with friends. My only gripes with the game are I wish the updated the looks of some of the retro tracks more and I wish there was one extra battle mode. Overall. This is an amazing game and a must have for every Wii or WiiU owner.
  21. barbiesuperfan
    Nov 18, 2021
    9
    peach is a girlboss just wish there was cat peach (also its so hard to get new characters but maybe i just suck at the game)
  22. ayowhatisthat
    Feb 18, 2022
    9
    Gonna be honest here. This Mario Kart isn't a 10/10 game and there a few reasons for that. 1.This game is broken, there are shortcuts that can basically break this game entirely and that's what I love about Mario Kart Wii. 2.This is probably the fairest Mario Kart for offline and online multiplayer. Offline it practically makes sure you catch up with people in front of you so easily.Gonna be honest here. This Mario Kart isn't a 10/10 game and there a few reasons for that. 1.This game is broken, there are shortcuts that can basically break this game entirely and that's what I love about Mario Kart Wii. 2.This is probably the fairest Mario Kart for offline and online multiplayer. Offline it practically makes sure you catch up with people in front of you so easily. Online it's a bit different, but around the same as it is offline. Mario Kart Wii does have a nice replay factor with homebrew hacks nowadays, which gives it a better chance at surviving for a long time. 3. It's got the stuff there like time trials, grand prix, vs, and battle mode, there's a lot to explore even if it can be annoying at some times. As of where it sits now, it could come off as a bit outdated, but it's overall a pretty good game nonetheless.… Expand
  23. Valuris
    Jun 12, 2022
    9
    Mario kart wii is an incredible game, without a doubt the best mariokart, it adds the bikes, a more accomplished online mode, and makes it possible to play with a steering wheel! The gameplay of the bikes is very pleasant, despite a problem of balancing. This game is just crazy and I would have given it 10/10 but the battle mode is quite disappointing. If you have a wii, you must playMario kart wii is an incredible game, without a doubt the best mariokart, it adds the bikes, a more accomplished online mode, and makes it possible to play with a steering wheel! The gameplay of the bikes is very pleasant, despite a problem of balancing. This game is just crazy and I would have given it 10/10 but the battle mode is quite disappointing. If you have a wii, you must play mario kart wii… Expand
  24. Wat926
    Jun 13, 2022
    9
    AMAZING GAME! This game was my favorite Mario Kart and still is even with the newer ones. Sure the gameplay can be a bit unfair at times, it can be a really fun experience alone or with friends (which is 10x better). The controls are fine, especially for a motion control based game. The gameplay itself is really fun, the tracks are memorable, especially ones like coconut mall and DKAMAZING GAME! This game was my favorite Mario Kart and still is even with the newer ones. Sure the gameplay can be a bit unfair at times, it can be a really fun experience alone or with friends (which is 10x better). The controls are fine, especially for a motion control based game. The gameplay itself is really fun, the tracks are memorable, especially ones like coconut mall and DK summit. The soundtrack is top tier. It’s the perfect Mario Kart experience, a great game for the family to dive into. And even 14 years later it still holds up.… Expand
  25. DolphinReviews
    Jul 20, 2022
    9
    The best Mario Kart game. The character and track selection are both fantastic. Thrilling close matches and a great amount of difficult unlocks.
  26. FireBroFilms
    Aug 15, 2022
    9
    ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎
  27. Han_theReal
    Dec 10, 2022
    9
    Classic funracer must play if your the owner of a wii.
    Lots of cool tracks and characters
  28. Doingsomethings
    Jan 29, 2023
    9
    Mario Kart Wii is one of the best Mario Karts out there. Also, it was one of the first games I ever played. The music for it is so good and It is super fun with friends too. but a lot of times it can get annoying or frustrating. The controls for the game are dumb and can sometimes hurt your hands. Items can be really dumb like getting a bomb in 3rd or getting a green shell in 8th. but IMario Kart Wii is one of the best Mario Karts out there. Also, it was one of the first games I ever played. The music for it is so good and It is super fun with friends too. but a lot of times it can get annoying or frustrating. The controls for the game are dumb and can sometimes hurt your hands. Items can be really dumb like getting a bomb in 3rd or getting a green shell in 8th. but I like this game because it stupid. It fun because it is hard. most Mario Kart games are just easy. that is what I like about it, it hard. I hope they make one just like this.… Expand
  29. aaronnmp96
    Feb 6, 2023
    9
    Take better advantage of the control of the console, it is complicated, and they are very good.
  30. LORDTIKIDCANCER
    Mar 17, 2023
    9
    yeah the best mario kart ever mada
    u now yu can do pirouettes like a hack n slash characters in the air for won turbo only shaking the control, is very fun an confortable
    the uniche inperfection is funky kong is funkin broken
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best Wii Game of 2008
2
#2 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2008
5
#5 Most Shared Wii Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 73 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 73
  3. Negative: 1 out of 73
  1. Nintendo Power
    90
    With more features, modes and multiplayer options than ever before, fans should be revved up to get behind the wheel. [May 2008, p.86]
  2. Edge Magazine
    60
    Having sacrificed racing integrity in "Double Dash" to side with social silliness, Nintendo has turned 180 degrees into an awkward halfway house. [May 2008, p.86]
  3. DarkZero
    80
    Then there is the Wii Wheel peripheral itself, which if you did not already know is just a plastic housing for the Wiimote. I have to admit though it is a well made bit of plastic, and is not only smarter looking than the uninspired Wii Zapper, but also more ergonomic to hold. Unexpectedly it is very easy to use.
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