Review of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Booster Course - best racing game ever
Our Verdict
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Booster Course is the ultimate way to experience Nintendo’s classic kart racer on the Switch. There are hours upon hours of content and a fantastic mix of nostalgic tracks and brand-new courses - it’s bound to be a family favorite.
With the holidays quickly approaching, there's no better way to pass the chilly winter nights than with a little friendly rivalry. In this Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Booster Course review, I revisit the Switch version of the popular series and see how it stands up over seven years after its original release. Mario Kart has long been a mainstay of family get-togethers and gaming evenings.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's basic version came out on the Switch in April 2017. As the name implies, it's a re-imagined version of Mario Kart 8, along with all of the game's DLC for the Wii U. I missed the early days of the game since I didn't receive my Switch until 2020, but I had a ton of fun with Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U.
It feels great to be able to return to the world of kart racing with all of my favorite Mario characters. The six DLC waves provide a good balance of nostalgia and fresh content, bringing in well-known characters and circuits from every aspect of Nintendo's renowned intellectual property. As their ride-or-die choice in Mario Party, I was very thrilled to show my companion that Birdo appears.
Without access to my Wii U, which was tragically taken from my residence during my third year of university, it's difficult to verify, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe seems to have improved visuals over its predecessor. All of the characters, karts, and tracks seem to have been painted recently, with a little increase in brightness and sparkle. In spite of this, returning to the game after a long absence felt like riding a bike: I was instantly back in my element.
I was a dedicated motion-control-only player on the Wii and Wii U, but I made the decision to pick up the button controls for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It comes as no surprise that they feel fantastic and are quite intuitive, particularly now that I know which controller sizes work best for my little hands. My only minor complaint is that the controller settings aren't very obvious on the pause screen, and we didn't know auto-steering was on since my partner and I switched to multiplayer mode right away.
Auto-steering isn't for me, personally. It significantly reduces your ability to stray and run into objects, which is, in my view, half the fun. But, I believe it's a fantastic accessibility feature. Encouraging individuals to play Mario Kart with their loved ones by pressing a single button promotes inclusion, benefiting both young children learning how to play video games and those with limited mobility. Although it puzzles me that a game from 2023 doesn't have settings on the front page, I would want the settings menu to be a bit simpler to find and explore. Nevertheless, generally, the options menu is a pleasant addition to the game.
What then is the DLC? Now that all six rounds of DLC have been released, I think purchasing the booster pass represents excellent value. If you currently have a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you can purchase an additional $25 USD to unlock two times as many courses and a fantastic assortment of additional Mario Kart characters, such as Birdo, Diddy Kong, and Wiggler. The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription includes the booster pass if you're already a huge lover of the Switch. On the official website, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and the booster pass are offered for little less than $85 USD, however you may save money by purchasing the main game elsewhere or by using some Nintendo Gold.
I was already going to save up and get the package before I had the chance to write this review, and now I'm even more sure that the whole experience is for me. The majority of the DLC characters—Pauline, perhaps—are ones I can see me using, and Squeaky Clean Sprint and Sky-High Sundae have quickly risen to the top of my list of all-time favorite songs. In addition, wave six enabled me to verify that Rainbow Road on the Wii is the better version.
My main complaint with the DLC tracks is how many courses there are from Mario Kart Tour. The paths seem unrelated to me since I haven't played the mobile game, but unlike other Mario Kart routes on consoles and portable devices, the directions appear to vary for every lap. This is rather confusing, in my opinion, particularly when so many of the other levels don't do this and are also quite simple to navigate.
There are 10 Tour courses overall, with at least two available for each wave of DLC. Fortunately, their presence doesn't overshadow the rest of the game in my view. The songs that are only available with a booster pass are all excellent, and the older courses bring back a ton of memories. My versions of Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 8 seem to have been combined, and more glitter was added to make everything seem cohesive.
All things considered, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Booster Course is a fantastic purchase for any family who enjoys cooperative gaming. This game should be a mainstay at any game night or family gathering, with 96 courses to complete in four different speed settings including reverse, a large cast of endearing and distinctive characters, and simple controls with kid-friendly choices.
After reading our review, be sure to check out our recommendations for the top Nintendo Switch racing games, motorcycle games, and Mario Kart circuits. For a joyful holiday season, we also have all the information you want about the Mario Kart Hot Wheels and Mario Lego kits.