June 17th 2025.
In the latest edition of the popular Mario Kart series, the interconnected open world has brought a whole new level of diversity to the race tracks. GameCentral takes on the challenge of determining the best and worst of these tracks in Mario Kart World, the record-breaking launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Despite the initial underwhelming experience of freely roaming through the open world of Mario Kart World, the actual racing is as fun and frantic as ever. The giant, interconnected map has been put to good use in creating a unique and exciting racing experience.
Compared to its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, World offers a similar number of tracks thanks to its DLC, but the quality is not lacking. The graphical upgrades and major design alterations have transformed even the older tracks, making them almost unrecognizable.
Now that the game has been out for over a week, it's time to revisit our previous track ranking and determine the best of the bunch in World. This time, it's a trickier task as the tracks can connect to each other in different ways, making it difficult to rank them. For the sake of simplicity, we will be looking at each track in the standard Grand Prix mode and as traditional multi-lap tracks.
30. Koopa Troopa Beach
As the introductory track in the Shell Cup, Koopa Troopa Beach is a reimagining of a classic track from the original Super Mario Kart on the SNES. While the beach party vibes and Koopa Troopa DJ add some character, the track itself is a simple circle that can get repetitive. With its wide layout, it lacks the chaotic energy of other tracks like Baby Park.
29. Desert Hills
Originally from Mario Kart DS, this track is forgettable and simplistic. As the first track in the Flower Cup, it doesn't offer much outside of some dunes to jump off. The Super Mario Land theming is a nice touch, with rare appearances from Tokotoko and Batadon maoi head enemies as obstacles.
28. Mario Bros. Circuit
Despite its simplicity, Mario Bros. Circuit serves as a good introductory track, allowing players to practice rail grinding, wall riding, and gliding. The American desert-inspired design adds some character, but it's a bit of a stretch to call it a Mario Bros. track.
27. Whistlestop Summit
Another track from the Mushroom Cup, Whistlestop Summit has a similar aesthetic to Mario Bros. Circuit. However, the train theme offers some fun opportunities to jump between rails. The drive from Crown City is also enjoyable as you make your way up the desert mountain and through a train yard.
26. Toad's Factory
Toad's Factory remains mostly unchanged from Mario Kart Wii, but the tight design and increased number of racers make for a chaotic and exciting experience. The drive from Choco Mountain in the Lightning Cup is also enjoyable, taking you through grasslands and over a raised bridge with the factory in the distance.
25. Choco Mountain
This Mario Kart 64 track has been given an industrial makeover, with chocolate being pumped through pipes that can slow you down. While the American football-themed Chargin' Chuck enemies feel out of place, the track offers some close-quarters chaos. The drive from Moo Moo Meadows is not particularly interesting, though.
24. Faraway Oasis
At first glance, Faraway Oasis may seem basic, but it strikes a balance between forcing racers to stay close and offering branching paths. Despite the safari theme, it's a bit disappointing that the animals are just spectators. However, in the Shell Cup version, you can surf away from Koopa Troopa Beach and drive alongside zebras and elephants, giving it a more adventurous feel.
23. DK Pass
The snowy DK Pass track incorporates elements from a similar track, DK Summit, from Mario Kart Wii. While we enjoy the ski slope and dodging snowboarding Shy Guys, we wish there were more Donkey Kong elements. It earns points for letting you grind across the ski lift in free roam mode.
22. Shy Guy Bazaar
Shy Guy Bazaar, originally from Mario Kart 7, remains mostly unchanged in World. However, the cramped bazaar offers a chaotic experience with the increased number of racers. There are also some tricky shortcuts for skilled players. The transition from Desert Hills to the open area with giant sand dragons bursting from the ground feels like an exciting adventure.
21. Bowser's Castle
Bowser's Castle always provides a tense and visually impressive experience, and that remains the case in World. However, the track layout feels tamer compared to previous games. The drive from Toad's Factory in the Lightning Cup, on the other hand, is incredible as you ascend a volcanic mountain and swoop past a Bowser statue.
20. Moo Moo Meadows
A fan favorite from Mario Kart Wii, Moo Moo Meadows makes a return in World. While it's great to be able to play as one of the cows, the track remains almost unchanged. It's a shame that there are no new shortcuts or rail grinding opportunities. However, the cow riding a motorcycle statue is a cute addition.
19. Dry Bones Burnout
The lava-themed Dry Bones Burnout offers a more exciting experience than Bowser's Castle, with alternate paths and obstacles. The Leaf Cup version takes you through a variety of terrains, starting with Boo Cinema and ending with a spooky graveyard. The Day of the Dead theming and visuals add to the fun.
18. Peach Stadium
Peach Stadium appears twice in Grand Prix, giving players a chance to experience it in two different ways. The drive from Crown City in the Shell Cup has you navigating through traffic and other racers, while the Special Cup version starts with a mad rally through Moo Moo Meadows. It's a fantastic penultimate race, but the three-lap race feels less special.
17. Dandelion Depths
The cylindrical drive down a construction site and through an underground lake with dandelions in Dandelion Depths gets more enjoyable with each lap. The Leaf Cup version offers a great transition from Cheep Cheep Falls with its autumnal and summer vibes.
16. Peach Beach
Originally from Double Dash!!, Peach Beach takes you through a seaside town and a beach. As the introductory track for the Banana Cup, it becomes more interesting by taking you through a castle on the second lap. The lack of new shortcuts or obstacles is a bit disappointing, but the track remains fun.
Thanks to advancements in technology, the world of Mario Kart has expanded and become more varied in this latest entry. As a result, the tracks have also become more diverse and exciting to race on. In this record-breaking Nintendo Switch 2 launch title, GameCentral has taken on the task of determining the best and worst of Mario Kart World's racetracks.
While exploring the open world of Mario Kart World may not be as thrilling as we had hoped, it doesn't take away from the fact that the actual racing is still incredibly fun and chaotic. The expansive and interconnected map is put to good use, adding an extra element of strategy to the races.
Compared to its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, World offers a generous selection of tracks, including DLC content. And even the older tracks have been given a graphical update and significant design changes, making them almost unrecognizable. With the game being out for over a week now, we have decided to create a sequel to our previous Mario Kart track ranking and take a closer look at each of World's tracks to determine the best of the best.
Ranking the tracks this time around proves to be more challenging, as they can connect to each other in various ways, making for multiple iterations in multiplayer. To simplify things, we will be looking at each track based on its depiction in the standard Grand Prix mode and how well it performs as a traditional multi-lap track.
Starting off the list at number 30 is Koopa Troopa Beach, the introductory track of the Shell Cup. It is a reimagination of a track from the original Super Mario Kart on the SNES, which means it has a simple layout. While the Koopa Troopa DJ and beach party atmosphere add some charm, the track itself is just driving in a circle for five laps, lacking the chaotic energy of other tracks like Baby Park from Mario Kart: Double Dash.
Next up at number 29 is Desert Hills, which originally appeared in Mario Kart DS. This simplistic desert-themed track doesn't offer much outside of the dunes you can jump off. However, the new Super Mario Land theming is a nice touch, with the Tokotoko and Batadon maoi head enemies making a rare appearance as obstacles.
At number 28, we have Mario Bros. Circuit, which serves as the introductory track for new players. It offers opportunities to practice rail grinding, wall riding, and gliding, but it lacks the character of other tracks and barely feels like it has anything to do with Mario or Luigi.
Following closely at number 27 is Whistlestop Summit, which shares similarities with Mario Bros. Circuit, being in the Mushroom Cup and having a similar aesthetic. However, the train theme adds a fun element of jumping back and forth between rails. The drive from Crown City in the Mushroom Cup, with its desert mountains and train yard, is also enjoyable.
At number 26, we have Toad's Factory, which feels almost unchanged from its appearance in Mario Kart Wii. While it may not have received much of a makeover, its tight design and the addition of 24 racers make for an exhilarating race. The drive from Choco Mountain in the Lightning Cup is also a winding and enjoyable experience.
Coming in at number 25 is Choco Mountain, which has been substantially revamped from its Mario Kart 64 version. The industrialized chocolate factory adds an extra layer of complexity, with chocolate slowing you down if you drive through it. The American football-themed enemies feel a bit out of place, and the drive from Moo Moo Meadows in the Lightning Cup is not particularly exciting.
At number 24, we have Faraway Oasis, which may seem basic at first, but it offers a good balance of forcing players to race close together while also providing enough branching paths to spread out. The safari theme is not fully utilized, as the cute animals only serve as spectators. However, the Shell Cup version allows you to drive alongside them, making it feel like you've hopped the fence and gone where you're not supposed to.
At number 23, we have DK Pass, a snowy track with elements from Donkey Kong incorporated into it. While the track is enjoyable, we wish there were more Donkey Kong elements to make it more exciting. However, the ability to grind across the ski lift during free roam mode adds some points to its ranking.
At number 22, we have Shy Guy Bazaar, which is mostly unchanged from its original version, but this works to its advantage in World. The cramped bazaar makes for a chaotic race, especially with the option to race over the stalls. Skilled players can also take advantage of tricky shortcuts, and the drive from Desert Hills in the Flower Cup adds to the adventure.
Bowser's Castle takes the number 21 spot, offering a tense atmosphere and impressive visuals. However, the track layout feels less cruel than in previous games. The drive from Toad's Factory in the Lightning Cup is incredible, with the air growing darker as you approach the castle and ascend a volcanic mountain.
At number 20, we have Moo Moo Meadows, another track from Mario Kart Wii that remains a fan favorite. While its inclusion in World allows you to play as a cow, not much else has changed. The lack of new shortcuts or rail grinding opportunities makes it enjoyable but not exceptional. On the bright side, the statue of a cow riding a motorcycle is cute.
Dry Bones Burnout takes the number 19 spot, offering an exciting drive through a lava-themed track. The alternate paths, Day of the Dead theming, and the transition from Boo Cinema in the Leaf Cup make for a thrilling race. It also has a great transition from a forest to a spooky graveyard, complete with Dry Bones emerging from the soil.
At number 18, we have Peach Stadium, which appears twice in Grand Prix mode, providing two different experiences. The drive from Crown City in the Shell Cup has you weaving through traffic and rival racers, while the Special Cup gives you an extended version of the track, complete with confetti and a cheering audience. However, the standard three-lap race feels less special due to the lack of obstacles and shortcuts.
Dandelion Depths takes the number 17 spot, offering an initially simple but enjoyable drive through a construction site and underground lake. The Leaf Cup version has an excellent transition from Cheep Cheep Falls, starting with an autumnal feel and shifting to summer as you ascend the winding road.
At number 16, we have Peach Beach, a track from Double Dash!! that has been slightly altered for World. The inclusion of a castle and a narrow gliding area on the second lap makes for an interesting race. However, the lack of new shortcuts or obstacles makes it feel like it's just going in a loop.
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