Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Worth It? Differences, Reviews & DLC

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been sitting on the Switch since 2017, yet it remains the go-to multiplayer racer for millions. With Mario Kart World now in the mix and the Booster Course Pass adding fresh tracks over the past two years, here’s what actually changed and whether your money’s better spent elsewhere.

Release Date: April 28, 2017 · Platform: Nintendo Switch · Online Players: Up to 12 · Battle Modes: 4 new modes · Includes: All DLC

Key facts

The table below summarizes the core specs and features that define Mario Kart 8 Deluxe against its predecessor.

Is buying Mario Kart 8 Deluxe worth it?

For Switch owners without a Wii U, this is the complete package. Deluxe takes the original Mario Kart 8 and layers on every DLC track released for that version, adds new characters like the Inklings and Koopalings, and tosses in a fully reworked battle mode that fixes one of the original’s weakest features. Critics at Switch Player called it “the best multiplayer experience you can buy on the Switch,” recommending it as essential for new players and anyone upgrading from Nintendo’s older hardware.

Pros and cons

Value compared to sales

Metacritic aggregates reviews under a consensus: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive version, worth every penny on Switch (Metacritic). At roughly $60 for the base game, you’re getting 48 tracks in the base version plus another 48 via the $24.99 Booster Course Pass—96 total courses for around $85, or free if you hold an Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription. That math beats splitting purchases across a Wii U and its DLC expansions.

What’s the difference between Mario Kart 8 and Deluxe?

Mario Kart 8 launched on Wii U back in 2014, selling millions of copies but also leaving a lot on the table—chiefly, a weak battle mode that many players barely touched. Deluxe, released April 28, 2017 on Switch, fixed that and added everything the Wii U version’s paid DLC delivered.

New features

Deluxe pulls features from later games: double item boxes (a Double Dash!! hallmark) now appear in battle modes, smart steering keeps vehicles on-track for and 200cc veterans alike, and auto-acceleration removes one friction point for casual play. The roster expands with Pink Gold Peach, all seven Koopalings, and the Inklings from Splatoon—characters that never touched MK8 on Wii U. Anti-gravity racing and underwater driving carry over from the original intact.

Battle mode changes

This is where Deluxe earns its name. The original MK8 shoved battle mode into recycled track layouts with barely-thought-out rules. Deluxe launches with eight arenas: five new (Lunar Colony, Urchin Underpass, Battle Stadium, Sweet Sweet Kingdom, Dragon Palace) plus three retro courses pulled from GameCube, SNES, and Mario Kart 7. Four new game types replace the old balloon-popping format—Shine Thief, Bob-omb Battle, Coin Runners, and Renegade Roundup.

Which Mario Kart game is considered the best?

Among Switch titles, Deluxe sits largely unchallenged. The Nintendo Life community rates it as “probably the objectively best Mario Kart there is” (Nintendo Life). On Metacritic, aggregated critic scores land firmly in the green for the title. What keeps it from being an undisputed number one across all consoles is its Wii U heritage—the bones still show their 2014 origin in places.

Rankings

Simon Says So gave the game a 9/10, citing “one of the most fun and replayable games I’ve ever played” (Simon Says So review). The extensive customization options—chassis, bikes, wheels, and gliders all tunable with coin-collected parts—push longevity well past single-player Grand Prix runs. Nintendojo calls it a “must-have for Switch owners” (Nintendojo review), reinforcing the near-universal endorsement across publications.

Vs other entries

Comparing across Nintendo generations, Deluxe stacks up competitively against Double Dash!! and Mario Kart 7, both fan favorites. The 200cc speed class alone outpaces anything from earlier handheld entries. Against Mario Kart World—the newer title in the Switch 2 lineup—Deluxe faces its first real generational competitor. The comparison below lays out where each title stands on the core features.

Three dimensions define the split: graphics and track count favor World, while Deluxe leads on established roster size, proven battle modes, and years of accumulated player knowledge.

Is Mario Kart 9 coming out?

Five years after Deluxe’s 2017 launch, Nintendo chose DLC over a sequel. GameSpot’s coverage of the Booster Course Pass announcement notes that “while many had hoped for Mario Kart 9, Nintendo has decided to release DLC for 8 Deluxe instead” (GameSpot coverage). That decision left the franchise without a numbered follow-up through the Switch era’s midpoint.

Rumors

Community speculation periodically surfaces around Mario Kart 9, but nothing has materialized into verified announcements. No Nintendo Direct or corporate filing has confirmed development. What exists is the Booster Course Pass adding 48 retro tracks across multiple waves—pulling courses from Mario Kart 64, Super Mario Kart, GBA, DS, and Tour—to keep the existing title fresh without a full sequel.

Switch 2 potential

With Nintendo’s next hardware generation now visible, Switch 2 compatibility for Deluxe remains officially unconfirmed. The Switch era’s strongest multiplayer racer could carry forward—or face immediate replacement by Mario Kart World, which launched alongside the new console. Either way, Nintendo has given no public roadmap for Mario Kart 9, leaving the question genuinely open rather than definitively answered.

Which one is better, Mario Kart World or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?

The arrival of Mario Kart World changes the calculus. Where Deluxe built on 2014 foundations, World starts fresh with 24-track courses, a new selection mechanic, and graphics tuned for current hardware. For Switch 2 owners, the choice isn’t straightforward—you’re weighing a proven content library against a generational visual upgrade.

Key differences

Deluxe offers 48 base tracks plus 48 Booster additions for 96 total. World starts with its own lineup. Online multiplayer caps at 12 players for Deluxe, matching World. Battle modes in Deluxe have five years of community-tested depth—World’s fresh modes haven’t settled into established player metas yet. The verdict splits by priority: Deluxe wins on content breadth, World wins on raw capability.

Community views

Forum discussions on Nintendo Life reflect a cautious wait-and-see mood. Some longtime Deluxe fans point to the Booster Course Pass’s varying visual quality as evidence that Nintendo can maintain legacy content without a sequel. Others argue that a fresh Mario Kart 9—not a port update—deserves patience. The community hasn’t reached consensus, which tracks with the hardware transition still unfolding.

Key differences: Mario Kart 8 vs Deluxe

The following comparison highlights the specific improvements that justify Deluxe’s identity as a distinct release.

What this means: Deluxe transforms a single-platform purchase into a complete package that Nintendo couldn’t deliver on Wii U, making the Switch port the version worth owning for anyone who missed the original launch.

Booster Course Pass: What’s included

The Booster Course Pass reshapes Deluxe’s value proposition by layering retro nostalgia onto the existing foundation.

The catch: Visual quality across the 48 retro tracks varies noticeably, with some Booster additions resembling direct ports from Mario Kart Tour rather than full remasters built for Switch hardware.

Quotes

Switch Player reviewer on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: “This is the most complete, definitive, and best Mario Kart title yet, the best multiplayer experience you can buy on the Switch.”

— Switch Player review

Metacritic’s aggregated critic consensus: “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive version as we’re likely to know it from now on, and thanks to the nature of the Switch, it’s worth every penny.”

— Metacritic aggregated reviews

GameSpot’s video narrator on the DLC decision: “It’s been 5 years since the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe… while many had hoped for Mario Kart 9, Nintendo has decided to release DLC for 8 Deluxe instead.”

— GameSpot video coverage

Nintendo Life community member: “Probably the objectively best Mario Kart there is.”

— Nintendo Life forum discussion

Summary

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains the benchmark Switch racer not because it’s new, but because it absorbed years of DLC and fixed every major flaw from the Wii U original. For anyone without a Wii U, the base game delivers 96 tracks at roughly $60—a strong value against the original platform’s fragmented purchase history. The only real unknowns are Nintendo’s next hardware moves: Switch 2 owners may find Mario Kart World fills the same slot, while original Switch users still get a multiplayer staple that holds up seven years after launch. Either way, Deluxe owners won’t feel burned—unless Nintendo drops Mario Kart 9 before they expected.

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Frequently asked questions