There's One Addition That Should Be Avoided For The New Mario Kart

Following the new Mario Kart's debut during the reveal trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2, the new entry in the series has created huge excitement among fans. This level of anticipation for the title is perfectly understandable, considering this game will mark the first new mainline Mario Kart entry to release on console for 11 years. Of course, the tons of excitement garnered over the new Mario Kart game will also come with some hefty expectations for the title to surpass its predecessors, pushing the series into an ambitious direction.

Luckily, the new Mario Kart looks to be doing just that. For example, the recent footage shown during the Switch 2 reveal trailer suggests the game will allow for more players in a single race, with the new track including a total of 24 starting positions. This revelation alone hints towards a bigger scale compared to what previous Mario Kart entries offered, sending players into a frenzy imagining what else this entry has in store. While the possibilities seem endless, there's one avenue Nintendo should avoid to prevent the new Mario Kart from losing the series' signature charm and appeal.

Mario Kart Should Avoid Other Nintendo Franchises

It Could Risk The New Game Becoming An All-Star Kart Racer

The new Mario Kart should avoid including other signature Nintendo franchises, at least in the base release. Mario Kart 8 marked the first time in the main series that Nintendo chose to incorporate other franchises into the character roster and track selection, with The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing being incorporated as DLC, while Splatoon was included with the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The addition of these franchises was a welcome inclusion, serving as a bonus on top of Mario Kart 8's already impressive character roster and track selection.

The Mario Kart series had previously done crossovers with other franchises by Bandai Namco as part of a series of arcade games that the company developed. However, these are not considered a part of the mainline Mario Kart series.

However, continuing this trend could have a negative effect on the new Mario Kart game. The more Nintendo franchises that are included, the more the focus shifts away from the Super Mario series itself. With each franchise that's added to the game's character roster or track selection, the new title risks devolving into an all-star kart racer, rather than the celebration of Super Mario that previous entries encompass, making the Mario Kart name redundant.

Mario Kart Thrives In Its Connection To The Series

Mario Kart Is A Homage To The Super Mario Franchise

Mario driving his kart on a Switch 2 screen in the new, untitled Mario Kart.

The reason this change would be detrimental to the new Mario Kart is how the series' charm comes from its connections to the overall Super Mario franchise. Many signature elements of the Super Mario franchise are used to create the Mario Kart series' variety of inventive and mesmerizing racetracks, alongside a range of powerful items that adds an extra level of chaos to the gameplay. Mario Kart is not only a loving homage to the Super Mario franchise, but it's this connection that allows the series to thrive, becoming one of the best kart racing series in history.

That's not to say other Nintendo franchises can't be utilized in the same way, with the tracks in Mario Kart 8 serving as a great example. That being said, their inclusion would quickly oversaturate the new Mario Kart game, causing it to lose its sense of identity as a celebration of Super Mario. Without that core focus, the new Mario Kart would lack a sense of direction, becoming a disjointed and more generic kart-racer that lacks that same sense of imagination and wonder the series is known for.

Of course, other Nintendo franchises could find their way to the new Mario Kart in the future, again serving as a bonus to the core game. Given the success of Mario Kart 8's DLC and the Deluxe version for Switch, it's possible that players will eventually see a similar thing occur in the new Mario Kart. However, it's vital that the upcoming Mario Kart prioritizes itself as a Mario title first and foremost, foregoing the inclusion of other franchises in the base game to deliver on the creativity and charm that makes the series so beloved today.

Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube