The Best Mario Kart Games, According to Metacritic

MARIO KART WII – METACRITIC SCORE: 82

*** We have decided to not include Super Mario Kart on this list simply because of the fact that the title does not have a Metacritic score.***

Mario Kart Wii released in 2008 for, you guessed it, the Nintendo Wii. It came included with the Wii Wheel which made it easier for beginner players to join in on the kart racing fun. This iteration was the first Mario Kart to feature racing over Wi-Fi and the support of motion controls. Many different configurations made the game very accessible to all players, even your grandmother’s grandmother.

Mario Kart Wii is sitting at a Metacritic score of 82 based on 73 critics and a user score of 8.3 based on 735 ratings. Being the lowest rated Mario Kart title on Metacritic, the title managed to grab the spot of  second best-selling Wii game, right behind Wii Sports.

MARIO KART 64 – METACRITIC SCORE: 83

Bringing the kart racing series into 3D for the first time, Mario Kart turned 1997 into one of the best years to own a Nintendo 64. With its battle mode and split-screen multiplayer, 64 was the bee’s knees and the reason to own multiple controllers back then. This was the first game in the franchise to add ghost racing into the mix instead of just racing against a clock.

Mario Kart 64 is sitting at a solid Metascore of 83 based on 15 critics while the user score is at 8.7.

MARIO KART 7 – METACRITIC SCORE: 85

The first numbered entry in the series, Mario Kart 7 takes to the skies and the depths of the ocean, and adds underwater/flying segments. New abilities and customizable karts bring the first glasses-free 3D Mario Kart title to the next level.

Mario Kart 7’s user score of 8.3 is a bit lower than its Metascore of 85. Critics praised the great handheld graphics, track design, and deep customization offered for the karts.

MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH – METACRITIC SCORE: 87

Mario Kart Double Dash for the Nintendo GameCube did a total 360 that nobody had expected, and was a fresh change for the series. Double Dash let two players ride on one single kart, making multiplayer a lot more hectic and fun. With a  huge cast of characters to pair up with, Double Dash will always be remembered for its varied gameplay and unique design.

Critics were enamored with the GameCube title, giving it a respectable Metascore of 87.

MARIO KART 8 – METACRITIC SCORE: 88

Adding to the variety of tracks that Mario Kart 7 started with hang-gliders and underwater sections, Mario Kart 8 goes the extra mile and adds anti-gravity karts that has players driving upside down and on the walls. The first Mario Kart title to feature DLC, the inclusion of other Nintendo characters like Link and Isabelle worked perfectly, and made the roster that much bigger. Mario Kart 8’s gorgeous graphics and revamped online modes made the Wii U library a lot better. The game sits at a 88 on the Metacritic scale based on a whopping 82 critics.

MARIO KART DS – METACRITIC SCORE: 91

DS Download Play was greatly taken advantage of once Mario Kart DS released into the wild back in 2005. With the Download Play feature, you can play local multiplayer matches with up to eight people while only using one single cartridge. Including the standard features of any Mario Kart title like Grand Prix, retro cups, and online play, Mario Kart DS did something different and added a mission mode. You would complete tasks and earn a mission ranking, and then face off against familiar bosses that came straight from Super Mario 64 DS.

Mario Kart DS took some sharp turns with the mission mode and the ability to design your karts with icons, but the handheld title sits at a staggering 91 on Metacritic. The user score is also quite favorable at 8.6 based on 480 ratings.

MARIO KART SUPER CIRCUIT – METACRITIC SCORE: 93

Super Circuit brings Mario Kart on the go for the first time ever and was one of the reasons why future titles also came to Nintendo’s later handhelds like the DS, 3DS, and now the Switch. What made Super Circuit so special was that it boasted a total of 40 tracks to choose from, which is a feat for Mario Kart titles. Up to four players can participate in multiplayer modes using the Game Boy Advance Link cable with even a single game cartridge. While all players using single cartridge mode were limited to using only Yoshi and different colors of him, but who doesn’t love that green dinosaur lizard thing?

The game sits at a 93 on Metacritic from 24 critics.

MARIO KART 8: DELUXE – METACRITIC SCORE: 93

The complete package that would end up breaking launch day records for any Mario Kart game ever. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe takes everything that made the Wii U game so good and takes it up a much-needed notch. Nintendo has included all of the previously released Downloadable Content that released for the Wii U version, added a superb battle mode, and threw in even more characters to add to the roster of racers. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe actually tied with Super Mario Circuit as being the highest-rated Mario Kart game on Metacritic, but the user score is higher for Deluxe and the overall users are higher as well, putting Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on top as the contender to beat.