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Mario Kart 8 Guide

2014 · Racing

Box art

Mario Kart 8 box art
European Wii U packaging for Mario Kart 8.

Game guides

Find the guide you need
GuideWhat you will find
Mario drives with the Crazy Eight items orbiting his kart.CharactersSeparate trophy unlocks from the two paid character packs.
Fireworks illuminate the rainbow-colored course above the crowd.Cups and coursesFind each four-race cup without mixing in the Deluxe Booster Course Pass.
Mario drives with the Crazy Eight items orbiting his kart.Items and defenceUse the original one-slot item system and recognize practical defensive options.
Mario uses anti-gravity wheels on a steep stadium bend.Driving and 200ccMatch turning technique to engine class and wheel mode.
Mario races beside Luigi beneath the illuminated anti-gravity track in Mario Kart Stadium.Unlocks and gold partsTrack the original Wii U goals for vehicle parts and gold equipment.

At a glance

Three useful starting points
FocusWhat to know
Start with the original cupsEight cups contain 32 courses; the two paid packs add another 16.
Check the installed updateVersion 4.1.0 opens Mirror and 200cc immediately.
Race locallyGrand Prix, Time Trials, VS and local Battle remain playable without official online matchmaking.

Characters Character guide →

Key characters and their roles
CharacterRoleAt a glance
MarioMiddleweight driverA familiar starting point for comparing vehicle combinations.
Baby MarioLight driverTrades top speed and weight for easier recovery and turning.
BowserHeavy driverRewards clean racing lines and careful recovery after collisions.
RosalinaUnlockable driverEarn base-game character unlocks by winning new Grand Prix gold trophies.
MiiCustom driverIts size affects its weight class.
LinkPaid DLC driverRequires the first DLC pack already owned for this Wii U copy.

Quick answers

Unlocks, routes and useful answers
TopicGo straight to
CharactersGold trophies reveal base-game drivers →
Cups and coursesThe original game has eight cups →
Items and defenceOne held item means an actual choice →
Driving and 200ccDrifts store a boost →
Unlocks and gold partsCoin totals unlock ordinary parts →

Pictures All pictures →

Fireworks illuminate the rainbow-colored course above the crowd.
Fireworks illuminate the rainbow-colored course above the crowd.
Mario drives with the Crazy Eight items orbiting his kart.
Mario drives with the Crazy Eight items orbiting his kart.
Mario uses anti-gravity wheels on a steep stadium bend.
Mario uses anti-gravity wheels on a steep stadium bend.
Mario races beside Luigi beneath the illuminated anti-gravity track in Mario Kart Stadium.
Mario races beside Luigi beneath the illuminated anti-gravity track in Mario Kart Stadium.
References
Guide references
ReferenceWebsite
Mario Kart 8: game and edition overviewen-americas-support.nintendo.com