Mario Kart 8 / Characters
Mario Kart 8 Characters: base roster and DLC drivers
Separate trophy unlocks from the two paid character packs.
Edition covered
Original Wii U game with its free updates. Paid DLC is identified separately. Deluxe characters, two held items, purple drift sparks and dedicated battle arenas are outside this edition. Official online play ended in April 2024.
20 characters · one picture per entry · open a picture for full size.
Mario family
Small drivers
Heavy starters
Other unlocks
Quick notes
- Gold trophies reveal base-game drivers. The original roster contains 30 drivers.
- DLC drivers belong to their own packs. Link, Tanooki Mario and Cat Peach come from the first paid pack.
- Weight changes the driving problem. Light drivers recover readily and turn sharply, while heavy drivers favor speed and collisions.
- Alternate colors are not new drivers. Yoshi and Shy Guy colors do not create additional handling classes.
DLC drivers belong to their own packs
| Content | Drivers or change | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Pack 1 | Link; Tanooki Mario; Cat Peach | Previously purchased DLC installed |
| Pack 2 | Villager; Isabelle; Dry Bowser | Previously purchased DLC installed |
| Yoshi and Shy Guy colors | Alternate appearances | Associated DLC entitlement |
| Deluxe-only additions | Gold Mario; Inklings; others | Not available in Wii U Mario Kart 8 |
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Nintendo original game information | en-americas-support.nintendo.com |
| Edition-specific mechanics reference | www.mariowiki.com |
| Nintendo eShop and online-service status | en-americas-support.nintendo.com |
| Nintendo online-service status | www.nintendo.com |
| Nintendo eShop and existing-download status | www.nintendo.com |