Mario Kart DS Gameplay: Modes, Controls & Techniques
How every mode works, the full control layout, Grand Prix scoring and the driving techniques that matter most: rocket starts, powerslides, mini-turbos and snaking.
- Modes
- 6
- Classes
- 50cc · 100cc · 150cc · Mirror
- Local play
- Up to 8 players
- Online
- Closed 2014
Game modes
- Grand Prix
- Race seven computer opponents across a cup of four courses in 50cc, 100cc, 150cc or Mirror. Places score 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 points, and you earn a trophy plus a rank from E up to three stars (★★★).
- Time Trial
- Race alone for the fastest time with a number of Mushrooms set by your kart’s Items rating (one, two or three). Race your own ghost or the Nintendo staff ghost. Staff ghost times.
- VS
- Pick any unlocked course and race against the computer or friends with your own rules: class, CPU difficulty, course order, teams and the number of races or wins.
- Battle
- Balloon Battle or Shine Runners on six arenas, alone against the computer or with friends over local wireless. Everyone drives their standard kart. Battle guide.
- Mission Mode
- New in Mario Kart DS: seven levels of eight short challenges plus a boss, each graded from E to three stars. Mission guide.
- Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
- Online 100cc races for up to four players on 20 courses. The service closed on May 20, 2014, so online play no longer works.
Controls
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| A | Accelerate (hold on the 2 of the countdown for a Rocket Start) |
| B | Brake and reverse |
| L or X | Use the item; hold to keep it behind you |
| Control Pad Left/Right | Steer |
| Up/Down + L or X | Throw an item forwards or backwards |
| R | Hop; hold to drift and powerslide, release for a Mini-Turbo |
| Y or touch screen | Switch the bottom-screen map view |
| START | Pause |
| SELECT or the microphone | Blow up a balloon in Balloon Battle |
Driving techniques
Rocket Start
Press and hold A just as the “2” of the countdown starts to fade. Hold too early and your engine stalls.
A burst of speed off the line.
Drift and powerslide
Hold R to hop into a drift, then tap the Control Pad left and right while drifting. The sparks turn blue, then orange.
Tighter turns while keeping your speed.
Mini-Turbo
Let go of R once the sparks have turned orange.
A short speed boost out of every drift.
Snaking
Chain mini-turbos one after another in a zigzag, even on straights. Light, high-handling karts such as Dry Bones’ make it easier.
The fastest way round in Time Trial and online play, but hard to master.
Slipstream
Tuck in right behind another kart for a few seconds until wind lines appear.
A speed boost to slingshot past.
Item dragging
Hold L (or X) to keep a Banana, shell or Fake Item Box behind your kart.
Blocks Red Shells and other attacks from behind.
Throwing backwards
Hold Down on the Control Pad while you use an item.
Lob shells and Bananas at racers behind you.
Dodging the Spiny Shell
In the faster classes, a well-timed hop combined with a mini-turbo boost can get you clear as the shell comes down.
Hard to pull off, but saves first place.
Grand Prix scoring and ranks
| Place | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
After each cup you get a trophy for the top three and a rank: E, D, C, B, A, ★, ★★ or ★★★. Earn the same star rank in every cup and class for an overall star ranking in Records.
Multiplayer and Download Play
- Local wireless play supports up to eight players for races and battles.
- With one game card, others can join through DS Download Play: only the Mushroom and Shell Cup courses (plus three battle arenas) are available and guests race as Shy Guy.
- With a card each, every course anyone has unlocked can be played.
- Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection allowed four-player 100cc races on 20 courses until May 20, 2014. Battles were never online.
FAQ
How do you do a rocket start in Mario Kart DS?
Hold A just as the 2 of the countdown starts to fade. Hold it too early and your engine stalls.
What is snaking?
Chaining mini-turbo boosts back to back in a zigzag, even on straights. It is the fastest way round but hard to master.
Can you still play Mario Kart DS online?
Not through Nintendo: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection closed on May 20, 2014. Local wireless and Download Play still work.
How many players can play Mario Kart DS?
Up to eight locally, four online when Wi-Fi was running.
Sources & picture credits
- Mario Kart DS (Super Mario Wiki)
- Mini-Turbo (Super Mario Wiki)
- Rocket Start (Super Mario Wiki)
- Slipstream (Super Mario Wiki)
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against the Super Mario Wiki and the Mario Kart Racing Wiki. Kart statistics, staff ghost times and item odds are the values from the game data as transcribed by the Super Mario Wiki. Screenshots, renders and artwork © Nintendo; local copies archived from Super Mario Wiki file pages (listed on the image gallery).