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Super Mario Kart Guide

1992 · Racing

Box art

Super Mario Kart box art
North American SNES box art for Super Mario Kart.

Game guides

Find the guide you need
GuideWhat you will find
Two-player racing shows Mario and Koopa Troopa on separate halves of the screen.CharactersChoose a handling class and recognize computer-only attacks.
Peach races on Choco Island while the lower screen displays the course map.Cups and unlocksFind every Grand Prix course and the original progression requirements.
Toad drives beside a green pipe with the course map below.Items and coinsUnderstand the original item panels and coin penalties.
Two-player racing shows Mario and Koopa Troopa on separate halves of the screen.DrivingLearn the SNES controls without importing later drift mechanics.
Two racers face one another in split-screen Battle Mode.Battle and Time TrialsSeparate two-player battles from the single-player record modes.

At a glance

Three useful starting points
FocusWhat to know
Build a coin reserveTen coins reach the speed cap; extra coins provide a buffer against losses.
Finish in the top fourIn solo Grand Prix, fifth or worse requires a retry and consumes a life.
Unlock faster racesWin all four 100cc cups to open 150cc.

Characters Character guide →

Key characters and their roles
CharacterRoleAt a glance
MarioBalanced driverShares a handling class with Luigi.
LuigiBalanced driverA steady choice for learning power slides.
PeachAcceleration classRecovers speed quickly after trouble.
YoshiAcceleration classShares Peach’s performance class.
BowserHeavy classHigh top speed with slower recovery.
Donkey Kong Jr.Heavy classThe original roster uses DK Jr., not adult Donkey Kong.
Koopa TroopaHandling classEasy cornering with a lower top speed.
ToadHandling classShares Koopa Troopa’s performance class.

Quick answers

Unlocks, routes and useful answers
TopicGo straight to
Cups and unlocksSpecial Cup follows the 100cc trophies →

Pictures All pictures →

Two racers face one another in split-screen Battle Mode.
Two racers face one another in split-screen Battle Mode.
Toad drives beside a green pipe with the course map below.
Toad drives beside a green pipe with the course map below.
Two-player racing shows Mario and Koopa Troopa on separate halves of the screen.
Two-player racing shows Mario and Koopa Troopa on separate halves of the screen.
Peach races on Choco Island while the lower screen displays the course map.
Peach races on Choco Island while the lower screen displays the course map.
References
Guide references
ReferenceWebsite
Super Mario Kart: game and edition overviewwww.nintendo.com