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Mario Kart is a multiplayer racing staple. Nothing beats whizzing around a fantastical track, throwing shells at opponents and winning in style. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe brings new and old tracks together in one compact package. All the DLC booster courses have now been released expanding this game to a whopping 96 tracks. But which ones have made it onto the Zatu Bloggers’ favourite list?
Matthew Wilson
Why is Dolphin Shoals the best track? It's the music, it's 100% the music. Don't get me wrong, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a game filled with great tunes. But Dolphin Shoals for me is a standout winner of a jam! A fantastic tropical jazz fusion medley with a great drum beat and a saxophone that refuses to quit. It's just so toe tappingly fun and upbeat and fits the theme of the level so well. The music starts out sounding like a pretty run of the mill Mario Kart song at first, but the first time you pop out of the underwater section and that sweet sax hits you, you know you’re in for a jazzy good time. Whenever I play Mario Kart and this track comes up, the song gets firmly stuck in my head for a good few hours afterwards.
I guess I should talk a bit about the track itself too, it's a fine track. I think it nails its tropical underwater theme pretty well and has a whole host of different sea creatures hanging out in it. The idea of an underwater level tends to have some people recoil in horror, but I think Dolphin Shoals handles its underwater sections well and they are just as navigable as the above ground sections. It also has some branching paths to mix up the laps a little each time and add strategy, if you are that way inclined. The course has a few jumps in it which I know aren't to everyone's taste, but I don't think they get in the way of the fun on this one.
It's a fun track, fun theme, and holy cow what a rhythm! Really the only downside to this track, I can think of, is that sweet, sweet saxophone doesn't kick in early enough... my god it's so good!
Sophie Jones
I have always enjoyed Mario but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe made me love it. This game has so many courses to choose from and each offers something new and exciting.
Most of my favourite tracks hail from the Wii: the first Nintendo console I got. Because of this, the Wii courses hit that bit harder as they are packed with nostalgia. First on the list is, Coconut Mall. This is a relatively short map, but it has jumps, epic drifts and a drag straight at the end. It’s exciting and the parking cars just before the finish line can make or break you winning the trophy!
Additionally, I adore Maple Treeway, mainly because I always win it. But also, for its forest setting. As you speed round the track there are piles of leaves you can hit along the way. These slow you down but also leave mushrooms. These mushrooms are great speed boosts to take advantage of when you find them.
Grumble Volcano is another must when I load up a game. The reason I like this track is the jeopardy it adds. Not only are you battling fellow drivers but you’re also battling the elements. Over the laps, the ground will quake, and lava will erupt onto the track. You have to change your route to avoid these hazards; if you don’t, it can cost you the race. Never mind blue shells, avoid the magma!
One new track which does stand out is Squeaky Clean Sprint. I enjoyed this map upon playing due to its theming. This course is a quick loop set in a bathroom. Nothing beats flying over the toilet or driving into the plug hole and finding all the lost items along the way. The track is simple, but the playful theme makes it a top pick.
Seb Hawden
I have been playing Mario Kart for a very long time now, it’s a great package that spans generations and always drums up excitement and wheel-to-wheel racing. It’s brilliant!
I am a retro guy and most of the tracks I love are from the Mario Kart games I played growing up. Nintendo did a great job overhauling them, while keeping what made them great, in both visuals and sound.
First up is Mario Circuit 3 from the SNES version of Mario Kart. It’s tight, colourful and has a cheeky little shortcut you can grab if you have a mushroom. This circuit always brings back memories of playing for hours upon hours at my friend’s house as a small child. Simpler times... simpler times indeed!
Next up is Kalamari Desert from the N64, this track, as far as my memory serves me, has changed quite a bit. It seems more complex and has a few more jumps dotted about. I used to love this track back in the day, especially watching my combatants being hit by trains. HAHAHAHA!
For new tracks from the Booster Pass, I love Ninja Hideaway, Sky High Sundae and Squeaky Clean Sprint. These three really take Mario Kart 8 to its limits with jumps, alternate routes and a plethora of things to be discovered. They are beautiful to boot too.
From the base game, I adore Mario Circuit, with its sweeping curves and anti-gravity sections. I love Bowser Castle with its meandering tracks and assault course-style straights. I also really enjoy the tracks from Zelda, Animal Crossing, F-Zero and a few other classic tracks in the base game such as Donut Plains 3 and Mario Circuit from the GBA.
All in all, Mario Kart 8 is dripping in fantastic courses, old and new. With the Booster Pass, there are now 96 tracks. That’s a hell of a lot to get your teeth into.
Gillian Lee
Of all the Mario Kart 8 tracks, Electrodrome is my favourite. It’s got such a great disco vibe and I love tracks that give you great bends to drift around and get those purple boosts! The section where your kart lights up the track underneath is satisfying, and the course’s spaciousness makes it feel grand.
There’s a reason N64 Rainbow Road is a classic, and in a multitude of Rainbow Roads the N64 one always stands out to me. It’s just such a fun track. The rainbow in this road is particularly beautiful. Despite not having many rails, I feel strangely stable as it’s a wide track with plenty of satisfying bends in it. You don’t do laps so it’s relatively short, but every section is delightful. From the cute star boosts in the sky, to the trains going past you, to the adorable fireworks, it’s an all-around lovely track.
Despite not playing any F-Zero, I’m glad they’ve made some F-Zero style tracks. Mute City is a very cool track; you’re definitely not in the Mushroom Kingdom anymore. You’re driving through a very sleek city with boost pads for days. I like that you don’t necessarily have to drive particularly well for this one: just boost away!
I love Animal Crossing (my over 555 hours in New Horizons attests to that) and seeing Animal Crossing things in Mario Kart is only going to be a great time. Of the two Animal Crossing tracks, Wild Woods is my favourite. You’re inside a massive tree with streams of water and Toads cheering you on from the side. It harkens to fantasy-like realms and it’s a great track that was introduced for the game.
And there you have it- our favourite Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tracks! With the booster DLC complete, there are plenty of races to try, hidden routes to explore and characters to beat. So, load it up and throw those shells!