In the latest installment of the Mario Kart franchise, titled Mario Kart World, players can expect a host of new features. However, not all characters will have access to the same enhancements. “NPC” racers, such as Cow from Moo Moo Farms, will not have unlockable costumes, unlike the mainline characters.
Players can unlock costumes in free roam mode by traveling to different regions and consuming Dash Food items scattered throughout the game. Mario Kart World boasts an expanded roster of playable characters, but it has been confirmed that certain NPCs will be excluded from utilizing the new costume feature. While icons like Mario and Yoshi can don various outfits—including Biker and Mariachi costumes—popular NPC characters will miss out.
This news, highlighted by ComicBook, has drawn mixed reactions from fans who were excited about the prospect of customizing more characters. One of the standout features in Mario Kart World is its open-world exploration. Players can roam freely between races, moving across a massive interconnected world filled with diverse terrains, such as grassy plains, bustling cities, and erupting volcanoes.
This allows racers to truly immerse themselves in the experience while taking a break from traditional racing gameplay. In free roam mode, players can visit locations like Yoshi’s restaurant drive-thrus to collect Dash Food. Consuming these items unlocks new costumes permanently within the game.
This adds a layer of fun and exploration that previous entries did not offer. While Nintendo has shared details on game modes—such as Grand Prix, Knockout Tour, and Free Roam—rumors of other features, including a Mirror Mode, have started circulating. This mode would allow players to race on courses in reverse, presenting a fresh challenge.
Mario Kart World invites players to not just race but to explore a vibrant world, connecting with friends whether locally or online, offering a blast of multiplayer fun with various controls available. The excitement and anticipation for this new title continue to grow among fans.