Though the announcement of upcoming DLC for Mario Kart 8: Deluxe has squashed the possibility of a successor in the near future, there is little doubt that the ninth entry to the Mario Kart series is on the horizon. The much-loved racing series is constantly setting the bar for other games in the genre to attempt to hurdle, With every new iteration, be it on a home console or a portable handheld, Mario Kart has always been the gold standard, as all others seem to fall by the wayside.
However, in some cases, the Mario Kart imitators have offered innovation, be it new gameplay mechanics, level design, or roster changes. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe is, surely, the most ambitious kart racer around, but the lessons it can take from other titles are evident to those who have experienced the genre past Nintendo's offering. The Mario Kart formula has worked wonders for decades, and fixing something that isn't broken isn't often advisable, yet taking tips from some forgotten games in the genre may be the key to making Mario Kart 9 the best entry yet.
F1 Race Stars
Taking cues from the 2012 Formula 1 season with its roster and track design, F1 Race Stars was a chance for developer Codemasters to deviate from the precision of open-wheel sim racing and create something for more casual audiences. Mimicking the fun of Mario Kart (though the mixed critical reception indicates the fun was somewhat dampened in comparison), while incorporating elements of the seasoned sport was something that worked well, with many of the tracks featuring the aesthetics of current circuits on the F1 calendar.
Where F1 Race Stars shines, however, is its use of real-world corners, and implementing them into a level that prioritizes frantic action. The Italy stage features the iconic Curva Grande from Monza, and the tricky Eau Rouge is a centerpiece of the Belgium-inspired track. Mario Kart 8 has plenty of levels to choose from thanks to a lengthy tenure as gaming's best kart racer, but drawing inspiration from some of the best circuits on the planet is something that F1 Race Stars does beautifully, and Mario Kart 9 would do well to replicate it.
Crash Team Racing
Crash Team Racing is far less obscure than it perhaps was before the widely acclaimed remake for PS4 in 2019, but its legacy still pales in comparison to Mario Kart's astronomical success. A kart racer for the strong-willed, Crash Team Racing's comical, cartoon visuals hide a deeply competitive title, and one that is as tough as it is fun. The challenge comes largely from its boost mechanics, whereby drifting will allow the opportunity for an extra boost, should the player time their button inputs to perfection.
On the surface, it's a small, somewhat inconsequential addition to the gameplay, but in reality, it provides the essential source of speed for veteran players, and those who don't take advantage of the feature are destined to be left behind. Power sliding through the levels is so much faster than straight line speed, and the layer of strategy that the mechanic should have provided becomes the most prominent difference between it and any Mario Kart title to date. Bringing something similar to Nintendo's franchise could serve to bring the series closer to the racing genre and further from the often-frustrating party game elements that make each course less of a skill-based affair.
Konami Krazy Racers
Perhaps the most obvious imitator of Mario Kart, Konami Krazy Racers released as a launch title on the Game Boy Advance in the summer of 2001, with comparisons immediately drawn. Mario Kart: Super Circuit had yet to hit shelves, and for a brief, three-month period, Konami Krazy Racers was the hottest kart racer on the system. Published by the titular Konami, it shared a heritage with the likes of CastleVania, Metal Gear Solid, and Silent Hill and, like the aforementioned titles, it too was critically acclaimed. However, as Mario Kart Super Circuit was right around the corner, it never truly stood a chance of forging a legacy of its own.
Still, while Mario Kart's GBA offering boasted eight playable characters from the series, Konami Krazy Racers housed racers from a number of different Konami franchises. From Metal Gear Solid's Gray Fox to Dracula himself, the roster was a celebration of the company's many products, which is something that was likely inspired by Nintendo's Super Smash Bros series. Mario Kart 8's initial DLC bringing Link, Villager, and Isabelle from other Nintendo franchises is a step in a promising direction, but many players have a personal attachment to any number of Nintendo IP. Taking notes from Konami, of all places, could give the Mario Kart franchise so much more content.
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe is available now for Nintendo Switch.