The Mario Kart series has a history of shaking up its gameplay. With unique renditions across multiple platforms, it has become a premier party game for Nintendo fans and a great way for friends to compete against one another. As fans look towards the future and get anxious as they wait for official news on the next Mario Kart game, discussions on what a sequel might look like alongside possible leaks have begun to stir up some ideas.
For some, this means Mario Kart should adopt platforming mechanics in the future, an homage to Mario’s roots that would likely rejuvenate the franchise in a unique way. Another solid approach, however, would be to take a page out of Forza Horizon’s book. The laxer spin-off of the Forza series is a fun way to race friends and test different vehicles in an open world. If a similar approach was used for the next Mario Kart game, it could completely redefine the franchise.
Open-World Mario Kart
Mario Kart could fill out a world similar to the ones used by Forza Horizon perfectly, and it would be a great direction for the games to take. The fun and cartoony dynamic that Mario Kart brings to the table would allow the title to take liberties that games like Forza Horizon might not, while also marrying some of the best aspects of the two franchises. This could provide a new twist for Mario Kart that allows players to experience the game outside of racing, and also help bring new life to mini-games, which tend to be some of the best features in Mario spin-off games.
On top of this, the rumored crossovers for the new Mario Kart game could also lend a lot to the map that’s used. A dedicated Mario map would have a lot to pull from for inspiration given the series long history, and areas focused on characters like Princess Peach and Bowser would likely be a given, but there’s more that could be done. Designated areas in an open world similar to Forza Horizon could represent different characters and franchises that fall under the Nintendo umbrella, creating a unique experience that might be compared more to Super Smash Bros. than Mario Kart 8.
Adopting areas based on other IPs, like Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, would also allow an open world Mario Kart to also test new additions to the game. The popularity system used in Forza Horizon might not be a perfect match for Mario Kart, but Forza Horizon 5’s map details could be used as inspiration for how an Articuno or Zapdos might affect a Pokemon-themed part of the map. Similarly, an area geared toward Bowser could become the unforgiving terrain that surrounds an active volcano, helping to tie different points of the world together.
This, in turn, could also help change how a campaign could work for Mario Kart. While racing and the cups could still be important aspects of the game, an open world could mean traveling and challenging different characters rather than the traditional format that players know. Classics like the partnered races from Mario Kart Double Dash could return for certain challenges, or mini-games from past installments could be used as an alternative way to progress through a campaign.
Overall, the potential in Mario Kart adopting an open world is something the series should look into. As hardware gets better, and fans look for new experiences, the traditional way Mario Kart has done things isn’t always going to be the best answer. Using the roots of the series as its foundation is important, but it's also time for Mario Kart to take the next logical step and expand on everything the series has already done. Building a fun arcade world up for players to race through and explore is the perfect next step to pull Mario Kart into the future.
Mario Kart 9 is rumored to be in development.