The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is right around the corner, and while the console and its shiny new features are bound to be the focus of the event, fans are hoping they’ll also get a better look at the games it’ll be launching with. There have been no official confirmations just yet, but if theSwitch 2’s reveal trailerwas any indication, it seems like a newMario Kartis on the way.
Based on just the few seconds of gameplay footage shown during the first Nintendo Switch 2 trailer, it seems like the newMario Kartcould be making a big change in terms of player-count. Eagle-eyed fans spotted 24 places on the track’s starting grid in the trailer, and many believe that means 24-player races are coming toMario Kart 9. But while 24-player races could be a great addition to the franchise formula,Mario Kart 9shouldn’t call it a day there.
Mario Kart 9 Needs to Go Big or Go Home
Mario Kart 9’s Rumored Player-Count Change Might Not Be Enough
24-player races have never been done before in theMario Kartfranchise, and on paper, that feature would suggest that the next entry is going to be bigger than any before it. But bigger doesn’t always necessarily mean better, and simply having more players on the track wouldn’t inherently change theMario Kartgameplay formula all that much.
Though Nintendo hasn’t confirmed it yet,Mario Kart 9seems very likely to be alaunch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. If that’s the case, then it needs to be a big step-up for the franchise, not just to show how theMario Kartseries is evolving, but how Nintendo’s next console is evolving as well.Mario Kart 9needs to be a showcase of the Switch 2’s improved hardware, and it needs to give Nintendo fans a reason to take the leap and upgrade. It seems unlikely that 24-player races will be the thing to achieve that.
Other Groundbreaking Features Mario Kart 9 Could Add
Alongside 24-player races,Mario Kart 9needs to add a handful of other features that significantly impact the series' gameplay in a positive and genuinely worthwhile way. For instance,Mario Kart 9could follow on fromMario Kart 7’s footsteps and introduce more in-depth kart customization options that go beyond simply swapping out the chassis, wheels, and glider. These deeper kart customization mechanics could add a lot more strategy toMario Kart’s competitive gameplay.
Another potential feature could be some sort of track-altering mechanics. It’s already been rumored thatMario Kart 9will feature larger and more open tracksto accommodate its 24-player lobbies, but players should also be given the opportunity to change the layouts of those tracks. For example, players in the lead could be given the option to manually choose the obstacles on a piece of track up ahead by driving into a switch on the road. This would ensure that no two races are ever the same, which could be a big deal for an already highly replayable series likeMario Kart.
