Mario Kart World is a massive refresh for the ludicrously popular kart racing franchise, bringing the total number of participants per race up to 24, while moving the action into a fully open world environment in which you drive from one race course to the next.
Quite a few returning favourites from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and beyond have been confirmed, along with a bunch of newbies. We don't have any information yet on specific stats for each character, but below is a guide on every character for Mario Kart World.
Mario Kart World Full Character List & How To Unlock
1. Mario
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
2. Luigi
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
3. Peach
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
6. Yoshi
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
7. Toad
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
8. Koopa Troopa
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
9. Bowser
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
11. Wario
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
12. Waluigi
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
13. Pauline
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
14. Baby Mario
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
15. Baby Luigi
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
16. Baby Peach
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
17. Baby Daisy
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
18. Baby Rosalina
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
20. Toadette
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
23. Shy Guy
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
24. Wiggler
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
25. Dry Bones
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
27. Nabbit - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
28. Goomba - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
29. Cow - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
30. Hammer Bro - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
32. Piranha Plant - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
35. Snowman - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
36. Sidestepper - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
38. Rocky Wrench - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
39. Monty Mole - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
42. Penguin - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
43. Para-Biddybud - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
44. Stingby - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
45. Pokey - NEW
How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)
How do you Transform into Characters with Kamek?
Kamek is a brand new item that's pretty rare, but he's essential if you want to unlock all of the game's characters.
When used, Kamek will summon enemies onto the course and transform all racers in its path into a random character or enemy. If you're not sure how to get Kamek or how it works, we've got a guide that should fully explain Kamek for you.
Mario Kart World Character FAQs
How many playable characters are there?
There are 50 unique playable racers in Mario Kart World — not including costumes. 24 main Mario characters (so the likes of Peach, Yoshi, DK, etc.) and 26 NPC characters and enemies (Pokey, Penguin, Dolphin, etc.).
To start with, you'll have access to 32 characters — 17 from Mario's own friends, and 15 enemies and NPCs. The other 18 you'll need to unlock.
Wait, there are alternate costumes?
There sure are! Lots, in fact. These appear on the character select screen as different 'characters', but we've separated them out into a separate guide on All Costume Unlocks in Mario Kart World.
Will characters from the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course appear?
Again, we're not sure. We'd guess that every character from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will show up, but whether they're included in the base game or will be available as additional DLC is unknown for the time being.
Is Diddy Kong in the game?
See above — so far, nope! At least from what we've seen. Who knows if Nintendo will add him later. Poor Diddy...
Why does Donkey Kong look so different?
Ah, you noticed huh? Yes, Donkey Kong has had a bit of a redesign for this new Mario Kart, seemingly taking some inspiration from his appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but also putting it more in line with his design in Donkey Kong Bananza, which is due to launch on Switch 2 on 17th July 2025.
So that's the full roster for Mario Kart World so far. Keep an eye out for more guides on the racer over the coming months as we inch toward its eventual release.
Comments 18
Baby Rosalina also looks to be there in the trailer. Some also say Lakitu but abit hard to notice.
Another thing is that we have returning character sponsor signboards. A "Morton Construction" signboard is seen near Yoshi's Burger Stand and you can also spot a Nabbit signboard just as the console is placed in the Switch 2 dock.
Could indicate that all the koopalings plus Nabbit will be playable too.
I think you missed Lakitu and Baby Rosalina
I just thought of something, since some people couldn't tell who one racer was....what if they brought back ROB?
King Bob-omb was also spotted
I hope this game takes the best notes from Tour i.e the character roster, the character-exclusive items and all the vehicles it introduced of course. No live service needed, I guess...
Why am I seeing Seth Rogen in a new Mario Kart game for Nintendo Switch 2?
i don't actually know what I hate more: All of the hundreds of articles that have come out over the last 6 years ing "rumors" and "leaks", 75%+ of which are now confirmed false (but of course no one will that and anybody who randomly got the release date right this time around will probably be hailed as some kind of soothsayer/genius going forward), or all the articles flooding out this week about all the "confirmed information" which is actually just the writer going frame by frame through the release teaser we all watched and picking out details. Articles like this reek of desperation. Why can't anybody be satisfied to wait until we get official word anymore? There's lots more to do outside of digging for every shred of "information" on an console, people. Get a (second) hobby.
Edit: i just noticed the "Mario Kart 9 Guide" link, which i'm not going to click on, and... Wow. i can only imagine the in-depth advice given within. "Mario Kart 9 (assuming that's the name) will likely be some kind of racing game with at least one track. Dirt is involved, and it comes in at least one shade of tan. It will probably slow you down if you drive off the pavement, we assume. There might be items but that's just a guess."
@WaxxyOne you know what's worse than analyzing trailers and being excited for a new game? being so sad and miserable that you feel the need to write all that just to make other people feel bad. maybe you should get a second hobby if you have all that time on your hands.
Meanwhile it still hasn’t been confirmed if there will be more non-Mario characters added or they’re just going back to only having Mario characters.
If they’re still adding non-Mario characters I wanna see them add characters from Kirby or Metroid, maybe even the idols from Splatoon, cuz I wanna switch between playing as Yoshi and Pearl in this game.
@MrCarlos46 But Kirby has his own racer to headline.
@GinMiguel At one point I was thinking Kirby before Kirby Air Riders was announced, so I guess now I can cross Kirby out of my list of wanted characters in Mario Kart World.
Shy Guy is a miss.
Fingers crossed for the return of Funky Kong. And hey, if minor enemies can get in, then why not Cranky? Or Chunky? Or even... Swanky Kong??
Can't believe they're targeting me personally by putting in every Mario character imaginable (or unimaginable) but still not, so far, Diddy Kong. Starting to give up hope for my boy.
But still excited!
For DLC they could easily add these characters:
i hope NL sticks with these pics. way cooler than just having the character selection screen
So many unlocked by transform via kamek, could take forever to get those ones?
@YoshiTails
Where even is Kamek?
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