Mario Kart World is fun, but it doesn't justify the price tag

Many people who are picking up the Nintendo Switch 2 are also getting Mario Kart World as their first game for it. Whether they're buying the bundle that pairs the Switch 2 with the game, or picking it up separately, chances are most Switch 2 owners will be playing Mario Kart World at some point. A new Mario game at the launch of a new console always sounds like a great idea. But the game is one of the first titles from Nintendo to break through the price ceiling for new games, opting to retail for $80 brand-new. And as it stands now, many feel that what we're getting from Mario Kart World isn't justifying the higher price tag.

Although this new Mario Kart game comes with new features and brand-new additions that haven't been part of the series before, it might not be enough for Switch 2 owners to feel like they're getting their money's worth out of it. Between paying over $400 for a new console, and more for additional accessories and the Switch Online service, Mario Kart World is another big expense for an already pricey experience. There are a few standout reasons why it might not be the best idea for some Switch 2 owners to dive in just yet. Here's why Mario Kart World doesn't justify the big price tag, despite being fun to play.

An empty time with free roam

The open-world is missing something

One of the big selling points to Mario Kart World is how you can freely roam in a new open-world setting. If you want to take a break from the Grand Prix or online racing modes, going into the Free Roam mode will let you cruise through a large open space that connects all the game's tracks. Within the large environment, multiple challenges can be attempted by pressing the big P-Switches that are scattered around, which have a spectrum of tasks to perform. At the same time, you can search for hidden Peach Coins and "?" Panels within each section, which can yield rewards for collecting them all.

All of this sounds great, but it's the in-between moments that are the problem. There's almost nothing else to do within the open world setting. While some eagle-eyed Nintendo fans will spot various Easter eggs and fan service in some places, most of the things you see in the world aren't interactive or special in any way. Don't expect to find any side quests or hidden challenges outside the ones marked with a giant P-Switch that you can find. Various characters on the roster can be seen driving or moving around, but they hardly do anything of importance or interact with you in a big way. Most of the time, they'll wave repetitively and just keep moving. Nothing more, nothing less.

But what about the areas themselves: Are they detailed enough to reward exploring thoroughly? Not really, as most of the hidden things mentioned can be spotted pretty easily by driving on most of the main roads. Some might require a bit of clever driving off the main path, but not in a way that really rewards players for taking time to browse their surroundings. At some point early on, someone is going to get very bored free roaming since there's not much to do.

No post-release expansion plans

Beyond what we have now

One of the big success stories for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch was the release of DLC expansions, which added new tracks and more to the game. Multiple updates over time kept things feeling fresh for those who played online. This was the first time that the series attempted something like that, and the results were very positive. It's because of that, many would think Nintendo would have something similar planned for Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2. However, there have been no announcements or planned roadmap of DLC to come to the game since the launch of the Switch 2.

This is something that would be a huge-missed opportunity if Nintendo didn't have DLC updates for Mario Kart World. While it's entirely possible this could change over time as more games are released for the console, the company not assuring players that more can come to Mario Kart World is worrisome, especially for those who invested a lot in the previous game that did so and believed the sequel would be similar. Dropping $80 on a new game like this does come with the expectation that support for it would be long-term, and not having an idea if that is possible is cause for anyone to feel their money could've been spent elsewhere.

Repetition wearing thin

Not mixing things up enough

While the Free Roam mode of Mario Kart World was meant to be an element to diversify the game, it falls upon the core racing to be great when that part of it falls short. But Mario Kart World doesn't do much to change what you're engaged with most of the time. The one variation on races called Knockout Tour is a welcome addition to the series, but it's nothing too unique and different from the other modes that wouldn't feel a bit repetitive. You can take the racing online and compete with up to 24 players at a time, but that only goes as far as one is willing to tolerate engaging with other players through Switch Online. And in essence, you're still doing the exact same things everyone has been doing throughout the Mario Kart series, with nothing more beyond that.

For some players, that's just good enough. But for others looking for the value in their $80 purchase, this isn't enough. Other racing games, including other mascot racers on various platforms, have found ways to keep players invested in them through different single-player and multiplayer content. Whether it was a true story mode to flesh out the Grand Prix modes, or extra options to make the multiplayer feel or play different, they came up with new ideas to build upon. The Mario Kart series has only done incremental things to change what is already good, while at the same time ignoring what has been very successful elsewhere. And if the higher price tag is the new standard for games like Mario Kart World going forward, then something more has to be done to make players feel like every dollar they spent on it is irrefutably justified.

What comes next for Mario Kart World

Things are only getting started for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World. For some, it might not be a game that makes a strong enough case for a steep $80 price tag on new games. It's entirely possible that eventually Nintendo will reveal plans to get more people excited about playing and sticking with the game post-release. Those who didn't get the bundle for the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World will have to either pay up the $80 to get in on the fun, or be left out until the next major Switch 2 title releases. Some people may be okay with that for now, and it's reasonable to see why. It might be fun to play Mario Kart World now, but whether the game is truly worth the high price tag for everyone has yet to be decided.