Mario Kart: Turbo Dash

Mario Kart: Turbo Dash is the ninth game in the Mario Kart series, available for the Nintendo Switch.
== Gameplay ==
Overall, the game play very similarly to previous entries in the Mario Kart series. Players select a character from one of several weight classes and drive customizable vehicles around a variety of courses. Along they way, they can pick up items from Item Boxes and use them to gain an advantage in the race. Numerous features specific to more recent Mario Kart games return as well; there are twelve racers like in Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 8, gliding and underwater driving return from Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8, and anti-gravity returns from Mario Kart 8.
The primary gameplay addition to this installment is the titular Turbo Dash, an expansion of the Ultra Mini-Turbo introduced in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. By drifting for an extended period of time (about half a second longer than the Ultra Mini-Turbo), the sparks will turn golden, and the Turbo Dash will be initiated upon releasing the drift button. While Turbo Dashing, the racer's speed is greatly increased, they are immune to most items, and running into other players who are not Turbo Dashing will cause them to spin out as if hit by the fireballs from a Fire Flower. The Turbo Dash lasts for a short period of time and is interrupted if the racer is hit by items that can pierce its defense, but can be extended by performing tricks. Many of the game's courses are designed with the Turbo Dash in mind, making it difficult but rewarding to pull this trick off.
Another of the game's new additions is the selection of multiple different physics options. By default, the physics are in Normal mode and are similar to those in Mario Kart 8. However, players can change the physics to Loose (which makes turns wider and karts more "shaky," similar to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!) or Tight (which makes turns tighter and karts more stable) depending on their own preference. Changing the physics does not affect any other aspects of gameplay; for example, any cups won with Normal physics are counted as won no matter the physics currently selected.
== Modes ==
=== Grand Prix ===
Grand Prix mode works essentially the same as in past games. Players must race against CPU opponents in each of the game's eight cups. By default, the 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc engine classes are available, steadily increasing in speed and difficulty; like in Mario Kart 8, completing a cup in an engine class above 50cc marks it as completed for all lower engine classes. After completing all cups in 150cc, Mirror Mode is unlocked, which has the same speed and difficulty as 150cc but reverses all of the courses. Completing all cups in Mirror Mode then unlocks 200cc, an even faster and more difficult mode than 150cc.
The All Cup Tour also returns from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! with some slight changes. Completing all four Nitro Cups in any engine class unlocks the Nitro Cup Tour, which randomizes the order of all 16 Nitro Cups, for that engine class. The same is true for Retro Cups, which unlock the similar Retro Cup Tour once completed. Neither the Nitro Cup Tour nor the Retro Cup Tour must be completed to unlock Mirror Mode or 200cc, but completing both in any engine class unlocks the All Cup Tour in that engine class. The All Cup Tour randomizes the order of all 32 tracks in the game, making for the ultimate challenge.
=== Time Trials ===
Time Trials allow a player to complete a course alone as quickly as possible. Players can race against their own ghosts or Staff Ghosts, as well as share their ghosts with friends to race against or upload their ghosts to an online leaderboard. Unlike in Grand Prix mode, Time Trials can only be played in 150cc, Mirror Mode, or 200cc, and are recorded separately.
=== VS Mode ===
VS Mode can be played locally with up to four players. Players can set rules such as which items appear, the difficulty of CPUs, engine class, and whether racers are racing in teams or solo. Players can also choose to play any course or have a certain preset number of courses selected randomly. Only tracks and engine classes unlocked in Grand Prix mode can be played here.
=== Battle Mode ===
The player can choose one of six types of battle to play on unique Battle Courses. Similar to VS Mode, a variety of rules can be changed, including whether racers are competing solo or in teams. The available modes are as follows:
* Balloon Battle: All players begin play with five balloons and gain a point every time they hit an opponent with an item. Being hit by an item or hazard causes a racer to lose a balloon, but balloons can be regained by stealing them from another player with a Mushroom. Upon losing all balloons, a racer will lose half of their points and respawn with three balloons. Whoever has the most points at the end of the time limit is the winner.
* Coin Runners: Originating in Mario Kart Wii, this mode sees players collecting coins scattered around the map. The 10-coin limit is removed, though being hit still causes a player to lose up to three coins. Whoever has the most coins at the end of the time limit is the winner.
* Shine Thief: Originating in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, players must obtain a Shine Sprite somewhere on the map and keep ahold of it from 20 seconds (or 30 seconds in team mode). The racer holding the Shine Sprite has a slightly reduced top speed and loses the Shine Sprite if hit. Whoever holds the Shine Sprite for the requisite amount of time wins.
* Bob-Omb Blast: Originating in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, this mode returns to its original points-based interpretation rather than the Balloon Battle-style version from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The only items available are Bob-Ombs, and players can carry up to 10. Hitting an opponent with a Bob-Omb earns a point and causes the opponent to lose a point. Whoever has the most points at the end of the time limit is the winner.
* Renegade Roundup: Originating in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, this "cops and robbers"-style mode can only be played in teams. One team, the "Authorities," is given permanent Piranha Plants and tasked with capturing members of the other team, the "Renegades," who must avoid being captured. Captured Renegades respawn in one of a few cages around the map, but can be freed if a Renegade drives over a switch on the map. The Authorities win if all Renegades are simultaneously captured by the time the time limit is up; otherwise, the Renegades win.
* More modes coming soon!
=== Online ===
In Online mode, up to four local players can play over the Internet against other players. Players may join Worldwide or Regional lobbies for either VS or Battle mode or else specifically race against friends online. They may also create tournaments, which work essentially the same as in Mario Kart 8.
== Characters ==
There are 48 total playable characters, including 16 default characters and 32 unlockable characters. Matching Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with all DLC unlocked, this is the highest in the series.
=== Starting Characters ===
Weight 	Characters
Feather	Toad
Feather	Toadette
Feather	Koopa Troopa
Feather	Shy Guy
Light 	Peach
Light 	Daisy
Light 	Yoshi
Light 	Bowser Jr.
Light 	Diddy Kong
Medium 	Mario
Medium 	Luigi
Cruiser	Waluigi
Cruiser	Donkey Kong
Cruiser	Rosalina
Heavy 	Wario
Heavy 	Bowser
=== Unlockable Characters ===
Weight Class	Characters
Feather 	Baby Mario
Feather 	Baby Luigi
Feather 	Baby Peach
Feather 	Baby Daisy
Feather 	Lakitu
Feather 	Dry Bones
Feather 	Paratroopa
Feather 	Monty Mole
Feather 	Luma
Feather 	Sprixie Princess
Light 	Birdo
Light 	Kamek
Light 	Dixie Kong
Light 	Nabbit
Light 	Spike
Light 	Ninji
Medium 	Pauline
Medium 	E. Gadd
Medium 	Hammer Bro.
Cruiser 	King Boo
Cruiser 	Funky Kong
Cruiser 	Wiggler
Cruiser 	Honey Queen
Cruiser 	Pom Pom
Cruiser 	Chargin' Chuck
Cruiser 	Pianta
Heavy 	Metal Mario
Heavy 	Dry Bowser
Heavy 	Petey Piranha
Heavy 	King Bob-Omb
Heavy 	Boom Boom
Varies 	Mii
== Courses ==
=== Nitro Courses ===
Mushroom Cup 	Flower Cup 	Star Cup 	Special Cup
Peach Circuit 	Mario Circuit 	Crystal Tunnel 	DK Savannah
Delfino Resort 	Yoshi Carnival	E. Gadd's Warehouse	Junior Avenue
Honeyhive Heights	Fossil Canyon 	Stormy Shipyard 	Bowser's Castle
Moonlight Manor 	Wario Studios 	Sherbet Mountain 	Rainbow Road
=== Retro Courses ===
Shell Cup 	Banana Cup 	Leaf Cup 	Lightning Cup
GCN Luigi Circuit 	Wii U Toad Harbor 	SNES Vanilla Lake 1 	DS Peach Gardens
Wii Toad's Factory	DS Shroom Ridge 	Wii U Sunshine Airport	Wii U Cloudtop Cruise
3DS Shy Guy Bazaar	GBA Riverside Park	Wii Daisy Circuit 	3DS Rosalina's Ice World
Wii U Thwomp Ruins	N64 Wario Stadium 	GCN Wario Colosseum 	GBA Rainbow Road