Mario Kart 9 (LemmyK12345)

Mario Kart 9 is the most recent game of the Mario Kart franchise which will be released to the public on the Nintendo Switch Deluxe Ultra Prime on July 10th, 2026. That's almost three years after the Booster Course Pass finished releasing all of its waves. Like previous games, this one has amiibo compatibility and allows you to customize your mii however you like.
== New Gimmicks ==
There are a few new gimmicks that may or may not affect the gameplay, but will certainly be exciting to the average Mario Kart player. The first gimmick is the ability of the kart/bike to turn into a boat/ jet ski. The kart transforms into a boat, while the bike turns into a jet ski. This doesn't happen when the player is underwater, but rather when traversing on a river like part of the course. Unfortunately, the ability to drift has been removed, since drifting isn't possible when on the water. The second gimmick is a bit lengthy to explain. When going underwater, a helmet activates on the player's helmet before reaching the water while the wheels are turned sideways and tucked inside the kart/bike and turn into a submarine like vehicle. Just like when you're directly on the water, being underwater doesn't give you the ability to drift. But the advantage is that you're not restricted to a narrow path. The paths in underwater sections are now huge and you can traverse wherever. And finally, the last gimmick is the use of cosmetics. Players are now encouraged to customize their characters' designs by giving them hats, shirts, pants, etc. Each character can have a max of up to 18 cosmetic combinations, but the total amount of combinations a player can make for every cosmetic seems near infinite. Players can also change a cosmetic combination if they don't like it, or just simply delete it.
== Game Modes ==
Solo/Double Dash modes
Players get the chance to choose a solo mode or double dash mode. Solo mode means one kart/bike per person. Double dash mode means two characters on one kart. Bikes are removed in Double Dash mode, unfortunately.
Grand Prix 
What would Mario Kart be if there would be none of the classic modes everyone knows and loves? That's why Mario Kart 9 is bringing back the iconic 4 cups of the franchise: Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special! But here's the thing: 2 new nitro cups will be added to the game, which are the Egg and Boomerang cups. The CC's are the following: 50cc, 100cc, 150cc, 200cc, and Mirror Mode. In Mirror Mode, players can select the cc instead of being stuck to one cc forever. Below is the list of the Nitro cup grand prix races.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of anti-gravity in the game, no Mario Kart 8 tracks will make a return in this game. However, that doesn't stop other tracks from other games from coming back. Even tracks that have been remade once or twice will be coming back again. Below is the list of the Retro cup grand prix races.
Time Trials
Like in any other Mario Kart game, this version of Time Trials keeps tracks of players' records of each track. However, a new option allows players to race each other in a local or online match to see who gets the highest record. Best of all, there will be a leaderboard to keep track of the people who beat each track the best on average. Since players can play locally with each other in Time Trials, this means that technically all the game modes in Mario Kart 9 are both multiplayer and single player modes.
VS Race
Players don't have to play by the rules of the grand prix anymore. They are now encouraged to customize their own rules and add how many tracks they want. A new feature allows the player(s) to make more than two teams for the races (6 players for teams of 2, 4 players for teams of 3, and 3 players for teams of 4.) Another new feature in the mode allows players that are in team mode to pick which CPUs/other player they want. Team captains are selected randomly by the game, and once two or more team captains (one for each team) is selected, they alternate and pick who to choose to be on their team.
Battle Mode
This Battle Mode is bringing all the previous courses from every game except Mario Kart 8 for obvious reasons, so no need for any explanation. Unfortunately, there are no new battle courses made specifically for this game.
Mario Kart Maker
This brand new mode allows players to make their own custom tracks and submit them online. With this mode, players can manipulate terrain/water, build artificial or natural paths, add coins/item boxes, etc. The tracks that can be built are not stuck to a grid, but they can be if the player(s) hit the ZL button to lock the track to the grid. Pressing ZL again will promptly unsnap it from the grid.
== Character Roster ==
Starting Roster
Side note: All the characters from the previous games will make a comeback, including the metal characters and the ones from Tour, but excluding the non Mario characters such as Link, Villager, R.O.B., and Isabelle, as well as reskins such as Musician Mario, Tanooki Mario, or Chef Shy Guy (their suits will be in the cosmetic customizations). Lakitu will also not make a return as he already has a role in the Mario Kart universe. Here is the list of all the starting characters, as well as their special items:
* Mario (Special item: Fire Flower)
* Luigi (Special item: Fire Flower)
* Peach (Special item: Heart)
* Toad (Special item: Mega mushroom)
* Yoshi (Special item: Egg)
* Bowser (Special item: Bowser shell)
* Wario (Special item: all of 'em)
* Waluigi (Special item: all of 'em)
* Donkey Kong (Special item: Giant banana)
* Daisy (Special item: Heart)
* Koopa Troopa (Special item: Black shells)
* Shy Guy (Special item: Spike ball)
* Mii (No special item)
Unlockable/New characters
There will be a run-down of how to unlock each character.
* Toadette (Special item: Mega Mushroom): Win the Mushroom Cup in a 50cc race/Beat 4 staff ghosts.
* Baby Mario (Special item: Chain Chomp): Win the Shell Cup in a 50cc race.
* Baby Luigi (Special item: Chain Chomp): Win the Mushroom Cup in a 100cc race.
* Baby Peach (Special item: Chain Chomp): Win the Shell Cup in a 100cc race.
* Baby Daisy (Special item: Chain Chomp): Beat your highest record at "GCN Daisy Cruiser" as Daisy 3x
* Baby Rosalina (Special item: Ring dash): Win the Special and Lightning Cup in 200cc.
* Birdo (Special Item: Egg): Beat your highest record at "Yoshi Museum" 2x.
* Dry Bones (Special item: Black shells): Win all the retro cups in 100cc.
* Larry (Special item: Piranha Plant Pot): Win all the cups (both nitro and retro) in 50cc.
* Lemmy (Special item: Circus balls): Beat staff ghost at "Emerald Circus" 3x.
* Wendy (Special item: Golden ring): Win the cups with beach themed levels in 100cc (Mushroom Cup; Banana Cup).
* Iggy (Special item: Chain Chomp): Use the Chain Chomp special item 5x in a 100cc grand prix.
* Ludwig (Special item: Double Cherry): Win all the cups (both nitro and retro) in 150cc.
* Roy (Special item: POW Block): Squish at least 5 opponents in a grand prix when they're tiny.
* Morton (Special item: Magic Hammer): Beat the staff ghost at "Bullet Bill Cliffside" 2x.
* Bowser Jr. (Special item: Paintbrush): Unlock all the koopalings and play as all of them at least once in the Special Cup at 100cc Mirror Mode.
* King Boo (Special item: Boo): Beat the staff ghost at "Luigi's Hotel" 4x.
* Petey Piranha (Special item: Piranha Plant Pot): Win the Egg Cup in a 150cc race.
* Diddy/Funky/Dixie/Cranky Kong; Donkey Kong Jr. (Special item: Giant banana): Win the cups with forest/jungle themed courses in 100cc (Flower Cup; Shell Cup; Heart Cup).
* Paratroopa (Special item: Black shells): Play as Koopa Troopa in the Flower Cup at 100cc Mirror Mode race.
* Kamek (Special item: Double cherry): Beat staff ghost at "Airship Fortress" 5x.
* Toadsworth: (Special item: Mega Mushroom): Play all the retro cups in 150cc.
* Dry Bowser (Special item: Black shells): Hit opponents with black shells 5x in a 150cc grand prix.
* Pauline (Special item: Heart): Beat the staff ghost at "New Donk City" 5x.
* Spike (Special item: Spike ball): Play as Shy Guy in all grand prix cups in 150cc.
* Rosalina (Special item: Ring dash): Win the Special and Lightning cup in 150cc.
* Metal/Gold Mario (Special item: Coin box): Beat all the cups in 200cc/Collect 10,000 coins.
* Blooper (Special item: Blooper): Hit 3 enemies while underwater before going back on land in any cc.
* Hammer/Ice/Fire/Boomerang Bro (Special item: Hammer/Ice/Fire Flower/Boomerang Flower respectively): Snipe 3 opponents with a green shell in a 100cc grand prix (Cannot bounce on surfaces more than 3x).
* Honey Queen (Special item: Heart): Use items stolen from opponents via heart in a 150cc grand prix 5x.
* Pianta (Special item: Giant banana): Beat the staff ghost at "Delfino Resort" 4x.
* Nabbit (Special item: All of 'em): Steal items from other opponents with the heart 10x.
* Boom Boom/Pom Pom (Special item: Double cherry): Squish at least 10 opponents in a grand prix when they're tiny.
* Pink Gold Peach (Special item: Coin box): Play as 10 heavy weight characters in 200cc.
* Sprixie Princesses (Special item: Ring dash): Beat the staff ghost at "Bowser's Carnival" 3x.
* Professor E. Gadd (Special item: Paintbrush): Win the Egg Cup at 200cc.
* Chargin' Chuck (Special item: Magic hammer): Bump 10 opponents off the track.
* King Bob-Omb (Special item: Black shells): hit opponents with explosive items 50x.
* Wiggler (Special item: Heart): Beat the staff ghost at "Poisoned Woodlands" 5x.
The character roster can be viewed below:
== Items ==
Returning items:
* Banana
* Banana bunch/Triple banana
* Green shell
* Triple green shell
* Red shell
* Triple red shell
* Mushroom
* Triple mushroom
* Bob-omb
* Triple bob-omb
* Fire flower
* Ice flower
* Hammer flower
* Boomerang flower
* Piranha plant pot
* Blooper
* Super horn
* Feather
* Boo
* Star
* Bullet bill
* Ring dash
* Fake item box
* Thunder cloud
* POW block
* Mega mushroom
* Coin box
* Giant banana
* Super leaf
* Heart
* Egg
* Bowser shell
* Chain chomp
* Gold mushroom
* Lightning
* Spiny shell
New items:
* Black shell
* Triple black shell
* Circus balls
* Golden ring
* Double cherry
* Magic hammer
* Paintbrush
* Spike ball
Category:Mario Kart (series)
Category:Mario Kart Games
Category:Mario Games
Category:Mario (series)
Category:Nintendo Switch Games
Category:2026
Category:Racing Games