Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8
Developer	Nintendo EAD Namco Bandai
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Wii U
Release Date	JP May 29, 2014 US/EU May 30, 2014 AU May 31, 2014
Rating	ESRB: E

Mario Kart 8 is a kart-racing game that was released for the Wii U in 2014. It acts as the eighth game of the Mario Kart subseries (twelfth if counting the arcade games).

Gameplay

This game follows the standard gameplay for a Mario Kart game. It features a number of different racers and karts to choose from, and it retains a number of features from the previous two installments such as the presence of motorcyles, vehicle customization, underwater racing, hang-gliding and twelve-player racing. This installment adds the concept of anti-gravity racing, which entails segments where racers race along walls and ceilings. This game also introduces a variety of new characters and items to the series.

Mario Kart 8 features online connectivity, with up to twelve players and limited voice chat options. Prior to the discontinuation of Miiverse, the game also had features involving the option to share gameplay videos, the ability to make tournaments with custom rules and collecting stamps to use for Miiverse. This game was also the first Mario Kart game to feature DLC. Its DLC included new tracks and characters, including characters from other series such as Link and the Villager.

The game also featured amiibo functionality. Scanning amiibo could unlock new costumes for characters in the game.

Legacy

It was notable as being the best-selling game of the Wii U.

Ports/Remakes

• In 2017, it was remade for the Nintendo Switch as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This installment included all of the DLC from the original 8 as part of the base game and featured various other modifications to the original game.