The game uses a third-person chase camera as players choose from a roster of Mario characters and compete in Grand Prix, Time Trial, Battle, and Mission modes. During races, drifting builds mini-turbos, while item boxes provide shells, bananas, lightning, and other tools to attack or defend. Progress comes from clearing cups across different engine classes, unlocking characters, karts, and Mirror Mode.

Mario

The mascot racer with balanced stats, suitable for most players.

Luigi

A stable all-round driver who is easy to control.

Peach

Offers good acceleration and handling for agile driving.

Yoshi

A lightweight racer with quick steering and responsive control.

Bowser

Heavyweight character with high top speed and strong collision power.

Donkey Kong

Another heavyweight option focused on speed and contact advantage.

Toad

Lightweight racer with fast recovery and beginner-friendly acceleration.

Wario

A heavier driver with strong speed on wider tracks.

Daisy

Balanced handling and acceleration for consistent racing.

Waluigi

Large-framed racer with decent speed on medium and fast courses.

Dry Bones

Unlockable character with strong speed and weight balance.

R.O.B.

A hidden guest character, memorable as a special unlock in certain versions.

To improve consistently, learn each course's shortcuts, apexes, and item box locations. Mini-turbos from clean drifts are the most important way to lower lap times, especially through linked corners. Lightweight racers suit technical tracks, while heavier racers perform better on wider layouts. In versus races, save red shells until opponents lose their defensive item. Mission mode is also useful for practicing cornering, item accuracy, and route planning.

Earn Gold in the 50cc Mushroom Cup and Shell Cup

Unlock the Yoshi Cup.

Earn Gold in the 50cc Banana Cup and Leaf Cup equivalent retro opening set

Unlock the Leaf Cup.

Earn Gold in the 100cc Mushroom Cup and Shell Cup

Unlock the Special Cup.

Earn Gold in the 100cc Banana Cup and retro progression cups

Unlock the Lightning Cup.

Earn Gold in all 150cc Retro Cups

Unlock Mirror Mode.

Earn Gold in the 50cc Special Cup

Unlock Daisy.

Earn Gold in the 100cc Leaf Cup

Unlock Waluigi.

Earn Gold in the 150cc Lightning Cup

Unlock Dry Bones.

Earn Gold in the 150cc Special Cup

Unlock R.O.B. in applicable versions.

Tips and tricks

Practice mini-turbo timing first; it matters more than raw top speed.

Tips and tricks

Use Time Trial to learn shortcut lines and best mushroom spots.

Tips and tricks

If a blue shell is unavoidable, try to take the hit on a straight.

Tips and tricks

Dragging a banana or green shell behind your kart helps block many attacks.

User Reviews

The mix of new and retro tracks gives the game excellent variety.

User Reviews

Both local and online multiplayer made it one of the DS's defining racers.

User Reviews

The drifting feels great, though high-level play can be very demanding.