There are many things to like about Mario Kart World. First, the game looks absolutely beautiful on the Nintendo Switch 2, which has helped the graphics pop in a big way, while also making things look and feel smoother via the racing itself. That extra power allowed the team to make the most expansive racing levels the franchise has ever seen, and the “world” feels more lived-in and detailed than ever. In “Free Roam,” you can see every bit of it while also taking on challenges to see how good you are with the game’s mechanics.

However, the thing that many are talking about, for different reasons, is the game’s roster of drivers. While many of the classics are there, we also have all-new drivers like Cow, Penguin, Ostrich, and more of that nature. For many, this “funny roster” is interesting and not what you would expect. Others, though, feel that this was a missed opportunity to bring other classic Nintendo characters into the mix, much like what we got with Link, Isabelle, and the Inklings in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

In a chat with Ouest-France, producer Kosuke Yabuki had this to say on the matter:

“As developers, it would have seemed incongruous to add characters from other games to this universe. And it didn’t seem necessary, given everything we could already do with Mario. We inevitably wonder how players will perceive this cast. But there are so many characters and so many costumes that there’s sure to be something for everyone.”

Indeed, there is “something for everyone.” I found myself playing Dry Bones until I finally unlocked Bowser Jr. However, I did note in my Mario Kart World review that the roster didn’t feel as grand as it could be. Perhaps that’s something that will be fixed in DLC!