If there's going to be one game that will even come remotely close to Grand Theft Auto VI's stranglehold on 2025, it will be Mario Kart World. The title will launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 when the console launches on June 5 2025.

Today, we got our first full deep dive into the latest entry in one of the largest series of all time. So, what did we learn in the Mario Kart World Direct?

Open World

The game is a fully interconnected open world, Mario and friends can drive anywhere at any time. The gorgeous, expansive map has various regions in which to explore and discover races. Races take place anywhere, and you can drive freely between them.

A Free Roam mode will be available, letting players explore everything the world has to offer, including many off-race things to do. Hidden in the world are hundreds of "˜P' switches - blue buttons that'll be familiar to Mario fans - which, when struck, open small missions for players to experience in like collecting blue coins.  Also scattered across the open world will be hidden coins, hidden panels and much more to collect.

Also available in the open world are Yoshi's ‘Drive-Thru and Roll-Out's'. At these fast-food outlets, you can pick up "˜Dash Food' items that unlock outfits for characters inspired by the meals you get. For example, we saw Peach eat some sushi and her outfit turned into a Japanese-inspired dress. Once outfits are unlocked, they can be selected from the character select screen. These pit stops will be available throughout the Mario Kart World open world.

Camera mode will also be available in Free Roam, enabling players to take exciting pictures of their favourite characters racing across the world. There are options for character poses, expressions and frames to decorate your shot as you wish.

Races and courses

For the first time in Mario Kart history, the number of racers will be increased to twenty-four. Each track will have various hazards on the road, including Bullet Bills, Hammer Bros launching hammers from trucks, and more. We also got to see a snippet of many courses today at the Direct. In a series first, courses can be raced on during both day and night. Race tracks are found throughout the world and are inspired by the region they're in. Today we got to see:

• Mario Bros. Circuit - A desert track with plenty of curves to drift around and new grind rails
• Crown City: An urban city-based track with one long Main Street you can fly over or speed across
• Salty Salty Speedway: A canal-based track with rapids to race down and plenty of jumps to make a splash
• Starview Peak: A snowcapped level with slippy surfaces
• Boo Cinema: Mario Kart's customary spooky themed track, taking players through a haunted movie theatre
• There will be plenty of returning fan favourite tracks including: Toad's Factory, Peach Beach, Wario's Shipyard and more

Grand Prix

Twenty-four racers will compete across four races per cup to go for glory, including fan favourites Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, Star Cup and many more. Each race in a cup will take you from one race to the next, across the games sprawling open world. In Mushroom Cup, you will start with Mario Bros. Circuit, then head straight into Crown City. If you conquer all Grand Prix Cups, you will unlock a "˜certain colourful course'. I think we know that's Rainbow Road.

Knockout Tour

High-stakes extended races take you from one end of the world to another, with checkpoints on the way. If you're not in the top places at the checkpoint, you're going to be out of the race.

Characters and vehicles

There will be the largest cohort of Mario Kart racers ever, with the returning cohort of series regulars including Bowser, Yoshi and Peach. There will also new racers available - Goomba, Spike and Cow (who I'd put money on being a new fan-favourite).

There will also be many options for different vehicles, including cars and bikes. Characters and vehicles all have their own statistics, enabling players to customise their playstyle.

New Tricks

Mario Kart World also introduces new gameplay features, including tricks for your characters to perform. The new tricks are:

• Charge Jump: Hold the drift button whilst driving straight ahead, which will charge up your character for a jump. This can be used to dodge obstacles and reach grind rails. This can also be used to jump onto walls to wall ride.
• Rewind: Like something straight out of a Forza game, if you make an error, you can now rewind your gameplay to take a second attempt at a jump. Though, when performing a rewind, your opponents will continue as normal, leaving you with plenty of catching up to do.

Other modes available

• Time Trial: Race against the clock for the best lap times. You can download ghosts if you're connected to Nintendo Switch Online, allowing you to compete for the world's best time.
• Versus race: Your standard race, which can have up to four teams of racers (6 racers max per team). You can even use road routes not available in Grand Prix or Knockout Tour, giving players more creativity to win.
• Battle Modes: The Mario Kart classic Balloon Battle returns. Also available will be Coin Runners, where you aim to obtain as many coins as possible in a limited time.

New items

Items to combat enemies will always be a key part of a Mario Kart game. There will be many new items available in Mario Kart world. Revealed today were:

• Coin shell: A shell that, when thrown, coins will appear that you or your opponent can grab
• Ice flower: Freeze rivals and send them spinning
• Hammer: A series of hammers that are thrown forward to attack opponents and will remain on the course for a short time, and can block off rivals
• Mega Mushroom: Turns the user super-size so you can flatten foes and storm ahead
• Feather: Allows the user to jump, including to dodge attacks. Can be used to access shortcuts and track tricks too
• Kamek: The Mario Bros.’ renowned wizard-like foe will come to your aid. Using his magic, your rivals will change into a variety of random objects

Support for new players

Accessibility options will make the game more accessible for new or younger players to acquaint themselves with the controls, including:

• Smart steering: Helps you to not fall off the track
• Tilt controls: Hold a Joy-Con 2 controller sideways and steer. A Joy-Con 2 Wheel will also be made available to plug your controllers into.

Multiplayer

Mario Kart is known for being a multiplayer fan favourite. Switch 2 players will be able to play with up to four players splitscreen from one system.

Wireless Play will support up to eight systems, each with one to two players, that can play together in close proximity.

Online races, battles and more will also be available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Up to two players will be able to play online together simultaneously from one console. You will also be able to play around in Free Roam with friends, as well as take photos together.

Mario Kart World will also fully support the new Nintendo GameChat features, including voice chat, Nintendo Switch 2 Camera support with CameraPlay. One Nintendo Switch 2 Camera can detect up to four players faces, putting their picture above their racer in game allowing you to target your biggest local nemesis.

Mario Kart World will release on June 5 2025, alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. We can't wait to get our hands on the biggest Switch 2 launch title, which is one of 2025's biggest releases in its own right.

What's the most exciting piece of news from Mario Kart World's Direct today? Have you pre-ordered a Switch 2? Let us know in the comments below, and stick with Gamer Social Club for all things Mario Kart World.