Unquestionably one of the best Mario Karts. Spectacular anti-gravity circuits, sublime WiiU graphics, excellent online. DLC adds very good tracks. Still a safe bet very enjoyable today. Indispensable.
Your verdict
Category
Racing4 players3+
Split screen
Description
Mario and his friends race on anti-gravity circuits that can be traversed in all directions, aboard karts, motorbikes, or amphibious vehicles. Published by Nintendo, released in 2014 in Japan, the United States and Europe. The definitive Mario Kart on Wii U with 32 circuits including 16 remasters, the new anti-gravity mechanic, blue and red shells, DLC adding Link, Isabelle, and others, and 12-player online mode.
Mario Kart 8 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Recorded by a real big band, the music sparkles with live jazz, festive brass and frenzied rhythms of infectious energy. Each circuit overflows with good cheer, from the snowy summit of Mount Wario to the wildest tracks. This sonic generosity, swinging and sunny, irresistibly lifts the mood.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Gliding along walls and ceilings thanks to anti-gravity refreshes the driving without ever muddying handling of exemplary precision. Drifts, mini-turbos and items balance beautifully, for races that stay readable solo or at eight online. Rich, snappy and gorgeous, this kart racer remains a benchmark nothing has truly dethroned.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Drifting through anti-gravity bends, triggering devastating items and snatching first place by a whisker: the racing keeps perfect accessibility while rewarding mastery. The inventive tracks and the shell chaos turn every lap into a hilarious battle. With four players, the tension never lets up. An absolute peak of kart racing.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Drifting along an anti-gravity wall, dropping a shell at the right instant then snatching first place on the final corner delivers a racing thrill that every track reignites. Cups to claim, times to beat and online duels multiply the endless rematches. The item randomness grates in competition, but this finely-tuned formula stays a magnet for sprawling sessions.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Honing every corner in pursuit of the perfect lap is what turns a handful of cups into a long-term pursuit. Parts to unlock, karts and gliders to collect, time trials, mirror mode and an online scene of rare vibrancy stretch the racing on indefinitely. The generosity of its content and its festive balance make it a staple still cheered today.
Mario Kart 8, a Nintendo racer praised for its anti-gravity, readability and dazzling production, the console's biggest seller. Widely distributed, its collector interest is more measured than that of the machine's rare exclusives, its desirability resting on its recognized quality and showcase role rather than scarcity. An essential but relatively accessible piece for a Wii U set, sought in a complete box.
Better with friends
A dazzling kart race where anti-gravity and acrobatic tracks elevate four-player split-screen clashes. The fun swings between sleek driving and item chaos: a well-placed shell upends the order at the last corner, for joy and for fury alike. The infamous blue shell can frustrate, but it's also what triggers the laughter and the irresistible "let's run one more".
Is Mario Kart 8 still worth playing in 2026?
The eighth entry of the Nintendo EAD saga, Mario Kart 8 offers a karting race with Nintendo characters and new anti gravity system on enchanted circuits. The sublime colourful art direction, twelve player online multiplayer mode and circuit richness make it an absolute karting reference on Wii U. For anyone fond of Mario Kart or seeking an absolutely essential Nintendo karting, an absolutely essential recommendation today still without any hesitation on the Nintendo machine for all fans truly here indeed.
