Mario Kart World is easily one of the most visually stunning Mario Kart games yet, and each one of its 30 unique tracks is highly detailed, beautifully created, and fun in their own ways. While not every course is a home run, each one provides a fun and exciting experience for races — but which is actually the best? Well, I of course have a pretty long-winded reputation when it comes to rankings, so here’s my ranking of the 30 tracks. First of all, let’s go over some of the rules.
This ranking will include all 30 of the unique tracks in the game, so the two versions of Crown City and Peach Stadium will be counted as one course. Also, when it comes to gameplay, I’m ranking these courses based on playing them in versus mode without going in-between tracks. I am basing each course based on how fun it is to play in versus mode by just racing on the track alone, no the paths taken during the Grand Prix mode or Knockout Tour will not be factored in, nor will how fun they are to explore in Free Roam. With all of that out of the way, let’s get to the ranking.
#30
Koopa Troopa Beach (Retro)
One thing Koopa Troopa Beach definitely is is short. Personally, I would have much preferred a remake of Koopa Beach from Mario Kart 64 rather than one of this Super Mario Kart track. The track itself is just as simple as its SNES counterpart, featuring a very simple design of essentially a circle around a beach. I like the visuals as the track is set during a huge party with a snazzy Koopa DJ. However, this track is not the most exciting and it gets old really fast.
#29
Cheep Cheep Falls
Cheep Cheep Falls almost feels like it’s based on Bowser’s Kingdom from Super Mario Odyssey with its Japanese-style architecture and design. However, while it looks great, racing on it was never something I enjoyed doing as much as on other tracks. One big gripe is the water section. This section takes you across a long river with tons of small waterfalls and rocks among it. This was the track that made me despise the water-racing controls, as it made for a really clunky and distasteful experience. Overall, this just isn’t a track I care to go back to since it just isn’t that fun to race on.
#28
Moo Moo Meadows (Retro)
At this point, it’s almost like you can’t have a Mario Kart without Moo Moo Meadows. Sure, the track is still a fun beginner track with a relaxing visual style, but there’s just not much to it that it’s shocking that it’s back again. It doesn’t help that the Mario Kart World variant also doesn’t change much. Racing on this track felt very similar to racing on it in Mario Kart 8 without much that’s different.
#27
Mario Circuit (Retro)
Mario Circuit is definitely one of the most recreated tracks in Mario Kart history, but its variant in Mario Kart World is something completely different than its previous versions, sticking more to the flatter design of Super Mario Kart. In fact, the track blends Mario Circuit 1, 2, and 3 from Super Mario Kart in one huge racetrack. It’s a super neat design, and makes for a track that feels both nostalgic and unique at the same time. Saying that however, it’s another beginner track in many aspects, so its design is very simple. The only difficult part of the track is in the tight turns, but otherwise the track is a bit simple. Sure, that’s the point, but in comparison to everything else, it’s just simple.
#26
Desert Hills (Retro)
The craziest thing about Desert Hills is how it went from (this to this(YT))(a simple GBA track to this(RF)). The track barely feels like its Super Circuit counterpart, a theme in Mario Kart World that we’ll touch on more later. While its freshened-up design makes it a bit better than its previous versions, it’s still more or less a simple beginner track. There are some fun aspects of the course, including the Batadon enemies returning from Super Mario Land, as well as the fun tricks and Angry Sun references. Otherwise, Desert Hills is still pretty simple and definitely on the easiest tracks in Mario Kart World.
#25
Mario Bros. Circuit
Of the two Mario Circuit tracks in Mario Kart World, Mario Bros. Circuit is definitely the most unique compared to previous games, borrowing more of a wild-west style. The track actually feels a lot more like Mario Kart 8’s Mario Circuit track when it comes to its layout, including a few mildly-sharp turns and a large raised section. I like the track’s aesthetic, but it’s not super complicated with its layout and after the first lap, the desert style gets a bit old, especially with other desert tracks in the game being a bit more enjoyable. Sure, it is a beginner track, but it’s still a bit too simple.
#24
DK Pass
I enjoy racing on DK Pass, but it definitely feels like it could have a lot more. DK Pass is another snowy mountain course themed to a ski slope, taking you all across the mountain in a fun and, at times, difficult course with its sharp turns. It’s an enjoyable track, but it definitely falls flat compared to other tracks, especially Mario Kart 8’s Mount Wario, which was a single-lap track with tons of unique sections. DK Pass is a three lap course that seems to lack a ton of the cool aspects of Mount Wario. As much as I like seeing new tracks, I honestly would have taken Mount Wario as a retro track instead, because DK Pass just doesn’t do enough to feel unique and as good as it could be.
#23
Starview Peak
I’ll say this about Starview Peak: it’s a fun track with beautiful visuals, but it gets old really fast. The biggest problem is how simple the layout is. It’s fun to race across at first, but after that, it feels nothing more than generic outside of the visuals. Of course, racing across Rainbow Road-like paths and gliding through Rosalina’s library while Lumas cheer you on is super cool, but it feels way too simple and easy to really make it that memorable and enjoyable.
#22
Faraway Oasis
Faraway Oasis probably does the best job blending water and land elements together across the track, making racing on the water more fun here than any other track. The design is fairly simple but really nice, and it makes racing on it pretty fun. Saying that however, the layout isn’t anything special. While there’s lots of large hills and the massive, curved waterfall are cool, it’s one of the more forgettable new tracks in Mario Kart World.
#21
Wario Shipyard
While Wario Shipyard remains a stunningly gorgeous and fun racetrack in Mario Kart World, it definitely feels like it’s missing things. That’s because a ton of the course is missing, since in its original versions, there were multiple underwater sections, which of course can’t be replicated in Mario Kart World since the game only lets you race on the water rather than under it. These sections have been replaced with similar ones above-water. However, as I’ve already mentioned, I’m not a fan of the water-racing mechanics, so most of this track wasn’t super fun. Otherwise, the graphics are still beautiful, but that’s about it for me.
#20
Choco Mountain (Retro)
Like Wario Stadium, Choco Mountain is another N64-era track that was never one of the best, but has been heavily revised in Mario Kart World to the point where it hardly resembles its original versions. Choco Mountain is now themed to a monster truck rally with a much more race-heavy aesthetic. The new track is excellent, and the new visuals make it much more fun to race on. It feels much less generic and more exciting and well-designed.
#19
Sky High Sundae (Retro)
Since it’s one of more recent retro tracks in Mario Kart World, Sky High Sundae isn’t too much different from its Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Kart Tour variants. However, it’s still fun and is a bit more detailed to fit with Mario Kart World’s world. Sky High Sundae is still one the best-looking tracks in Mario Kart, with its sweet design being creatively implemented all throughout the course. It makes for a fun track, and it has so many separate paths that make it super fun if you can master Mario Kart World’s many tricks.
#18
Dino Dino Jungle (Retro)
Dino Dino Jungle is another retro track with a massive overhaul in its design. Rather than having the track taking you through caves across the jungle, the track is now set outside of a large facility, something seemingly inspired by Jurassic Park. It’s clever taking that style, and it makes the track a bit more unique while still retaining the same classic layout. Dino Dino Jungle also has a lot more clever shortcuts now, such as being able to grind on the backs of the dinosaurs, which is super cool.
#17
DK Spaceport
DK Spaceport feels like the boss-battle course of Mario Kart World, and it’s a track that blends a neat visual style and concept with sections that do a nice job of utilizing all of Mario Kart World’s tricks and moves. The track involves you racing up the girders of a spaceport designed like the iconic first level of the original Donkey Kong. Each girder has a unique concept: one has a bunch of rails you can grind across, one has you wall-ride across, and others have you avoiding barrels by tricking off hills or jump-pads. While the track is fun, the layout does feel repetitive very fast, as the layout boils down to just going up and down straightaways until you reach the top. Otherwise, this track is really unique and fun.
#16
Bowser’s Castle
In comparison to the other track with a different version in every Mario Kart game, Mario Kart World’s Bowser’s Castle did the least to impress me compared to previous Bowser’s Castle tracks. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy racing on it, but it did disappoint me a little bit. Feeling more like a nuclear power plant suspended over a pit of lava rather than, well, Bowser’s Castle, this track feels more like just another lava-themed track than anything else. Sure, it has cool moments, such as the massive, fiery jump into storm clouds, but it overall managed to be one of the less memorable tracks in Mario Kart World.
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#15
Peach Stadium
A neat part about Peach Stadium is that it’s one of those tracks you can see from several other ones. It seemed like whenever I was in the southern half of the world in Free Roam, I could at least see some part of Peach Stadium. The track is a massive one, taking you across roads that loops in and out of the iconic castle from top to bottom. It’s one of the most visually stunning tracks, and while its design can get a bit redundant after the first lap, racing on it never fails to disappoint.
#14
Whistlestop Summit
Something super cool about Mario Kart World is that it actually has train lines that connect all across the world map. Whistlestop Summit is another desert and mountainous-style track, but its theme to trains is really neat. Train tracks zip all across this track, and because you can grind on the tracks themselves, it feels like there’s always split paths around the racetrack. The visual style works perfectly here, and it doesn’t get old lap after lap like some of the other tracks with this similar style. Whistlestop Summit is a really fun track that works great as a beginner track that can still be enjoyable for the pros.
#13
Airship Fortress (Retro)
Overall, Airship Fortress definitely feels the most similar to previous versions compared to other retro tracks in Mario Kart World. There’s not much that separates it from its Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7 counterparts. That said, however, it’s still a great track. Some areas have some slightly-better visuals, but otherwise it’s the same great track. I guess the biggest new thing is that the track can finally be played on your TV, but that’s about it. Still a great track despite its minimal improvements.
#12
Toad’s Factory (Retro)
Here’s another retro track that hasn’t seen a ton of huge changes compared to other retro tracks in Mario Kart World — but overall, the changes in being just the updated graphics and new tricks do the job perfectly. Toad’s Factory was already a great track back on the Wii, and Mario Kart World’s bevy of fancy tricks only improve the gameplay when racing across it. It’s an excellent track from a visual standpoint to a racing standpoint. And yes, the updated music is fantastic. This track might have the best theme of any Mario Kart World track if you ask me.
#11
Acorn Heights
Acorn Heights is another track with tons of split paths that make every lap feel unique because of the different directions you can go. Taking inspiration from tracks like Maple Treeway and just expanded on it like crazy. The track’s beautiful atmosphere makes for a relaxing-feeling ride throughout the wonderful areas the course takes you through, including a small village, a large pond, and many more spots all around and inside a massive tree. It’s almost like Disney’s Animal Kingdom coming to life like in a movie, and it makes for a visually stunning and thoroughly exciting experience.
#10
Wario Stadium (Retro)
How Nintendo took my least favorite track from Mario Kart 64 and somehow made it one of my favorite tracks in Mario Kart World is beyond me, but Wario Stadium definitely feels much more polished and epic compared to the 64-bit original. At times, the track actually feels like Excitebike Arena from Mario Kart 8 with its many hills to trick off. My biggest gripe with the original track was its lack of prestige and ugly visuals, but now the track leans more into its demolition derby aesthetic and adds so much more to spice up the track. It’s easily the best retro track in Mario Kart World for just how much it improves its Nintendo 64 counterpart.
#9
Dandelion Depths
Dandelion Depths probably does the best job in its theme based on its location. On the world map, the track is located between environments of greenery and fields, large forests, and snowy regions. Dandelion Depths finds a way to mix elements of each of those regions together, and it results in a visually beautiful track that makes for a highly enjoyable race. The track has tons of creative areas, including tree-branch raceways, large steel structures, and even a huge underground cave with glimmering waterways. It’s one of the game’s most visually appealing tracks, and racing on it is nothing short of wonderful.
#8
Shy Guy Bazaar (Retro)
Shy Guy Bazaar is another track that seemed forgotten after its debut in Mario Kart 7, but it fits perfectly with the other desert tracks in Mario Kart World. What’s great about the track is how it can work as a simple beginner track for newer players, but has so much other stuff that hardcore players can use to make the track a lot more involved. Especially in the beginning part, there’s so much stuff to trick off, grind on, or ride across, but at the same time you can just stay on the ground and play it simple. It’s a great track for beginners and pros. Plus, this is another track with some great visuals. It’s definitely one of, if not the best-looking desert track in the game.
#7
Dry Bones Burnout
Of the three main fire-region tracks, I found Dry Bones Burnout to be the most fun, creative, and visually appealing one. Mixing Dry Bones with a Day of the Dead theme is ingenious, and it makes for one of the most-detailed courses in Mario Kart World. Plus, racing on the track is super fun, especially with the insane abundance of split-paths pretty much across every turn. Because of this, every lap can feel much different than the last, as basically each section of the course has at least 3 to 5 different paths you can take. It all makes for a super engaging and highly replayable racetrack.
#6
Crown City
Crown City is possibly the most fun track to explore in Free Roam, but is it also fun to race on? Well, I wouldn’t say it’s the best track in Mario Kart World, but it certainly offers a lot of fun elements that make it beautiful and enjoyable. The attention to detail in Crown City is unparalleled, and it really feels like you’re racing across the backstreets and rooftops of a real city. The layout itself isn’t too crazy, but because what you’re racing on is always different, it’s not a big deal. My only gripe with this track is that it can be a bit tough to tell where you’re going. While I got used to the track pretty easily after racing on it a few times, I definitely got confused where to go at times due to the many different paths there are in the city. Otherwise, this is a great track.
#5
Salty Salty Speedway
Another visually outstanding track, Salty Salty Speedway, which is heavily based on places like Venice, Italy, takes racers through a seaside town where the track is water, just like in Venice. The track is gorgeous and filled with things to see. While it feels much bigger and more detailed when being explored in Free Roam, the track is still really fun to race on. Because of the unique environments, I didn’t mind racing on the water as much. The only little thing I dislike is that the track is a bit short, especially with how many other areas of the area there are that you don’t race on. Otherwise, this is a phenomenal track.
#4
Boo Cinema
Boo Cinema has one of the most creative concepts of any Mario Kart track. The track takes place in a very old-fashioned movie theater, taking you right into the movies. The visual style is super neat, and the design of the track as you ride along the film strips makes for a very fun track. However, while I love its concept, I will admit that the track layout itself is a bit simple and there’s not too much it offers after the first lap. Otherwise, Boo Cinema is brilliant and really fun to race on.
#3
Rainbow Road
The Rainbow Road tracks seem to just get better and better as the years go on, but it’s hard to say which is the best one due to nostalgia, iconic designs and concepts, and tons of other factors. I don’t think I can say that Mario Kart World’s Rainbow Road is the best Rainbow Road track yet, but it’s definitely up there. The track consists of four checkpoints in one gigantic lap where the atmosphere changes constantly. One minute you’re racing on rainbow-colored tiles, the next you’re riding across a glimmering river as Lumas and Toads cheer you on, then you’re inside a massive space station — I really could go on and on. This Rainbow Road does everything a Rainbow Road should — it provides an epic experience and perfectly closes out the game by mixing in all of the fancy tricks and moves the game allows you to perform. My only gripe is that it’s a bit too easy, but otherwise it’s a fantastic track.
#2
Peach Beach
Peach Beach does what every great retro track should do. It keeps what made its previous versions so great but builds on them with even more. There’s no track that illustrates this more than Peach Beach, as it feels like a completely different track. In fact, that’s because two-thirds of it is. Mario Kart World turns the original’s standard 3-lap structure into a massive 1-lap race. The first lap is exactly the same as the original versions, but laps two and three take you to completely new areas. It’s really neat seeing this much new stuff get added to a retro track, and it makes for possibly the best tropical-themed track in the game. In fact, it makes Koopa Troopa Beach feel completely obsolete because of how much better it is in design and fun-factor.
#1
Great ? Block Ruins
When it comes to wildly-creative ideas and stellar execution, there’s no better track than Great ? Block Ruins. This track is just that, taking you among the clouds as you race around the ruins of massive ? block. The track feels like Nintendo took Sky Garden from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and just added to the creativity and design. In fact, this track may be the nicest-looking in terms of visuals and design. It’s a beautiful track to race on, and it’s filled to the brim with discreet shortcuts for pros to perform crazy stunts off. It’s a really fun track and takes my top spot for the best track in Mario Kart World.
What’s your favorite Mario Kart World track? Let me know in the comments below.
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