Nintendo appears to be doubling down on the Mushroom Kingdom for Mario Kart World, which means fans shouldn't hold their breath for a return of guest appearances from franchises like Zelda, Splatoon, or Animal Crossing.
While Mario Kart 8 expanded its roster with characters like Link, Zelda, Isabelle, and the Inklings, the even more extensive character list in Mario Kart World features no one from outside the Mario universe. Even the option to race as your Mii, a series staple since Mario Kart Wii, has been removed.
Nintendo has now commented on this reversal regarding characters from beyond the Mushroom Kingdom, explaining it was a conscious decision to prevent the game's world from feeling "incongruous."
"From a development standpoint, introducing characters from other game universes into this world would have felt out of place," Mario Kart World producer Kosuke Yabuki told Ouest-France. "Given the sheer volume of possibilities with Mario characters alone, it also didn't feel necessary."
When asked specifically if he had considered adding fighters from his other Nintendo project, Arms, Yabuki's response was emphatic: "Absolutely not!"
"We naturally consider how players will react to this character selection," Yabuki concluded. "But with such a vast array of characters and costumes available, we're confident every player will find something that suits them."
Although the absence of characters from other Nintendo series might appear as a regression for the series, Mario Kart World's singular focus isn't entirely surprising. The game is fundamentally built as an open-world exploration of the Mushroom Kingdom.
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The open-world map, stretching from Peach's Castle to Bowser's Fortress, is crafted to evoke the feeling of a road trip through Mario's own backyard. In that context, justifying the sudden presence of Samus or Tom Nook becomes a much trickier proposition.
The same logic applies to courses themed around non-Mario settings. Mario Kart 8 featured locations inspired by Hyrule and homages to series like F-Zero and Excitebike. It's difficult to envision how such crossovers would fit into Mario Kart World's cohesive setting.
This decision also aligns with Nintendo's broader strategy. Through initiatives like Super Nintendo Land and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the company is cultivating a distinct, standalone identity for its iconic and profitable Mario brand, setting it apart from its other franchises.
Mario Kart World: Best Characters Tier List
Mario Kart World: Best Characters Tier List
Consider the company's film projects, for example. An animated Mario sequel is in development, but it isn't expected to connect in any way to the separate, live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda.
For Nintendo fans longing for a major crossover title on the Switch 2, hope now rests on a potential new Super Smash Bros. entry—though series creator Masahiro Sakurai is currently preoccupied with developing a new Kirby game.
For more detailed information, consult our Mario Kart World guide. Learn how to unlock every hidden character in Mario Kart World, including the mechanics behind unlocking Kamek, which is essential for gaining NPC Drivers. We also provide a guide to finding all the Mario Kart World food items scattered across the open world, crucial for permanently unlocking all the game's outfits and costumes.
