Nintendo wants Mario Kart World to be the reason players buy a Switch 2. But can it really convince us to pay $80 for a game and $450 for a new console?

On Wednesday, Nintendo held a big Direct dedicated to the upcoming Switch 2. The new console is set to launch on June 5 and will cost $450. And one of the launch games for the console is Mario Kart World, a big, sprawling kart racer that looks like a lot of fun. But uh, what the heck is Mario drinking in that can?

As you can see, the first page includes Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi Toad, Koopa Troopa, Bowser, Wario, Waluigi, Rosalina and Pauline - with what looks to be Birdo and many more on the second page. In our hands on here on Nintendo Life, we noted how there are multiple versions of the same characters in different costumes as well.

The new Mario Kart World video also suggests the game will have at least 28 tracks spread across seven Cups, along with 24 vehicles. Interestingly, it looks like Mario Kart World has fully formed vehicles; players seemingly no longer select individual parts to assemble a car.

In Mario Kart, often times the only thing standing between you and certain defeat is a banana peel, which you can drag behind your kart by holding down the L button to protect yourself from turtle shells and the like.

Yes, if you somehow haven't heard/didn't notice, Mario Kart World has gone absolutely nuts on what characters are allowed to drive motor vehicles this time around. While Super Sma

I had one standout moment while previewing Mario Kart World as part of my Switch 2 hands-on at an exclusive Nintendo event recently. Well, that’s a lie; I had many standout moments. Seeing the weather change mid-race in a non-scripted fashion,

Mario Kart World's new gameplay showcase puts a lot of focus on the game's Tony Hawk-style rail-grinding mechanic, and in doing so proves it's more than just a slick gimmick. When I first saw Mario Kart World racers hopping onto rails and pulling off li'l spinny tricks,