Mario Kart World features missions for the first time in 20 years

Mario Kart World will feature missions for the first time in 20 years.

As part of today‛s Mario Kart World Direct, Nintendo showed an in-depth overview of Free Roam mode, which allows players to explore the map in its entirety, seemingly without barriers.

During this exploratory phase outside of races, players can bump onto P Switches, objects that start missions. The examples shown included collecting eight blue coins on an obstacle course under 24 seconds, and a race where golden armadillos are blocking the track.

Mario Kart DS first introduced Mission Mode in 2005. The feature offered players a reprieve from competitive races with multiple objectives and boss fights.

In World, missions aren‛t part of a separate mode, but rather integrated in the open world segment. The trailer noted there are “hundreds of P Switches” across the world, their purpose being to “hone your driving ability outside of races” by completing the missions. There are also collectibles to find, and players can use Photo Mode to take pictures.

Cruising together

Other players can join a session in Free Roam. While this is meant to serve as a hub to kickstart races together, it‛s possible to tag along to explore the map. Game Developer senior editor Bryant Francis noted that it will be interesting if these missions are structured around social play with friends versus linear progression.

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Based on the examples shown, it could go either way. Considering that Nintendo is pushing the communal online aspect around the Switch 2 with the inclusion of GameChat for video calls during game sessions, as well as its own camera, it wouldn’t be surprising if some objectives overlapped with other players.

Mario Kart World is set to release as a Switch 2 launch title, which is estimated for June 5. Pre-orders are currently unavailable in the U.S. and Canada over the Trump administration tariffs. In China, Nintendo is reportedly delaying the console indefinitely to asses demand levels in the highly regulated local market. The company has yet to address the pre-orders publicly, although the U.S. tariff pause, announced last week, could provide the company time to amass a Switch 2 stockpile.

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