TheMario Kartseries has a history of shaking up its gameplay. With unique renditions across multiple platforms, it has become a premier party game for Nintendo fans and a great way for friends to compete against one another. As fans look towards the future and get anxious as they wait for official news on the nextMario Kartgame, discussions on what a sequel might look like alongside possible leaks have begun to stir up some ideas.
For some, this meansMario Kartshould adopt platforming mechanicsin the future, an homage to Mario’s roots that would likely rejuvenate the franchise in a unique way. Another solid approach, however, would be to take a page out ofForza Horizon’s book. The laxer spin-off of theForzaseries is a fun way to race friends and test different vehicles in an open world. If a similar approach was used for the nextMario Kartgame, it could completely redefine the franchise.
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Open-World Mario Kart
Mario Kartcould fill out a world similar to the ones used byForza Horizonperfectly, and it would be a great direction for the games to take. The fun and cartoony dynamic thatMario Kartbrings to the table would allow the title to take liberties that games likeForza Horizonmight not, while also marrying some of the best aspects of the two franchises. This could providea new twist forMario Kartthat allows players to experience the game outside of racing, and also help bring new life to mini-games, which tend to be some of the best features inMariospin-off games.
On top of this, therumored crossovers for the newMario Kartgamecould also lend a lot to the map that’s used. A dedicatedMariomap would have a lot to pull from for inspiration given the series long history, and areas focused on characters like Princess Peach and Bowser would likely be a given, but there’s more that could be done. Designated areas in an open world similar toForza Horizoncould represent different characters and franchises that fall under the Nintendo umbrella, creating a unique experience that might be compared more toSuper Smash Bros.thanMario Kart 8.
Adopting areas based on other IPs, likePokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl,would also allow an open worldMario Kartto also test new additions to the game. The popularity system used inForza Horizonmight not be a perfect match forMario Kart, butForza Horizon 5’s map details could be used as inspiration for how an Articuno or Zapdos might affect aPokemon-themed part of the map. Similarly, an area geared toward Bowser could become the unforgiving terrain that surrounds an active volcano, helping to tie different points of the world together.
This, in turn, could also help change how a campaign could work forMario Kart. While racing and the cups could still be important aspects of the game, an open world could mean traveling and challenging different characters rather than the traditional format that players know. Classics like thepartnered races fromMario Kart Double Dashcould return for certain challenges, or mini-games from past installments could be used as an alternative way to progress through a campaign.
Overall, the potential inMario Kartadopting an open world is something the series should look into. As hardware gets better, and fans look for new experiences, the traditional wayMario Karthas done things isn’t always going to be the best answer. Using the roots of the series as its foundation is important, but it’s alsotime forMario Kartto take the next logical stepand expand on everything the series has already done. Building a fun arcade world up for players to race through and explore is the perfect next step to pullMario Kartinto the future.
Mario Kart 9is rumored to be in development.
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