Marywood recently hosted a Mario Kart tournament on March 20. In honor of the competition, here are the three best games in the iconic series. This is coming from a diehard fan of the franchise for over 13 years.

Third Place: Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii, at its core, is a fluid video game, its problem is that it is heavily carried by the modding community. Mario Kart Wii introduced bikes into the class of karts, and has the most iconic tracks in franchise history.

It includes staples such as Coconut Mall, Toad’s Factory, Moo Moo Meadows, Grumble Volcano, Wario’s Goldmine, DK Summit, and that’s just scratching the surface. Mario Kart Wii also has a great list of returning retro tracks that are refitted to fit the game’s mechanics.

This Mario Kart game also introduced the tricking mechanic, which has been in every other game following it. This allows for not only flair, but also a speed boost upon landing off a ramp.

Mario Kart Wii still to this day has the most iconic roster in franchise history. This game was the first to feature the notorious fan favorite Funky Kong and the debut of Mario Galaxy’s Rosalina. It also introduced the ability to use your own Mii characters as a racer.

Similar to the characters, Mario Kart Wii is widely known for the selection of vehicles. With each differing per weight class, the three all have franchise staples. The most used among them all is the Flame Runner and the Mach Bike.

When you think of Mario Kart, most people will think of the shortcuts, and Mario Kart Wii is where they peaked. Not only did this game have intentional shortcuts, but it is also more known for its game-breaking Ultra Shortcuts, ones that were found as a result of twisting and breaking the game’s physics.

The biggest issue with this game is that unless you have a modded Wii or Wii U, there is no reason to play it. The online service has been shut down for years, and most likely, you have already done everything the game has to offer.

The most popular mod for Mario Kart Wii is called “CTGP Revolution,” which adds online support and also includes over 150 custom-made tracks by the Mario Kart Wii community.

Most people will tell you that Mario Kart Wii is the best in the franchise. It is certainly the most recognizable and iconic, but there are many games that outclass it in almost every way.

Second Place: Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World has not even been out for a year, but it has already landed in my top three games in the series. Despite the controversy online, Mario Kart World hands down has the best gameplay the series has ever seen.

I wrote an article raving about Mario Kart World, but I am still going to reiterate some talking points because this game deserves it.

Mario Kart World was a launch title for Nintendo’s newest console, the Nintendo Switch 2. And wow, does this game push the envelope of what the Switch 2 is capable of.

To start, this game’s main new gimmick is the introduction of a giant interconnected open world. While some aren’t a fan of it, I have found it to be a childhood dream come true.

Rather than specifically picking which track to play from a menu, physically getting to drive to the next track is something no other kart racer is capable of doing.

Mario Kart World also adds many new mechanics, which include wall grinding, rail riding and charge jumping. These new gameplay elements make this the most off-the-wall Mario Kart game to date.

Almost a year into the game, people have found so many game-changing shortcuts that every player needs to know to have the best chance at first place. The new mechanics are seamless and fluid, allowing players to easily jump from wall to wall or rail back onto the road.

Mario Kart World also launched with an all-new mode called “Knockout Tour,” and it takes perfect advantage of the giant free roam map. It is essentially a battle royale where, if you don’t meet the top qualification spots, you are eliminated. This mode is an adrenaline-rushing blast of non-stop action across a map littered with shortcuts, obstacles and the chaos of items from other players.

With the Switch 2 being Nintendo’s most powerful system to date, this game takes full advantage of it. Graphically, it looks amazing, but this game also features a total of racers per match. In Mario Karts prior, it was only ever either eight or 12. Doubling the traditional size makes this game even more chaotic than any other Mario Kart game.

Mario Kart World also features the return of the traditional kart system, rather than the kart customization featured in Mario Kart seven and eight. This eliminates the idea of having a “meta” or best overall kart setup to use. Now online, you actually see a diversity of karts and characters being used.

Mario Kart World tried to do something different, and they did a great job. While it does have some issues, Nintendo has already done a great job fixing issues in the time it has been out.

First Place: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the few video games I consider to be perfect. But looking at it after almost a decade of it being out, there really isn’t anything it doesn’t do wrong.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is actually a port of Mario Kart 8 from the Wii U. But this version on the Switch comes included with all the Wii U DLC, new characters and a brand new revamped battle mode.

From its initial launch period from 2017 to 2021, the game was good, but overall felt like Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U, which, at the time, gamers had already been playing for three years.

The saving grace of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe came in 2022 when the Booster Course Pass DLC was announced. This paid form of content was promised to add 48-track remakes from past games into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Four years later, the Booster Course Pass turned out to be far more than just that. While yes, it did feature iconic remakes such as Waluigi Pinball, Daisy Cruise and Mushroom Gorge, Nintendo also decided to add eight new characters to the game. It features returns of icons such as Funky Kong, Petey Piranha and Birdo, but also debuts new racers such as Pauline and Kamek.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has the best roster in the series, one so good that it literally has all the Mario Kart Wii characters in it. The roster even features characters outside of the Mario series, such as Link from Zelda, the Inklings from Splatoon and the Villager from Animal Crossing.

Where Mario Kart 8 Deluxe truly shines is in the tracks and gameplay. This Mario Kart features a total of 96 tracks, making it the most packed Mario Kart to date.

Every drift in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an addiction; the gameplay is so fluid that it’s what gets me to jump back on the game here and there. The shortcuts also return grandly in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While still not being up there with game-breaking shortcuts like Mario Kart Wii, many notorious shortcuts, such as the Mushroom Gorge gap jump, make their return.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also features the hectic 200cc mode. This speed setting can be played both offline in Grand Prix and Time Trials, and also has the chance of popping up in online play.

One of my favorite parts of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is how easily accessible it is. I don’t know anyone who has a Nintendo Switch and doesn’t have this game. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is also playable on the Nintendo Switch 2 with enhanced performance and load times.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe rightfully earns its place as the greatest Mario Kart game ever. It is the most complete packaged Mario Kart game that perfects the traditional three-lap formula the series is known for. To back up everything I just said, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling Mario Kart game of all time, best-selling Nintendo Switch game ever and the fifth best-selling video game of all time.

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