Key Takeaways
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- Mario Kart World set a new franchise sales record, selling over 2.5 million physical units in just 29 weeks, surpassing the previous record held by Mario Kart Wii.
- Mario Kart World is the fastest-selling game on the Nintendo Switch to reach this figure, outpacing even Pokémon Legends ZA and competing for Japans best-selling game of 2025.
- Notable records have been set by players in various Mario Kart games, showcasing impressive performance achievements across different titles.
- Competition in the kart racing genre is growing with new contenders like Sonic Racing: Cross-Worlds and Garfield Kart 2 – All You Can Drift, while Kirby Air Ride received recognition for its chaotic gameplay.
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Mario Kart World Sets Franchise Sales Record in Just 29 Weeks
Since its release on June 5th, Mario Kart World has sold over 2.5 million physical units, marking a record-breaking performance for the series and making it the fastest-selling title in the franchise to reach that milestone. Mario Kart Wii previously held the record, taking 89 weeks to achieve the same sales, while Mario Kart World accomplished it in just 29. It is also the fastest-selling game on the Nintendo Switch 2 to reach this figure. Competing for the title of Japan’s best-selling game of 2025 against Pokémon Legends ZA, which has sold 2.4 million units, Mario Kart World has already exceeded the physical sales of Mario Kart 8 (Wii U, 1.3 million) and Mario Kart 64 (2.2 million). At its current sales pace, it may surpass Mario Kart 7 (3DS, 2.9 million) by the end of the year. To date, Super Mario Kart (SNES) has sold 3.8 million units, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch) has sold an impressive 6.3 million. Several impressive records have been set by players in various Mario Kart games:
Record-Breaking Performances Across Mario Kart Titles and Competition Arises from New Rivals
In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Alberto finished Water Park (200cc) in 1 minute and 10 seconds, a record matched by Army, who also set another record in the same time. Kei completed Koopa Cape in 1 minute, 54 seconds, and 911 milliseconds on Mario Kart Wii. Ry finished Bowser’s Castle in 2 minutes and 10 seconds on Mario Kart World. Arisugawa completed Dandelion Depths in 2 minutes, 18 seconds, and 695 milliseconds on Mario Kart World. Rolfcopter finished Hyrule Circuit in 1 minute, 44 seconds, and 249 milliseconds on Mario Kart 8, later improving that time to 1 minute, 44 seconds, and 072 milliseconds. While Mario Kart World faced increased competition in 2025, several other kart racers gained prominence. Sonic Racing: Cross-Worlds is a strong contender for the best non-Mario Kart kart racer of this console generation, and Garfield Kart 2 – All You Can Drift is another notable title. Polygon included Kirby Air Ride in its top 10 games of 2025, highlighting its chaotic gameplay, especially the City Trial mode, where players gather upgrades before a final minigame.
In Case You Missed It
In the whirlwind of festive season gaming trends in 2025, we’ve got a trio of insightful articles you won’t want to miss. Kicking things off is Marcus Thompson’s “Nintendo Switch 2 Dominates Japanese Christmas Season Sales” Nintendo Switch 2 Dominates Japanese Christmas Season Sales, published on December 18th, revealing that the console sold over 190,000 units in just a week and topping software charts with Mario Kart World and Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Thompson then dives deeper into the gaming world’s pulse in his follow-up piece, “GTA 6 and Nintendo Lead Popularity in 2025” GTA 6 and Nintendo Lead Popularity in 2025, published on December 26th, uncovering more trends with Nintendo at the helm and GTA 6 leading games. Meanwhile, Jonathan Dubinski’s “Nintendo and Pokemon Top in Japan” Nintendo and Pokemon Top in Japan, published on December 25th, provides another glimpse into the Japanese market with Nintendo Switch 2 selling over 220,000 units and Pokémon Legends: Z-A dominating game sales with 126,000 copies sold. Join us as we explore these fascinating trends together!
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Mario Kart World |
| Brief Summary | Put the pedal to the metal in a vast interconnected environment. Race seamlessly across connected courses like never before. Participate in the new knockout tour elimination mode, where you’ll barrel through back-to-back courses and checkpoints. And in free roam, it’s possible to go off the racetrack and drive in any direction you wish, explore areas that pique your interest and take some photos at scenic spots with a group of friends. |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Released | June 5, 2025 |
| Genre | Racing |
| Play Modes | Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen |
| Content Rating | E |
| Languages | French |
| Genre | Nintendo EPD, Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 9 |
| Genre | Nintendo |
| Ratings | 84/100 (102 reviews) |
They also talk about it
Links to external sources for further reading
- The PS1 Grinch game has the most unsettling holiday ending ever(/grinch-game-playstation-ending)The PS1 Grinch game has the most unsettling holiday ending ever(/grinch-game-playstation-ending)polygon.com
- World Record History SitesWorld Record History Sitesmkwrs.com
- GamingGamingcomicbook.com
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