Nintendo’s new RC Mario Kart looks terrific
Marina Temkin 2:38 pm PDT • May 3, 2024
Sean O'Kane 2:34 pm PDT • May 3, 2024
Sarah Perez 1:14 pm PDT • May 3, 2024
Lauren Forristal 12:43 pm PDT • May 3, 2024
Haje Jan Kamps 12:05 pm PDT • May 3, 2024
Alyssa Stringer 12:01 pm PDT • May 3, 2024
![Text: Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit review by Bryce Durbin [Image: drawing of Mario Kart car next to Nintendo Switch]](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Mario-Kart-review-1-2a.jpg)
![Text: Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a remote-controlled car connected wirelessly to the Nintendo Switch. It's available for $99.99 on October 16. The game it's played with is a free download. [Image: drawing of closeup of Mario Kart toy] Text: The car has a camera above Mario (or Luigi) so you can see from his point of view on the Switch screen. Augmented reality (AR) elements are overlaid on what you see for a reality-bending cart experience. [Image: drawing of in-game play in a living room]](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/mario-kart-review-3-4a.jpg)
![Text: Players build the course using four gates and optional arrow signboards. I found the more complicated you make your course, the more challenging the game will be. [Image: A drawing of a simple race setup in a living room] Text: In one-player mode, you can race against the Koopalings in a Grand Prix, do a time trial, or make a custom course. As you play, you can unlock customizations to your kart. [Image: A drawing of an in-game image of Builder Mario]](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/mario-kart-review-5-6a.jpg)
![Text: Obstacles include in-game mainstays like banana peels and bombs as well as whatever hasn't been swept out of the way of your custom-made course. [Image: In-game image of living room floor including real-life toys and in-game banana peel and bob-omb] Text: Most of the course themes will be familiar if you've played Mario Kart before... [Image: In-game image of Rainbow Road course]](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/mario-kart-review-7-8.jpg)
![Text: ...but each track I tested had surprises, such as a track styled after the original Super Mario Bros or a course that sometimes becomes mirrored. [Image: In-game drawing of World 1-1 with goomba being struck by kart] Text: It's a strange and delightful game experience. Without the AR layer, it's just a relatively slow-moving RC kart. [Image: a drawing of the Mario Kart toy]](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/mario-kart-review-9-10a.jpg)
![Text: I didn't have the opportunity to race against other real-life players in multiplayer mode. It requires each player to have their own additional car *and* Switch. [Image: Mario and Luigi racers, two Nintendo Switches]](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/mario-kart-review-11-12.jpg)
![Text: Overall, this is a novel toy that has replay value depending on how much time and space you want to to devote to making custom courses. [Image: dining room scene of child and Mario Kart race track]](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Mario-Kart-review-13.jpg)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="576" width="1024" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="450" width="800" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="94" width="187" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="113" width="187" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="105" width="187" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="101" width="187" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
