Shacknews Best Nintendo Switch 2 Game of 2025 - Mario Kart World

There was a strong field this year, but Mario Kart World was able to pull ahead of the pack.

The first six months of the Nintendo Switch 2's life cycle has been better than some may have expected, especially in hindsight. The console's first-party lineup was a strong one with games like Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Of all of those games, there's no game quite like the first one, which is part of what makes Mario Kart World stand out.

Just like with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart World helped get the Nintendo Switch 2 off on the right foot. It united friends both locally and online, as they explored a single cohesive continent filled with Mario Kart race tracks. Even the act of waiting for online sessions to get going was made better with the Free Roam feature that allowed players to get a better look at the detailed tracks, practice their sweet jumps, and find secrets hidden around nearly every corner.

The competition has never been fiercer with Grand Prix tracks that combine classic Mario Kart level design with new mechanics and tried-and-true item play. Going from track-to-track in a more organic fashion also goes a long way to make this feel different from any Mario Kart titles that came before. Plus, Knockout Tour offers a fresh way to take on friends, testing up to 24 racers in a long stretch across the open world with the pack gradually growing smaller until only four players remain to race to the finish line.

Finally, it's worth noting that Mario Kart World's soundtrack is a full-blown celebration of all things Mario. Featuring orchestral arrangements of many classic Mario and Mario Kart themes, this soundtrack stands far above any of MKW's predecessors. There are sometimes even multiple versions of the same track done in different styles.

For many years, Mario Kart has been a reliable staple. It's the game that can be popped in at any time and enjoyed for years. This stands to prove especially true with Mario Kart World thanks to its new open world design, its variety of tracks, its newly designed mechanics, and its array of secrets and Easter Eggs that can be found around nearly every corner. That makes it stand a notch above a worthy field of competitors to make it Shacknews' Best Nintendo Switch 2 Game of 2025.