It’s a game that works well on the go, though fans of the early entries may prefer playing split-screen crowded around a TV. It may be best-known as a console series, but with Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7, Nintendo produced some of its best entries for handhelds. Like most Switch games, Mario Kart 8 benefits a great deal from the console’s portability. That said, you’ll still need to collect coins in order to gain access to new vehicles and parts, but having so much content available right away makes it easier to jump into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, especially for those who already played plenty of the Wii U version. Unlike in the original Mario Kart 8, you no longer have to spend hours grinding through the Grand Prix mode to unlock new characters or race tracks for multiplayer. All of them are available from the beginning. When you start Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you’re greeted with a huge roster: there are 42 characters in total, including a handful of new additions. Almost everything is unlocked from the start I found myself trying to collect two sets of turtle shells or bananas, using them as a defensive shield once I darted ahead of the pack. But the ability still adds an extra layer of strategy to an already well-tuned experience. Unfortunately you can’t swap between the two items.

Now, if you’re holding onto a useful item like a fire flower or a super horn, you don’t have to use it in order to pick up another item.

It alleviates one of the few problems with the original version of the game.

The biggest gameplay change seems like a small tweak: you can now hold two items at the same time. The best Mario Kart is now even better - here are the most important reasons why. It’s largely the same game from 2014, but with a few important changes and additions that make this the definitive version. Next week the game is getting a chance to reach even more players with the launch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch. Mario Kart 8 went on to become the beleaguered Wii U’s best-selling title by a huge margin more than half of 13 million people who owned the console also had a copy of Mario Kart 8. From the twisting, gravity-defying tracks to game-changing new weapons to the vibrant and beautiful levels, Mario Kart 8 took almost everything I loved about the series and made it better. Three years ago, I felt comfortable calling Mario Kart 8 on Wii U “ the best Mario Kart ever.” It wasn’t a drastic shift for the long-running series, but more of a refinement.

Mario kart 8 deluxe characters