Mario Kart World's 24-Player Co-Op Literally Killed the Game

As someone who has played competitive games for a long time, I've seen a lot of big ideas fail because they forget what makes a game great in the first place. Trying to fit 24 people into a single Mario Kart World race might be the worst thing the game has done so far. It's already one of the most controversial games in the series. Some people loved it, while others who still swear by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gave it harsh reviews.

In a recent poll, over 3,000 people voted, and almost 70% of them said Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still the best Mario Kart game ever. Only 8% said Mario Kart World was better. What's going on here? The answer lies in the chaos of those 24-player races, where there are so many drivers that it throws off the rules of the game.

The harsh truth is that races with 24 players are just too many. As soon as you get to the first item box, you'll probably either get nothing or a banana. Meanwhile, dozens of players behind you are deliberately slowing down to get powerful things like golden mushrooms. The focus of racing has changed from skill and planning to timing to see who can handle the chaos the best.

When almost 50 things, like bananas, shells, bombs, stars, and hammers, fly at the same time, the game turns into a slot machine of luck instead of a race of skill. The design of the tracks also looks like it was added at the last minute and forgotten. The tracks are very long, very wide, and empty so that they can fit 24 racers.

This makes what should be exciting races into slow, lifeless stretches that feel more like filler content. What's the joke? Online game rooms don't usually get full, so you're stuck speeding on a 24-lane highway with only 10 other people, which makes the experience feel awkward and unfinished.

It would be a lot less annoying if the game had classic three-lap races or smaller player lobbies, which have been Mario Kart features since the beginning. Instead, the problems are made worse by not having these options. Getting rid of the three-lap race option has already gotten a lot of bad feedback for ruining the online experience.

Still, everything isn't bad. The knockout mode is where the 24-player format really shines. A big pool of players makes that game intense and exciting. In this case, the chaos helps the game, making each removal feel exciting. But when you're not in knockout mode, the 24-player race is a waste of time. There should be a way to switch to smaller, more traditional games. That choice is fair for the group.

To the players who like the chaos of 24 people, I want to know what makes it work for you. Is it really more exciting when things go crazy, or am I missing something? 

Mario Kart has always been a game of skill, fun, and just the right amount of chaos. Mario Kart World needs to find that balance again right now, before it turns off too many of its fans. It will affect the future of the game.