5 Worst Tracks In Mario Kart History, Ranked

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There’s a good reason Nintendo consistently releases new Mario Kart games. They’re simply enjoyable, and each new version introduces fresh elements while retaining the characters and gameplay people already love. Mario Kart World was chosen as the launch title for the Switch 2 for a reason. Even those who don’t usually play video games will likely accept an invitation to play a round or two of Mario Kart with friends and family on the couch. However, that doesn’t mean we appreciate everything about the games. Certain tracks can be particularly frustrating for everyone.

As a longtime Mario Kart player, I’ve seen a *ton* of tracks come and go. They’re always adding new ones and giving old favorites a fresh look, which is cool. But let’s be real, not every track is a winner. There have been plenty I’ve disliked over the years, but if I had to pick the five most hated Mario Kart tracks, these are the ones that always get the most complaints.

5. Rainbow Road (N64)

This might be a controversial opinion, but I’m starting with something that really bothered me as a kid. Rainbow Road is popular with some players, but it’s undeniable that the track is intense. All the bright, flashing colors are incredibly distracting, causing drivers like me to fall off the track frequently. While some enjoy the difficulty, others would rather avoid Rainbow Road altogether. Newer versions of the track have been better, showing that not everyone hates it. However, those of us who dislike it really dislike it, which is why it’s on this list.

Rainbow Road was originally featured in Super Mario Kart on the SNES. It’s shown up in several Mario Kart games since then, so let’s be clear about which one we’re talking about. I’m giving the award for the worst track to the version for the Nintendo 64, which was exceptionally lengthy. It gave players lots of opportunities to go into outer space, making the difficulty of this already challenging track even more frustrating. While some players enjoy the difficulty, this version of the track will likely be remembered negatively by many of us.

4. Banshee Boardwalk (N64)

It feels wrong to change up Banshee Boardwalk during October, but that’s just how it is. This track had the potential to be great, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. The atmosphere is wonderfully spooky, but the track doesn’t fully deliver on its promise. It includes some tricky sections with missing guardrails, creating a similar frustrating experience to Rainbow Road, but my biggest issue is that the haunted house section isn’t very satisfying.

If you grew up playing Mario Kart 64, this course might have felt a little frightening. However, for many players, it could have embraced the Halloween spirit a bit more fully. It’s also not very exciting to race on – it mostly consists of Boo characters and a somewhat bare brick structure. More recent spooky tracks have been more successful, likely explaining why this one hasn’t appeared in as many games as other favorites from the N64 era.

3. Wario Stadium (N64)

While Rainbow Road is busy and exciting, Wario Stadium falls flat by being too simple. This track is just uninspired, mostly featuring numerous images of Wario. Even though it lacks the engaging elements found in other courses, the N64 Wario Stadium track is surprisingly lengthy. This results in dull and repetitive laps around and around the course.

Honestly, this early stadium track hasn’t shown up much in newer games, and I can see why. It’s got a lot of dirt mounds and really wide roads, but that’s about it. It wasn’t very challenging, and it wasn’t exactly pretty to look at. Basically, it just existed and took forever to complete – that’s my main memory of it.

2. Choco Island 2 (DS)

Choco Island 2 first appeared in Super Mario Kart and has shown up in a few games since then. Even back on the SNES, players weren’t huge fans of this course, but many agree the DS version was even less enjoyable. The track is basically a long rectangle filled with slippery chocolate rivers, and it’s so short that you don’t have much time to correct yourself after sliding. Plus, the graphics on the DS actually make it look less like chocolate, and more like… something else entirely.

Choco Island 2 on the DS is remembered as one of the most disliked tracks in Mario Kart history. It doesn’t capture the charm of the first version, but keeps the irritating gameplay elements and actually makes them more problematic. This track is uniquely both dull and aggravating, likely explaining why it hasn’t reappeared much since Mario Kart Tour. Many players would be happy to leave this course in the past.

1. Vanilla Lake 2 (SNES)

To be frank, the ice surfaces are a really annoying part of Mario Kart. Vanilla Lake 2 on the SNES has a lot of ice, causing you to skid and slide, which makes it one of the most frustrating tracks ever created for Mario Kart. Adding to the difficulty, the track is covered in snow patches that slow you down and obstacles that block your path.

Both Vanilla Lake tracks receive a lot of criticism, but Vanilla Lake 2 is considered worse because it amplifies the frustrations of the first track. The ice blocks are difficult to spot and nearly impossible to dodge, and the course isn’t challenging in a fun way – it’s simply irritating. Ultimately, Vanilla Lake 2 is likely to be remembered as one of the most poorly designed tracks in Mario Kart history.

Which Mario Kart track do you think is the most poorly designed? Share your thoughts in a comment below and participate in the discussion now in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-10-05 17:12