Almost 30 Years Later, Is This Still the Best Mario Kart?

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When Super Mario Kart debuted on the Super Nintendo, it showed how flexible the Mario franchise could be. While a racing game was a big departure from the traditional platforming Mario games, it was a huge success with players. This success sparked a whole series of Mario Kart games on various consoles and helped broaden the franchise’s overall popularity.

While earlier Mario Kart games existed, Mario Kart 64 for the Nintendo 64 was the one that truly made the series famous. Though originally planned as a launch game, it was released a few months later and quickly became a huge hit thanks to its precise handling, three-dimensional tracks, and seamless multiplayer. Even after almost thirty years, fans still debate whether Mario Kart 64 is the best game in the series, or if later installments have surpassed it.

Mario Kart 64 Is A Fan Favorite For A Reason

I still remember when Mario Kart 64 first came out in North America on February 10, 1997! It was such a big deal because it took the fun of the original Mario Kart and brought it into 3D. It was one of the first games announced for the N64, and everyone instantly loved it. Seriously, it was a massive hit! Even with huge games like GoldenEye 007 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time coming out, Mario Kart 64 stayed near the top of the best-selling charts for the N64 for a long time. What I always appreciated was that the developers focused on making the game feel really good to play. They used the N64’s power for smooth gameplay and precise controls, instead of just trying to make things look fancy. Plus, the colorful Mario world always looked great, and that extra visual pop really helped, even if it wasn’t the most technically advanced game out there.

Smart design choices, like using 2D characters, helped the game run smoothly. A key goal was to create a fast-paced, enjoyable four-player experience without any frustrating lag. Despite some criticism of the graphics and track layouts, the game earned a respectable 83/100 on Metacritic. This emphasis on multiplayer proved popular, becoming a staple at parties, sleepovers, and in college dorms. While Mario Kart had already found success on the Super Nintendo, the N64 version was a huge hit for Nintendo, establishing Mario Kart as one of their most important multiplayer franchises.

Nintendo Has Refined Mario Kart In Some Key Ways Over The Years

It’s easy to remember Mario Kart 64 fondly after all these years. While it’s still fun to play, later Mario Kart games like Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart World have clear improvements. Bigger tracks, more items to use, and refined controls make those newer games more polished and technically advanced.

Despite any nostalgia, Mario Kart 64 is undeniably well-designed. While later games like Mario Kart World offer more expansive open worlds, Mario Kart 64‘s focused scope actually makes it feel smoother, more polished, and less likely to suffer from glitches or online problems. It’s hard to deny how effective its core gameplay really is.

While Mario Kart 64 was a groundbreaking game, later installments like Mario Kart: Double Dash expanded on its ideas, and titles such as Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe refined the gameplay or offered more features. In fact, based on scores, Mario Kart 64 doesn’t even rank among the best in the series. The Mario Kart series has evolved significantly with each new version, improving on what made the original fun. Because of these changes, it’s difficult to directly compare the classic Mario Kart 64 to today’s games.

As a big Mario Kart fan, I think Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just does so much more and plays so much better – it really benefited from having more powerful consoles and all the things Nintendo learned over the years. But honestly, there’s still something special about Mario Kart 64. It’s simpler, but so much fun! And I’ll never forget those Saturday nights playing it with my friends. It really feels like that game gave Nintendo the confidence to keep pushing the series forward, leading to the amazing games we have now. Later Mario Kart games definitely improved on it, but I don’t think they’d be where they are today without Mario Kart 64 paving the way.

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2026-02-11 01:10