Mario Kart Wii

 Wii
Mario Kart Wii Image
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 73 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1147 Ratings

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  • Summary: Mario Kart Wii comes with the intuitive Wii Wheel, which makes it easy for novices to compete against veterans, so no one is left in the dust. And with a broadband hookup to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, players can compete with up to 11 other drivers from around the world for racing dominance.Mario Kart Wii comes with the intuitive Wii Wheel, which makes it easy for novices to compete against veterans, so no one is left in the dust. And with a broadband hookup to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, players can compete with up to 11 other drivers from around the world for racing dominance. The game includes 16 new courses and 16 classic courses from previous Mario Kart games. For the first time ever, players have the option of racing with either karts or motorbikes. Players can also hit the road as their personalized Mii caricatures in addition to the handful of classic Nintendo characters found in the game. True to the series, the game features tons of racing, plenty of power-ups and oodles of objects for players to use to slow down other drivers. And 10 battle arenas keep players busy between trips around the circuit. Mario Kart Wii supports four different control options: Wii Remote with or without the Wii Wheel, Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller combo, Classic Controller and even the Nintendo GameCube controller. So there's bound to be a configuration that fits everyone's style. Mario Kart Wii launches with a new channel added to the Wii Menu to enhance game play: The Mario Kart Wii Channel. This new channel builds on the online community of Wii owners and lets players compete in tournaments, check worldwide rankings, see when their friends are playing and download ghost data. [Nintendo]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 73
  3. Negative: 1 out of 73
  1. AceGamez
    100
    Mario Kart Wii has more variety, more to do, and ultimately more to keep you coming back than any Mario Kart before it (and as a hardcore advocate of the SNES original, I never thought I would find myself saying that); but more than that, it is a flagship title for the Nintendo Wii. Not only is Mario Kart Wii the most important title that will be released on the format this year, but it will stand the test of time as one of the best games the Wii has to offer.
    All this publication's reviews
  2. GameSpy
    90
    The offline and online content is extremely entertaining and the pursuit of casual and hardcore karting has never been this much fun.
  3. Play.tm
    85
    The package as a whole works well, not because of the packed in wheel, not because of the new content and innovation, but because Nintendo have proved that they understand what it is that makes this series great - the balance between racing and fighting.
  4. GameFocus
    83
    Mario Kart Wii is a complete game. Of course, the addition of the online mode makes this title a keeper and a must have title for your Wii collection but for unconditional local multiplayer lovers, the offline mode has also received some upgrades and tweaks.
  5. Gamer.nl
    80
    Mario Kart Wii is a great new game in the series. It still plays like a dream and is perhaps the most enjoyable game of the last few years. Even the additions of motorcycles, Wii-Wheel and online mode are suprisingly good. Mario Kart Wii even does something which most other games lack: It brings fun.
  6. Deeko
    80
    After all the hype surrounding this game (or lack thereof), Mario Kart Wii is the same game we've been playing over and over again for years now, which either has you jumping up and down with glee or shaking your head in disgust.
  7. Game Chronicles
    42
    Mario Kart boils down to a whole lot of luck and very little skill.

See all 73 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 283 out of 374
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 374
  3. Negative: 25 out of 374
  1. Fredrick2003
    Aug 13, 2011
    10
    One of the best reasons to hang on to your Wii that may or may not be getting much use currently. Following the tradition of the Mario KartOne of the best reasons to hang on to your Wii that may or may not be getting much use currently. Following the tradition of the Mario Kart series from its humble beginnings on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo delivers another stellar entry. If you've ever played Mario Kart before you will be right at home, and if you haven't, this is the perfect place to start, and a lot more forgiving than the portable games â… Expand
  2. obthegeek
    Nov 22, 2020
    10
    i am absolutely biased in how much i love mario kart wii. it's my go to game, it's kind of a source of comfort for me in a way, and looking ati am absolutely biased in how much i love mario kart wii. it's my go to game, it's kind of a source of comfort for me in a way, and looking at it objectively, probably isn't a 10
    but the memories and treasures i have with this game are absolutely massive, and i'm still making them today thanks to CTGP
    the track selection is great, and i love how janky and unfair the items are in this game    … Expand
  4. blisss
    Jun 10, 2011
    10
    This is the best Mario Kart Yet, from amazing tracks to amazing gameplay, to the bullet bills that can help you when youre doing bad, to theThis is the best Mario Kart Yet, from amazing tracks to amazing gameplay, to the bullet bills that can help you when youre doing bad, to the blue shells that knock me out of first a lot where it provides a challenge for me to get back into first, to the many fun gameplay modes in multiplayer, especially 3-4 players, is really fun. Its really fun to play with friendss. Its the best Mario Kart yet, and unlike some people believe, even though there are items that can help you, this game does take some skill… Expand
  5. Exogenesis
    Nov 13, 2011
    9
    One word makes Mario Kart Wii stand out among all other Wii games: Multiplayer. The online in Mario Kart Wii in spot on. Leaderboards, FastOne word makes Mario Kart Wii stand out among all other Wii games: Multiplayer. The online in Mario Kart Wii in spot on. Leaderboards, Fast Matchmaking, Friend Matches, Mario Kart has it all, and to top it of there is no lag, even on the slowest of connections.… Expand
  6. Kdog152
    Jan 9, 2023
    8
    If we're being realistic, Mario kart Wii is overrated. so, let's start with the negatives so they are done and dusted.
    - The online is    If we're being realistic, Mario kart Wii is overrated. so, let's start with the negatives so they are done and dusted.
    - The online is horrendous! It's laggy. It's full of hackers who constantly use the mind boggling amount of game-breaking short cut glitches and item hacks in this game. That leads to my next point:
    - This game is Brocken, though thankfully, you have to go out of your way to break the game.
    - The item distribution is horrible. The amount of times you get hit by red shells and other projectiles is ridiculous.
    - Why does Luigi's circuit exists? the track is bland and it has a section at the end where it punishes the player for driving on the boost panels as they make you slower, WHICH DEFEATS THE WHOLE POINT OF A BOOST PANNAL!!!
    - Funky Kong. Surely that's all I need to say. No? well then let me explain. Funky Kong has the most annoying voice, to the point where if the volume is up loud, it will make your ears bleed. (well, okay, not really, but you get the point).
    now with the positives:
    With the exception of Luigi circuit, the tracks are amazing and were some of the most creative in the series at the time. Maple Treeway, Coopa Cape, grumble volcano and the hardest rainbow road in the series are only a few of them. It's no wonder it was the best selling Mario kart until 8 deluxe came out 9 years later.
    - The amount of karts in the game are great
    -The battle mode is fun, but I don't like the fact that racers respawn after all their balloons are popped and also Hate the fact that we now have a timer now. You can customise it, but not by much. However, it does have a big collection of tracks and some good ones at that.
    -The introduction of bikes is also a nice touch.
    -This kinda in the middle when it comes to praise and criticism: It has some great retro tracks like GCN DK Mountain, Ds peach gardens, Ds Delphino Squair and N64 Bowsers castle, but it also had some really bad ones like Ds Yoshi circuit and N64 Mario raceway. it's a mixed bag.
    the character roster is huge and the best in the series.
    7.5 out of 10.
    - Getting skilled at this game is so rewarding and local multi-player is great.
    Overall though, Mario kart Wii is still an amazing game for the Wii and it does deserve the score it got.    … Expand
  7. JC
    Oct 22, 2008
    8
    I would have to say that anyone expecting "good" graphics in a game should not be judging anything with the word Mario in it. Nintendo puts I would have to say that anyone expecting "good" graphics in a game should not be judging anything with the word Mario in it. Nintendo puts less emphasis on Graphics and more emphasis on gameplay. Therefore I dont judge nintendo games on graphics. Pros - Unlike other posts, in my belief the items carry substantial pickup, from the Black rocket and the Pow to Star Power and the Red Shell. This alows players, usually punished by top speed to still compete with faster players. COns - However, it seems that if you keep first place for long enoh, the computer will totally wreck you. I have had many a time being within a few carts of the finish line and being overthrown with spied shells, pows and red shells and get put back to 4 to possibly even 9th on one level. However, my 4th place Spike shell gain was rather interesting. Level designs are quite distinct, as there are 16 new levels as well as 16 levels from the old games, including a few from the SNES, which brings back memories. The online function is great, but isnt fair for players who dont play the single player game simply because they have neither the carts or bikes/characters to compete with die hard fans. This puts some players at a full disadvantage. I have to admitthat some of the souds/voices of characters have become childish, but what would be expected from companies that normally be designed for a younger age. I think it is not reasonable to realise that this game was not designed primarily for adults. However, i dont find the single player 150cc as challenging as others have, being as how 6/8 cups resulted in golds on attempt 1 which was rather a dissapointment for me.… Expand
  8. RickyA.
    Nov 13, 2007
    0
    Same characters, nothing new, a letdown, a too fast of a game, pointless and babyish, a disappointment.

See all 374 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best Wii Game of 2008
2
#2 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2008
5
#5 Most Shared Wii Game of 2008