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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the choice if you want to play a Mario Kart game now. It is available for Nintendo Switch, supports local and online multiplayer, and remains an active product. Nintendo discontinued Mario Kart Tour service on September 29, 2026, so Tour is now a historical comparison—not a current alternative. The better fit depends on whether you want a console game with multiplayer and optional course DLC, or are curious about Tour’s former mobile format and collection system.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Playing now, especially local or online multiplayer | 42 listed characters; 48 base courses; 48 additional courses and eight characters with the Booster Course Pass | $59.99 game; $24.99 Booster Course Pass (U.S. prices) | Nintendo Switch; Nintendo lists support on Nintendo Switch 2 | November 2026 |
| Mario Kart Tour | Understanding the former iOS and Android game | Service discontinued September 29, 2026; historically featured city-inspired and classic courses and collectible drivers, karts, and gliders | Historically free-to-start with optional in-game purchases; no longer an active service | iOS and Android | November 2026 |
Prices are from Nintendo’s U.S. listings and may vary by region or change. Tour’s former free-to-start model does not make it a playable free option today.
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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the clear pick for someone choosing between these two games to play today, because Nintendo has ended Tour service. If you already own or can access a Switch, Deluxe offers the currently available game, including solo play, same-system multiplayer, local wireless, and online races. Tour may still be interesting as a design contrast, but its service shutdown rules it out as an active alternative.
The original comparison question has changed with the shutdown. This is no longer a straightforward choice between a console racer and a mobile racer: one remains available as a current game, while the other’s former online service ended. Nintendo’s service discontinuation notice gives the end time as 11:00 p.m. PT on September 29, 2026.
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If your priority is simply finding something to install and race, the answer is therefore straightforward. Buy or access Deluxe on Switch. If your interest is analytical—how Nintendo translated Mario Kart into a smart-device format, or how a collection of drivers, karts, and gliders differs from a console package—Tour remains worth discussing, but only in the past tense.
What is the difference between the games?
The main difference is format: Deluxe is a Switch console game with several multiplayer modes, while Tour was designed for iOS and Android and used a collectible-driver, kart, and glider system. That contrast helps explain why Tour may appeal to someone studying the series’ mobile-era design, but it does not change the practical choice now that its service has ended.
| Decision point | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Mario Kart Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Current Nintendo Switch game; Nintendo lists behavior supported on Switch 2 as well | Service ended September 29, 2026 |
| Device | Nintendo Switch; physical and digital editions | Smart-device game for iOS and Android |
| Multiplayer | One system: up to four players; local wireless: up to eight; online: up to twelve | Historically supported races against up to seven other players; service ended |
| Course design | 48 base courses, with 48 more available in the Booster Course Pass | City-inspired courses alongside classic series courses |
| Progression and collection | Console-game format; course DLC adds tracks and characters | Collectible drivers, karts, and gliders that could be upgraded |
| Cost model | Game purchase; optional course DLC; paid Nintendo Switch Online membership required for online play | Historically free-to-start with optional in-game purchases; now discontinued |
The counts and play limits above come from Nintendo’s Deluxe product information and its U.S. store listing. Tour’s former features are described on Nintendo’s Tour page; they should be read as historical details, not a promise that the game remains playable.
Where can you play each game?
Deluxe is built for Nintendo’s console ecosystem. Nintendo lists both physical and digital editions for Nintendo Switch, and its current store information says the game’s behavior is supported on Nintendo Switch 2 as well. That gives you two practical buying formats: a cartridge or a digital purchase. The product choice is still the same game, so the more important question is which format fits your household’s Switch library and storage preferences.
Tour was a smart-device title for iOS and Android. That made a phone or tablet the entry point and helped define its identity as a mobile game. However, the device advantage no longer creates an active choice: Nintendo ended the service in September 2026. A phone that once hosted Tour is not a replacement for a current Switch copy of Deluxe.
Device ownership should be your first filter. If you do not have a compatible Switch, Deluxe requires a hardware purchase or access to someone else’s console. If you were considering Tour because it ran on a smart device, account for the fact that the service is discontinued rather than assuming the old app remains a free fallback.
What can you play in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
Nintendo lists 42 characters and 48 courses in the base game. The optional Booster Course Pass adds 48 courses and eight additional characters, making it the main content expansion for someone who wants more tracks beyond the base package.
Nintendo released the six Booster Course Pass waves between March 2022 and November 2023. That means the listed course expansion is a completed set of waves, not an ongoing release schedule. The pass expands the course selection; it is not a separate game. Nintendo’s Booster Course Pass FAQ explains the DLC and its access options.
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If you are deciding whether the base game is enough, start with the 48-course base selection and treat the extra 48 courses as an optional reason to spend more or use an eligible membership. The pass does not change Tour’s discontinued status, and it does not turn Deluxe into a mobile game.
The numbers are worth separating carefully. “48 courses” on the base-game listing is not the same as the “48 additional courses” in the pass. With the expansion, Nintendo describes a total course offering that combines the base selection with the added tracks; the pass itself contributes 48 new courses and eight characters. A buyer comparing editions should check whether a listing includes only the game or also the DLC.
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How do multiplayer options compare?
Deluxe has clearly specified multiplayer options: Nintendo lists up to four players on one system, up to eight through local wireless, and up to twelve online. Online play requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership; the local modes do not have that online-membership requirement.
For a same-room group, the key distinction is whether everyone will share one Switch or use multiple systems connected through local wireless. Nintendo says multiplayer requires one compatible controller per player, so a household should check its controller setup before planning a local session. Extra controllers are only necessary if the players do not already have enough compatible ones.
Online races are a separate case: Nintendo Switch Online membership is required, in addition to having the game. Tour historically offered multiplayer races against up to seven other players, but that player count describes its former service and is not a currently usable mode.
These limits help match the game to a real household setup. A family gathered around one console can plan for four players on that system. A group with multiple Switch consoles can use local wireless for up to eight players. Someone choosing primarily for internet competition should budget for the game plus Nintendo Switch Online, because buying Deluxe alone does not unlock its online features.
Do not apply Tour’s historical “up to seven other players” description to Deluxe or treat it as an alternative online lobby today. The two figures describe different products and different eras of service. Deluxe’s up-to-twelve online specification is the relevant current figure for this comparison.
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How much do Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and its DLC cost?
Nintendo’s U.S. listing gives the digital game price as $59.99 and the Booster Course Pass price as $24.99. These are U.S. prices checked in November 2026; prices and terms can vary by region or change, so use Nintendo’s current local store page before buying.
| Purchase or access option | What it provides | U.S. price or condition |
|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | The base game, including 48 courses and 42 listed characters | $59.99 digital price on Nintendo’s U.S. listing |
| Booster Course Pass | 48 additional courses and eight additional characters | $24.99 on Nintendo’s U.S. listing; can be purchased for indefinite access |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack | Access to the Booster Course Pass content at no additional charge while the membership remains active | Requires an active eligible membership |
| Nintendo Switch Online | Required for Deluxe online features | Paid membership; no current official U.S. retail listing was published |
The DLC’s two access routes have different trade-offs. Buying the pass provides indefinite access to its content; access through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack lasts only while that membership is active. Nintendo’s access instructions explain how to use the content after purchase or through membership. The table’s prices are from the U.S. listing and checked November 2026.
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Tour was historically free-to-start and offered optional in-game purchases, but that past pricing model should not be treated as a way to start playing now. The service has ended.
Think of the costs as separate decisions rather than one bundle. First, you need the Deluxe game. Second, decide whether the base 48 courses and 42 listed characters meet your needs. Third, decide whether the 48-course expansion and eight extra characters justify the $24.99 U.S. purchase or whether you already maintain Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Finally, add Nintendo Switch Online if online play is important. Local and same-system play do not require that online membership.
Membership access also changes the meaning of “ownership.” A purchased Booster Course Pass remains available indefinitely, while access supplied through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack depends on an active membership. If the membership ends, the no-additional-charge access route ends with it. Check Nintendo’s current terms in your region for the exact account and access details.
What happened to Mario Kart Tour after service ended?
Nintendo discontinued Tour service at 11:00 p.m. PT on September 29, 2026. Nintendo’s page also identifies limited post-shutdown access to certain records and rankings, but those exceptions are not continued gameplay. In other words, residual statistics or rankings do not mean that Tour remains an active racing option.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThat distinction matters if you are weighing the games for a new purchase or trying to return to Tour. The practical path for playing a Mario Kart game in this comparison is Deluxe. Tour’s city courses, collection system, and former multiplayer format remain relevant only as a record of what the mobile game offered.
Nintendo says past Tour statistics and inquiries can be viewed in the app until January 12, 2027. It also says All-Cup Rankings can be viewed until the end of September 2027. Those windows preserve account history and ranking information; they do not restore races, events, progression, or multiplayer. A reader who opens the app and sees records should not interpret that screen as evidence that the service is still operating.
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The shutdown date is also why older comparisons can be misleading. A guide that calls Tour a free-to-start alternative, recommends its multiplayer, or presents its city courses as an active catalog is no longer describing the buying situation in November 2026. Those details can explain the game’s former design, but availability has to come first.
Which game fits common buying situations?
You want to play tonight
Choose Deluxe. It is the current product, and Nintendo lists the game for Switch with solo, same-system, local-wireless, and online options. Tour cannot satisfy this use case because its service ended.
You want couch multiplayer
Choose Deluxe if you have a Switch and enough compatible controllers. Up to four players can use one system. If your group has multiple Switch consoles, local wireless supports up to eight players. You do not need Nintendo Switch Online for these local formats.
You want online races
Choose Deluxe and budget for paid Nintendo Switch Online in addition to the game. Nintendo lists online play for up to twelve players. Tour’s former multiplayer races are historical and cannot substitute for a current online mode.
You want the largest stated course selection
Start with Deluxe’s 48 base courses, then consider the Booster Course Pass for 48 additional courses and eight additional characters. The pass is optional, and its six waves were completed between March 2022 and November 2023.
You want a mobile-first experience
Tour was the game that matched that format, with iOS and Android support, city-inspired courses, and collectible drivers, karts, and gliders. But it is not a current recommendation: Nintendo ended service on September 29, 2026. There is no active Tour purchase decision to make today.
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You are comparing a one-time purchase with a membership
Deluxe gives you a game purchase, with optional DLC. The Booster Course Pass can be bought for indefinite access or accessed through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack while that membership remains active. Tour’s former free-to-start model is not an available low-cost route now.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical buying checklist
- Confirm the hardware. Deluxe requires Nintendo Switch access; Nintendo also lists behavior supported on Nintendo Switch 2. Tour’s former iOS and Android format does not provide a current substitute.
- Choose physical or digital Deluxe. Nintendo lists both editions. Use the format that suits your library and account setup.
- Count your players and controllers. One compatible controller is needed per player. Plan for up to four on one system, up to eight through local wireless, or up to twelve online.
- Decide whether online play matters. Add a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for Deluxe online features. Local play does not require it.
- Evaluate the base content first. The base game has 42 listed characters and 48 courses. The pass is optional, so do not assume it is required to start.
- Compare DLC access routes. Buy the $24.99 U.S. Booster Course Pass for indefinite access, or use Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack access while the membership remains active.
- Check your regional store. The stated $59.99 and $24.99 figures are U.S. listings and can change or vary by region.
This sequence prevents the most common mismatch: buying a game before checking whether the household has enough controllers, or paying for DLC without deciding whether a membership-based access route already fits the household.
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Common pitfalls to avoid
- Calling Tour an active free game. It was historically free-to-start, but service ended on September 29, 2026.
- Confusing base and added courses. Deluxe has 48 base courses; the Booster Course Pass adds another 48. The pass is not the base game.
- Assuming all multiplayer requires a subscription. Nintendo Switch Online is required for online features, not for same-system or local-wireless play.
- Counting records as gameplay. Tour statistics, inquiries, and All-Cup Rankings may remain viewable for limited periods, but no longer represent an active racing service.
- Assuming DLC access is permanent through membership. Nintendo says purchased access is indefinite; Expansion Pack access lasts while the eligible membership remains active.
- Using old player-count comparisons without dates. Tour’s up-to-seven-other-players figure describes its former service. Deluxe’s current listings specify up to four on one system, eight local wireless, and twelve online.
- Treating U.S. prices as universal. Nintendo’s $59.99 and $24.99 figures are U.S. listings. Regional prices and terms may differ or change.
- Buying extra controllers automatically. Additional controllers are useful only when your existing setup does not provide one compatible controller per player.
Which one should you choose?
Choose Mario Kart 8 Deluxe if you want a Mario Kart game to play now, need local multiplayer, want online races, or value having a fixed console-game package with optional course DLC. It is the only currently playable choice between the two in this comparison, based on Nintendo’s announced service status as of November 2026.
Look at Mario Kart Tour only as a historical comparison if your interest is specifically its mobile format, city-inspired tracks, or collectible drivers, karts, and gliders. Its past design can help explain how the series adapted to smart devices, but the end of service means it should not be recommended as a current alternative.
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How we compared them
This comparison uses Nintendo’s product specifications, store listing, support information, and Tour page. The practical criteria are current availability, supported devices, multiplayer modes, course and character content, and stated purchase or membership terms. Tour’s features and player count are presented as historical because Nintendo ended its service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still view my Mario Kart Tour statistics after shutdown?
Nintendo says past Tour statistics and inquiries can be viewed in the app until January 12, 2027. This is a limited records window, not a continuation of the game’s racing service.
How long are Mario Kart Tour All-Cup Rankings available?
Nintendo’s Tour page says All-Cup Rankings can be viewed until the end of September 2027. That remaining view period is separate from gameplay, which ended in September 2026.
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Does the Mario Kart Tour app’s remaining data mean I can still race?
No. Nintendo’s stated post-shutdown access concerns records, inquiries, and rankings; it does not mean Tour service or its multiplayer races remain available.
Is Mario Kart Tour still free to download and play?
Tour was historically free-to-start with optional in-game purchases, but Nintendo discontinued its service at 11:00 p.m. PT on September 29, 2026. Its former pricing model is not a current way to start racing.
How many players can play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe locally?
Nintendo lists up to four players on one system and up to eight through local wireless. Multiplayer requires one compatible controller per player.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Choose Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for a playable Mario Kart game with up to four players on one system, up to eight through local wireless, and up to twelve online. Its 48 base courses can be expanded with 48 more courses and eight characters through the Booster Course Pass. Mario Kart Tour remains useful only as historical context: Nintendo ended its service on September 29, 2026.
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