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How many characters are in Mario Kart World?
The documented roster contains 50 unique playable racers: 24 main Mario characters and 26 NPC characters or enemies, according to Nintendo Life’s roster guide, dated July 1, 2026. Costumes can appear as separate selections in character select, but they do not count as separate characters in that total.
Mario Kart World is a Nintendo Switch 2 game released June 5, 2025. Nintendo’s official game page lists Grand Prix, VS Races, and Knockout Tour as modes that support up to 24 drivers.
Full Mario Kart World character roster
Here are all 50 unique racers listed in the July 1, 2026 roster guide:
#1 Best Overall
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
- Mario
- Luigi
- Peach
- Daisy
- Rosalina
- Yoshi
- Toad
- Koopa Troopa
- Bowser
- Donkey Kong
- Wario
- Waluigi
- Pauline
- Baby Mario
- Baby Luigi
- Baby Peach
- Baby Daisy
- Baby Rosalina
- Bowser Jr
- Toadette
- King Boo
- Birdo
- Shy Guy
- Wiggler
- Dry Bones
- Lakitu
- Nabbit
- Goomba
- Cow
- Hammer Bro
- Coin Coffer
- Piranha Plant
- Conkdor
- Chargin’ Chuck
- Snowman
- Sidestepper
- Cheep Cheep
- Rocky Wrench
- Monty Mole
- Fish Bone
- Dolphin
- Penguin
- Para-Biddybud
- Stingby
- Pokey
- Cataquack
- Peepa
- Spike
- Pianta
- Swoop
Which characters start unlocked?
The guide counts 32 characters as available initially and 18 as unlockable. It names seven characters unlocked through Cup completion and 11 obtained by transforming through Kamek or a UFO:
| Unlock route | Characters | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Available initially | The other racers in the 50-character roster | 32, per Nintendo Life’s July 1, 2026 guide |
| Complete Cups | Daisy, Rosalina, Donkey Kong, Bowser Jr, King Boo, Birdo, Lakitu | 7, per Nintendo Life’s July 1, 2026 guide |
| Transform through Kamek or a UFO | Coin Coffer, Conkdor, Chargin’ Chuck, Cheep Cheep, Fish Bone, Dolphin, Cataquack, Peepa, Spike, Pianta, Swoop | 11, per Nintendo Life’s July 1, 2026 guide |
The listed unlock groups account for all 18 unlockable racers. Costumes are separate selection options, not additional unique racers.
Rank #2
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
What “confirmed so far” means
This roster reflects the characters documented by Nintendo Life on July 1, 2026; it is a dated snapshot, not a promise that no additions will arrive. The sources cited here do not confirm future characters. Nintendo Support says a game update became available September 9, 2026, but that statement alone does not establish a roster change. Check Nintendo’s update information and the roster guide for changes after those dates.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- A variety of playable characters are available, some with unique attributes that affect gameplay and platforming physics.
- Younger and less-experienced players will love playing as Toadette, who is brand new to both games, and Nabbit, who was formerly only playable in New Super Luigi U. Both characters offer extra assistance during play.
- Multiplayer sessions are even more fun, frantic, and exciting thanks to entertaining character interactions. Need a boost? Try jumping off a teammate’s head or getting a teammate to throw you.
- Features a wealth of help features, like a Hints gallery, reference videos, and a Super Guide in New Super Mario Bros. U that can complete levels for you if they’re giving you trouble.
- Three additional modes—Boost Rush, Challenges, and Coin Battle—mix up gameplay and add replayability, while also upping the difficulty for players who want to try something harder. Players can use their Mii characters in these modes.
Rank #4
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
Rank #3
- [SEAMLESS OPEN WORLD] Experience an interconnected racing environment with zero loading screens between courses. Navigate a massive world featuring 24-hour dynamic day/night cycles and shifting weather patterns that directly impact vehicle traction and handling across mountains and cities.
- [ADVANCED RACING MECHANICS] Master all-new maneuvers including high-speed rail riding, wall jumping, and tactical water skimming. These next-gen traversal abilities allow players to discover hidden shortcuts and alternate routes within a 100% seamless world-map architecture.
- [24-PLAYER ELIMINATION MODE] Compete in the high-stakes Knockout Tour, an adrenaline-packed 24-driver elimination mode where racers are removed checkpoint by checkpoint. Supports up to 24-player online multiplayer with integrated GameChat for real-time social coordination.
- [NEXT-GEN TECHNICAL SPECS] Optimized exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 system to deliver stunning 4K Ultra HD resolution in docked mode and a locked 60FPS frame rate. Features enhanced texture mapping and global illumination for the most immersive visual experience in series history.
- [OPEN-WORLD EXPLORATION] Step away from the Grand Prix in the all-new Free Roam mode to wander the world at your own pace. Discover hidden surprises, unlockable vehicle parts, and brand-new drivers across diverse biomes including dense forests and sprawling urban landscapes.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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