What do you actually do in Mario Kart World’s vast open world?

Earlier this month, Nintendo let Ars Technica and other outlets have access to a small hands-on slice of Mario Kart World ahead of its planned June 5 launch. Today, a short livestreamed video presentation gave a bit of extra information about how exactly the full version of the free-roaming Nintendo Switch 2 launch game will work in practice.

As the name implies, Mario Kart World sets itself apart from previous games via a "vast interconnected world" that you can roam freely between the actual race courses. That open space between races will feature "hundreds of P-switches," Nintendo said, each of which activates a small mission to "hone your driving abilities." Free-roaming racers will also be able to find hidden medallions and question-mark panels, as well as "drive-thru" food items that can be used to unlock new outfits.

"Hundreds" of P-Switches like this will activate short missions throughout the game's world. Credit: Nintendo

While cruising around the Mario Kart "world," players will stumble onto new courses "inspired by their surrounding region," as well as "nostalgic courses for past titles... reimagined and spread throughout the world." When playing in Grand Prix mode, the drive between these courses will be integrated into the usual four-course cups themselves; after racing Mario Kart Circuit in the Mushroom cup, for instance, the second race "will have you covering the distance from Mario Bros. Circuit to Crown City," Nintendo said.

The game's other main race mode, Knockout Tour, slowly whittles 24 racers down to just four via checkpoints spaced throughout the course. These "extended rallies" will take racers across the game world, with one track seamlessly flowing into another on a preset path.

"A vast, interconnected world." Credit: Nintendo

Ars Video

Players who prefer a more traditional three-lap race on a single course can do so via the game's VS Mode races. The traditional battle mode will also return, with a Balloon Battle mode focused on hitting other players with weapons and a Coin Runners mode focused on getting more money than your opponents.

In addition to online races featuring up to 24 racers at once, Mario Kart World will feature local split-screen play for up to four players or up to eight players connected via local wireless on multiple systems (up to two players per system).

New techniques

Grinding isn't just for Tony Hawk games anymore... Credit: Nintendo

In the races themselves, Mario Kart World players will be able to use a new "Charge Jump" technique by holding down the drift button while driving straight ahead. This extra-high "hop" can be used to dodge various hazards and to activate a small speed boost even on straight sections without jumps. Charge Jumps can also be used to leap onto grindable rails or chain together short wall rides.

Nintendo also highlighted a new "Rewind" feature that lets racers reverse time for a few seconds and easily return to a position they've just driven past. That could be handy for mastering a difficult jump during free roam mode or for repeated practice on tough shortcuts in races, for instance. Other racers continue to move forward while you're rewinding time, though, so it's probably not a great idea if you're stuck struggling for first place.

Sidestepper is a nice nod to extremely old Mario fans like me. Credit: Nintendo

Some other interesting tidbits we noticed in today's video presentation:

In addition to the standard characters mentioned by name, the game's selection screen included some extremely deep-cut racers pulled from Mario games past, including a Sidestepper, Pianta, Cataquack , and Conkdor .
A "Joy-Con 2 Wheel" accessory will be sold separately and seems to operate much like the old Wii Wheel that was included with Mario Kart Wii years ago.
The pause menu includes a new "auto-use items" option that should be useful for younger players who can't quite manage the item button yet.
The optional Switch 2 camera can pick out and isolate up to four local racers and put live video of their faces above their karts.
We're incredibly intrigued by the new Kamek item that can "transform your rivals into something surprising and cause unexpected chaos on the course."
Individual courses can also be raced in both day and night modes, Nintendo said.