Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • WWDC
  • Best laptop
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • Best web hosting
  • NYT Wordle today

Recommended reading

Mario Kart World
Gaming Mario Kart World – everything we know
A screenshot of Mario from Mario Kart World
Gaming I fell off the map in Mario Kart World and didn’t respawn – here’s why that’s awesome
Mario runs and jumps up with his hand outstretched. Luigi can be seen gliding in from the left, using his hat as a glider
Nintendo Switch The 22 best Nintendo Switch games in 2025
Mario Kart World
Gaming Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct: new free roam details confirmed and everything announced about the Switch 2 game
Nintendo Switch 2
Gaming The Switch 2 launching with a Mario Kart game 'is very unlike Nintendo' compared to the original Switch releasing with Breath of the Wild, says former marketing leads: 'That's what's gonna make you want to buy the new hardware'
cheap Nintendo Switch game deals sales
Gaming Nintendo didn't anticipate that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was 'going to be the juggernaut' for the Nintendo Switch when it was ported to the console, according to former employees
Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership icons positioned next to words saying 'TechRadar: Big savings'
Nintendo Switch Getting the Nintendo Switch 2? Unlock online play with these excellent Nintendo Switch Online deals
  1. Gaming
  2. Consoles & PC
  3. Nintendo
  4. Nintendo Switch

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tips and tricks

How-to
By Emma Boyle, Damien McFerran published 24 April 2017

Master the remaster

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

With the launch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch this week there's a good chance you're going to want to brush up on your driving skills – after all, the Wii U original was quite some time ago now and you may be a little on the rusty side. 

Alternatively, you might be one of the many who didn't buy Nintendo's last console (don't feel bad, you're not alone) and are therefore approaching this title with a totally clean slate. 

Whatever your situation happens to be, we've done you a solid and put together this exhaustive guide on how to master Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's anti-gravity tracks, unlock all of the available kart components and come out on top when playing online.

Think we've missed an important trick and want it to be part of this guide? Let us know by emailing gaming@techradar.com with the subject line 'Mario Kart 8 tip.'

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
Get a boost at the start

Get a boost at the start

Getting off to the best start is of vital importance in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, so you'll want to master this technique early on. When the countdown begins don't hold down the accelerator right away, as tempting as that may be. Instead, wait for the second red light to show (ie between the '2' and '1' in the countdown) then hold down the button. If you've timed it right then you'll shoot off the line faster than your rivals.

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
Grab those coins

Grab those coins

There are two solid reasons to grab the many coins which lay around each circuit. Each one gives you a little speed boost (up to a maximum of ten) and increases your maximum speed, but a more pressing reason is because each coin collected counts towards a running total which unlocks various kart parts – including new bodies, wheels and gliders. 

To begin with, you get a new kart part for every 50 coins, but once you reach 1000 coins you only get a new part for every 100 additional coins to pick up. As a result, it's always good to get a second player involved when you can as the more human participants, the more coins you pick up and the faster you unlock everything.

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
Master the drift boost

Master the drift boost

Power-sliding has been a common feature in Mario Kart since the SNES original; hold down the R button and your kart will hop and then slide, allowing you to drift around corners with ease. However, there's an added benefit in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; the longer the drift, the bigger the speed boost you receive when you release the R button. 

The first stage of the boost sees blue sparks appear on your wheels, while the second stage has orange flames. However, for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a third stage has been added – once you see pink sparks flying off the back of your vehicle, you can trigger a more potent speed boost – the trick is keeping the drift going for long enough.

If you're struggling to hold your drifts for long enough then try steering while drifting. You won't be able to affect your direction by much, but it might mean the difference between drifting off the track and a sweet pink spark boost. 

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
Going for gold

Going for gold

In addition to the parts you collect from picking up coins, there are also super-exclusive gold parts which are unlocked via other methods. To get the gold kart body, you need to get a minimum 1-Star rating in every cup in every speed class. Gold tires require you to beat all of the pre-loaded ghost racers or collect 15,000 coins, while the gold glider is unlocked after picking up 10,000 coins.

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
Defend against incoming projectiles

Defend against incoming projectiles

There's nothing more annoying than taking a red shell in the back when you're leading the race, but there is a way to prevent this from happening. 

You can store items behind your cart by holding down the L button – do this when you hear the red shell warning and the projectile will hit your current item without doing any damage. 

For blue shells, you can use the megaphone power-up to knock it out of the sky before it hits you – but timing is crucial.

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
Use the slipstream

Use the slipstream

Just like real racing, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe allows you to use the slipstream of a rival to gain a bit of additional speed. The theory is sound; the racer in front of you is taking a battering from air flow, and by slotting in behind them you can avoid this effect and move a little faster. The impact on your overall speed is fleeting, but when you're in a pack, it's an essential tactic. 

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
Look for shortcuts

Look for shortcuts

Many of the tracks in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feature hidden shortcuts which, when used correctly, can shave precious seconds off your lap time and give you the opportunity to get ahead of other racers. 

If you spot anything odd on the side of the circuit – like a platform which has no right to be there – then there's a good chance you can leverage it as a shortcut. Keep your eyes peeled during each race.

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
Forget about fire hopping

Forget about fire hopping

Fire hopping was a controversial tactic which gained prominence in the Wii U version of Mario Kart 8. During a boost, you could tap the R button to hop along the track, reducing drag on the kart's wheels, therefore making the initial boost last for longer. 

Nintendo has now patched this strategy out of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – fire hopping actually slows you down now, so if it was part of your game plan previously you're going to have to change the way you play.

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
Trick for a treat

Trick for a treat

Pressing the R button just as you're about to jump off something causes your character to perform a stunt in mid-air, and this increases your speed. Make sure you time it right, though, otherwise you'll fluff your launch and lose valuable milliseconds.

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13
Know when to make contact

Know when to make contact

As a rule, making contact with other racers isn't a good idea – not only does it cost you coins, it slows you down. 

However, when you're in anti-grav mode, hitting another player actually has the opposite effect – both of you are granted a spin-boost. You can also touch elements of the track to gain this boost – look for rotating sections of the environment which glow blue.

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
Double up

Double up

Double items was a popular feature in Double Dash and now it's come to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. 

This means there are also double item boxes to grab. If the road is clear around you, go for them to make sure your item arsenal is well stocked.

If you’re in the thick of the race, though, you’ll probably find most other racers will make a beeline for them. When this happens, more of the single boxes are likely to be left open, greatly increasing your chances of picking something up. 

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
New accessibility features

New accessibility features

Another significant change in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the introduction of some new accessibility features: smart steering and auto-accelerate.

Their titles are pretty self-explanatory. Smart-steering will never let you drive off the track and auto-accelerate means you won't have to keep your finger mashed down on the 'A' button. 

Even with these switched on you're still not going to be able to beat experienced players who've mastered the finer points of play, but it's worth knowing they're there as they're a great way to introduce young kids to the game. 

The best thing is these features can be turned on individually for each player rather than across an entire race (a bit like the bumpers in bowling) meaning players across lots of different skill levels can play together. 

You can turns these features on and off during the kart selection screen before each race where you'll also have the option of enabling motion controls. 

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
Damien McFerran
Read more
Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World – everything we know
A screenshot of Mario from Mario Kart World
I fell off the map in Mario Kart World and didn’t respawn – here’s why that’s awesome
Mario runs and jumps up with his hand outstretched. Luigi can be seen gliding in from the left, using his hat as a glider
The 22 best Nintendo Switch games in 2025
Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct: new free roam details confirmed and everything announced about the Switch 2 game
Nintendo Switch 2
The Switch 2 launching with a Mario Kart game 'is very unlike Nintendo' compared to the original Switch releasing with Breath of the Wild, says former marketing leads: 'That's what's gonna make you want to buy the new hardware'
cheap Nintendo Switch game deals sales
Nintendo didn't anticipate that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was 'going to be the juggernaut' for the Nintendo Switch when it was ported to the console, according to former employees
Latest in Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 has already smashed a sales record, with 3.5 million units shifted in just four days
Anker 20,000mAh 87W power bank plugged into Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World in play
Disappointed by the Nintendo Switch 2's battery life? I quadrupled it with this cheap accessory
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Activision is reportedly still 'committed' to bringing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 to Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership icons positioned next to words saying 'TechRadar: Big savings'
Getting the Nintendo Switch 2? Unlock online play with these excellent Nintendo Switch Online deals
A station to play Mario Kart World at the NYC Nintendo Store on June 4, 2025
The Nintendo Switch 2 hype: Why it reminds me of a simpler era of tech launches
No Man's Sky Beacon screenshot
No Man's Sky will launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 with full multiplayer, including cross-save and cross-play – and I'm hoping other game devs follow suit
Latest in How Tos
Rory McIlroy using his driver for a tee shot at the US Open.
US Open 2025 live stream: how to watch the golf online, schedule
Australian players celebrate winning the 2003 World Test Championship with the mace awarded to the winners
How to watch World Test Championship Final 2025 online: Australia vs South Africa
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 6: Jannik Sinner of Italy during his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the semi-final of the Men's singles competition on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the 2025 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on June 6th, 2025, in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)
How to watch French Open for FREE – stream Alcaraz vs Sinner at no cost
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 06: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain looks on during the Men's Singles Semi Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on June 06, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
How to watch Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz: Live stream French Open tennis 2025 for free now, players on court
Apple developer beta announcement
How to download the macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta
Apple WWDC 2025
How to download the iOS 26 developer beta
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    Google can now generate your AI videos more quickly than ever
  2. 2
    This external RTX 4090 GPU comes with Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, but sadly, I don't think that you can connect it to an Apple MacBook Pro
  3. 3
    Meet the 'Duracell Bunny' of SSDs that can withstand 50 drive writes per day for five whole years - but it won't come cheap
  4. 4
    When Apple didn’t go hard on AI at WWDC, I let out a sigh of relief – here's why
  5. 5
    Major data breach at popular hookup app leaks data on millions of users - see if you're safe

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...