Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Unlockables, Characters and Tracks - Gold Mario and Gold Kart
Gold Mario is brand new to Mario Kart 8 in the Switch version of the game. Here’s how to unlock Gold Mario, the gold kart parts, and avoid those pesky blue shells.
Mario Kart games traditionally feature a lot of content that is locked away when you start the game. Over the years players have had to win championships in order to unlock new courses, but in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe all the content is available from the moment you start the game (no doubt a decision made because this is a re-release of sorts following the Wii U version). That is, all content apart from the brand new Gold Mario included exclusively in the Switch version of Mario Kart 8. Gold Mario is the top Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Unlockable you'll want to get your hands on.
In this Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Unlockables guide we'll detail how you unlock Gold Mario in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the main unlockable in the game. If you're wondering why we've also got info on how to stop Blue Shells, you'll need that skill if you're going to be successful in your quest to unlock Gold Mario. On top of that we've got a rundown of all the tracks, characters and new content in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch.
If you really can't be bothered to put in the time to unlock Gold Mario, we've got plenty more articles on our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Guide Hub. Head over there if you're done here.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Unlockables - How to Unlock Gold Mario
The instructions to unlock Gold Mario in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are remarkably simple: Finish first in all 200CC racing events. That's it. Simple. Except it's not simple. In fact it's far from simple as getting that gold trophy in every event is extremely challenging. Luckily for you we've got some tips to help you get your mits on the Gold Mario character.
How to Avoid Blue Shells by Boosting in Mario Kart 8
The mushroom is a simple item in Mario Kart 8. Use it and you'll get a speed boost. It's an item everyone can understand. But in the right hands it's a potentially race-winning power-up that can let you dodge a blue shell attack.
With a mushroom in hand wait until the blue shell has activated its final attack, then use the mushroom to accelerate forward and out of the blast radius. Timing here is tricky to master, but get it right and you'll have a huge advantage when trying to win 200CC races,
Use the Super Horn to Block the Blue Shell in Mario Kart 8
Watch for the moment the blue shell gets in front of you and then tips up, as if to show you its belly. At this exact moment use the Super Horn and you'll prevent the blue shell from hitting you. Your timing has to be spot on.
To get into first position and have to struggle against the dreaded blue shell you're going to need to be at the top of your game. Follow our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Boost Guide for info on how to repeatedly get those essential bursts of speed.
Gold Mario isn't a new addition to the Mario franchise, even though he's never appeared in Mario Kart until Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Gold Mario has appeared in Super Mario Maker, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, and Mario and Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
It's worth noting that Gold Mario doesn't have any special abilities that make him a great character to play as - he's essentially a reskin of Metal Mario, which means he's very heavy. Getting hold of him is more of a status symbol that lets you show off to friends.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Unlockables - How to Unlock Gold Parts
As well as getting your hands on Gold Mario, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also has unlockable gold parts. To get all three items you'll need to complete a series of challenges.
- Unlock Gold Standard kart: Win every Cup with a single star on both 150cc and Mirror Mode in Grand Prix.
- Unlock Gold Tires: Beat every Staff Ghost Racer in Time Trial competing at 150cc.
- Unlock Gold Glider: Collect 10,000 coins.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Characters and Tracks - What’s New in Switch Mario Kart 8
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers brand new and retro-inspired Battle mode courses, there are no new tracks for other game modes. What you get in the Switch game is the entire line-up of tracks from the Wii U version of Mario Kart 8 along with all the tracks added via DLC. The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Characters list is also bolstered thanks to a number of brand new characters.
This brings the content package up to a bumper 48 tracks in total. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also includes 41 characters, five of whom are exclusive to the Switch game.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Characters
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch includes a total of 41 characters (not counting variations). This includes all Mario Kart 8’s DLC characters plus five new racers exclusive to the Switch game.
- Baby Daisy
- Baby Luigi
- Baby Mario
- Baby Peach
- Baby Rosalina
- Bowser
- Bowser Jr. (MK8 Deluxe Exclusive)
- Cat Peach (Previously MK8 DLC)
- Daisy
- Donkey Kong
- Dry Bones (MK8 Deluxe Exclusive)
- Dry Bowser (Previously MK8 DLC)
- Lakitu
- Larry
- Lemmy
- Link (DLC)
- Ludwig
- Luigi
- Gold Mario (unlocked for completing every cup at 200cc)
- Iggy
- Inkling Girl (MK8 Deluxe Exclusive, three versions available)
- Inkling Boy (MK8 Deluxe Exclusive, three versions available)
- Isabelle (Previously MK8 DLC)
- King Boo (MK8 Deluxe Exclusive)
- Koopa Troopa
- Mario
- Metal Mario
- Mii
- Morton
- Peach
- Pink Gold Peach
- Rosalina
- Roy
- Shy Guy (eight versions available)
- Tanooki Mario (Previously MK8 DLC)
- Toad
- Toadette
- Villager (Previously MK8 DLC)
- Waluigi
- Wario
- Wendy
- Yoshi (eight versions available)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Tracks
Many of the tracks in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are based on classic courses from Mario Kart games through the years. We've marked the platforms each track first appeared on. If you remember them they've had quite the visual overhaul in their move to new hardware.
Mushroom Cup
- Mario Kart Stadium
- Water Park
- Sweet Sweet Canyon
- Thwomp Ruins
Flower Cup
- Mario Circuit
- Toad Harbour
- Twisted Mansion
- Shy Guy Falls
Star Cup
- Sunshine Airport
- Dolphin Shoals
- Electrodrome
- Mount Wario
Special Cup
- Cloudtop Cruise
- Bone-Dry Dunes
- Bowser's Castle
- Rainbow Road
Shell Cup
- Moo Moo Meadows (Wii)
- Mario Circuit (GBA)
- Cheep Cheep Beach (DS)
- Toad's Turnpike (N64)
Banana Cup
- Dry Dry Desert (GameCube)
- Donut Plains 3 (SNES)
- Royal Raceway (N64)
- DK Jungle (3DS)
Leaf Cup
- Wario Stadium (DS)
- Sherbet Land (GameCube)
- Music Park (3DS)
- Yoshi Valley (N64)
Lightning Cup
- Tick-Tock Clock (DS)
- Piranha Plan Slide (3DS)
- Grumble Volcano (Wii)
- Rainbow Road (N64)
Egg Cup (Previously DLC 1 for Mario Kart 8)
- Yoshi Circuit (GameCube)
- Excitebike Arena (based on Excitebike)
- Dragon Driftway
- Mute City (based on F-Zero)
Triforce Cup (Previously DLC 1 for Mario Kart 8)
- Wario's Gold Mine (Wii)
- Rainbow Road (SNES)
- Ice Ice Outpost
- Hyrule Circult (based on Legend of Zelda)
Crossing Cup (Previously DLC 2 for Mario Kart 8)
- Baby Park (GameCube)
- Cheese Land (GBA)
- Wild Woods
- Animal Crossing (based on Animal Crossing)
Bell Cup (Previously DLC 2 for Mario Kart 8)
- Neo Bowser City (3DS)
- Ribbon Road (GBA)
- Super Bell Subway
- Big Blue (based on F-Zero)
That’s all the cups, tracks, and characters included in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch. Head elsewhere for details on how to build the best kart/character combo in Mario Kart 8 and a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Weapons Guide.
Now you've got Gold Mario and the other Mario Kart 8 Deluxe unlockables we hope you'll have many great moments of showing off!