"Mario Kart Challenge" isn't a single, standalone official game by Nintendo. Instead, it refers to a variety of ways players engage with the Mario Kart series to add extra layers of difficulty, specific objectives, or competitive elements.
Here's a breakdown of what "Mario Kart Challenge" can mean:
1. In-Game Challenges (Mario Kart Tour)
The mobile game Mario Kart Tour (released 2019) is probably the most direct official example of "Mario Kart Challenge." This game features various types of challenges:
- Tour Challenges: These are time-limited challenges that rotate with each new "Tour" (which are themed events, often based on real-world cities or Mario characters). They might include objectives like:
- "Get 1st place X times."
- "Land X hits with Green Shells."
- "Earn a score of X or higher on a T (Trick) or R/T (Reverse/Trick) course."
- "Cause opponents to crash X times while in Frenzy mode."
- Gold Challenges: These are typically harder challenges that are exclusive to players with the optional "Gold Pass" subscription.
- Standard Challenges: These are evergreen challenges that don't rotate and offer long-term goals, such as:
- "Collect X different drivers/karts/gliders."
- "Reach player level X."
- "Get 1st place in a race 100 times."
- Bonus Challenges: Within each cup in Mario Kart Tour, there are often "Bonus Challenges" that aren't traditional races. These put a twist on gameplay, with objectives like:
- Vs. Mega Bowser/Nabbit: Defeat a giant character.
- Goomba Takedown: Hit a certain number of Goombas.
- Break Item Boxes: Destroy a specific number of item boxes.
- Ring Race: Drive through rings within a time limit.
- Precision Gliding: Land precisely on a target after gliding.
2. Fan-Created Challenges (Across All Mario Kart Games)
This is a very popular way for players to extend the fun and difficulty of any Mario Kart game (like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Kart Wii, etc.). These are self-imposed rules or objectives. Examples include:
- No Item Challenge: Race a Grand Prix or VS Race without using any items (or maybe only defensive items).
- Specific Character/Vehicle Challenge: Only use a particular character or a specific kart/bike/glider combination for an entire cup or against friends.
- No Drifting Challenge: Play races without performing any drifts, making turns much harder.
- Motion Controls Only: If supported by the game, force yourself to use motion controls.
- Rainbow Road Grand Prix: Play a Grand Prix composed entirely of various Rainbow Road tracks.
- Inverse Race Challenge: Try to finish last, while still playing competitively (this is harder than it sounds in Mario Kart!).
- Coin Avoidance Challenge: Try to finish a race without collecting any coins (which can be tricky as coins provide a speed boost).
- 150cc/200cc vs. Hard CPUs: Maximize the difficulty settings.
- Time Trial Challenges: Trying to beat personal bests or online records in Time Trial mode.
- Custom Cup Challenges: Players creating their own "cups" with specific rules or themes for friendly competitions.
3. Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge (Universal Studios Theme Park Ride)
This is a physical, augmented reality dark ride located in Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Epic Universe. While it's not a video game you play at home, it's very much a "Mario Kart Challenge":
- Objective: Riders wear AR goggles and sit in kart-themed vehicles that move along a track. The goal is to collect digital coins and throw virtual Koopa Shells at Team Bowser characters to earn points and win the "Universal Cup."
- Interactive Gameplay: Riders physically aim their heads to target enemies and press a button on their steering wheel to fire shells. The ride features multiple outcomes based on the points accumulated by the riders.
- Team Challenge: Guests compete as individuals and as part of a team.
FAQs about Mario Kart Challenge
Q1: Is "Mario Kart Challenge" a specific game I can buy? A1: No, it's not a standalone game. It refers to features within games like Mario Kart Tour, fan-created rules for any Mario Kart game, or a physical theme park attraction.
Q2: What kinds of challenges are there in Mario Kart Tour? A2: Mario Kart Tour has Tour Challenges (time-limited, objective-based), Gold Challenges (for Gold Pass holders), Standard Challenges (long-term goals), and Bonus Challenges (mini-games within cups).
Q3: Can I create my own challenges in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? A3: Yes! Many players create and share their own "house rules" or challenges for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (and other Mario Kart games) to add variety and difficulty to their gameplay sessions with friends.
Q4: What is Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge? A4: It's a high-tech augmented reality dark ride at Universal Studios' Super Nintendo World theme parks, where guests ride in karts and interact with the Mario Kart world to defeat Team Bowser.
Q5: Are fan-made challenges supported by Nintendo? A5: While Nintendo doesn't officially endorse or track specific fan-made challenges, the ability to customize races and create private lobbies in games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe implicitly supports players making their own fun and challenging rules.
Pros and Cons of "Mario Kart Challenges" (in general)
Pros:
- Extends Replay Value: Challenges (both official and fan-made) significantly increase the replayability of Mario Kart games by giving players new objectives beyond simply winning races.
- Customizable Difficulty: Players can tailor challenges to their skill level, making the game harder or offering a different kind of fun.
- Encourages Mastery: Many challenges require a deeper understanding of game mechanics, item usage, or track layouts to complete successfully.
- Social & Competitive: Fan-made challenges are great for playing with friends, adding a unique competitive twist or cooperative goal.
- Variety and Freshness: They prevent gameplay from becoming stale by forcing players to adapt and try new strategies.
- Achievement & Rewards (in Mario Kart Tour): In Mario Kart Tour, completing challenges earns Grand Stars, coins, rubies, and other in-game rewards, which are essential for progression.
Cons:
- Can Be Frustrating: Some challenges are intentionally very difficult, which can lead to frustration for players who struggle to complete them.
- Requires Self-Discipline (for fan challenges): For fan-made challenges, players need to self-enforce the rules, as the game itself won't stop them from, say, using items in a "no item" challenge.
- Not Always Intuitive (in Mario Kart Tour): Some Mario Kart Tour challenges require specific drivers, karts, or gliders that players may not own, pushing them towards the gacha-style "pipe" system.
- Repetitive Grind (in Mario Kart Tour): Some challenges in Mario Kart Tour can feel like a repetitive grind (e.g., "Land X hits with Y item" over many races).
- Limited Customization (in official games): While Mario Kart games offer customization, they don't have built-in tools for designing elaborate challenges with unique rules, forcing players to rely on external communication.
- Theme Park Ride is Location-Dependent: Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is an amazing experience but requires a visit to a Universal Studios theme park, which is a major barrier for most players.
