Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch Game Card – 48 Courses, 42 Characters, Up to 4 Players Split-Screen, 12 Online

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is Nintendo’s kart racer for Nintendo Switch, and the game Nintendo itself calls the biggest Mario Kart yet. On this game card you get 48 courses, the 42-character roster Nintendo lists on its official site, a full Battle mode with eight arenas, and split-screen racing for up to four people on one console. The box is the North American print with an ESRB E rating, and the game also runs on Nintendo Switch 2.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: What Is on the Game Card

The game card holds the full base game. Nintendo’s official Mario Kart 8 Deluxe site lists 48 courses and 42 characters, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, the Inklings from Splatoon, Link from The Legend of Zelda and Isabelle from Animal Crossing. Courses are grouped into cups, and several are themed on other Nintendo series, such as Zelda, Animal Crossing and Excitebike.

What the card does not include is the Booster Course Pass. That paid add-on, sold separately on the Nintendo eShop or included with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, adds 48 more remastered courses and 8 more characters. Without it, you play the 48 courses of the original Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is already a large amount of racing.

Four Players on One Screen, Eight Locally, Twelve Online

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is at its best with other people. Nintendo lists up to 4 players on a single console in split-screen, which works in TV mode and in tabletop mode, so one copy and four controllers are enough for a family race night.

With local wireless, up to 8 Nintendo Switch consoles in the same room can race together. Online, up to 12 players race at once. Online play requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, which is sold separately; split-screen and local wireless do not need it.

Battle Mode: Eight Arenas, Five Game Types

Battle mode in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a game of its own. Nintendo lists eight dedicated battle arenas, among them Battle Stadium, Luigi’s Mansion and Urchin Underpass, and five types of battle, including Balloon Battle, Bob-omb Blast, Coin Runners, Shine Thief and Renegade Roundup.

Instead of racing to a finish line, you drive around a closed arena trying to pop rivals’ balloons, collect coins or hold on to the Shine. It is a different kind of chaos from the Grand Prix and often the mode that keeps a group playing long after the cups are finished.

Help for Younger and Newer Players

Nintendo highlights Smart Steering, an option that helps newer players stay on the track, which makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a good first racing game for children. Faster players can switch it off and try the 200cc speed class, the quickest in the game.

Nintendo’s site also points out that you can hold two items at a time, from a choice of 23 power-ups, which adds a layer of tactics: keeping a shell behind you as a shield while saving a mushroom for a shortcut.

North American Box and the Booster Course Pass Region

This copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the North American print, with the ESRB E (Everyone) rating on the cover. Nintendo says Switch software sold in other regions works with consoles bought elsewhere, while noting it has not tested every combination and recommends software made for your console’s region.

The detail that matters is downloadable content. Nintendo states that DLC only works with a game released for the same region as the DLC. If you plan to add the Booster Course Pass to this North American game card, buy it from the matching region’s eShop rather than the European one.

Switch 2, Play Modes and Languages

Nintendo lists Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as compatible with Nintendo Switch 2, so the same game card works if you upgrade. On the original Switch it supports TV mode, tabletop mode and handheld mode.

The languages Nintendo lists are Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese and Russian. Arabic is not among them, but the racing itself needs very little reading, which is why the game is played by children who cannot yet read English.

Who This Is Not For

Skip this box if you already own Mario Kart World on Switch 2 and only want the newest Mario Kart; Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the earlier game. It is also not the right buy if you want the Booster Course Pass courses on the card, because they are not included and are sold as a separate download.

Online racing needs a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, and the game has no Arabic language option. Players who want realistic driving physics should look at a simulation racer instead.

Ordering Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the UAE

We ship across the UAE in up to 3 business days, and shipping is free on orders from AED 300. Defective or non-matching items can be returned within 14 days, and any shipping damage should be reported within 48 hours of delivery. Your copy is covered by a 1-year warranty from Totot.

Technical Specifications

• Game: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• Format: Physical game card, North American print (ESRB E)
• Platform: Nintendo Switch (compatible with Nintendo Switch 2)
• Genre: Kart racing
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release date: 28 April 2017
• Courses: 48 (Booster Course Pass adds 48 more, sold separately)
• Characters: 42 (Booster Course Pass adds 8 more, sold separately)
• Battle mode: 8 battle arenas, 5 battle types
• Single system: 1–4 players, split-screen
• Local wireless: Up to 8 players
• Online: Up to 12 players (Nintendo Switch Online membership required)
• Play modes: TV, tabletop and handheld
• Assists: Smart Steering
• Languages: Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian (no Arabic)
• Age rating: ESRB E (Everyone) on this box; PEGI 3 in Europe
• Warranty: 1-year warranty from Totot

Courses, characters, battle arenas, player counts, assists, languages, release date and Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility are taken from Nintendo’s official Mario Kart 8 Deluxe pages; the regional rules for game cards and DLC come from Nintendo’s support pages. Full details are published on the official Mario Kart 8 Deluxe website.

FAQ

How many players can play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on one Switch?

4. Nintendo lists up to four players in split-screen on a single console.

Does this game card include the Booster Course Pass?

No. The Booster Course Pass, with 48 extra courses and 8 extra characters, is a separate paid download.

Does Mario Kart 8 Deluxe work on Nintendo Switch 2?

Yes. Nintendo lists the game as compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.

Do I need Nintendo Switch Online?

No for split-screen and local wireless play, yes for online races, which require a paid membership.

Does Mario Kart 8 Deluxe have Arabic?

No. Nintendo lists nine languages, and Arabic is not among them.

Will this North American copy work on my UAE Switch?

Yes. Nintendo says Switch software from other regions works on its consoles, though it notes it has not tested every combination; add-on content must match the game’s region.

Browse more in our Nintendo Switch Games range. Every order from Totot carries a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects, with our 14-day return policy for defective or non-compliant items, and nationwide UAE delivery.