Mario Kart World throws its old mirror mode out the window, swapping it for reverse races that literally flip the action. Now, players blast off from the finish line, tackling familiar tracks backward—complete with altered shortcuts and item box chaos. Veteran players? Prepare to forget your muscle memory, because those tight corners now come out of nowhere. The mini-map even spins around just to mess with you. Curious what else this topsy-turvy update changes in your favorite tracks?
While most Mario Kart fans have become experts at drifting through familiar circuits, Mario Kart World is determined to throw everyone a curveball—literally. Forget everything you thought you knew about Mirror Mode; the new Reverse Races feature has arrived, and it’s not just a simple horizontal flip. Instead, players now get to race tracks in the opposite direction, changing the flow of every hairpin turn, shortcut, and item box along the way.
Set to launch June 5, 2025, alongside the shiny new Switch 2 console, Mario Kart World is promising a fresh experience. Yes, the staples are still here—Grand Prix, Versus, Knockout Tour—but now with an open-world design, players can drive wherever they want, even backwards if they’re feeling rebellious. The game will also feature music from nearly 30 Nintendo classics, giving longtime fans a dose of nostalgia and a fresh soundtrack as they explore new and familiar tracks. Development was originally intended for the original Switch, but Nintendo confirmed the open world design is better suited for Switch 2.
The biggest twist? Some courses, first teased in a Japan-only commercial, are specifically designed for reverse play, letting everyone see their favorite tracks from a completely new angle.
Unlike Mirror Mode from previous games, which just flipped tracks left-to-right, Reverse Mode means you’ll actually start at the finish line and race towards the old starting grid. It sounds simple, but the impact is huge. Suddenly, that shortcut you always took might be a dead end, and the once-friendly mini-map now flips too, keeping everyone guessing.
The UI gets a makeover as well, ensuring you don’t get lost—unless you want to be. Replay value gets a definite bump. With up to 24 racers on the track and the power of Switch 2 pushing a smooth 60 frames per second, chaos is practically guaranteed.
Reverse tracks might pop up in any mode—Grand Prix, Knockout Tour, or even good old Versus. Free Roam lets you go wherever you like, including, yes, racing backwards just for kicks.
Of course, all these changes mean players will need to rethink their strategies. Visual cues and track layouts are different, and old habits might send you straight into a wall. But who doesn’t need a little extra challenge now and then? Mario Kart World’s Reverse Races are ready to make even veterans question every turn.