Editor Reviews

If you've played a Mario Kart game before, this one will feel familiar—just smaller and made for your phone. Mario Kart Tour condenses the classic racing chaos into quick, mobile-friendly sessions with a heavy layer of collectible characters and unlockables. It's not like sitting on your couch with friends and controllers, but it scratches the same itch when you're on the go.

The controls are simplified and built around one-finger steering. You swipe left or right to drift, and the game handles acceleration. It takes a few races, especially the drifting mechanics, to get the hang of it. There's also an auto-item system, so things move quickly without much micromanaging.

Characters, karts, and gliders are now part of a layered system that affects your race performance. Some give you extra items, others score boosts. The catch? Most of them are locked behind randomized loot boxes or time-limited events. This can make it feel more like collecting than racing at times.

The races are short—usually just two laps—and are set in courses inspired by locations worldwide, combined with classic Mario universe elements. There's a good mix of new and old tracks, including regular updates to keep things fresh. It retains the nostalgia but incorporates mobile-style pacing.

How to Play?

Step 1: Open Mario Kart Tour. From the main menu, choose a cup to race in. Each cup has three races and a bonus challenge. Pick one of the races to begin.

Step 2: Choose your driver, kart, and glider. Each has its special benefits, depending on the course. Drivers receive bonuses, such as additional item slots. Use characters marked as "Top Shelf" for best results.

Step 3: Tap to start the race. Your kart will auto-accelerate. You steer by swiping left or right. You can also turn on gyro handling in the settings if you prefer tilting your phone.

Step 4: Swipe up to jump when going off ramps, swipe down to use mini-turbo boosts after drifting. To drift, hold, and swipe in one direction during a turn. The longer you drift, the stronger the boost.

Step 5: Collect coins and item boxes. Coins help you level up and unlock gear. Item boxes give you bananas, shells, or other items. Tap the screen to use them.

Step 6: Try to maintain a combo. Hitting items, jumping, drifting, and coin collecting in quick succession raises your score. The longer the combo chain, the better your final ranking will be.

Step 7: After finishing, check your position and points. You’ll earn stars based on your score. Stars unlock more races and cups.

Step 8: Repeat races to earn better ranks and improve gear. Daily challenges and tour events offer additional rewards, so be sure to check them often.

Step 9: Visit the shop and upgrade your gear. Use coins and rubies earned from races to buy drivers, karts, and gliders. Upgrading them improves your score potential and helps with tougher races later in the tour.