Mario Kart Tour is a free-to-play mobile kart racing game from Nintendo, released in 2019 for iOS and Android. It brings the iconic Mario Kart franchise to smartphones through a biweekly rotating tour format featuring real-world city courses and collectible drivers, karts, and gliders.
The game’s controls feel intuitive for touchscreen play, and two-lap races fit neatly into short mobile sessions. Each biweekly tour introduces new city-themed courses and spotlight collectibles. Multiplayer arrived in a 2020 update. The gacha Pipe system draws criticism for low drop rates, and the pay-to-win scoring gives paid players a clear advantage.
Tour delivers genuinely fun free racing for casual players, but competitive players face a real monetization wall when chasing leaderboard rankings. This review covers gameplay, monetization, multiplayer, and comparisons so you can decide whether Mario Kart Tour is worth your time.
What Is Mario Kart Tour?
Mario Kart Tour is a 2019 mobile kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for iOS and Android devices, featuring biweekly themed tours based on real-world cities and Mario Kart series locations. It launched globally on September 25, 2019, bringing the Mario Kart franchise to smartphones for the first time in a full racing format.
Here’s the thing: the game targets Mario Kart fans and casual mobile gamers who want quick racing sessions without sitting down at a console. Short two-lap races and a collect-a-thon structure make Tour accessible to players with limited time. Nintendo designed the experience around mobile habits, not console-length sessions.
New content tours stopped in September 2023, but the app stayed playable with existing content. Nintendo then revived limited new content in July 2025 to celebrate Mario Kart World on Switch 2. That’s nearly four years of regular biweekly updates before the content schedule paused.
When Did Mario Kart Tour Come Out?
Mario Kart Tour launched globally on September 25, 2019 for iOS and Android after a brief regional soft launch period, marking Nintendo’s entry into the free-to-play mobile racing genre. The release followed months of anticipation from Mario Kart fans who wanted a full racing game on their phones.
Nintendo developed Mario Kart Tour as part of its broader mobile expansion. Earlier mobile titles Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes came first. Mario Kart Tour specifically brought the franchise’s competitive and collectible appeal into a free-to-play mobile framework.
Is Mario Kart Tour Free to Play?
Yes. Mario Kart Tour is free to download on the iOS App Store and Google Play, using a freemium model with optional in-app purchases and a Gold Pass subscription at $4.99 per month (approximately £3.99 per month). No upfront cost blocks access to the core racing experience.
The Gold Pass unlocks the 200cc speed tier, premium drivers, karts, gliders, and exclusive Gold gifts each tour. New subscribers get the first two weeks free before recurring charges begin. And here’s the good news: casual players can race and complete cups without ever activating the subscription.
Mario Kart Tour Pricing Overview:
| Option | Cost | What It Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Download | Free | Full racing access, standard cups, base drivers |
| Gold Pass | $4.99/month (£3.99) | 200cc mode, Gold gifts, premium tour rewards |
| Ruby Bundle (45 Rubies) | $19.99 (£15.99) | Approximately 10 Pipe pulls for random collectibles |
How Does Mario Kart Tour Work?
Mario Kart Tour operates on a biweekly format where each two-week tour offers 12 to 18 cups themed around real-world cities or Mario Kart characters, starting every Wednesday at 1:00 a.m. EST. Players collect Grand Stars through cup completions to unlock rewards and advance through each tour’s content.
Races run for two laps rather than the three-lap standard in console Mario Kart games. Each cup contains three race courses and one bonus challenge. So, a full cup is completable in under ten minutes (approximately 8 to 10 minutes total), which fits a commute or a short break perfectly.
Touchscreen controls simplify the experience for one-handed play. Auto-acceleration handles speed management while players steer via swipe or device tilt. Two control modes are available: standard turning for newcomers and drift mode, which locks into a drift upon turning to build boost through wide corners.
What Are the Tours in Mario Kart Tour?
Tours are named after real-world cities such as New York, Tokyo, and Paris, or after Mario series characters and game themes, with spotlight collectibles matching each tour’s specific identity. Each tour runs for exactly two weeks before rotating to the next event.
In fact, course variety is one of Tour’s real strengths. Courses include new city-based tracks built specifically for Mario Kart Tour alongside remixed versions of classic courses from Super Mario Kart through Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Remix courses use layouts distinct from their originals and add mechanics unique to the mobile format. This combination keeps each biweekly cycle fresh even for returning Mario Kart players.
How Does the Gacha System Work in Mario Kart Tour?
Mario Kart Tour uses a gacha-style system called the Pipe, where players spend Rubies to receive randomly awarded drivers, karts, and gliders with varying drop rates across rarity tiers. Spotlight Pipes during each tour feature that event’s themed characters at the highest-priority positions in the pull pool.
The bad news? Critics described the gacha drop rates as ‘comically bad,’ with top-tier spotlight items carrying very low pull probabilities. Destructoid reported players found the odds deeply unfavorable, drawing comparisons to loot box controversies in other games. The system later faced a formal lootbox lawsuit over its mechanics and transparency.
Rubies can be earned through gameplay milestones or purchased with real money. A bundle of 45 Rubies costs $19.99 (approximately £15.99). Each bundle delivers roughly ten Pipe pulls. Earning enough free Rubies for meaningful pulls requires substantial in-game time investment.
Currency Types in Mario Kart Tour:
- Rubies: premium currency used for Pipe pulls and the Spotlight Shop
- Coins: standard currency earned from races, used for item upgrades
- Tokens: event-specific currency earned during limited-time challenges
- Grand Stars: progression stars earned from cups that unlock tour gifts
What Are the Key Features of Mario Kart Tour?
Mario Kart Tour centers on a collectible system where players gather drivers, karts, and gliders that carry different item sets and frenzy bonuses, directly affecting race scoring and competitive cup rankings. The collection depth drives long-term engagement well beyond individual races.
The scoring system awards Grand Stars based on race position, combo points, and bonus actions. Star totals determine cup progression gates and unlock tour gifts at set thresholds. Players are incentivized to replay courses with different driver and kart combinations to maximize their star output per session.
The mobile-optimized format keeps each session brief. Two-lap races, three-course cups, and a quick bonus challenge fit within ten minutes per cup. Pick-up-and-play design is the defining structural feature for Tour’s mobile audience.
Does Mario Kart Tour Have Multiplayer?
Yes. Mario Kart Tour added real-time multiplayer for up to seven players worldwide in a 2020 update, addressing a significant gap after the September 2019 launch shipped with zero multiplayer functionality. The omission at launch generated substantial negative press for a franchise built on competitive racing.
Does the multiplayer hold up well? Not entirely. Reviewers flagged connection instability in early builds after the 2020 addition, and the feature launched only after the game had already taken reputation damage. Multiplayer remains an online-only feature with no local split-screen option available.
What Drivers, Karts, and Gliders Can Players Collect?
Mario Kart Tour features a large roster of Mario Kart characters including Mario, Peach, Bowser, and Yoshi, alongside tour-exclusive costume variants such as Vacation Mario and Holiday Cheer Daisy that rotate with each biweekly event. The roster expands continuously with each new themed tour cycle.
Duplicate Pipe pulls upgrade existing drivers, karts, and gliders by raising level caps and expanding item slot capacity. Higher-level collectibles perform better in scoring sequences because they carry more items during Frenzy mode. To be clear, unlike Mario Kart 7, 8, and 8 Deluxe, tires are fixed to specific karts in Tour and can’t be customized separately.
Collectible Types:
- Drivers: playable characters with unique item sets and frenzy bonuses per course
- Karts: vehicles with stat effects on speed, mini-turbo, and handling
- Gliders: aerial accessories with item bonuses active during gliding sections
What Do Mario Kart Tour Reviews Say?
Mario Kart Tour received mixed reviews at launch, with critics praising polished gameplay and visuals while consistently criticizing the aggressive monetization model and the complete absence of multiplayer at release. The divide between technical quality and business model defined every major review outlet’s take.
Critical scores placed the game in the mixed to average range on aggregators. Reviewers acknowledged Nintendo’s production quality while expressing concern that monetization decisions actively undermined the player experience. Pay-to-win concerns remained the primary focus of sustained negative coverage throughout the game’s lifecycle.
What Are the Positive Reviews of Mario Kart Tour?
Mario Kart Tour’s kart controls received consistent praise from reviewers, who described the handling as well-done and intuitive for one-handed touchscreen play, with drift mode providing a satisfying boost-building experience for experienced players. The mobile transition of Mario Kart physics earned specific approval from racing game outlets.
Reviewers consistently praised the visual quality, noting courses and characters look and sound great on mobile screens. Classic course redesigns for the vertical mobile perspective were described as well-handled. Nintendo’s production polish drew no criticism across any major publication.
And here is the best part: bonus challenges at the end of each cup received specific praise for teaching mechanics and adding variety beyond standard racing. These challenges use unlocked racers and karts in scenarios outside normal race formats. The pick-up-and-play structure earned broad approval from mobile gaming outlets as a genuine design win.
What Are the Common Complaints About Mario Kart Tour?
Mario Kart Tour’s monetization drew some of the harshest mobile gaming criticism of 2019, with The Verge calling it ‘too cynical to be fun’ and Engadget describing ‘a simple racer surrounded by free-to-play complexity,’ both identifying monetization as the core problem. Critical consensus was unusually unified across major outlets.
The gacha Pipe system faced a formal lootbox lawsuit and widespread public backlash over drop rates. Destructoid reported players found spotlight character odds ‘comically bad,’ with top-tier items effectively inaccessible to free players. The lawsuit spotlighted broader concerns about gacha mechanics in games accessible to younger audiences.
Pay attention to this: reviewers also criticized the complete absence of multiplayer at launch as a fundamental failure for a competitive racing franchise. Losing top race honors to better-funded rosters rather than superior skill was cited repeatedly as a frustrating core experience. Both issues combined to undercut an otherwise technically polished mobile racing game.
Common Criticisms of Mario Kart Tour:
- No multiplayer available at launch in September 2019
- Gacha drop rates described as ‘comically bad’ by multiple reviewers
- Pay-to-win scoring disadvantage for free players on spotlight courses
- Free-to-play complexity undermines otherwise solid racing gameplay
- Fastest speed tier (200cc) locked behind the monthly Gold Pass paywall
Is Mario Kart Tour Pay-to-Win?
Yes. Mario Kart Tour uses a scoring system that rewards players who own high-tier spotlight drivers for specific courses, meaning top cup scores on those tracks require characters obtainable only through paid gacha pulls. Free players face a measurable and structural ceiling on competitive rankings.
So what does that mean for you? Free players can complete cups and earn Grand Stars without spending money, but their maximum achievable scores on spotlight courses fall below those of players with tour-specific high-tier characters. The scoring gap is built into the game’s architecture. This structure sustained the majority of the game’s negative critical attention throughout its active run.
How Much Does Mario Kart Tour Cost?
Mario Kart Tour is free to download on both the iOS App Store and Google Play, with no upfront purchase required to access the core racing, cup completion, and base collectible systems. Optional in-app purchases carry significant competitive implications for players pursuing top rankings.
Ruby bundles range from small to large premium packs. A bundle of 45 Rubies costs $19.99 (approximately £15.99). Each bundle covers roughly ten Pipe pulls. Spotlight Pipes cost more Rubies per pull than standard Pipes, raising the effective cost for players targeting specific tour-themed drivers.
Is the Gold Pass Worth It in Mario Kart Tour?
The Gold Pass delivers genuine value at $4.99 per month (£3.99 per month) for daily players, unlocking the 200cc speed tier and exclusive Gold gifts that provide real competitive advantages over the free play experience. New subscribers get the first two weeks free before recurring billing starts.
Casual players who race infrequently may not extract enough value to justify the monthly cost. The 200cc mode, while the most challenging speed in Tour, doesn’t award better scores or additional progression unlocks over standard modes. Daily players who engage with every event gain the most from the subscription’s compounding reward structure.
How Does Mario Kart Tour Compare to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers a significantly deeper experience with 96 courses via the Booster Course Pass, full battle mode, and split-screen local multiplayer, none of which Mario Kart Tour provides within its mobile format. The two titles serve fundamentally different player contexts rather than competing directly.
Tour’s two-minute races and biweekly event structure fit commute-length sessions that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s longer race formats can’t replicate without a portable Nintendo Switch. For players without a Switch, Tour provides the most accessible Mario Kart experience on a smartphone. Mobile convenience is Tour’s primary structural advantage over its console counterpart.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe delivers deeper racing mechanics, no pay-to-win elements, and online multiplayer without monetization friction. For dedicated racing fans, the console version remains the stronger choice. Mario Kart Tour suits casual players seeking a session-based mobile alternative with lower hardware requirements.
Mario Kart Tour vs Mario Kart 8 Deluxe:
| Feature | Mario Kart Tour | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | iOS and Android (free) | Nintendo Switch ($59.99) |
| Course Count | 100+ (rotating availability) | 96 (with Booster Course Pass) |
| Multiplayer | Online only, up to 7 players | Online and local split-screen |
| Pay-to-Win Elements | Yes (gacha spotlight system) | No |
| Race Length | 2 laps (~2 minutes per race) | 3 laps (~4 to 6 minutes per race) |
| 200cc Mode | Gold Pass required ($4.99/month) | Included in base game |
Is Mario Kart Tour Better Than Other Mobile Racing Games?
Mario Kart Tour outperforms most mobile racing competitors through Nintendo’s production quality, recognizable IP, and the established Mario Kart physics engine that generic mobile racing titles can’t replicate. The brand advantage translates directly into the driving feel and character roster depth.
Many competing mobile racing games use comparable or worse monetization models. Mario Kart Tour’s primary differentiator is Nintendo’s IP and production value, not superior business practices. Players choosing between mobile racing options will find Tour’s gameplay the most polished, even if its monetization remains a legitimate concern.
Should You Play Mario Kart Tour?
Mario Kart Tour is worth playing for casual Mario Kart fans who want free mobile racing, but competitive players must approach the gacha monetization with a clear spending limit and realistic expectations about leaderboard performance. The core racing delivers genuine fun at zero cost.
Casual players who enjoy the Mario Kart universe will find real entertainment in Tour’s racing and collection systems without spending a dollar. The game doesn’t require purchases to enjoy the base experience. Setting personal spending limits around Ruby purchases prevents the gacha system from becoming an unintended recurring expense.
Bottom line: our team at Eat Proteins recommends Mario Kart Tour as a solid free-to-play casual racing experience, provided you treat the monetization as optional rather than necessary. The good news? You can race, collect, and complete cups without ever opening your wallet. Start free, see what the game offers, and only invest if it genuinely earns your spending.