Games

Old Race Courses That Should Be Included In Mario Kart 9

Published

32 seconds ago

January 20, 2025

Christoph Rediske

Summary

Table of Contents

Cheep Cheep Island from Mario Kart: Super Ciruit should be remade in 3D for Mario Kart 9 on the Switch 2.
Delfino Square from Mario Kart DS should return to Mario Kart 9 with a more open-world format to encompass more Sunshine environments.
Sherbet Land from Mario Kart 64 would be a perfect fit for Mario Kart 9 and would shine like never before on Switch 2 hardware.

Ever since its debut on the SNES in 1992, Mario Kart has been one of Nintendo’s most consistently good franchises, bringing together all their star characters and having them battle it out on courses filled with weapons, traps, and other drivers, all looking to finish in first place. Over thirty years later, the franchise is still going strong, and Mario Kart 9 is poised to be one of the most hyped launch games for the Switch 2, which launches sometime in 2025.

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With an eye to the future of Mario Kart and its upcoming ninth entry, one can’t help but think about what courses are going to be included, as the series tends to include a good mix of both classic and new courses. Older Mario Kart courses are constantly being brought back, and it’s exciting to think about what these iconic tracks could look like with the improved hardware of the Switch 2. These courses run the gamut, chronicling a list from the long and storied history of this iconic racing series, as many of these haven’t been seen since their initial game and would be a perfect fit for Mario Kart 9.

7

Cheep Cheep Island

This Charming Track From A GBA Game Needs An Upgrade

Systems

Released: August 11, 2001
Publisher(s): Advertisement

Nintendo

First appearing in Mario Kart: Super Circuit for the Game Boy Advance, Cheep Cheep Island takes place on a delightful series of land masses, all of them beset by a gorgeous sunset overlooking the sandy dunes and lighthouses. It is one of the best handheld Mario Kart courses of all time, as Nintendo leveraged the power of the Game Boy Advance to create an experience similar to the original game on the SNES, but with remarkable graphics and some spectacular music.

It would be a perfect fit for Mario Kart 9, as its lush landscapes, cozy tropical island vibe and gigantic Cheep Cheeps jumping in and out of the water would benefit greatly from the improved hardware of the Switch 2. As Mario Kart: Super Circuit was a 2D game, it would also be absolutely fantastic to see the course remade in 3D, which Nintendo is no stranger to, as they have done so with numerous tracks from the older games.

6

Delfino Square

The Home Of The Piantas Should Return In Mario Kart 9

Systems

Released: November 14, 2005
Developer(s): Advertisement

Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s): Nintendo
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Nintendo clearly still sees value in Super Mario Sunshine, as they released it as part of a collection for the Switch to celebrate their mascot’s 35th anniversary in 2020. So, with Mario Kart 9 on the horizon, it is the perfect time to continue that trend by including an updated version of Delfino Square, which incorporates all the charm and magic of Sunshine in a single course.

Lubba in Mario Galaxy 2; Mario racing in Mario Kart 8; a Tostarenan dancing

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Debuting in Mario Kart DS, Delfino Square takes the racers through a seaside village that is loaded with shops, hazards, and an adorable cast of Piantas, the island locals. It has such a soothing vibe, and with a lot of rumors surrounding Mario Kart 9’s massive player count and being somewhat of an open-world experience akin to Forza, it would make sense to bring Delfino Square back and really open it up to encompass more of Sunshine’s environments.

5

Sherbet Land

This Legendary N64 Course Would Shine On Switch 2

Systems

Released: December 14, 1996
Developer(s): Advertisement

Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s): Nintendo
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If there’s anything that Mario Kart always tends to have, it’s a course that is covered in snow, embracing a chilly winter vibe and inviting atmosphere. With Mario Kart 64, Nintendo produced what is still one of the best winter-themed tracks with Sherbet Land, a slippery jaunt that sees racers trying to avoid a large range of different sized penguins as they look to knock them off the track and into the freezing waters.

Sherbet Land would also appear in the Wii iteration of the series from 2008, and while it seemed like an obvious choice for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe booster pass, it has been absent from the series ever since. That said, it’s high time to bring this delightful course back and see what it looks like on improved hardware, as the Switch 2 version of Mario Kart is bound to feature some internal improvements that will make this winter wonderland shine like never before.

4

Luigi Circuit

One Of Double Dash’s Best Tracks

Systems

Released: November 17, 2003
Developer(s): Nintendo EAD
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Publisher(s): Nintendo

For the next-gen version of Mario Kart on the GameCube in 2003, the appropriately titled Double Dash, Nintendo added two drivers per vehicle and the ability to hold two weapons at once. It wasn’t just about the new mechanics though, as Double Dash also features one of the best track selections in the entire series, and one of the best of those is Luigi Circuit, a traditional racecourse that unfolds with the classic Mario Kart mayhem the franchise is known for.

If rumors of 24 participants per race are true, then Luigi Circuit would be a perfect course to bring back in Mario Kart 9, as the wide open spaces of the track would be outstanding for the increased player count. Luigi Circuit is one of Mario Kart’s all-time greatest tracks, and bringing it back with the enhanced power of the Switch 2 is an absolute no-brainer.

3

Koopa Troopa Beach

This N64 Course Would Benefit Greatly From An Update On Switch 2

The N64 iteration of Mario Kart continues to be one of Nintendo’s most timeless creations, and it’s thanks to excellent tracks like Koopa Troopa Beach that it remains as such some twenty-eight years later. This bright, sunny beach is filled with dangers of all sorts, from gigantic leaps across treacherous rocks to hostile creatures emerging from the sand, and like any great Mario Kart level, it uses them all to perfection.

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Re-introducing Koopa Troopa Beach, one of the franchise’s most popular courses, would be a wise move for Mario Kart 9. In addition to its spectacular design, it also has one of the franchise’s most well-known shortcuts, as players can use a mushroom to leap off a ramp and dive into a cave that cuts through a waterfall and can save a lot of time. Recreating this iconic track in Mario Kart 9 would also have to include this memorable shortcut, as this excellent course deserves a spot in one of Switch 2’s most anticipated games.

2

Waluigi Stadium

This Iconic Double Dash Track Deserves A Comeback

Waluigi Stadium has been a consistent presence in Mario Kart ever since Double Dash, having also appeared in the Wii version, Tour, and the MK8 Deluxe booster pass. When it comes to tracks that could return for Mario Kart 9, including this iconic course for another run makes a ton of sense, as it would effortlessly tie in to the game’s rumored increase in driver count.

Waluigi Stadium has the energy of a large motocross track, taking place on a dirt course that features jumps, fire hazards, and gigantic piranha plants. It shares some similarities with Wario Stadium from Mario Kart 64, but is much larger and features more traps, along with some excellent music. Waluigi Stadium is a must-have for Mario Kart 9, as its legendary status in the franchise deserves to be celebrated on Switch 2.

1

Moo Moo Farm

A Nostalgic Return To Moo Moo Farm Would Be Excellent On Switch 2

Moo Moo Farm has only appeared in two Mario Kart games, debuting in the N64 release and getting an upgrade in the DS iteration. A similar track, Moo Moo Meadows, appeared in Mario Kart Wii and was remade for the MK8 Deluxe booster pass, but the original version is in need of an update, and the Switch 2 is the place to make it happen.

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This charming course takes place on a sprawling, wide-open farm that features one of the best pieces of music in the franchise’s history and has some dastardly traps in the form of Monty Moles popping up from the ground. Of all the classic courses, Moo Moo Farm remains the one most in need of a return in Mario Kart 9 and would be an absolutely perfect way to show just how far this franchise has come in nearly thirty years.