Mario Kart 8 remains one of the most popular racing video games and best-selling Nintendo Switch titles on the market. Aside from the top-notch graphics and ultra-smooth gameplay, much of the game’s appeal comes from the 48 different race tracks which are divided into 16 New, 16 Retro, and 16 DLC courses, all of which offer endless hours of entertainment.
As fans look forward to the mid-2022 release of Mario Kart 9, here’s hoping the game designers have created as many cool, challenging, and unique DLC tracks as their mega-successful predecessor. From underground rollercoasters and arctic outposts to killer crossovers with F-Zero, Zelda, and more, the best DLC tracks in MK8 have a little something for everyone.
Neo Bowser City
Despite being one of the hardest tracks to master in Mario Kart 8, Neo Bowser City has one of the coolest design layouts and most uniquely challenging weather patterns. In what looks like a futuristic neon Tokyo ripped right out of Blade Runner, the first track of the Bell Cup is defined most by its driving torrential rain.
Thankfully, the annoying water puddles from MK7 have been removed on the DLC track in MK8, but drifting and braking through the rain is still quite a harrowing endeavor. As such, no track in the game presents the distinct challenge of Neo Bowser City.
Wario’s Gold Mine
In what feels like a visceral subterranean rollercoaster, Wario’s Goldmine is the first track of the Triforce Cup in MK8. Recycled from Mario Kart Wii, the track has almost zero side rails, making it very easy to fall off at any time.
Aside from the thrill ride itself, what makes the track so great is how the game designers turned the impeding minecarts into speed chargers, allowing racers to accelerate on contact with them. Moreover, the secret pathway where racers follow a minecart through a hidden tunnel with two dash panel ramps gives players a leg up, if executed properly.
Ice Ice Outpost
Track three of the Triforce Cup, Ice Ice Outpost is one of the few original DLC courses in MK8. In addition to the slew of risky shortcuts that are fun to try, the way the track cleaves into two distinct pathways before converging in a cave is what really stands out.
As the track splits into a yellow uphill road and a green downhill path, racers must jockey for the best position while keeping an eye out for iceberg ramps and slippery shortcuts. Beyond the originality of the first-time course, the ability to drop from the edge of the green track down to the yellow track is an awesome thing few Mario Kart ever discover.
Dragon Driftway
Patterned after the ornate architecture of The Great Wall of China, from a sheer aesthetic standpoint, Dragon Driftway is among the most marvelous MK8 DLC tracks. The third track in the Egg Cup, the first-time course is modeled after a large dragon resembling Gobblegut.
Aside from the stunning architecture full of hanging lanterns and gnarly hairpin turns, the track lives up to its namesake by forcing racers to master the art of drifting across narrow roadways and a zigzagging antigravity section with a trio of 180-degree turns that will get players’ hearts pumping every time.
Wild Woods
Another brand new DLC track in MK8 includes the delightful Wild Woods, the third leg of the Crossing Cup. Instantly set apart as the only track in the game to begin in an antigravity section, soaring over Shy Guy’s picturesque village before entering an exhilarating waterslide are also among the standouts.
After exiting the waterslide, racers speed over a pond with boost pads before launching onto a boardwalk over an antigravity section. The mix of solid and liquid road surfaces makes for a really exciting drive, whether playing online or via Grand Prix modes.
Mute City
One of the coolest aspects of the DLC tracks in MK8 is the crossover appeal with other major video game franchises. Those who grew up playing F-Zero on SNES know how badass it is to play Mute City, the final track of the Egg Cup that has more labyrinthine twists and turns than anything this side of Rainbow Road.
In addition to the nostalgic recharge pads that made F-Zero so iconic, driving Mute City is a breathless affair of white-knuckle suspense as it careens, contorts, and corkscrews into a downhill layout that is nearly impossible for even the best playable MK8 characters to decelerate on.
Hyrule Circuit
Another ultra-cool crossover DLC track in MK8 includes Hyrule Circuit, in which players get to tour Link’s magnificent castle. Typical coins are replaced by Zelda’s iconic emerald rupees, with the castle itself created with the utmost detail sure to tickle fans of both franchises.
Aside from the surrounding presence of Deku Babas and Keese, what makes the track so memorable is the interior of the castle’s grand hall, where Link’s Master Sword rests on a pedestal. Touching the three crystals in front of the item opens a dash panel ramp that allows players to jump into the sword and absorb its powers.
Animal Crossing
Perhaps the most enjoyable crossover DLC track in the game, Animal Crossing is the final leg of the Crossing Cup. Set in an idyllic seaside town from the Animal Crossing series, the track is set apart by the ever-shifting seasonal weather patterns. At random, players will either drive through spring, summer, fall, or winter.
Moreover, depending on which time of day the course is driven, the course will alter between daytime and nighttime, offering one of the most unique racing experiences of all. One can either see summery sunsets or witness the Northern Lights in the snow at night.
Super Bell Subway
Modeled after some of the most famous subways in the world (Grand Central Station, Paris Metro, etc.), Super Bell Subway is the third track of the Bell Cup. Set apart by the massive train cars coming from both directions that players must avoid at all costs, few tracks offer bigger obstacles in the game.
Even if racers manage to avoid the large trains with the fastest car combos in Mario Kart 8, staying off the gravel becomes extra challenging without a mushroom or star. That being said, the map itself is relatively short, easy enough to navigate, and has a great lawn-cutting shortcut near the finish line by the Golden Bell Fountain.
Big Blue
The final track of The Bell Cup, Big Blue is another wildly amusing course patterned after the beloved F-Zero series. Much like Mount Wario, what sets Big Blue apart is the lack of repetition. Rather than a three-lap course, Big Blue is one continuous track divided into three extremely different sections with nary a boring moment.
The best part of the track is the final leg, which takes place in a gigantic waterslide that bends, twists, and turns as a maniacal jazz riff plays in the background. The sheer joy of speeding down the flowing waterways is second to none in the game.
